Our Global Community, GCSE Coursework Example

Introduction

In recent weeks, significant discussions and actions in regards to the Ebola virus have dominated the world focus, particularly as the disease has begun to spread to other countries beyond Africa, such as the United States. However, this is not the top global health challenge that exists in the world today. The most significant global health challenge is poverty, which does not discriminate and affects millions of people throughout the world. The impoverished state of this population requires significant attention and focus as a means of developing new strategies to improve human health and wellbeing throughout the world. Although poverty exists throughout the world, it also exists on the home shores in the United States, in both urban and rural communities. This problem continues to be an issue that demonstrates a high level of need in many areas, including basic food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare services. The latter is of critical importance because it shapes how organizations respond to different issues and how they impact both children and adults. The following discussion will address these needs in greater detail and will emphasize the importance of nurses in the development of new practice methods to support patients who face poverty in different ways.

Analysis

Poverty is a challenging circumstance that requires an ongoing effort to address the root causes of the condition and how it impacts human health in ways that are difficult to overcome. From an economic perspective, it is evident that nurses require significant resources and capital to support impoverished patients, and this is associated with the allocation of funding to support these individuals and their struggles (Leatherman & Dunford, 2010). From this perspective, nurses must identify essential needs and aim to accommodate their patients in a manner that is consistent with nursing-based practice principles and objectives (Leatherman & Dunford, 2010). Furthermore, it is important to identify specific areas that require further attention and focus, such as the creation of opportunities to promote preventative health measures among the poor so that they are able to achieve an improved quality of life with at least the minimum amount of resources (Leatherman & Dunford, 2010).

In the United States, poverty exists in every corner; therefore, it must be addressed in the context of its ability to promote new directions to accommodate individuals and their healthcare needs. Programmatic efforts must be in place, such as Medicaid services, that will be used to support impoverished patients, particularly those with families who require care and treatment (Ku, Jones, Shin, Bruen, & Hayes, 2011). This approach to managing patient care requires nurses to be mindful of the needs of their patients and to be proactive in accomplishing these objectives as best as possible, given the circumstances that exist (Ku et.al, 2011). Nurses must be able to contribute to a larger framework that is designed to accommodate patients and to provide them with the tools and resources that are required to meet their needs effectively and without delays (Ku et.al, 2011). In particular, nurses must be available to support programs that are designed for Medicaid recipients so that they are able to experience a team-based approach to promote improvements in health over time (Ku et.al, 2011).

One area in which nurse participation is essential is with community-residing older adults, particularly as they experience poor nutrition and other challenges that have a significant impact on their overall health status (Kamp, Wellman, & Russell, 2010). Nutrition counseling and programs for older adults who reside in senior communities may benefit from these activities and a greater focus on the role of healthcare delivery in order to support their health and wellbeing. Nurses must be active contributors in the development of programs that will accommodate patients and that will encourage older adults who face poverty to accept assistance as it is provided and as it is available (Kamp et.al, 2010). Nutritional needs are of primary importance, and nurses must be able to support these needs in accordance with recommended guidelines (Kamp et.al, 2010).

Older adults who reside in both urban and rural communities face critical challenges; however, those in rural areas may face extreme conditions that are difficult to overcome (Averill, 2012). Therefore, it is important to identify the tools and resources that are available to improve the lives of these individuals, particularly from a nursing-based perspective (Averill, 2012). These factors contribute to the overall direction of the practice environment and the ability of nurses to effectively respond to the needs of these patients through the administration of direct patient care, preventative measures, and nutritional support as needed (Averill, 2012). Nurses must be proactive in these efforts and aim to provide a greater sense of acknowledgement and discovery of patient care opportunities that will have a positive impact on health and wellbeing (Averill, 2012).

Conclusion

Older adults who face poverty reside in many different types of communities; therefore, their needs must be evaluated by nurses as they administer care and treatment to these populations. Medicaid and other offerings provide a basis for these efforts, but additional resources are also required so that these patients receive comprehensive care and treatment as necessary, including basic nutrition to meet their needs. These factors play a role in the state of poverty in the United States and how to best overcome these conditions by using new approaches to accommodate patients effectively and consistently to meet their needs so that they are able to preserve their quality of life and to participate in new initiatives sponsored by nurses to improve their overall health.

References

Averill, J. B. (2012). Priorities for action in a rural older adults study. Family & community health, 35(4), 358.

Kamp, B. J., Wellman, N. S., & Russell, C. (2010). Position of the American dietetic association, American society for nutrition, and society for nutrition education: food and nutrition programs for community-residing older adults. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 42(2), 72-82.

Ku, L., Jones, K., Shin, P., Bruen, B., & Hayes, K. (2011). The states’ next challenge—securing primary care for expanded Medicaid populations. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(6), 493-495.

Leatherman, S., & Dunford, C. (2010). Linking health to microfinance to reduce poverty. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 88(6), 470-471.