If you want to shine in your nursing career, you’ll have to do even more than you’re already doing. The bad news: you’ll need to brush up on how to counsel patients to quit smoking, drink less alcohol, eat healthier and get more exercise. The good news: you could save lives.
A recent report by the World Health Organization reaffirms the importance of nurses in reducing a patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes—four diseases responsible for 60% of all deaths worldwide, according to a news release from UCLA’s School of Nursing.
In the news release, Linda Sarna, RN, PhD, FAAN, AOCN, who co-authored the report underscored the importance of nurses. “The global burden of noncommunicable diseases is already high and continues to grow in all regions of the world,” noted Sarna. “Nurses and midwives have the expertise to help individuals and communities improve health outcomes.”
Sarna indicated that nurses and midwives comprise over half of all healthcare providers in most countries, putting them on the front line to advise patients of lifestyle changes that improve their health.
The 38-page WHO report reveals nursing interventions that can reduce key risk factors like tobacco and alcohol dependence, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets. “The examples contained in the report are proven activities that nurses can start doing today to make a meaningful impact with their patients and in their community,” Sarna said. “Many of the interventions have been proven to reduce costs and improve the quality of care.”
Amidst the many sea changes in healthcare, none is perhaps more important than the new roles and responsibilities of the nursing profession. The WHO report calls for nurses to play a more proactive role in encouraging healthy patient behaviors. It suggests creating a pool of nurse experts who can draft policy and address standards, research, education and practice. In its goal to put noncommunicable diseases in the spotlight, the report notes that it is “essential that nurses, midwives and their organizations now take an even stronger leadership role in working with policymakers to promote the integration of evidence-based nursing practice in the reduction of risk factors.”
“Risk-reduction counseling should be an essential part of clinical practice at all levels, and throughout the life span,” Sarna said. “This document is a template for focused activities that nurses can implement today to reduce risk factors and that can direct policy and funding for education programs and research.”
The report stems from two conferences held in 2012: the WHO Global Forum for Government Nursing and Midwifery Officers, and the joint meeting of the International Confederation of Midwives, the International Council of Nurses and the WHO (the TRIAD).
Most working nurses undoubtedly have enough to do without adding even more responsibilities to their daily agenda. That said, the “wheels are turning” to support policy changes, as well as more research and education to better prepare nurses to address the growing threat of noncommunicable diseases.
Image courtesy of photostock/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!