Nursing and Pollutants

Paper Summary:

This paper considers the nurse's professional responsibility in detecting and notifying her community of any environmental risks, such as harmful pollutants. The paper further defines which environments this includes, as well as the nurse's role in being knowledgeable about these pollutants. The author gives a basic overview of what constitutes a toxic risk and the nurse's role in providing information about these hazards. The paper also discusses the Orem model, which stresses the need for nursing intervention to promote improved self-care for the patient in acts of daily life.

From the Paper:

"Toxic risks may come from unexpected, seemingly harmless sources, such as gardening supplies, food, and the air itself. According to Barbara A. Sattler of Georgia Nursing: "many commonly used pesticides in agriculture, and even those used for homes and gardens, have not been sufficiently evaluated for their effects on human health-carcinogenicity, reproductive or neurological risks.... Dioxins are a family of highly toxic chemical compounds that are created when we combust chlorine compounds: Dioxins mimic human hormones and thus can create a range of potential dysfunctions in the human body-reproductive, neurological, immunologic [system]. They are also carcinogenic. Consumer Reports has tested baby food meat products and found them to have dioxin levels 100 times the Environmental Protection Agencies allowable amount" (Sattler, 2004-2005: 1). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Green, Pauline M, Polk, Laura V., Slade, Diann S. "Environmental nursing diagnoses: A proposal for further development of Taxonomy II." International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications. Jan/Mar 2003. Retrieved 4 Feb 2007 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4065/is_200301/ai_n9211239/pg_3
• "Position Statement from the International Council of Nurses: The Nurse's Role in Safeguarding the Human Environment." (1986). From The Nurse's Role in Safeguarding the Human Environment. Geneva, Switzerland.
• Sattler, Barbara. (2004-2005). "Pass the Pollution, Please." Georgia Nursing. Retrieved 4 Feb 2007 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3925/is_200411/ai_n9471756/pg_1
• Wood, Debra. (2006). "Air Pollution May Affect Babies More than Moms."NurseZone.com. Retrieved 4 Feb 2007 at http://www.nursezone.com/job/MedicalNewsAlerts.asp?articleID=12657

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