Nurse Leader's Role: Analyzing & Addressing TB Outbreak in New Jersey

This discussion post addresses a hypothetical tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in a rural New Jersey county, focusing on the role of a nurse leader in community health. It identifies the higher incidence of TB among specific populations like Asian and Hispanic communities and foreign-born individuals. The post uses the epidemiologic triangle to explain the relationship between the causative agent (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), susceptible individuals (those in close contact with infected persons or with weakened immune systems), and environmental factors (damp, closed spaces). It proposes primary (BCG vaccination), secondary (screening via TST and DOT), and tertiary (drug treatment like rifampin and isoniazid) interventions to control the outbreak. The response also highlights the need for improved screening and vaccination programs in the Hudson region compared to the Mercer region. Desklib provides students access to similar solved assignments and resources.

Running head: ROLE OF NURSE LEADER
Role of Nurse Leader
Name of the student
University name
Author’s note

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ROLE OF NURSE LEADER
Table of Contents
Response to post:........................................................................................................................2
Incidence and prevalence of TB in community.........................................................................2
Relationship among casual agents, susceptible persons and environmental factors..................2
Primary, secondary and tertiary interventions in breaking the outbreak of tuberculosis...........3
Consideration to be applied within own community.................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4

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ROLE OF NURSE LEADER
Response to post:
Incidence and prevalence of TB in community
The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has been higher within various boroughs in the
province of New Jersey. The rates have been considerably higher within certain sections of
the society such as the Asian and Hispanic people. The rates have been 146 per 100,000
people in the Asian community itself. Moreover the rate of TB cases has been seen to be
higher in the foreign born people compared to the nationals (Tucker et al., 2017). Therefore,
the Hudson borough of New Jersey has relatively higher number of cases of tuberculosis
compared to the Mercer region.
Relationship among environmental factors, casual agents and susceptible persons
The epidemiologic triangle could be used to draw a relationship between the casual
agents of a disease, the environmental factors which contributes towards development of the
disease and the prevalent health conditions of the person.
The causative agent for tuberculosis is a bacterium named Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. The bacteria infect the lungs and spreads to other body parts. TB is a
contagious disease and mainly spreads though air. The persons susceptible to the infection are
the ones living in near vicinity to the patients contracted with TB (Graham, 2016).
Additionally, closed and damp places have been seen to increase the chances of contraction
of TB by increasing the chances of exposure to the causative agent (Chitnis, Robsky,
Schecter, Westenhouse & Barry, 2015). The lowered immunity can also act as a contributing
factor.

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Primary, secondary and tertiary interventions in breaking the outbreak of tuberculosis
The primary line of prevention which could be applied by the nurse Debby is
provision of BCG vaccination to the patients. The secondary intervention which could be
applied over here are identification of the person who have developed TB through screening
methods such as Tuberculin skin test (TST) along with administration of Directly observed
therapy (DOT) (Vaghela et al., 2015). The tertiary line of defence which could be applied by
the nurse Debby are tretatemnt of active TB through administration of drugs such as rifampin
and isoniazid.
Consideration to be applied within own community
In comparison to the mercer region the rates have been comparatively high in the
Hudson region. Hence, some of the possible loopholes which have been identified over here
are lack of effective screening procedures and vaccination programs.

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References
Chitnis, A. S., Robsky, K., Schecter, G. F., Westenhouse, J., & Barry, P. M. (2015). Trends in
tuberculosis cases among nursing home residents, California, 2000 to 2009. Journal
of the American Geriatrics Society, 63(6), 1098-1104.
Graham, S. (2016). The Union's Desk Guide for the Diagnosis and Management of TB in
Children.
Tucker, A., Mithoo, J., Cleary, P., Woodhead, M., MacPherson, P., Wingfield, T., ... &
Squire, S. B. (2017). Quantifying the need for enhanced case management for TB
patients as part of TB cohort audit in the North West of England: a descriptive
study. BMC public health, 17(1), 881.
Vaghela, J. F., Kapoor, S. K., Kumar, A., Dass, R. T., Khanna, A., & Bhatnagar, A. K.
(2015). Home based care to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis patients: a pilot
study. Indian Journal of Tuberculosis, 62(2), 91-96.