Scenario: You are the PHN working at your local public health department in the nursing division. It is the middle of summer, and you have been receiving telephone calls asking about “the flu season” since the vaccine wasn’t accurate in predicting the strains of influenza that affected your community last year, and many people contracted the virus. Business and community leaders are concerned because they don’t want a repeat performance of last year. You have been asked to develop some solutions to community concerns. Select two of the following scenarios and respond to the questions that are posed in each.
Scenario 1: Imagine that initial pandemic flu cases have been identified in your jurisdiction. Some people are home sick, and others are staying home fearful that they may become infected with the flu. What advice would you give to local business owners to prepare for this event? Name two actions that business owners can take to keep their businesses open.
Scenario 1, Part B. As incidents of influenza continue to rise, local business owners are worried about loss of revenue if several large planned conventions are forced to cancel due to the flu. What advice can you give these business owners? Should all events be cancelled?
Scenario 2: Disease rates are rising, and estimates are that as many as 20% of the population are ill with confirmed influenza. Several businesses have closed and services have been suspended. What advice would you give to local law enforcement officials so they can continue to serve the needs of the people? Describe two actions that law enforcement workers can take to remain on the job. How will the gaps in personnel created by those who are ill be covered by those who are still well? What advice will you give?
Scenario 3: Disease rates are remaining at 20% of the population, and many schools have closed due to teacher absence. Since parents still have to work if they are not sick with the flu, what advice can you give day care providers? What two ideas can you share with them so they can stay open and able to care for the children of working parents? Should all school sporting events be cancelled? What information should parents be given? Should announcements be given daily?
Scenario 4: The numbers of influenza victims has reached 25% of the population. Many of the large grocery stores in your community are short-staffed due to employee sick calls. Shelves are bare since many of the workers are home with the flu, and even if the storeowner could stock the shelves, cashiers are home sick, too. In-store pharmacists are struggling to keep their pharmacies open to serve the public. Consumables like bread and milk are in short supply since many delivery drivers are home sick. What two actions can you recommend to these storeowners so that your community doesn’t suffer?
Scenario 5: With 25% of the total population sick with influenza, your hospital is short of staff at a time of very high census. While many of the administrative positions are unaffected by illness, at least 40% of the nurses have called in sick or are at home caring for very sick children. Name two recommendations that you can give your hospital administration to keep their services available for the community.
Scenario 6: The community is turning to the Health Department for assistance because reported incidents of influenza have risen from 5% of the population to 10% of the population in a matter of days. What is your first response to this situation? What steps will you take? Where will you start?
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
By Day 3
Post your response to two sets of scenario-specific questions as well as the following:
- Which agencies are available to lead and assist in the disaster response?
- What resources are available in your community?
- How might resources be used most efficiently?
- Are there any gaps that may pose a problem?
- Identify potential strengths and weaknesses in the community.
Support your response with references from professional nursing literature.
Notes Initial Post: This should be a 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidenceLinks to an external site. from the readings and include in-text citationsLinks to an external site.. Utilize essay-levelLinks to an external site. writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional materialLinks to an external site. and organizational framesLinks to an external site.. Avoid quotes; paraphraseLinks to an external site. to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference listLinks to an external site. is required. Use the most current evidenceLinks to an external site. (usually ≤ 5 years old).
By Day 7
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question.
Respond to at least two colleagues. Your responses should be substantial and should contribute to the Discussion. Support with evidence, if indicated.
Enter the discussion thread on 3 separate days. Write at least two posts to two separate peers.
Learning Resources
Required Readings
- Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2020). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (10th ed.). Elsevier.
- Chapter 10, “Evidence-Based Practice” (pp. 218-230)
- Chapter 21, “Public Health Nursing Practice and the Disaster Management Cycle” (pp. 454-480)
- Chapter 22, “Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation” (pp. 481-497)
- Chapter 23, “Program Management” (pp. 498-520)
Required Media
- Walden University, LLC. (2009). Family, community and population-based care: Emergency preparedness and disaster response in community health nursing [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.
https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/86517/external_tools/retrieve?display=borderless&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwaldencanvasprod.kaf.kaltura.com%2Fbrowseandembed%2Findex%2Fmedia%2Fentryid%2F1_dem2ikat%2FshowDescription%2Ffalse%2FshowTitle%2Ffalse%2FshowTags%2Ffalse%2FshowDuration%2Ffalse%2FshowOwner%2Ffalse%2FshowUploadDate%2Ffalse%2FplayerSize%2F766x431%2FplayerSkin%2F51364222%2F - O’Neill, C, & O’Neill, M. (2012). How to step up in the face of disaster [Video]. TED conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/caitria_and_morgan_o_neill_how_to_step_up_in_the_face_of_disasterLinks to an external site.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.
This Ted Talk describes the actions of two sisters who step up as leaders during a tornado disaster in their community.
Optional Resources
Scholarly writing is a critical component of nursing academics. Walden University provides resources to support scholarly writing such as the CON Writing Template, Grammarly, access to the Walden Writing Center editing services, and many other tools for success.
Access these supportive resources for successful writing in the Writing Resources page found in the Start Here module.
