Global Public Health Nursing Issues:Perspective from Nazareth College

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Global Public Health Nursing IssuesPerspective
from Nazareth College

• Dr. Marie O'TooleChair and ProfessorDepartment
  of NursingNazareth College

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Challenges and Opportunities

• Influence Health Care
• Promote and encourage a wellness model- not
  merely prepare nurses to work in acute care
  settings.
• Provide more, as well as more appropriate access
  to care

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Globalization

• Protect the title nurse-
• Build capacity for nurses-
• Stop the brain drain by recognizing and
  appreciating nursing expertise.
• Provide appropriate education for nurses- in
  institutions of Higher Education

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Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative
care of individuals of all ages, families, groups
and communities, sick or well and in all
settings. Nursing includes the promotion of
health, prevention of illness, and the care of
ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy,
promotion of a safe environment, research,
participation in shaping health policy and in
patient and health systems management, and
education are also key nursing roles.
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Economic Impact on Nurses

• More applications to nursing schools in the
  United States then ever before . . .
• In the first systematic study of the problems
  faced by nurses globally, Penn State researchers
  have found that the nursing shortage is a
  worldwide phenomenon that is both jeopardizing
  health care and creating stressful working
  conditions for nurses.

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Global Aging

• The growing number of older adults increases
  demands on the public health system and on
  medical and social services. Chronic diseases,
  which affect older adults disproportionately,
  contribute to disability, diminish quality of
  life, and increased health- and long-term--care
  costs. Increased life expectancy reflects, in
  part, the success of public health interventions,
  but public health programs must now respond to
  the challenges created by this achievement,
  including the growing burden of chronic
  illnesses, injuries, and disabilities and
  increasing concerns about future caregiving and
  health-care costs. (MMWR)

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Internationalization

• Opportunity to have create partnerships between
  countries- no one has the perfect answer to
  nursing practice, together we have a can create
  an evidence based system for education and
  practice.
• Mentorship and building capacity is key.

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Nurse Migration

• Think out of the box-
• Exchanges between developed and developing
  countries could enrich all nursing practice
• All nurses need to be paid a living wage and
  respected for the role they play in health care

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Standardize International Nursing Education?

• Yes, so that all nurses have the qualifications
  to implement the roles defined in the ICN
  definition of nurse.

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Diversity

• Bologna Process
• Tuning Process-
• Important initiatives to insure that nursing
  competencies are achieved.
• Assures the public of good nursing care.