The Evolving Role of Nurses in Population Health Management

This essay reflects on the evolving role of nurses in population health, highlighting the significant changes and increased complexity of their responsibilities. It addresses future issues likely to impact public health, such as rural healthcare, consumerism, workforce changes, and technology. The reflection focuses on how global health matters might affect Virginia and explores personal actions to implement population health strategies within the community or workplace. The author envisions becoming a public health nurse educator, emphasizing the need to equip aspiring nurses with disaster preparedness skills to cope with frequent catastrophes like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. The essay concludes by identifying ways to implement population health campaigns to enhance community resilience and satisfaction among modern nurses.

Running Head: NURSES’ ROLE IN POPULATION HEALTH
Nurses’ Role in Population Health
Institution
Student name
Date

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Nurses’ Role in Population Health
From the onset, I have to agree with Halpern et al (2015) that the nursing profession has
continued to experience drastic changes over time. The responsibilities and duties that nurses
undertake in their routine practice have not only become more complex but significantly
increased. Until the last lesson, I used to think that nurses’ roles are strictly confined to primary
support, leadership and coordination and patient advocacy. But looking at the emerging trends in
public health, I realize that I have more to play as a nurse. In this reflection, therefore, I will look
at the future issues that are likely to bear significant impact on public health, and how global
health matters are likely to affect my community in Virginia. Now knowing what lies ahead and
with the knowledge I have acquired over time, I will reflect further on what I can do at a personal
level to implement population health at my workplace or my community.
There exist a vast number of health issues that are likely to bear a great impact on the
way we perceive public health today and in future (Nash et al, 2015). The trends present a mixed
bag with both positive and negative outcomes. These issues include rural healthcare,
consumerism in healthcare, the workforce change, transformation of administration with regard
to specialty drugs and benefits strategy, integrated care for population health, and use of
technology in transformation and acceleration of healthcare (Stanhope & Lancaster,
2015). Others include disruption of revenue and drug supply chain flow and legal and regulatory
changes.
Each of the aforementioned aspects is bound to impact healthcare provision either
positively or otherwise. In the US and specifically Virginia, the matter of evolving healthcare
environment and workforce may ominously affect the delivery of healthcare services as well as
the lives of its residents. Thousands of young and energetic individuals are likely to join the
industry. Apart from wages, this generation of manpower wants not just decent wages but a

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Nurses’ Role in Population Health
sense of meaning, a job where their help is felt (Arcaya & Figueroa, 2017). However, the skills
needed by this workforce are rapidly changing and this may render make them useless in some
circumstances. Consider my state, Virginia where hurricanes and tsunamis are frequent. Such
catastrophes make routine support to trauma victims difficult since there are normally power outs
and the hospitals are filled to capacity. These are situations that a modern-day nurse may not
have been trained to operate in yet is required to act.
My vision is to become a public health nurse educator. With knowledge of imminent
disasters across the US and the world at large, I will endeavor to research and educate aspiring
nurses the necessary skills required for patient care during disasters. This, I hope, will prepare
the new generation of nurses to cope with frequent catastrophes that hit the world such as
earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. I can also organize population health campaigns on disaster
management and preparedness. I believe this will make a modern nurse relevant and satisfied.
Identify one way that you can implement population health in your community or workplace.

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Nurses’ Role in Population Health
References
Arcaya, M. C., & Figueroa, J. F. (2017). Emerging trends could exacerbate health inequities in
The United States. Health Affairs, 36(6), 992-998.
Halpern, B. S., Longo, C., Lowndes, J. S. S., Best, B. D., Frazier, M., Katona, S. K., & Selig, E.
R. (2015). Patterns and emerging trends in global ocean health. PloS one, 10(3), e0117863.
Nash, D. B., Reifsnyder, J., Fabius, R. J., Clarke, J. L., & Skoufalos, A. (2015). Population
health. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2015). Public health nursing-e-book: Population-centered health
care in the community. Elsevier Health Sciences.