Running head: HEALTH ORGANIZATION PAPER 1

Health Organization Paper

Rebecca Eimer

Old Dominion University School of Nursing

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Health Organization Paper

The World Health Organization (WHO) is part of the United Nations system that helps

coordinates healthcare as well as provide leadership in public health. The WHOs mission is to

build a better future in healthcare and public health by partnering with all countries in order to

combat diseases, infections, and environmental safety. WHO keeps a close eye on health trends,

looking out for new threats and for new opportunities to improve public health (Global guardian

of public health, 2016). It functions as an organization that provides research, technical support,

leadership, sets standards and evidence based policies. The WHO also helps countries around the

world with healthcare emergencies and provides support to help countries be prepared for future

emergencies. More then 7,000 people in 150 country offices, in 6 regional offices and 34

executive board members come together to make the WHO mission possible.

The WHO goal is to pursues a higher degree of excellence, contribute to greater

coherence in global health and, most important of all, achieves better health outcomes (Global

guardian of public health, 2016). Member states, partner organizations, foundations, and

donations from individuals around the world finance the WHO organization. The organizations

goal is triggered to all ages and genders globally, and it wants everyone around the world to

know their purpose, which is to build a strong health healthcare and public health system. The

WHO helps promote affordable medication, address unhealthy impacts such as tobacco use,

alcohol use, and unhealthy diets. The organization also works with governments universally to

help populations afford various healthcare needs.

Impact

The WHO helps the United States (U.S) health system improve their health policies,

health plans, and help strengthen the public health system. Specifically, the organization has
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achieved their goal to decrease the spread of infectious diseases in the U.S. The WHO

successfully helped the U.S eliminate the measles from the entire US population. The

organization has been the driving force on improving health with vaccinations that can also

decrease infections. In the USA, there has been a 99% decrease in incidence for the nine

diseases for which vaccines have been recommended (Andre, et al., 2016). Major reductions in

child mortality and helping individuals in the U.S add 35 years to their life expectancy are also

achievements that became possible because of the WHO. Various strategies and action plans

have been development by the WHO that has helped the U.S accomplish these achievements,

and in others areas of mental health, women health, diabetes, obesity, and cancer prevention.

Overall, the WHO has impacted the U.S in all areas in healthcare, public health, and policy

making, which has improved the nations population life expectancy and safety regulations.

Globally, the WHO works with the United Nations to help ensure better healthcare is

being provided to all people worldwide. Medical doctors, scientist and other experts globally

help develop national strategies to help people in other countries. Medical professions are also

employed in the WHO to help in health missions globally. At a global level, the WHO improves

the spread of diseases, infections, improve childrens health and help with disasters in all

countries. An example of a global impact was when, the WHO sent urgently needed medical

supplies and medicines to Haiti to combat cholera, malaria and other diseases in communities

struck by Hurricane Matthew Health (World health organization, 2010).

The WHO has also developed an immunization programs that provide immunization to

children all around the world. The organization has had an impact globally by controlling

outbreaks of multiple diseases, like Tuberculosis, cholera, malaria, and Ebola despite challenging

conditions. WHO continues to support the national public health laboratory to test samples of
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cholera, measles and other priority diseases, to enable a fast response that ultimately save lives

(World health organization, 2016). The WHO also provides education about healthcare

information through humanitarians that work with the organization. Many educational healthcare

topics, which is ultimately shared to people globally, helps people around the world be more

aware for their health. Globally, the impact of the WHO is ongoing, and has made historic

achievements in healthcare as well as public heath.

Nursing Role

The WHO helps provide the nursing role with ethical and evidence-based policies that

can be used in the clinical setting. The WHO also improves the field of nursing by monitoring all

diseases and health issue around the globe, and developing policies and procedures that nurses

can apply in their practice. By having the WHO assess health trends and monitor healthcare

situations, the nursing field benefits from the research and effectively applies it to the care of

patients. Professional development in the nursing field has improved because of the WHOs

patient safety guidelines, workshops, research, policies, and innovative strategies that have

impacted the nursing workforce. Over the years, resolutions on nursing and midwifery adopted

by the WHO World Health Assembly have helped to provide a strong foundation for

strengthening nursing and midwifery services (World health organization, 2016).

The WHO provides quality improvement education to nurses on elements related to

resource management; a clinically and educationally competent faculty; recruitment and support

of students; a competency-based curriculum; and effective administration (World health

organization, 2013). The multiple achievements from the WHO has impacted the nursing fields

professional develop directly and throughout the years will continue to achieve more milestones.

An example of the milestones throughout the years starting in the year 1977, was when the WHO
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published the first medication list manual that impacted all healthcare worker especially nurses.

In the year 2002, the WHO issued resolution calling attention to the global shortage of nurses

and midwives, and urging Member States to take action towards improving nursing and

midwifery services (World health organization, 2016). These are some of the many

achievements the WHO has accomplished throughout the years that have impacted the nursing

profession.

Reflection

When researching the WHO and reviewing the impacts locally and globally this

organization has established since this it was created in 1945, I have learned that healthcare

worldwide continues to improve with unlimited support. The WHOs collaborations

internationally and multiple programs helps facilities the healthcare and public health system for

everyone around the world. All the innovations that have been developed and improved by the

WHO have impacted the various roles in the nursing profession as well. The vaccinations

created, safety precautions established, antiretroviral medications that have controlled HIV

infections, the education on health related information, emergency operations, and various

evidence-based research on preventing the spread of disease have strengthen the healthcare

system globally. Personally, Ive learned that the nursing profession would have not been able to

grow successfully without the dedication in healthcare work that the WHO has provided for the

world.

Conclusion

Overall, The World Health Organization is continuing to stand by their purpose and

mission to help build an efficient healthcare system in the U.S and in other countries. The

organization has significantly reduced the spread of disease and infection in the U.S as well as
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globally, and supported other countries from natural disasters to decrease poverty. With the help

of many educators and researchers, the nursing profession has also seen an improvement in the

nursing practice because of the innovations created by the WHO. This organization provides

global leadership in public health, employs health specialists, medical doctors, nurses, scientists,

and people with expertise in administration and finance, information systems, economics, health

statistics as well as emergency preparedness and response to continue to build a healthier future

for all people (World health organization, 2016).

I pledge to support the Honor System of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form
of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a
member of the academic community it is responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the
Honor Code. I will report to a hearing if summoned.
Signed: Rebecca Eimer
Date: 11/24/2016
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References

Andre. F. et al. (2008). Vaccination greatly reduces disease, disability, death and inequity

worldwide. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 86(2), 81-160. Retrieved

from http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/2/07-040089/en/

World Health Organization. (2016). About who. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/about/what-

we-do/en/
World Health Organization. (2010). A global survey monitoring progress in nursing and

midwifery. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/hrh/resources/survey/en/.

World Health Organization. (2013). Transforming and Scaling Up Health Professional Education

and Training. Policy Brief on Regulation of Health Professions Education. Retrieved

from http://whoeducationguidelines.org/sites/default/files/ uploads/whoeduguidelines

_PolicyBrief_Regulation.pdf.

World Health Organization. (2016). The global guardian of public health. Retrieved from

http://www.who.int/about/what-we-do/global-guardian-of-public-health.pdf?ua=1