Question

Role To prepare for this Discussion: Reflect on Dr. Fitzpatricks’s comments in this week’s media presentation; specifically, on the role of the BSN nurse in public and global health. Select one health problem that you will use as a basis of comparison between countries. Identify one developed and one developing country. Compare and contrast the health problems and countries you selected with the United States in terms of World Health Organization (WHO) outcomes. In your analysis, be sure to include information about workforce availability to deal with the country’s disease burden. Based on your examination of the research, how well is the United States performing in terms of public health as compared to the developed and developing countries you selected? Think about what countries with worse outcomes could learn from countries with better outcomes. Think about why nurses should be concerned with global health issues and what the role of the nurse should be in public health. Post your analysis of one health problem between one developed and one developing country in comparison with the United States in terms of the WHO outcomes and criteria listed above. State your opinion about how well the United States is doing in terms of public health. Share what you think countries with worse outcomes could learn from countries with better outcomes. Explain the nurse’s role in public and global health and why nurses should be concerned with global health issues. Conclude by summarizing your view of the role of the nurse in public health. Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature. Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).

Answer

Role Nurses’ roles in global health

Both developing and developed countries experience healthcare burden in terms of costs of healthcare, healthcare workers shortage, and poor coordination among the healthcare workers themselves. Germany is an example of a developed country that provides quality healthcare services than Egypt, a developing country. However, due to various reasons such as poor coordination of healthcare workers, shortage of healthcare workers, and treatment costs, both countries experience an increase in the rate of chronic diseases such as heart diseases and increased costs of healthcare services (Hajat & Stein, 2018). The poor healthcare systems operating in both countries trigger the rise in these chronic diseases.

High rate of chronic diseases

Among other chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of mortality in Egypt, accounting for 66% of the mortality by the year 2008 (Ghonemy et al. 2016). Chronic diseases have high mortality and high-risk factors in both Egypt and Germany.  More effect of chronic diseases is, however, felt in Egypt than in Germany. For instance, the mortality rate for chronic non-communicable diseases’ prevalence in Egypt by 2008 was 749 per 100,000 deaths of the population. The higher rate of chronic diseases has impacted many disabilities related to these chronic diseases in Egypt than in Germany. However, as the country develops, there have been appraisals to create prevention plans within the healthcare system of Egypt to help curb these instances of chronic diseases effects. On the other hand, Germany has a lower prevalence of chronic diseases compared to Egypt. Unlike in Egypt, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 39.7% of deaths in Germany.

Costs of healthcare

            The two countries Egypt and Germany, experience healthcare burden costs due to the high costs of healthcare services. In Germany, the healthcare system contributes about $500 for the employers and employees monthly.  In the case of self-employed citizens, they experience full healthcare payments. Egypt experiences higher healthcare costs compared to Germany because of its developing nature. The healthcare system of Egypt is also not as developed as that of Germany. The healthcare system of Egypt comprises Health Insurance Organization, Non-governmental organizations and private health practitioners. The healthcare system is further managed by the ministry of health and the population. The national health insurance only covers 45% of the people, making healthcare costs for the majority very high (Ghonemy et al., 2016). Lack of adequate healthcare facilities and healthcare workers triggers the rise in healthcare costs in Egypt.

Comparison of the Nations with the USA

            In a comparison of both countries with the USA, several similarities are revealed. The countries experience high rates of chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. The disorders have been triggered by the high costs of healthcare and poor coordination of healthcare workers. However, the healthcare systems of both the USA and Germany are similar in such a way that they both experience fragmentation in privatized healthcare systems in patient-centered and preventive care (Jacob, Breuer & Kostev, 2016). However, the USA experiences a high fragmentation and low healthcare universal access compared to Germany, with low fragmentation and access to a universal healthcare system. Both countries share instances of uncoordinated healthcare delivery, which triggers increment in healthcare problems. However, proper planning in the USA and Germany has caused these nations to experience improved healthcare outcomes due to the limited resources distributed in healthcare sectors and adequate resources management. The Egyptian country should plan to implement these activities to ensure quality healthcare services with reduced mortality.

           Nurses play a crucial role in healthcare services delivery globally. However, the increased demand for a quality healthcare system is brought about by the burden of high healthcare costs, uncoordinated delivery of healthcare services and nurse shortages that impact a high ratio of nurse to patients (Jacob, Breuer & Kostev, 2016). For a quality healthcare system to be achieved, nurses should practice teamwork for coordination and quality healthcare services delivery.   In conclusion, both developed and developing countries experience healthcare problems. Germany and Egypt, however, experience intense healthcare problems as compared to the USA. Burdens such as Healthcare costs and shortage of healthcare workers are shared in all the countries except issues of management that vary from one country to the other (Hajat & Stein, 2018). Comparing the burdens of the two countries with that of the USA reveals several similarities and differences. Germany showed to have high-quality healthcare services at low costs compared to the USA, but both have quality healthcare services compared to Egypt, a developing country. However, the healthcare burden is a problem in all three countries due to healthcare workers shortage against the population. Healthcare workers should therefore coordinate while providing patient-centered services.

References

Ghonemy, T. A., Farag, S. E., Soliman, S. A., El-Okely, A., & El-Hendy, Y. (2016).

            Epidemiology and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in the El-Sharkia Governorate,

            Egypt. Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation, 27(1), 111.