Nursing Strategies in Managing Community Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases: Aligned with SDG 3 and SDG 11

Abstract

Infectious disease outbreaks remain a persistent threat to global health, often disrupting communities and overwhelming healthcare systems. Nurses, as frontline health professionals, play a pivotal role in outbreak management through strategies that encompass infection prevention, surveillance, vaccination, health education, and psychosocial support. This secondary research paper synthesizes evidence from global experiences and literature to analyze the effectiveness of nursing strategies in managing community-level outbreaks of infectious diseases. Findings reveal that nurse-led interventions significantly improve early detection, increase compliance with preventive measures, and enhance vaccine uptake, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. Additionally, the psychosocial support provided by nurses fosters community trust, reduces stigma, and strengthens resilience during recovery phases. However, challenges such as resource shortages, inadequate training, high workloads, and systemic inequities limit the full potential of nursing contributions. The study concludes that empowering nurses through targeted training, policy inclusion, and institutional support is essential to building resilient healthcare systems capable of effectively managing present and future infectious disease outbreaks.