Within our health care system, nurses are playing an increasingly important role in preventive medicine by combining evidence-based recommendations with the compassion and care they have long been known for.
Prevention itself is the backbone of preventive medicine. The best way to treat illness is to prevent it from happening. Prevention can take many forms, from education about simple lifestyle changes, to offering immunizations and screenings, to efforts to prevent the disease from spreading to others in the community.
Examples of how preventive nurses can help clients include education about healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight to avoid diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Tips for avoiding or quitting smoking and drug use to avoid lung cancer and other types of cancer. Ideas for managing your current condition and simple ways to reduce your chances of transmitting or picking up contagious diseases in your home or community.
Screening is another important nurse-led tool in the preventive health toolbox. Studies have shown that regular screening can help slow or stop the progression of the disease and that identifying the disease at an early stage can improve patient outcomes.
These screens come in many forms throughout a person’s life. Infant developmental screening can pick up missed developmental milestones on which providers can focus their efforts. Regular HIV screening allows early initiation of treatment and management, improving quality of life and reducing transmission to others. Regular vital sign checks often identify trends in weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar before life-threatening symptoms occur. Immunization record assessment helps determine if an individual is doing well or needs to keep up with recommended immunization schedules according to age and medical history. The Sheridan County Department of Public Health has several programs that help with many aspects of preventive care.
Immunization programs offer a wide range of pediatric and adult vaccines. Many are low-cost or free through various programs, and records can be reviewed and recommendations can be made as needed. , access to free prenatal and postnatal services, including developmental screenings, recommendations to help your baby reach milestones, and referrals for medical care and support. maternal and child health program.
In addition to sexual health services such as free condoms and STD testing, testing and counseling programs offer blood tests to determine vaccine uptake, tuberculosis testing, and screening for certain STDs. It provides treatment, monitors tuberculosis treatment, and provides HIV/AIDS cases. Management service. Finally, our Wellness Program guests receive regular free blood pressure, blood sugar and weight checks, as well as customized education on various aspects of prevention.