Nursing Teaching Experience: Lead Poisoning in Toddlers

Teaching Experience

Lead poisoning of toddlers is a recurrent problem in the developed world. Due to the growing reliance on chemical compounds and their increased use in day-to-day activities, toddlers become more susceptible to the risks of lead poisoning. Unfortunately, many mothers and fathers do not realize the severity of the problem. Many others ignore the worsening physical and emotional symptoms of lead poisoning. "Nurses are natural teachers and they help patients to understand their condition and learn how to cooperate with the course of treatment" (Raeis, 2006, p. 103). They(nurses) are well positioned to deliver the message of lead poisoning and methods of its prevention to adults. The purpose of the paper is to reflect on the teaching experiences with adult parents of toddlers, who were willing to learn more about the risks of lead poisoning in their babies and possible ways to prevent it.

Community health nursing is a field of professional specialization that has historically developed around the health needs of the population. Nurses have always played one of the chief roles in advancing the message of public health and reducing the risks of diseases and epidemics. Unfortunately, even in the presence of overwhelming data and an easy access to information, thousands of people cannot deal with the simplest diseases. Lundy and Janes (2009) write: "In spite of the overwhelming availability of health information to most of the U.S. population, we continue to be plagued with preventable illnesses that are largely a result of unhealthy lifestyles" (p. xxx). As a result, nurses assume responsibility for alleviating the burden of public health problems, including lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning is one of the many preventable health conditions that require professional nursing assistance and support. Oftentimes, it is enough to supply the target audience with comprehensive information about prevention opportunities, thus empowering and adults to deal...