Running head: QUESTIONS ON CURRENT AND FUTURE NURSING ISSUES 1
Questions on Current and Future Nursing Issues
Nursing holds an important role in the healthcare industry with nurses playing a
big role in both current and future healthcare structures. The following paper answers
several questions concerning chronic illnesses and disaster responses. These include
identifying reasons for the increase in chronic illnesses and the current and future roles
of nursing for these patients. It also contains critical analysis of disasters and their
responses.
Question 1: Chronic Illnesses
Chronic diseases refer to diseases that are long-term and incurable but
manageable. Many of these illnesses are progressive and only get worse with time.
These diseases include diabetes, strokes, and heart disease among others. Chronic
diseases are a worldwide phenomenon with the World Health Organization estimating
that in 2012, 38 million people died from these illnesses (Mendhis, 2014). It is one of the
global goals to reduce the numbers of those suffering from this kind of diseases by
25%.
The prevalence of chronic diseases is very high in the U.S due to several
reasons. The CDC reports that obesity, arthritis and diabetes are the leading chronic
diseases. One reason for this increase is the lack of enough physical activity among
adults and adolescents. According to the CDC, 25% of adolescents report no daily
physical activity (Mendhis, 2014). Another explanation for this rise is poor nutrition in the
U.S in terms of healthy eating habits. Many Americans consume large amounts of high-
fat content with little emphasis on fruits and vegetables therefore promoting heart
, QUESTIONS ON CURRENT AND FUTURE NURSING ISSUES 2
disease and obesity. Finally, excessive tobacco and alcohol intake are major
contributors to the rise in chronic diseases. Clearly, many of these causes are
preventable and manageable.
Question 2: Dealing with Chronic Illnesses
Nurses are some of the main healthcare professionals that deal with chronic
diseases regularly. One role that nurses currently play is as change agents. Nurses
have a responsibility to promote healthy choices and help patients understand why
change is beneficial. This role is especially important for patients suffering from chronic
diseases who must alter their lifestyle. Another role is that of the professional caregiver.
Nurses deal with the professional aspect of caring for the patient for example by
administering insulin injections for diabetes patients. The other role is that of an
advocate where nurses strive to bring awareness to the causes and preventative
measures of chronic diseases (Lundy & James, 2009).
In the future, nurses will play an even greater role in dealing with chronic
illnesses. Surveillance is critical in the future with nurses having to monitor patients who
have these illnesses as well as identify those at a high risk of contracting these
diseases. Health education is also important to raise awareness and push for
preventative measures that can help one to avoid these diseases. On the more
technical side, nurses will continue to give clinical care for those with these diseases as
well as remaining vigilant for chronic disease outbreaks in their region (Lundy & James,
2009). Other roles include case management for the large numbers of patients with
chronic illnesses as well as immunization for the preventable diseases.
Questions on Current and Future Nursing Issues
Nursing holds an important role in the healthcare industry with nurses playing a
big role in both current and future healthcare structures. The following paper answers
several questions concerning chronic illnesses and disaster responses. These include
identifying reasons for the increase in chronic illnesses and the current and future roles
of nursing for these patients. It also contains critical analysis of disasters and their
responses.
Question 1: Chronic Illnesses
Chronic diseases refer to diseases that are long-term and incurable but
manageable. Many of these illnesses are progressive and only get worse with time.
These diseases include diabetes, strokes, and heart disease among others. Chronic
diseases are a worldwide phenomenon with the World Health Organization estimating
that in 2012, 38 million people died from these illnesses (Mendhis, 2014). It is one of the
global goals to reduce the numbers of those suffering from this kind of diseases by
25%.
The prevalence of chronic diseases is very high in the U.S due to several
reasons. The CDC reports that obesity, arthritis and diabetes are the leading chronic
diseases. One reason for this increase is the lack of enough physical activity among
adults and adolescents. According to the CDC, 25% of adolescents report no daily
physical activity (Mendhis, 2014). Another explanation for this rise is poor nutrition in the
U.S in terms of healthy eating habits. Many Americans consume large amounts of high-
fat content with little emphasis on fruits and vegetables therefore promoting heart
, QUESTIONS ON CURRENT AND FUTURE NURSING ISSUES 2
disease and obesity. Finally, excessive tobacco and alcohol intake are major
contributors to the rise in chronic diseases. Clearly, many of these causes are
preventable and manageable.
Question 2: Dealing with Chronic Illnesses
Nurses are some of the main healthcare professionals that deal with chronic
diseases regularly. One role that nurses currently play is as change agents. Nurses
have a responsibility to promote healthy choices and help patients understand why
change is beneficial. This role is especially important for patients suffering from chronic
diseases who must alter their lifestyle. Another role is that of the professional caregiver.
Nurses deal with the professional aspect of caring for the patient for example by
administering insulin injections for diabetes patients. The other role is that of an
advocate where nurses strive to bring awareness to the causes and preventative
measures of chronic diseases (Lundy & James, 2009).
In the future, nurses will play an even greater role in dealing with chronic
illnesses. Surveillance is critical in the future with nurses having to monitor patients who
have these illnesses as well as identify those at a high risk of contracting these
diseases. Health education is also important to raise awareness and push for
preventative measures that can help one to avoid these diseases. On the more
technical side, nurses will continue to give clinical care for those with these diseases as
well as remaining vigilant for chronic disease outbreaks in their region (Lundy & James,
2009). Other roles include case management for the large numbers of patients with
chronic illnesses as well as immunization for the preventable diseases.
