The paper is based on different nursing questions which include community health nursing, tobacco cessation, health care ethics and civic responsibility. This paper is for a community health nursing course. There is four part to the paper in which each page would be directed toward a particular topic. The first page would be about 'Healthy people in 2012†in this particular page you will start off by defining public health; moreover, discuss what public heath does, essential public health services and leading health indicators. Since I live in Miami, it would be very necessary if you discuss health concerns in Miami-Dade county (HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis A, obesity and School readiness to name a few). Lastly discuss the key goals focus on improving health.
Community Health in Nursing
Community Health Nursing
In its basic connotation, public health implies the art and science of bettering the health of the masses through various programs including advocating for healthy lifestyles, education and conducting research on the prevention and management of various diseases that affect the people. The major focus of public health is, therefore, to promote healthy standards and improve the welfare of the people around the globe. Considering the essence of good health, the subject may therefore become a very fundamental concern in any society.
The activities done under the public health are normally geared towards the prevention and management of diseases through research and promotion of healthy mannerisms. Most of the diseases that affect people are normally caused by simple concerns, which can normally be managed easily. For instance, several diseases are simply caused by poor hygiene, which can easily be avoided through education and provision of the necessary requirements. The focus of public health, in this regard, is basically to create awareness to the people on the importance maintaining high standards of hygiene in order to prevent such concerns. Proper healthcare is normally reflected in the presence of healthy communities with good standards of living. Public health, therefore, strives to offer services such as clean water, proper waste management and disposal and other services geared toward preventing diseases. Other programs under the public health include setting up of standards and ensuring their implementation.
In Miami-Dale County, the Health department is battling with myriad health concerns with the primary objective of improving the general health situation in the region. Presently the major concern is epidemiology where various programs are ongoing in alleviating the concern. Research on the community and emergency preparedness are some of the ongoing concerns. Nevertheless, the department is facing other concerns including Hepatitis a, obesity TB which is part of its agenda.
Tobacco cessation
Presently, tobacco smoking is one of the greatest health concerns around the globe. Tobacco is associated with several health complications which are growing by the day. Some of these diseases include several types of cancer and coronary heart attack. The cessation of tobacco smoking is, therefore, not only an importance aspect for the smoker but to other affected parties as well. It is fundamental to realize that quitting smoking is not really an easy task. It is normally a process that requires a lot of commitment and expertise in order to quit successfully. Nevertheless, those who successfully quit benefit greatly from the avoidance of situations which would have otherwise affected their health and cause further concerns for them.
Research has established that people who successfully quite smoking at an appropriate time will normally reduce their risk of dying of coronary heart disease by over half. This basically arises out of the fact that smoking is one of the most instigating factors on certain types of cancer. In the same way, it is realized successfully quitting smoking reduces coughs and shortness of breath by almost half within seven months of quitting the practice. Considering that smoking usually causes certain types of cancers like mouth, bladder and throat, the chances of dying from these diseases are usually reduced drastically in the event of quitting the practice of smoking. Normally there are several steps that can be used in the cessation of smoking. Some of these programs include the gradual reduction of smoking until one quits successfully and other medical interventions which are normally administered by health professionals. The success of any process relies upon the individual, age and the timeframe one has been smoking.
Health Care ethics
Like any other professional discipline, healthcare is bound by certain ethics, which are normally, intended to bring order and professionalism into the practice. Medical ethics are generally universal and all healthcare practitioners have the duty to adhere to them. Medical ethics are basically a collection of values, principles and moral judgments in the context of healthcare practice. For instance at the core of these values, is the aspect of autonomy. In this regard, it is realized that a patient is granted the right to accept or refuse treatment which only affects them. Medical practitioners are not therefore supposed to forcefully offer their services or compel patients to accept particular types of treatments. Instead, they should mostly inundate the patient with all the relevant information and give them the liberty to make their own decisions.
In the same way, the principle of beneficence states that the medical practitioner should always act to the best interest of the patient. The patient has the right to get the best service from the practitioner as much as can be granted. Indeed, considering the importance of health in the society, medical ethics are very proper avenues through which medical practice is improved. Healthcare touches on the very lives of human beings and this creates the need for proper guidelines and standards which must be adhered to. Patients normally entrust some of the most confidential information to their doctors who are certainly bound to keep them confidentially. Such practices may bring harmony and understanding between patients and the healthcare professionals.
Civic responsibility
Civic responsibility encompasses the various aspects which generally should guide the conduct of the public in all aspect of their lives. A mature society and a proper democracy can only be maintained in the event of proper civic responsibility. In this regard, people should understand and practice what is expected of them for their own good and for the general welfare of the people. In healthcare, civic responsibility is one of the best ways through which the health sector can be improved. Considering that most diseases and health concerns are mostly caused by people not rightly performing what is expected of them, it would become much important if everybody understood and acted properly in tandem with the social aspect.
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