The social advancement in society over the past years will help me predict social patterns over the coming years. Understanding these trends enables me to conceptualize how my roles and responsibilities as a nurse would significantly change to meet the increasing demand for caregiving. From the demographic statistics provided in chapter 25, there has been population increase, and infant mortality decrease in the 20th century as compared to the 19th century (Macionis, 2021).
This note indicates a significant increase in demand for nursing services. Additionally, the change in consumption patterns and lifestyles has increased the prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases, prompting intensive scientific research and sophistication in medical technologies (Macionis, 2021). This advancement necessitates that I familiarize myself with the latest medical equipment and diagnosis methods that I would utilize in my profession. Moreover, the adoption and use of the internet and mass media platforms have made it easy to share medical information, resulting in health awareness amongst people; therefore, professional ethics relating to nursing would be essential in practice.
Although science and technology have solved many problems, they have negatively impacted the environment through pollution, with unsafe disposal of medical wastes being a significant public health concern. Exposure to such wastes results in fatal infections and diseases.
Similarly, the incineration of the wastes emits toxins into the air, when inhaled, results in respiratory illnesses (Medsharps, n.d.). Therefore, it would be mandatory for me to adhere to safe waste disposal practices that yield minimum negative impact to my patients, colleagues, society, and the environment. Finally, Chapter 25 shows that understanding different traditions would be necessary to blend the new technologies that do not contradict the existing knowledge (Macionis, 2021). Therefore, as a nurse, I will ensure that new medical methods conform to patients’ expectations while keeping track of their responses to these approaches.
References
Macionis, J. J. (2021). Social change: Modern, and postmodern societies. In Society: The basics (pp.526-550). Pearson.
Medsharps. (n.d.). Medical waste disposal: What are the challenges? Web.