NURS 4115 – Week 3 Discussion – Preventing Disease in Communities – The Role of Public Health, the Silent Sentinel

NURS 4115 – Week 3 Discussion – Preventing Disease in Communities – The Role of Public Health, the Silent Sentinel

For this week’s discussion, I visited one of Hillsborough Counties’ magnet Public Schools, Braulio Alonso High School – Home of the Ravens. Alonso is home to approximately 2,600 diverse students. The population in this school is 51% Hispanic, 30.8% Caucasian, 7% African American, and 10% other. This school strives to protect its students and promote health and well-being while also preventing disease. I met with one of the school nurses named Gina in their school clinic, which is located in the back of the school near the gym. Gina and I discussed the topics and questions posed for this week intermittently as students came in with some minor issues during our meeting. On average, the office sees anywhere between 70 to 90 students a day. A lot of the issues that are treated in the clinic are common cold symptoms, sports injuries and headaches, vomiting and nausea.

At this time, the school’s policy on giving advice or information about birth control states that advice is not to be given and the student should discuss it with their primary provider and/or parent. Education can be provided in a general form, but advice is not to be given. Regarding sexually transmitted diseases, the school does provide education within the clinic when asked, but they also have sex education as part of the student’s curriculum. They do, however, track vaccination compliance thoroughly. The students are required to be up to date prior to starting the ninth grade. If any follow-up boosters are needed, the nurse follows up with the student’s family. A phone call is placed along with a letter sent home fifteen days after the call. If they are unable to obtain compliance within that time, another letter is sent on day thirty and again on day forty-five if needed. If the family does not respond at that time, the health department is contacted, and the student is not able to return to the campus until they are in compliance.

NURS 4115 – Week 3 Discussion – Preventing Disease in Communities – The Role of Public Health, the Silent Sentinel

This campus is full of pride and dedication in all that they do. The staff shared that they have not had any issues in over a decade with any outbreaks of diseases or health issues. As a PHN, I would ask how often the students are exposed to hygiene education. Are there any seminars, clubs or other programs that the students can participate in to promote health and wellness? The school campus was meticulously clean, in my opinion. Although I was only able to walk within the administrative area, the commons area was very well-groomed. I would suggest placing hand sanitizers throughout the school to promote hand hygiene. The issue with education is we can educate the public on good hygiene, vaccination compliance and other preventative measures, but infection and disease will continue its cycle of spreading. There are always individuals that are out of compliance which leads to challenges in public health. “Ultimately, people change only when their motivation outweighs the challenges, so provide the best environment possible” (Brecher, 2014). My role as a change agent would be leadership. I believe this role is the umbrella of all roles as an agent of change. As a leader you communicate, you advocate, and you create better opportunities and policies for the community.

Reference

Brecher, N. D. (2014). SERVING AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE: The Leader’s Role. Journal of Property Management, 79(3), 22. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost- com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=96121706&site=eds- live&scope=site

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NURS 4115 – Week 3 Discussion – Preventing Disease in Communities – The Role of Public Health, the Silent Sentinel

In this Discussion, you will visit a site and interview people who work there about risks for disease transmission, then report on your findings.