Steps in Public Health's Response to a Disease Outbreak

Disease surveillance is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of specific health data for use in public health (Blazes & Lewis, 2016; World Health Organization, 2018a). Collaboration promotes the development of a comprehensive plan and a directory of emergency responses and contacts for effective communication and information sharing.
Nurses are often in the forefront of responses to be made in the surveillance process, whether working in a small rural agency or a large urban agency; within the health department, school, or urgent care center; or on the telephone performing triage services during a disaster. It is the nurse who sees the event first.
Surveillance is important because it generates knowledge of a disease or event outbreak patterns (including timing, geographic distribution, and susceptible populations). Surveillance helps public health departments identify trends and unusual disease patterns, set priorities for using scarce resources, and develop and evaluate programs for commonly occurring and universally occurring diseases or events.
Process data focus on what is done (i.e., services provided or protocols for health care delivery).
Outcome data focus on changes in health status.
1. What do you predict are likely steps in public health's response (either nationally or globally) to a disease outbreak? (Support with cited references)
2. What do you anticipate must be the public health nurse's response in each of those steps? (Support with cited references)
3. Research your state health department's website (Texas)to determine your state's mandatory list of
reportable or notifiable diseases and their case definitions. (Support with cited references)
4. Identify a BSN essential that applies to your topic. (Supported by cited material).
5. Identify a QSEN competency that applies to your topic. (Supported by cited material).