NURS 4210 Week 2 Discussion – An Epidemic In the Community

NURS 4210 Week 2 Discussion – An Epidemic In the Community

The literature describes an epidemic as an occurrence in the form of a disease, injury, or other condition that spreads at a rate that exceeds the usual rate or level of that same occurrence (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2016). When investigating an epidemic, healthcare clinicians have found it beneficial to use a systematic investigative methodology. Such methodology should include identifying a health problem posing a potential risk among the community, how it is distributed, occurrence patterns, and factors that influence these patterns. For the purpose of this discussion, I will use the Epidemiologic Triangle.

The community health nurse, Debbie, in the scenario, has identified the health risk as tuberculosis (TB). She has also identified a specific population in which the disease is prevalent. According to Stanhope & Lancaster (2016), epidemiology investigations ascertain what, who, where, how, and why to characterize health outcomes. The next step the nurse would need to take is to establish the area in the community where these individuals primarily live and the determinants in that particular environment that may contribute to the distribution of this disease. Understanding the etiology and contributing factors of the disease will allow Debbie to determine the most effective interventions to employ.

NURS 4210 Week 2 Discussion – An Epidemic In the Community

There are disease prevention stages of intervention, also referred to as primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. The use of these intervention stages is common practice in public health (NCBI, 2017). Applying these stages of interventions to tuberculosis outbreaks could include vaccination as the primary intervention to prevent the occurrence of the disease in healthy individuals who do not have TB. Secondary prevention measures would focus on detecting those in the early stages of the disease development. Therefore, establishing those with whom the infected individuals have been in contact so that latent TB infection (LTBI) detections in the form of Tuberculin Skin Tests (TSTs) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFTB-G) tests can be performed would be ideal secondary prevention measures. Tertiary prevention would be treating those already diagnosed with TB with medication. Debbie can provide information to the patients on resources where they can receive these preventative interventions free of charge or for a nominal fee. My county is like the one described in the scenario. We have a large population of migrant workers in rural areas of the county. However, my county has a program specifically focused on the prevalence of TB and community health. The preventative interventions previously described are currently used in my county’s TB Control program spearheaded by the TB Control Clinic (Florida Department of Health, 2014).

References

Florida Department of Health. (2014, October 14). Tuberculosis Control Clinic. Retrieved from Florida Department of Health in Polk County: http://polk.floridahealth.gov/programs- and-services/clinical-and-nutrition-services/tb-control/index.html

NCBI. (2017). Applying epidemiologic concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention to the elimination of racial disparities in asthma. Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1904504/

Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2016). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

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NURS 4210 Week 2 Discussion – An Epidemic In the Community

Using the Epidemiologic Triangle concept, consider the relationship among causal agents, susceptible persons, and environmental factors. Then, respond to the following:

As a BSN-prepared community health nurse, what steps should Debbie take next?Considering economic and social considerations within the community, what are the primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions that Debbie might use in managing this outbreak?