A public health nurse is asked to investigate a potential disease outbreak at the local high school. As a PHN, they would ask about the school's vaccination and sexual health policies to assess risks. They would suggest educating students on prevention to avoid spreading disease. The PHN would also review water testing at the treatment plant and STD services at the health department to determine other risks in the community. Their role is to identify issues and facilitate changes that protect public health.

1. Discussion: Preventing Disease in Communities HW
Discussion: Preventing Disease in Communities HWDiscussion: Preventing Disease in
Communities HWDiscussion: Preventing Disease in Communities: The Role of Public Health,
the Silent SentinelOur “world” starts with our own community, county, and state, then
moves out in concentric rings from that point to include our country and eventually the
world. Disease is transmitted from person to person through direct contact, or from a
source such as a vector or contaminated water through a variety of means, such as flood
waters or even terrorist actions. Individuals with limited or no knowledge of safe sex
methods may have unprotected sexual relations and knowingly or unknowingly transmit
disease to their partners, then to their partners’ partners, and on and on. Often it is the role
of the public health nurse to investigate a disease outbreak, contain it, and then educate
others so that the same situation doesn’t happen again.In this Discussion, you will visit a
site and interview people who work there about risks for disease transmission, then report
on your findings.To prepare, select which site you will visit from the following options:High
school nurse’s officeWater treatment plantPublic health departmentPediatrician’s
officeCreate a brief description of your setting, providing some context; for example, how
many patients are seen, size or capacity of the facility as applicable, and/or the location of
the office or organization.Take pictures of the building and surrounding area/neighborhood
to provide context. You do not have to include the interior/s of the building/s or
people/clients who may be there.Then, during your site visit, pose the questions listed in
the following chart:High school nurseWhat is the school’s policy on giving students advice
about birth control?How often do you get requests for information about birth control or
how to protect oneself from an STD?How do you track vaccination compliance, and what
happens to students who fall out of compliance?Local water treatment plantWhere does
your community’s water come from?Where is it stored?How often is it tested for
purity?What safeguards are in place to prevent tampering with the water supply?
Discussion: Preventing Disease in Communities HWLocal public health departmentDoes
this department have an STD clinic?In addition to testing, does the department offer
treatment of one party or both parties?What is the most frequently diagnosed STD?A
pediatrician’s officeWhat is your policy on accepting patients who refuse vaccinations?What
are the most common reasons parents decline vaccinations for their children in this
particular office?What is the policy at this office for giving antibiotics to treat viral
syndromes?Now, look at the site you visited through the eyes of the public health nurse
(PHN). Imagine you are the PHN and have been asked to investigate an outbreak at this

2. facility.What questions would you ask?What suggestions could you make to avoid a disease
outbreak at the facility?What would your role as a change agent be for any deficiencies you
find in your on-site inspection?By Day 3Post your brief description and pictures of the site
you visited. Share the answers you were given to the questions you posed. Then, respond to
the above prompts through the eyes of a PHN asked to investigate an outbreak at this
facility.Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.Note
Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the
readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills,
including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes;
paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use
the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).or from a source such as a vector or
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