Nurses play one of the most crucial roles in the healthcare field. Their role in patient care is always appreciated, even though it may not seem like enough. In recent years, nurses have gone beyond mere healthcare providers, becoming advocates for different policy implementations and even leaders in the healthcare field. They have also leveraged their knowledge of epidemiology in many ways.
This guide will cover the specifics of how nurses can leverage their epidemiological knowledge, including putting together evidence-based interventions. Evidence-based interventions give nurses the ability to lead the charge on how healthcare professionals can make informed decisions in regard to preventing illnesses and injuries, treating them, and caring for patients.
Education sets the benchmark
Even nurses with established careers benefit from continuous education. For those seeking leadership roles, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs like the Wilkes DNP program, offer the highest level of nursing expertise to excel in clinical leadership positions. Notably, the curriculum includes a course in epidemiology and environmental health, empowering nurses to leverage this knowledge in real-world situations. By providing a comprehensive learning experience, the program ensures nurses are prepared to tackle complex healthcare scenarios through effective nursing leadership.
How to apply epidemiological knowledge in nursing?
Nurses who possess epidemiological knowledge can leverage and apply it in various ways.
Research
It’s no secret that innovations in healthcare or any other field often start with research. Nurses are able to conduct research studies using their epidemiological knowledge. Using this approach, they will come to understand the patterns of diseases and the risk factors that they carry. Nurses can also use their knowledge to home in on specific health issues and how they affect various groups of people.
The idea here is for nurses to determine what trends may arise in regard to specific diseases or health issues. For example, a nurse focused on cardiovascular disease may perform research that builds a connection between the disorder and its frequent occurrences in those who are among a specific socioeconomic status. From there, nurses can also create and implement solutions that can help reverse the trend in a simple but practical approach.
At the same time, nurses who perform rigorous research can identify other contributing factors. With low socioeconomic status, one common issue is the need for more affordability for quality healthcare. Another is the need for more access. The research provided will be more than enough for nurses to help create a solution or advocate for one to be developed.
Program development
Nurses with a wealth of epidemiological knowledge can also use it to identify the health needs and priorities of patients and develop programs to address them. This ties into the research they perform and the data they collect and analyze in the process. The specific data nurses use for developing said programs include but are not limited to risk factors, patterns, and any other determinants.
Epidemiological data can play a vital role in helping nurses and other healthcare professionals develop programs that focus on specific diseases. For example, if the data reveals high instances of childhood illnesses in a certain part of the world, a program can be developed to address this specifically.
Health policy and advocacy
In addition, nurses and healthcare professionals can collaborate with various healthcare policy creators and agencies. Going back to the previous section on program development, agencies such as the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control can do their part in expanding awareness regarding diseases that affect certain populations.
Nurses can collaborate with policy creators and decision-makers at local, state, national, and even global levels. As part of the process, they can procure evidence-based information from their research to influence policy.
For example, let’s take a look at epidemiological data centered around respiratory disease. Specifically, let’s take a look at a situation regarding its development in an area where residents live close to industrial facilities. According to data, pollutant emissions may be to blame for increasing the risk or even triggering the disease amongst those who are vulnerable to the disorder.
In order to combat the issue, policymakers, with the help of nurses and healthcare professionals, create a program to improve the situation. Nurses can advocate for these programs and policies by explaining the key points of why such policies should be created and implemented by government officials. At the same time, they advocate for compliance with such policies.
Nurses can be part of the ideation and creation process of groundbreaking policies. At the same time, they can also serve as the spokespeople. Their epidemiological knowledge is useful in serving the greater good. This includes helping people become more aware and understanding of diseases that could affect them and their family members.
As the old adage goes, knowledge is power. It can be powerful enough to make the necessary changes the world needs. There will be obstacles and setbacks that stand in the way, yet, nurses possess a mental resilience to push through. It is the same kind of mental resilience they develop working in the healthcare field and treating patients in a variety of medical situations. This is further proof that they have the ability to utilize their skills beyond their usual work setting.
Creating and developing evidence-based interventions
Epidemiological knowledge has proven itself useful in the creation and development of evidence-based interventions. Nurses will use the best research available in order for them to take an idea, develop it consistently, and put it into practice. As such, it is crucial for nurses to gather and analyze the necessary data that will help them through the development process. Evidenced-based interventions follow certain steps in order to be as effective as possible:
- They identify the target population segments: One of the most critical elements of developing evidence-based research is properly identifying a target population affected by a specific health issue. The data itself must show a high prevalence of the disease along with its presence in certain aspects of the population such as race, gender, geolocation, veteran status, etc. This provides nurses with a framework to create a policy that can tackle the issue in question.
- They unveil risk factors and determinants: A major part of the study process is the ability to unveil any risk factors or determinants of health that are connected to the health issue being addressed. Nurses will find as many of these as possible in an effort to create a laser-focused intervention plan. For example, one risk factor could be socioeconomic status. Those who are amongst the low end may be affected by the lack of healthcare options that are available, affordability, and other subfactors.
- They then create the intervention: No intervention could ever be created without the epidemiological knowledge nurses and other healthcare professionals possess. At the same time, no intervention is created equal or uses a cookie-cutter template. For each issue, every intervention will be different and specific. One intervention could be designed for community clinics, but such interventions may not apply in a hospital. With this in mind, it is important for nurses to take into account certain situations that make the intervention solution effective. This includes available resources, accessibility, and any considerations related to a patient’s cultural beliefs and values among others.
What are some of the evidence-based interventions that epidemiological knowledge creates?
Here are examples of how the epidemiological knowledge nurses possess can create evidence-based interventions:
- Develop strategies for disease management and prevention: Nurses are aware of the patterns and risk factors of various diseases. Using this knowledge, they can create intervention strategies and provide them to people who may be susceptible to certain conditions based on factors like their environment, genetics, socioeconomic status, and others. This includes emphasizing the importance of early detection, effectively managing disease, or even taking steps to prevent development or complications.
- Develop occupational health and safety measures: Workplace hazards can be costly both in terms of manpower and money for businesses. It can also have a negative effect on the economy as a whole. Knowing this, nurses can work with business leaders in an effort to create measures to help prevent illness or injury brought on by occupational hazards. Their epidemiological knowledge will be useful in identifying the workplace hazards that lead to specific injuries and illnesses. From there, they create measures that address them such as wearing protective gear, implementing regular training programs for safety, and more.
- Develop awareness programs for community-based health: Nurses can partner with community clinics to connect with specific populations that may have a lack of access to quality medical care. A program will be built on the blocks of generating awareness for common risk factors, emphasizing preventative measures, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
How can leaders in nursing incorporate epidemiological knowledge?
Nurses who attain leadership positions can utilize epidemiological knowledge by providing their insights to other nurses—be they students or those starting out in their careers. As leaders and advocates, they do their part to spread the wealth of knowledge they have in order to empower nurses to perform to the best of their abilities beyond the hospitals and clinics. Here’s how they can achieve this:
By promoting the implementation of epidemiological knowledge
Nursing leaders have a responsibility to encourage nurses to develop epidemiological knowledge. It is useful for nurses on every level as it can enhance their understanding of diseases and injuries. In addition, they can use that knowledge to administer treatment and quality care to patients effectively.
Leaders should also encourage nurses to apply their knowledge beyond their primary roles as caregivers. This includes giving them the ability to research, create interventions, and share their knowledge and insights with other healthcare personnel and others across various disciplines.
By working with others to create research and development programs
Nursing leaders know that research and development programs are the driving force behind many interventions created by nurses and other healthcare professionals. Collaboration with epidemiologists and other professionals will encourage epidemiological studies that are designed to tackle health issues affecting certain populations or the community as a whole.
Nursing leaders can assemble teams with members assuming their respective roles. They include those who design and implement evidence-based measures based on data, researchers, and even policymakers who can work together to make it possible to tackle a health issue that has long affected members of the global population.
With epidemiological knowledge comes the creation of many initiatives. All of which can create a better healthcare landscape for the global community. Nurses and healthcare professionals can utilize epidemiological knowledge to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to taking on existing healthcare issues or new ones that may develop in the future.
Nurses and epidemiological knowledge are the future of healthcare
While many diseases remain without a permanent solution in terms of cure or prevention, nurses can still use their epidemiological knowledge to stay a step ahead. With their knowledge and understanding of diseases, nurses will be able to excel beyond their usual role as patient caregivers. Nurses’ skills and knowledge ensure they can implement effective, evidence-based interventions. With the creation and success of those interventions, they can make their mark in their own unique way.
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