by DR. ALISON YOUNG-TAN
If you’ve ever visited a doctor’s office or received care for your health at a clinic, hospital or even at school, chances are that you’ve interacted with a nurse in some capacity. In many ways, nurses are a cornerstone of our healthcare system. They’re often the first point of contact for a patient seeking care for their health concerns. They do more than people realize: They’re skilled professionals who are trained to assess patient needs, develop care plans and administer critical care in emergencies. Nurses directly impact and influence patient care. From monitoring signs and symptoms to administering medications, and even acting as a bridge between patients and doctors to help patients understand their options and receive the best care possible, these are just a few of the essential roles that nurses play in direct patient care. But they also do more than direct patient care.
This National Nurses Month, we want to highlight and show appreciation for our public health nurses and, in particular, the nurses at the Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) who provide care to Polk residents and who protect our community’s health.
The role of a public health nurse is to promote and protect the health of the community as a whole. Their primary goal is to help prevent disease and reduce the health risks of the population that they serve. In doing so, a public health nurse may wear many hats. They educate communities and the individuals within them about disease and injury, they advocate for improvement in public health care and outcomes, and they deliver education and direct care to patients.
DOH-Polk nurses have a variety of roles they fulfill depending on the programs they’re working in. Various programs at DOH-Polk such as women’s health, immunizations, school health, and emergency preparedness have public health nurses serving in a capacity that see them advocate for their individual patients’ health needs as well as providing communities with the education and tools they need to improve their health and well-being. Their efforts not only empower individuals to make informed health decisions but also contribute to improvements in public health outcomes.
A role that a DOH-Polk nurse might play include that of the school health nurse who helps ensure the safety and health of students from disease. They help provide a safe learning environment and help put in place safety measures for students with chronic health conditions. During emergency events such as hurricanes, DOH-Polk nurses staff and run our special needs shelters, which provide care to Polk residents who require medical support beyond the resources that general shelters offer in an emergency. If you wish to travel abroad, you might be required by certain countries to get certain immunizations for entry. DOH-Polk nurses are a primary provider of travel immunizations within the county. DOH-Polk nurses provide access to care to underserved populations and communities, and they provide health education and awareness as well. As an ongoing practice, DOH-Polk nurses do weekly outreaches and partner with the county via the Mobile Bus to reach those who might not otherwise receive healthcare resources. They attend community events where they provide testing and education in order to improve the health of the county and the people who live here.
Polk County is booming in population, and DOH-Polk nurses remain steadfast in their commitment to serving the community. They fulfill their roles as public health nurses by educating, empowering, treating, and advocating—all to achieve the shared goal of ensuring a healthier life for our residents.
About the author: Dr. Joy Jackson, the director for the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk), retired in April. Dr. Alison Young-Tan, an internal medicine/pediatrics physician, will be taking over this column in her capacity as medical director at DOH-Polk. Dr. Alison Young-Tan has served the community in Polk County since March 2012.