Question

Describe the roles of nurse in surveillance and outbreak investigation. Give examples

Answer 1

Answer: The nurse plays major role in maintenance of public health as well as patient's health. The roles of nurse in surveillance and outbreak investigation as nurse can perform the following task:

• Collection: Collection of the information as well as samples through which the outbreak or the diseased occured in a particular population.
• Analysis: Analysing the sample, interrogating with the people or the patients to know about the cause.
• Response: Nurse can response towards the problem as well as investigate the results.

For example;

There are birth defects in the community, the nurse can investigate about the cause behind the birth defects. What are the major reasons that leads to the birth defects. The nurse should collect the information regarding the diet, environmental factors, health condition of pregnant woman of that particular community. This can help to know the specific reasons such as poor diet and nutrition intake causes the birth defects. So, the nurse can respond by educating the pregnant womens to take proper nutrition and essential elements which are necessary during pregnancy such as folic acid, zinc iron etc. They may also take supplements.