Nurse Insights: What Is the Impact of Global Health Trends on Nursing?
Nursing is a critical component of healthcare systems worldwide. As global health issues continue to emerge and evolve, the role of nurses in addressing and adapting to these trends becomes increasingly important. This article explores the impact of global health trends on nursing education, as well as the role of nurses in addressing and adapting to international health trends.
What Is the Impact of Global Health Trends on Nursing?
In our Nurse Insights series, experienced nurses offer an insider’s perspective on the nursing profession by addressing common questions, challenges, and triumphs of their careers.
Impact of Global Health Issues on Nursing Education
Global health issues and trends significantly shape both the curriculum and teaching methods in nursing education. They influence the topics included in the curriculum since they highlight what skills and knowledge future nurses will require.
Global Health and the Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to equip you with the ability to address the health issues that arise in different regions around the world. For example, pandemic preparedness has become a key area of focus in the curriculum since the outbreak of diseases like Ebola and COVID-19. As a result, nursing schools increasingly include subjects like epidemiology, virology, and infectious disease control.
Equally important is the rise in non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. These trends have led to an increase in the teaching of chronic disease management and early detection.
Often, the curriculum responds to health crises. For instance, the opioid crisis in America has necessitated more instruction about addiction and substance use disorders.
Global Health Influencing Teaching Methods
Global health trends also dictate changes in teaching methods. With the rise of multi-drug resistant organisms, nursing programs will entail more emphasis on infection control practices, such as proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment use to reduce healthcare-associated infections.
Advancements in technology have also favored the adoption of simulation-based learning, providing a safe and controlled environment to practice complex scenarios.
In case of a global health emergency or the context of a pandemic, remote learning tools have been leveraged to continue delivering quality nursing education. This often involves creating virtual patient scenarios or conducting online group discussions.
Finally, there’s a greater push towards inter-professional education, considering the complexity of global health issues. This method values collaboration among healthcare professionals as a way to prepare you for a team-based work approach in a clinical setting.
Nursing’s Role in International Health Trends
Nurses play a crucial role in addressing and adapting to international health trends. They monitor global health issues closely, implement care strategies based on those trends, engage in health policy discussions, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders to manage and respond to health challenges effectively. Their contributions are essential to the global health system, which is constantly evolving with emerging trends and crises.
Understanding International Health Trends
One of the key actions nurses take is staying informed about global health issues. From chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer to infectious diseases such as COVID-19, nurses monitor these trends closely. They integrate this knowledge into their practice, continually modifying their approach to meet the dynamic needs of the patient population.
Implementing Care Based on Trends
Nurses also implement care strategies that specifically address major health trends. If heart disease is on the rise globally, registered nurses may increase the frequency of cardiovascular screenings and educate patients about heart-healthy lifestyles. They are at the forefront of patient care, adapting their practices to match the demands of global health trends.
Advocacy in Health Policy
Nurses, in their roles as healthcare advocates, often engage in health policy discussions and reforms at both the local and international levels. They work hard to ensure that these policies reflect and respond to international health trends appropriately. In cases of escalating pandemics or outbreaks, for example, nurses may advocate for more robust public health measures.
Interdisciplinary Collaborations
In large-scale health concerns, it’s not uncommon for nurses to collaborate with other professionals, agencies, and stakeholders. These collaborations can be extremely effective in managing and adapting to international health trends, often leading to more comprehensive and strategic responses to health challenges.
As a nurse, your role isn’t confined to the four walls of a health facility. You’re a key player in a much larger, global health system that constantly evolves with emerging trends and challenges. By understanding and adapting to international health trends, you can provide relevant care and make significant contributions to global health.
