NSG 4150 Week 6 Discussion
Homeless persons are an example of a vulnerable population in the US. Homeless individuals are vulnerable as they are economically disadvantaged, and social factors like low income levels, poor housing, and low levels of education worsen their health and healthcare needs. They are unable to advocate for themselves since a majority have low education levels and are not conversant with their rights (Bedmar et al., 2022). The nurse can advocate for homeless individuals to receive government-funded insurance to enable them to access quality primary healthcare and promote better health outcomes (Bedmar et al., 2022). Furthermore, the nurse can advocate for policies to increase access to preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services for homeless persons. Through nursing advocacy, nurses can influence local and state governments to provide housing facilities for the homeless, lowering their risk of developing medical conditions.
Various organizations support healthcare advocacy in the US. For example, nursing organizations are usually vital platforms for policy advocacy, whereby nurses take part in political processes to initiate, enact, and enforce structural and policy changes to improve population health outcomes (Chiu et al., 2021). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a governmental organization that provides financial and technical support, strengthens national-level advocacy networks, and obtains information to support advocacy efforts.
Healthcare systems can create guidelines to support advocacy that guide healthcare professionals in advocacy. The guidelines can include employing advocacy tactics like communicating effectively, negotiating, using the media, and managing risks (Sykes et al., 2023). Health systems can also create guidelines on framing an advocacy plan that guides providers on how to set a timeline, prepare a budget, prepare a log frame, and plan for monitoring and evaluation. Healthcare advocacy involves delivering messages aimed at influencing the actions of policymakers. The actions include enacting policies that impact healthcare delivery, including reimbursement policies (Sykes et al., 2023). Thus, healthcare advocacy that seeks to improve healthcare delivery and hospital reimbursement can positively impact an organization’s financial outcomes.
References
Bedmar, M. A., Bennasar-Veny, M., Artigas-Lelong, B., SalvĂ -Mut, F., Pou, J., Capitán-Moyano, L., GarcĂa-Toro, M., & Yáñez, A. M. (2022). Health and access to healthcare in homeless people: Protocol for a mixed-methods study. Medicine, 101(7), e28816. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000028816
Chiu, P., Cummings, G. G., Thorne, S., & Schick-Makaroff, K. (2021). Policy Advocacy and Nursing Organizations: A Scoping Review. Policy, politics & nursing practice, 22(4), 271–291. https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544211050611
Sykes, S., Watkins, M., & Wills, J. (2023). Public health practitioners as policy advocates: skills, attributes and development needs. Health Promotion International, 38(5), daad102. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daad102
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Weekly Discussion: 6 (USLO 6.1)
Advocacy is considered a role that all healthcare practitioners can fill. Advocacy is important to healthcare and improving health outcomes by acting as “the voice” for clients and vulnerable populations.
- In your discussion, identify a vulnerable population and describe ways a nurse can advocate for a change to promote positive health outcomes.
- What government organizations and policies help to support advocacy in healthcare?
- What are guidelines that can be used within healthcare systems to help support advocacy?
- What is the link between healthcare advocacy and the financial outcomes of an organization?