D025 Task 2 Advocating for Policy Change to Improve Health Outcomes in the Community

D025 Task 2 Advocating for Policy Change to Improve Health Outcomes in the Community

Name

 Western Governors University

D025 Essentials of Advanced Nursing Roles and Interprofessional Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Advanced Professional Nurse as Advocate

Nurses play a critical role as advocates for patients across various settings. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), advocacy is a fundamental aspect of nursing practice (American Nurses Association [ANA], n.d.). Nurses naturally advocate not only for individual patients but also within their workplaces and communities. The scope of advocacy varies based on the context in which nurses operate. Advanced professional nurses expand their advocacy beyond individual care to encompass broader public health concerns, particularly for populations at risk. They identify significant community health issues and develop customized advocacy approaches. For example, in community settings, advanced nurses use demographic and statistical data to inform policies or initiate programs that improve health outcomes for vulnerable groups.

In contrast, clinical advocacy focuses more narrowly on the individual patient. Here, nurses concentrate their efforts on improving health outcomes by considering the patient’s specific medical history and needs. This requires personalized advocacy strategies aimed at optimizing treatment and promoting the patient’s overall well-being.

Interprofessional Collaboration

With the evolution of healthcare systems, nurses have assumed pivotal roles in policy development, care coordination, and the implementation of healthcare improvements (Moss, Seifert, & O’Sullivan, 2016). To effectively advocate for patients, advanced nurses form Advocacy Action Teams (AATs) that operate through interprofessional collaboration.

Interprofessional collaboration involves a team of diverse health professionals working alongside patients, families, and communities to deliver high-quality care (World Health Organization [WHO], 2017). Two strategies are essential for fostering this collaboration within the AAT:

• Role-defining: Clarifying each team member’s responsibilities promotes a shared understanding and synergistic effort toward common goals.
• Promoting diversity: Integrating diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise enriches problem-solving and decision-making, leading to innovative and comprehensive healthcare solutions.

Data-Driven Health Issue in Solano County

Solano County, California, home to over 400,000 residents across seven cities, has experienced a significant rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). From 2012 to 2015, the county saw a 13.3% increase in reported STI cases, totaling 2,430 infections (Solano County Health, 2019). Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are the most common STIs, with gonorrhea cases surging by 95.5% between 2012 and 2016. This local trend mirrors a broader statewide increase of over 14% in STI rates during the same period (Hansen, 2018).

Characteristics of the At-Risk Population

The population most vulnerable to STIs in Solano County primarily includes young adults aged 20-24, followed by adolescents aged 13-19 (Hansen, 2018). Racial disparities are significant; African Americans experience disproportionately higher infection rates—chlamydia rates are four to five times higher, and gonorrhea rates are six to eleven times higher than those among non-Hispanic Whites (Solano County Health, 2016).

Social Determinant of Health Affecting STI Rates

Access to quality healthcare remains a pivotal social determinant impacting the elevated STI rates among vulnerable groups. Many minorities, adolescents, and young adults face barriers such as high healthcare costs and limited provider availability, which restrict their access to preventive education, timely diagnosis, and treatment. Addressing this healthcare gap is essential for reversing the increasing STI trend.

Current Policy Landscape

Currently, Solano County lacks targeted policies that directly address the rise in STI rates among youth and minority populations. Existing initiatives tend to focus broadly on improving healthcare access but fall short of addressing the unique needs of vulnerable subgroups. This gap underscores the urgent need for focused, evidence-based policies tailored to these community-specific challenges.

Policy Proposal for STI Prevention and Treatment

The proposed policy integrates treatment and education, focusing specifically on adolescents in middle and high schools. Healthcare professionals would volunteer monthly to provide free STI screenings, prevention education, and treatment services within the school environment. This approach reduces barriers related to cost and accessibility by bringing healthcare services to where adolescents spend most of their time. Additionally, the policy supports Healthy People 2030 goals to increase adolescent preventive healthcare visits (Healthy People 2030, n.d.).

Health Issue Impact through Education

Education is a cornerstone of this policy. School-based programs will teach students about STI symptoms, prevention methods, and treatment options. Early testing and diagnosis, emphasized by experts like Dr. Matyas, are crucial for reducing STI transmission via timely intervention (Hansen, 2018). Offering private consultations within schools fosters adolescent autonomy and trust, which are vital for effective health promotion (Healthy People 2030, n.d.).

Equitable Distribution of Resources

This policy aims for equitable resource allocation by targeting schools in both affluent and underserved areas. Additionally, recruiting healthcare volunteers from diverse backgrounds that reflect the community’s demographics enhances engagement and trust, encouraging adolescents to utilize these services.

Ethical Considerations

The proposed policy aligns with the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics, particularly Provision 3, which mandates nurses to advocate for patient rights, health, and safety (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2016). It also supports Provision 8, which promotes interprofessional collaboration to advance equity and reduce health disparities.

Potential Barriers

Key challenges to policy implementation include potential parental objections to STI education and treatment without explicit consent, which may limit adolescent participation. Furthermore, approval from school administration is critical, and resistance from school leaders could hinder program execution.

Influential Policy Makers

Lizette Estrella-Henderson, superintendent of Solano County schools, plays a vital role in this policy’s success. As the key decision-maker overseeing school funding, programming, and coordination, she can champion and facilitate the policy’s adoption and implementation.

Strategic Next Steps for Nursing Advocacy

To strengthen nursing advocacy, care should be specifically tailored to adolescents to improve educational and health service delivery. Pursuing certification as a Public Health Nurse would further equip nurses with specialized skills needed to address complex community health issues such as STI prevention and management more effectively.

Comparison of Advocacy Approaches by Setting

Advocacy Aspect	Community Level	Clinical Practice Setting
Focus	At-risk population in the community	Individual patient
Data Utilized	Population statistics and health trends	Personal medical history and details
Advocacy Goals	Policy change and program implementation	Individualized patient care
Scope	Broad, population-wide	Narrow, patient-specific
Strategy	Tailored to community resources and needs	Personalized treatment plans

References

American Nurses Association – Advocacy. (n.d.). https://www.nursingworld.org/practicepolicy/advocacy/

American Nurses Association. (2016). Code of Ethics for Nurses. https://nursing.rutgers.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2019/06/ANA-Code-of-Ethics-for-Nurses.pdf

Hansen, T. R. (2018, February 14). STD rates on the rise in Solano. Daily Republic. https://www.dailyrepublic.com/all-dr-news/solano-news/solano-county/std-rates-on-the-rise-in-solano-state/

Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of adolescents who speak privately with a provider during preventive medical visits. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/adolescents/increase-proportion-adolescents-who-speak-privately-provider-preventive-medical-visit-ah-02

Moss, E., Seifert, P., & O’Sullivan, A. (2016, September 30). Registered Nurses as Interprofessional Collaborative Partners: Creating Value-Based Outcomes. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol21No03Man04

D025 Task 2 Advocating for Policy Change to Improve Health Outcomes in the Community

Solano County Health. (2016, April). Solano County chlamydia and gonorrhea rates. https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=2617

Solano County Health. (2019, April). Public Health Data. https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/reports.asp

World Health Organization. (2017, March 8). Framework for action on interprofessional education & collaborative practice. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70185/1/WHO_HRH_HPN_10.3_eng.pdf

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