Question
- Identify a specialty need seen in your Microsystem–Smoking. Review the relevant health policies (local, state, and national) that exist or that could be developed to address this specialty need.
- 2. Describe the policy, the relevance to your Microsystem, and strategies that can be implemented by the CNL to improve health promotion efforts in the Microsystem.
Topic –Smoking Microsystem — The VA. Please include a reference page
Answer
Smoking Microsystem
One of the specialty needs seen in the microsystem is smoking. There is need to offer counseling to patients on life-style modification with regard to smoking. Currently, there are a number of local, state, and national health policies that address the specialty need. The VA healthcare facility has adopted a smoke-free policy at the local level that applies to all VA healthcare facilities. All VA healthcare facilities have adopted a smoke-free policy. This policy was initially adopted in 1991. This policy is conversant with the federal policy of establishing smoke-free zones to all employees as well as members of the public using these facilities. Smoking areas have been established for all employees and members of the public in places detached from the healthcare facility.
The above policy is of great importance to the microsystem. Numerous researches provide details of the health impacts of secondhand smoke to individuals. There is strong evidence linking various health problems including lung cancer to exposure from secondhand smoke. According to a CDC Report (2014), secondhand smoke is associated with a host of health problems in children and adults. In children, it is associated with severe asthma attacks, sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections and respiratory system infections. According to CDC (2014), secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing stroke and cardiovascular disease in adults by about 25 percent. It also increases the risk of developing lung cancer by about 20 to 30 percent. The local policy helps prevent exposure of secondhand smoke to patients at the hospital hence keeping them safe from the health risks involved.
There are also state and local policies that address the specialty need. Various states as well as the federal government have outlined policies that regulate smoking in public places. Currently, more than 16 of the U.S. states have already adopted smoke-free laws. These laws regulate the use of tobacco in places such as restaurants, bars and private workplaces. In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Act was signed into law, given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the powers to regulate the manufacture and distribution of tobacco products (“FDA,” 2015). These policies are meant to protect members of the public from exposure to secondhand smoke. The policies are also meant to prevent young people from engaging in smoking. The young are particularly vulnerable to influence hence the need to protect them. It is also important to regulate tobacco use in public in order to help recovering tobacco users drop the habit.
There are a number of strategies that Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) can implement to improve health promotion efforts in the microsystem. First, there is need to offer support to all tobacco users with an aim to help them quit the habit. Clinical Nurse Leaders should be at the forefront in helping individuals with tobacco dependency to quit the habit. They can also do this by referring them to reputable rehabilitation centers. Clinical Nurse Leaders should be role models in in the fight against tobacco use by fully embracing the Health Professional Code that regulate tobacco use. They should show leadership in the fight against tobacco use. Clinical Nurse Leaders should be at the forefront of advocating for appropriate health policies regarding tobacco use both at the healthcare facilities and at the national levels. For instance, they can advocate for educational campaigns to be included in media on the harmful impacts of tobacco use.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2015). Tobacco Products. Retrieved from: http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm2 46129.htm
