NURS FPX4060 Assessment 2 Community Resources
Context
Assessment 2: Community Resources
Student Name
NURS-FPX4060: Prac in Cmmty Imprv Pop Hlth
Capella University
Prof Name
Month Date, Year
Community Resources - The American Red Cross
Clara Barton, returning from a stay in Geneva, Switzerland in 1869, founded the American Red Cross in Washington, DC in 1881. and has been a major public health support organization for 139 years. In addition, the American Red Cross is one of the most recognized non-governmental administrations to promote the lives, health, and traditions of all nations (American Red Cross, 2020). At the same time, it maintains a neutral position in the face of all conflicts and adverse events. Our communities are protected by public health professionals whose job it is to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of health problems. Public health professionals can achieve this goal through education, policy, and research. This public health organization follows several core concepts: reducing inequities, health promotion, disease prevention, social cooperation, community participation, and international cooperation (Masic, 2018).
Organization’s Mission and Vision
The goal of the American Red Cross, as stated on its website, is to alleviate and prevent human suffering. In times of disaster, this goal is achieved through generous donations and local volunteers (American Red Cross, 2020). The organization’s humanitarian vision is to demonstrate the power of human compassion in difficult situations by providing five key services. Disaster relief; military soldiers and their families’ support; blood distribution and collection, worldwide development and relief, and health and safety education and training (American Red Cross, 2020). Since the 19th century, the Red Cross has been one of the best-known humanitarian organizations. In recent history, there has not been a major crisis in which the Red Cross has not contributed to the relief effort. It also offers various educational programs to improve public health and training in basic and advanced life-saving techniques.
The American Red Cross aims to turn consideration into action so that all individuals impacted by catastrophes in the United States and across the world get assistance, protection, and hope. Natural catastrophes are not a problem in our communities. In our country, everyone has access to life-saving blood and blood products. All members of the military forces and their families have access to help and comfort in times of need, and in the event of an emergency, qualified professionals are always nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives (American Red Cross, 2020).
Improving the Quality of Life & Promote Equal Opportunity
Since its founding in 1881, the American Red Cross has been devoted to assisting the wounded in conflicts, while remaining impartial to the other side. Today, the American Red Cross continues to protect life and health by upholding many core values, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, and solidarity. In keeping with the concept of “relief of human suffering,” the American Red Cross continues to evolve and introduce new services, such as biomedical services. It is no secret that disasters often strike suddenly and many people in the affected areas do not know what to do (Little, 2020). Meanwhile, the American Red Cross is working tirelessly to help the local population with a wide range of needs, including food, drink, shelter, and emotional support. All of these services are provided by disaster volunteers. These volunteers respond quickly to a variety of emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, house fires, and earthquakes.
In addition to assisting in major disasters, the American Red Cross offers first aid, CPR, automated external defibrillation, and BLS training for first responders, rescue workers, and rescuers, as well as prevention and coping training for families and teachers (Masic, 2018). The American Red Cross is also the largest provider of babysitter training.
Impact of Funding Sources, Policy, and Legislation on Organization
Large organizations, such as the Red Cross, cannot function without adequate support. Fortunately, the American Red Cross is funded in several ways (Little, 2020). It is a nonprofit organization that receives financial support through donations but also provides biomedical services such as blood product distribution and health and safety training. It is the largest single provider of blood products in the country, and biomedical services account for the majority of its revenue. The American Red Cross aims to increase the organization’s visibility among government officials and advocate for its policy agenda by educating government officials and strategic partners about disaster services and increasing support and funding for disaster relief, infrastructure, preparedness, and response. We also work with governments and key partners to improve their capacity to respond to natural and man-made disasters (American Red Cross, 2020). Government officials and strategic partners are working to improve service delivery to different groups.
Implication of Funding Sources, Policy, and Legislation on Organization
The Red Cross Project Fund accepts donations, cash, checks, stamps, debit cards, invoices and receipts. We must ensure that all receipts, invoices and vouchers are accurate and complete. The ICRC is committed to conducting its activities without undue influence of corruption and to raising awareness of anti-corruption issues (American Red Cross, 2020). Any financial interest in a company working with the Red Cross may give rise to a conflict of interest. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits offering, providing or guaranteeing anything of value in exchange for a bribe to foreign public officials or political parties. Legislation introduced in response to the Government Accountability Office’s findings on the American Red Cross would require that the organization’s management and operations be subject to an external audit.
The American Red Cross faces a number of ethical issues and dilemmas. These include issues common to a company of its size, such as executive compensation, preventing and addressing employee misconduct, and involving all stakeholders in the company’s strategy. Finally, given that the American Red Cross is not a federal agency and that disaster relief activities are funded almost entirely by generous donors and carried out largely by volunteer staff, not by the government, there are already a number of mechanisms in place to evaluate disaster relief activities and provide meaningful oversight to the American Red Cross that it believes it can provide.
Organizational Impact on Health and Safety in Communities
Approximately 90 percent of the American Red Cross staff are volunteers. These volunteers help the organization operate effectively and achieve its goals. Meanwhile, nurses have been at the center of the association since 1881, helping to promote awareness of community health subjects, promote health interventions and develop values of community health. Internationally, the American Red Cross makes communities safer by supporting HIV prevention and treatment, measles prevention, disaster preparedness, and international humanitarian law (Masic, 2018). The American Red Cross is constantly on the lookout for natural disasters and deploys mobile units to areas where they are needed.
The American Red Cross employs more than 13,000 nurses and other health care workers each day to carry out our mission. Our talented and energetic volunteers and staff help victims of disasters, serve in military hospitals, collect blood to save lives, develop and teach everything from CPR/first aid to disaster preparedness. They also serve in leadership, supervisory and administrative roles in our organization (Masic, 2018). American Red Cross nurses and phlebotomists conduct blood drives throughout the country. Nurses assist in the collection of blood in accordance with all applicable regulations, and the head nurse supervises the staff and ensures that all documents and procedures are properly followed.
Conclusion
The American Red Cross has been helping people for nearly 140 years (American Red Cross, 2020). In addition to providing charitable services, the organization regularly trains staff and community members on a range of topics, from emergency response to improving everyday health. It is one of the most trusted organizations of its kind and has always been able to go where it is needed most, and will continue to do so (Masic, 2018).
References
American Red Cross, (2020). Mission and Values. Retrieved from https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/mission-and-values.html
American Red Cross, (2020). Our History. Retrieved from https://www.redcross.org/aboutus/who-we-are/history.html
Little, B. (2020). Failure to launch: The American Red Cross in an era of contested neutrality, 1914–1917. In The Red Cross Movement. Manchester University Press.
Masic, I. (2018). Public health aspects of global population health and well-being in the 21st century regarding determinants of health. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 9(1), 4. doi: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_476_17