Nurses are charged to incorporate knowledge of the environment into their nursing practice. Nurses are essential to improve environmental health through nursing education, research, and practice. A public health nurse incorporates an “upstream” focus in the community health position working with the community population. The community health nurse must consider the precautionary principle in the upstream focus. The nurse has to consider how the core functions of public health will be applied.
What strategic actions does the community health nurse need to consider as part of the upstream framework?
The community health nurse is using the precautionary principle in the upstream framework in the community. What is the precautionary principle and how is it applied to public health and the core functions?
The core functions of public health can be applied to public health nursing. What are the core functions of public health?
Full Answer Section
The community health nurse is using the precautionary principle in the upstream framework in the community. What is the precautionary principle and how is it applied to public health and the core functions?
The precautionary principle is a decision-making framework that states that if there is a threat of serious or irreversible harm, even if the scientific evidence is inconclusive, action should be taken to prevent the harm.
The precautionary principle can be applied to public health in a number of ways. For example, it can be used to justify taking action to reduce exposure to environmental pollutants, even if the full health effects of those pollutants are not known. It can also be used to justify investing in preventive measures, such as vaccination programs, even if the cost of those measures is high.
The precautionary principle is also relevant to the core functions of public health. The first core function of public health is assessment, which involves identifying and monitoring health problems. The precautionary principle can be used to guide this assessment process by ensuring that all potential health threats are considered, even if the evidence is not conclusive.
The second core function of public health is policy development, which involves developing and implementing policies that promote health. The precautionary principle can be used to inform this policy development process by ensuring that policies are based on the best available evidence and that they take into account the potential for serious or irreversible harm.
The third core function of public health is assurance, which involves ensuring that all people have access to the resources they need to be healthy. The precautionary principle can be used to guide this assurance process by ensuring that everyone is protected from potential health threats, regardless of their ability to pay.
The core functions of public health can be applied to public health nursing. What are the core functions of public health?
The core functions of public health are assessment, policy development, and assurance.
- Assessment: This involves identifying and monitoring health problems, as well as the factors that contribute to those problems.
- Policy development: This involves developing and implementing policies that promote health.
- Assurance: This involves ensuring that all people have access to the resources they need to be healthy.
Public health nurses play a vital role in all three core functions of public health. They assess health needs, develop and implement interventions, and advocate for policies that promote health.
Sample Answer
What strategic actions does the community health nurse need to consider as part of the upstream framework?
The upstream framework is a public health approach that focuses on preventing problems before they occur. This is in contrast to the downstream framework, which focuses on treating problems after they have occurred.
The strategic actions that a community health nurse needs to consider as part of the upstream framework include:
- Identifying the root causes of health problems. This involves understanding the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health problems.
- Developing interventions that address the root causes of health problems. These interventions can be at the individual, community, or policy level.
- Advocating for policies that support healthy living. This includes policies that promote healthy eating, physical activity, and environmental protection.
- Building community capacity. This involves working with community members to develop the skills and resources they need to address health problems.