Health Care National Priorities - Assignment Example

At least 4 % of residents in Australia are suffering from diabetes i.e. 990,000 people. However, the rate has risen by a rate of 1.5 since 1990 hence, the need to make it a national priority. Pregnancies that are associated with diabetes are 44,000 women between 2005 to 2007 thus associated complications. Risk factors include overweight and obesity while people suffering have increased chances of cardiovascular diseases. Many funds are spent on treatment. 1,507 million dollars were spent on treatment between 2008 and 2009 (Cunningham et al, 8). Mental health is a large cause of disability accounting for 24 % of total years lost due to disability in Australia and is becoming increasingly apparent. An estimation of 3.2 million people in Australia has a mental disorder aged between 16 to 85 years. The mental health services report provides recent information on the characteristics and activity of mental health care services. Mental and palliative care is responsible for analyzing and reporting mental health care service information contained in reports. However, mental illness has been associated with dementia, cardiovascular disease, and alcohol abuse (Tempier et al, 2009).

The implications of the Australian Government’s identified health priorities for the nursing profession

Australian government health priorities for the nursing profession have the aim of improving the health care outcomes of all members in the country and ensuring the sustainability of the health system through the implementation of the National Health Reform Agreement. A registered nurse ought to show competence in the workplace with appropriate skills and knowledge. He should have the ability to work interdependently and show responsibility and accountability for their practice. A nurse ought to respect all and should be well-trained. In the study, mental health and diabetes are the identified government health priorities. However, these will have some implications on the nursing priority influence on healthcare delivery. Diabetes implications call for the development of sensitization programs by the state in diabetic symptoms control and management (Dunstan et al, 2002). This will call for integrated management of sugars for the affected individuals as well as a specialization for nursing professionals. Awareness programs of the causes and prevention of mental conditions ought to be enhanced among the nursing professions. Care ought to be focused on empowerment by education of the mentally ill as well as the diabetic patients to reduce the incidents of mental illness and diabetes in the country thus reducing the cost incurred in treatment i.e. use of the mass media communication as a source of education. The Australian government can boast of its qualified and repository profession, which has improved research practices, to effectively and efficiently maintain and promote health and prevent incidents of diabetes and mental illnesses (Anikeeva et al, 2014).