Essay Sample on Strategic National Stockpile

Introduction

According to Robarge-Silkiner (2018), Social National Stockpile (SNS) refers to the largest national repository of life-saving medication and other medical supplies including surgical items, and vaccines for use in public health. Request for SNS is justified by the following conditions (Robarge-Silkiner, 2018). First, in case of unusual occurrence of disease among the population which has not been encountered previously. High death rates caused by common illnesses. Second, in the event, a disease affects animals and causes deaths among human beings (Robarge-Silkiner, 2018). Third, in the case of multiple presentations of disease-causing organisms. Lastly, SNS is requested if a common disease fails to respond to natural therapy or in cases of unexplained disease entities in a particular patient. SNS is also used in medical emergencies caused by an explosive event, terrorist attack or when clinical laboratory tests show a large number of people having similar symptoms (Robarge-Silkiner, 2018).

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It includes supplies of pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, other emergency medications, radiation, burn and blast, wound care, vaccines, antiviral and antitoxins drugs and chemical agent antidotes. Assets are meant to supplement local, regional and state medical supplies. They are accessed during emergencies. According to Robarge-Silkiner (2018), they are accessed through collaborative effort where local public health officers identify a potential health problem and make a decision to request for SNS assets to manage the situation.

Vector Control

When a disaster occurs, there are incidences of vector-borne diseases outbreak. According to WHO (2012), plans put forward to control vectors involve six steps. First step is vector assessment through situation analysis and need assessment of the disease. This involves establishing the local determinants of the vector for example transmission agents, when and where vectors breed. The second step is selecting an appropriate vector control method. It determines whether to adopt the use of chemical, biological, physical or environmental through habitat manipulation methods to control vectors (WHO, 2012). The third step is planning for resources needed regarding finances for vector control. The fourth step is designing an implementation program for vector control. The fifth step is monitoring and evaluation to analyse the progress of the control measures put in place (WHO, 2012). The sixth step is vector control is vital in reducing the spread of infectious diseases. It helps in identifying the vector, locating the breeding sites and evaluation of set measures in controlling them.

System Capacity and Emergency Preparedness Competency

System capacity refers to having the right resources to respond in case of a disaster (Veneema, 2013). It is related to the type, scope of resources available, the availability of adequate communication systems, proper infrastructure and complexity of the health care system. Resources available refer to both human and physical elements. Emergency preparedness, on the other hand, refers to providing caregivers with necessary skills and brief references on how to manage emergencies (Veneema, 2013). It involves assembling lists of health care facilities, medical, nursing and emergency personnel, public departments and volunteer agencies with their contacts and location.

Emergency preparedness involves carrying in-depth study of the health consequences resulting from disasters (Veneema, 2013). Both system capacity and emergency preparedness involve communication, utility management and designing of safety responsibilities of health care providers to manage disasters. Emergency preparedness differs from system capacity in that it involves a continuous cycle of planning, organising, equipping, practising, training and evaluating corrective action taken to deal with emergencies (Veneema, 2013). System capacity, on the other hand, refers to the provision of assets and staff to manage disasters.

Provisions from the ANA Code of Ethics

The code of ethics has nine provisions that nurses should adhere to for a better future for nurses, patients, and health care systems. Provision one of the ANA Code of ethics requires that practising nurses should exercise compassion and respect for inherent dignity, worth and unique features of every person (Fowler, 2017). This provision may seem contradictory because when a patient is quarantined, they may feel isolated and rejected which may not seem like disregard to human dignity. Provision three of the ANA code of ethics require that nurses promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of patients (Fowler, 2017). By placing a patient on quarantine, their freedom of movement is limited, and their privacy right is breached because his condition becomes known as a result of isolation.

Professional Development

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Patients are regarded as biopsychosocial beings experiencing disease and trauma and need nursing care (Adams, Holland & Urban, 2014). These needs are divided into the D motives and B motives .D motives are deficiency needs. Application of Maslow in nursing practice helps them to emphasise a person's strength rather than their weaknesses. It provides a blueprint for prioritising client care (Adams, Holland & Urban, 2014).

An occurrence of a disaster leads to depression and affects the mental health of the people affected by the event (Kelsey, 2016). Nurses cite barriers in providing treatment among concerns they experience while providing an emergency response (Kelsey, 2016). These barriers result in some patients not seeking treatment or discontinuing treatment. Consequently, this makes management of the incidences difficult (Kelsey, 2016). Poor coping skill was another concern in providing care to the victims of the disasters. Other factors were lack of transportation, health insurance or finances to seek care (Kelsey, 2016).

Therefore using Maslow hierarchy of needs nurses establish human needs in an aim to have a proper intervention (Kelsey, 2016). According to Maslow's theory of motivation, he reports that needs are on different levels, but he emphasises that the first measure would be to address the physiological needs (Kelsey, 2016). Physiological needs experienced following a disaster are fatigue, lack of food, water, and the emergence of health complications. Safety needs following a disaster include inadequate housing and lack of protection. These factors act as barriers to receiving treatment (Kelsey, 2016). Love needs include lack of a support system which makes patients feel neglected and alone causing depression and hinders them from seeking treatment (Kelsey, 2016).

Patient in the local ED

The timely arrival of the rescue squad, the poison ingestion error was prevented. The rescue team arrived in time to help save the child from being given ipecac syrup (Hojer et al., 2013). According to studies by Hojer et al., (2013), ipecac syrup should not be administered for accidental ingestion of poison because there are no clinical studies which confirm its benefit. There is also a probability of severe toxicity to the victim of poison ingestion if ipecac is administered (Hojer et al., 2013). This is because there is no alternative therapy or effective way to decrease gastrointestinal absorption. Although it is recommended in certain special cases there is no scientific backing of its efficiency, and it should, therefore, be avoided (Hojer et al., 2013).

References

Adams, M., Holland, N., & Urban, C. (2014). Pharmacology for nurses: A pathophysiologic approach (4thed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

Fowler, M.D. (2017). Faith and Ethics, Covenant and Code: The 2015 Revision of the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Journal of Christian Nursing: A Quarterly Publication of Nurses Christian Fellowship, 34(4), 216-224.

Hojer, J., Troutman, W., Hoppu, K., Erdman, A., Benson, B., Megarbane, B.Thanacoody, R., Bedry, R., & Caravati, E.M. (2013). Position paper update: ipecac syrup for gastrointestinal decontamination. Clinical Toxicology, 51(3), 134-139. doi: 10.3109/15563650.2013.770153

Kelsey, J. (2016). Barriers to Treatment and the Connection to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Counselor Education Capstone. 18, 1-36

Robarge-Silkiner, A. S., (2018). Introduction to the Strategic National Stockpile: KDHE Center for Public Health Preparedness. Veneema, T.G. (2013). Disaster nursing and emergency preparedness: For chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism and other hazards. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

WHO. (2012). A Handbook for Integrated Vector Management: World Health Organization. 1 -78