Essay Example on Public Health Nurses in the Face of a Pandemic

To the hospital administrators, medical practitioners, nurses, and other health professionals, good evening to you all. I thank you all for creating time to come and listen to my talk about issues associated with nurses. I would specifically like to talk about how the roles of public health nurses change in the event of a pandemic. This issue is very critical since we are currently amidst a very dangerous pandemic - the Coronavirus. This pandemic caught health sectors in different parts of the globe unaware, therefore wreaking havoc, perhaps more fatal than expected. We, therefore, need to get to know how the nurses should respond to pandemics when they come.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Ideally, the role of public nurses is supposed to change to adapt to the needs of the public in the event of a pandemic. Articulating these changes in the roles of public nurses is critical in the formulation of a plan to regulate the spread of diseases as well as improving the health policies, medical procedures, and supplies. According to Rega and Fink (2014), during the pandemic situations, the public health nurses may be involved in a number of roles which are related to the diagnosis and treatment, surveillance, prevention, and patient education.

As we know, there are a number of contextual factors that may influence the public health nurses' perspectives, specifically on their pandemic roles as well as their responsibilities. Notably, these factors may consist of the natural evolution pandemic situation, early uncertainty which hinders communication and decision making, lack of representation of practicing public health nurses in a pandemic in decision making and planning, and variation in clinical expertise and typical practice patterns within and across the public health nurses (Rega & Fink, 2014).

For instance, during this pandemic situation (Coronavirus), the public health nurses should be in the forefront, working day and night in helping maintain other important health services in cases where the human resources are scarce, they should help in assessing as well as testing and managing Coronavirus patients (Rega & Fink, 2014). Public health nurses should help in building a clinical evidence base, particularly for policy measures, contributing massively to the surveillance of the pandemic, reinforcing the infection control messages in order to help in curbing the spread of the infection, and supporting families, especially during anxious times.

My fellow colleagues, since we are currently amidst a very dangerous pandemic, it's my plea that we remain flexible for any role that we may be called upon to carry out. Let's be at the forefront in fighting this pandemic by carrying out our duties diligently, being positive, and constantly encouraging the public, especially the affected families.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have chosen you as my target audience because I believe that you have the capability of saving the world from this pandemic. With the vast knowledge and skills you have acquired, the world looks upon you as the second savior; thus, you have a lot of responsibilities carry out during this situation. Hence, whenever called upon, I urged you to respond positively, take up the roles, and deliver adequately. Also, I call upon you to enlighten your friends, families, community members, and the public at large on the dangers of the pandemic. Thank you. My name is _______________ from _____________, and thank you all for your time and I believe that we shall overcome this situation.

Reference

Rega, P. P., & Fink, B. N. (2014). Immersive simulation education: a novel approach to pandemic preparedness and response. Public Health Nursing, 31(2), 167-174.