Public Health and Community Disc 3
Topic 1: Identify at least two changes that have occurred in your local community within the past few years that may contribute to emerging infectious diseases. Why do you think these changes are beneficial or not?
Response 1: (Karen) Within the past few years many changes have occurred in the LGBTQ community. In 2018, transgender individuals are allowed to serve in the military for the first time and in 2020, Virginia becomes the first state to protect LGBTQ individuals in the workplace (studysmart.com, n.d). The percentage of LGB in California has increased from 2.7 % in 2003 to 4.5% in 2014 (thepridela.com, 2022). I feel that the increase in numbers of the LGTBQ community may contribute to the emerging infectious diseases such as monkey pox. The rates of STDs such as HIV and syphilis have increased specially in communities of color, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (publichealth.lacounty.gov, 2018). I believe that the LGTBQ community is more accepted now than before and these changes of acceptance are beneficial to the community.
Response 2: (Kayla)Two changes that have occurred over the past two years are an increase in climate change which leads to an increase in the spread of infectious diseases and a increase in urbanization. With rapid urbanization growing more wildlife is being destroyed which helps contribute to our ecosystem. Rising temperatures contribute to an increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. I think both of these changes are more harming to our communities health rather then beneficial.
Topic 2: Discuss two areas of difficulty you encountered or two new nursing interventions you learned this week at your clinical site. You may also choose to share one of each.
Response 1: (Maria)
For a while now, I have been seeing a lot of masks and gloves on the ground throughout my community. It is very disappointing to think people are being irresponsible and littering like this. After doing a little research, it turns out that my community is not the only one noticing this. Apparently, the people in Wales (United Kingdom) have also been seeing a significant increase in litter that is described as discarded PPE including single use masks and gloves. This is certainly not the best way to decrease the spread of this virus. Have any of you seen this in your communities? Thoughts?
ITV Report. (2020). Concerns over rise in ‘coronavirus litter’, with masks, gloves and wipes dumped. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-06-09/concerns-over-rise-in-coronavirus-litter-as-people-discard-masks-and-gloves/
Response 2: (Yenlys)
This week at my clinical site, I encountered two interventions that I found to be the most difficult. The most challenging one was pain control for patients with dementia or confused patients. This is difficult, especially considering how poorly these people report pain levels and descriptions. In other words, assessment has to rely heavily on direct observation. The effect of the neuropathological alterations in dementia on pain perception is another significant but frequently overlooked problem. Due to the lack of communicative skills brought on by the symptoms of dementia, assessing pain is also made to be extremely difficult.
This week I also discovered that it is extremely difficult to prevent falls in people who are disoriented. Elderly people with cognitive impairment are more prone to fall than their colleagues who do not. Those with dementia who have a history of falling are five times more likely to be institutionalized than those with dementia who do not (Muir-Hunter, S. W., 2017). Patients who are confused don’t have the cognitive ability to recognize danger, therefore they are at increased risk of falling and being injured.
