Mission and Vision
The mission of the American Red Cross organization is to lessen human suffering and ensure that the influence of volunteers and donor kindness can be organized to prevent various health issues. At the same time, the vision that guides American Red Cross operations is to develop an extensive network of volunteers and partners in order to act quickly when there are people in need (Pellegrino et al., 2020). For instance, there could be individuals affected by disasters across the country, so volunteers have to ensure that all communities possess the knowledge and resources required to avoid negative consequences. With trained personnel nearby, American Red Cross reduces people’s exposure to emergencies while helping people learn more about how they could save lives as well.
One particular example of the American Red Cross organization supporting its mission and vision could be the ever-increasing capacity of emergency relief. Local experts and volunteers are always ready to engage in rehabilitation and reconstruction processes. Thus, long-term cooperation is the primary activity that helps the Red Cross ensure that the community receives all the required support (Herstein et al., 2018). To improve the situation, the organization addresses community readiness and attracts more local specialists to disseminate knowledge and help launch new projects in the regions that have been affected by disasters the most.
Equal Opportunity and Quality of Life
Speaking of equal opportunities and the quality of life, American Red Cross is one of the most versatile volunteering organizations in the world. Educational and training programs are expected to empower people and help them get acquainted with the best ways of preventing and mitigating life-threatening emergencies (Dodd et al., 2020). As far as everyone receives enough background information, the Red Cross remains on top of emergencies because of providing community members with all necessary resources. Accordingly, the organization’s ability to promote equal opportunity can be seen in how education and materials are invested in emergency preparedness. A thorough approach to equality makes virtually every local community open to new experiences related to care provision impartiality and quality of life.
The primary physical barrier that can be outlined when discussing the American Red Cross organization is the issue of reaching remote geographical locations. This is also an economic obstacle because many communities become insecure when they do not have enough resources to deal with potential emergencies (Dodd et al., 2020). Such proneness to difficulties leaves quite a few issues unmapped and invisible. The social barrier that affects the Red Cross is the lack of volunteering activities across the globe. Miscommunication and group conformity make it nearly impossible to empower the local population. The biggest cultural barrier is the existence of outdated beliefs that overlook the importance of contemporary medicine and the need to step away from outdated traditions and customs.
Provision of Services
Even though the Red Cross is not funded by the government, it is still affected by legislation, policies, and various funding sources. Thus, services provided by the Red Cross volunteers can be presented in the form of a contract that includes various relief efforts. According to Pellegrino et al. (2020), the Red Cross might receive timely donations expected to benefit the organization and create the best environment for high-quality care. Recovery costs can be rather damaging due to the inability to predict emergencies and their magnitude. The provision of services depends on monetary donations and respective policies that regulate how the Red Cross invests that money.
The potential implications of the information presented above revolve around how financial issues and governance might slow down the Red Cross and hinder organizational performance. On a long-term scale, it is a huge problem for the organization because federal agencies might decline grant applications and volunteer requests due to the inability of the Red Cross to submit annual reports on taxes and revenues (Chell et al., 2018). The close relation to various governmental departments turns the Red Cross into a charitable organization where financial and governance operations predict the potential outcomes of emergencies for individuals and families. For the aggregates within the community, that was also one of the main reasons why nonprofit watchdogs appeared in order to improve the disaster response system and manage all the subsequent risks.
Impact on Local Community
The health and safety needs of the local community are carefully addressed by the American Red Cross through the prism of empowerment and education. The organization’s volunteers are always expected to share safety and preparedness skills with the population in order to improve lifesaving behaviors and teach people to cope with emergency situations (Coberly et al., 2021). These activities increase commitment to a better living environment and reinforce the importance of the Red Cross across the globe. By helping at least several local families, Red Cross volunteers help spread vital information across hundreds of other endangered individuals. Such communal efforts define the future of the Red Cross organization and bring community members closer to each other.
Nurse involvement with the American Red Cross organization should be funded on a long-term scale in order to ensure that all services meet the expectations related to service quality and patient needs. For example, nurses might be expected to display advocacy efforts when facing global disasters in order to reach out to remote and at-risk communities (Herstein et al., 2018). Nurses might get involved with the American Red Cross by extending community outreach and discussing disaster-related concepts and issues with local communities under the guidance of the organization.
References
Chell, K., Davison, T. E., Masser, B., & Jensen, K. (2018). A systematic review of incentives in blood donation. Transfusion, 58(1), 242-254.
Coberly, E., Korich, E., Henesy, M., Doerksen, K., & Young, P. (2021). Implementation of measures to improve blood collection center employee safety and reduce callouts during the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic. Transfusion, 61(8), 2368-2373.
Dodd, R. Y., Crowder, L. A., Haynes, J. M., Notari, E. P., Stramer, S. L., & Steele, W. R. (2020). Screening blood donors for HIV, HCV, and HBV at the American Red Cross: 10-year trends in prevalence, incidence, and residual risk, 2007 to 2016. Transfusion Medicine Reviews, 34(2), 81-93.
Herstein, J. J., Springer, J., Anzalone, J., Medcalf, S., & Lowe, J. J. (2018). A needs assessment of infection control training for American Red Cross personnel working in shelters. American Journal of Infection Control, 46(4), 471-473.
Pellegrino, J., Charlton, N., Carlson, J., Flores, G., Goolsby, C., & Hoover, A. (2020). 2020 American Heart Association and American Red Cross Focused Update for First Aid. Circulation, 142(17), 287-303.