According to Edelman, Mandle and Kudzma (2017), the three levels of prevention are primary, secondary and tertiary. Through primary prevention level, it is possible to have health promotion and specific prevention such as immunization. Immunizing a healthy infant at the hospital is an example of a primary care scenario. The first step in this scenario would be checking on the immunization records to determine the required vaccines. This is followed by ensuring that an emergency tray is made available. After performing hand wash and obtaining the immunizing agent, the vial content should be examined. Then, immunization is administered to the infant. The infant would then …show more content…
As a registered nurse, immunizing infants is a primary prevention measure carried out to prevent the onset of a disease. When a nurse is presented with an infant for vaccination, they have to check if the infant is up to date on all required vaccines. In the USA, parents are encouraged to keep their children safe and healthy through vaccination programs. While breastfeeding can help to keep the infants healthy, the immunity acquired last for about one year and in some cases, children are not breastfed at all. As a primary care method, vaccines have the ability to protect babies and infants from various diseases. They also ensure that there is no spread of diseases. CDC makes the decisions on the type of vaccines to be given to the public and also make recommendations on childhood vaccines (Williams et al., 2015). Through primary prevention, it becomes possible to reduce a group’s or individual venerability to a disease. It also helps in enhancing awareness on how to improve health. Primary prevention has attained success in reducing the spread of diseases such as measles and TB. Through primary prevention, behavior and factors that lead to developing diseases are …show more content…
The main aim is to minimize suffering, reduce impairment or extend the survival of a patient (Edelman, Mandle & Kudzma, 2017). For example, a middle-aged man comes to hospital after recently being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He has been prescribed for metformin (500 mg) and long acting-insulin which he has to administer daily. The patient claims that he has tried to look for information and has found little help. He is still not sure on what to eat and the type of exercises to take. The patient shows signs of depression and is confused. The main aim of the patient visit is to gain advice on how to manage the disease. When a type 2 diabetes patient comes to a nurse for advice and care as explained above, it becomes a tertiary level of prevention. The patient at this stage is devastated and confused on how to manage the condition. As a nurse, one is required to teach the patient on how to administer insulin, use the glucose meter and plan their meals. The patient also requires recommendations on the best exercises. Lastly, the nurse is required to ensure that the patient follows all steps required for diabetes management. This is through discouraging bad habits and encouraging positive behavior from the patient (Goldstein & Müller-Wieland, 2016). From the scenario, the patient is already affected by diabetes. The main goal at this point is to improve quality of life by