Social determinants of health (SDOH) Essay
NRS 425 – Topic 1 DQ 1 – Social determinants of health (SDOH) Essay
The five domains that comprise social determinants of health (SDOH) are economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social/community context (Social Determinants of Health – Healthy People 2030, n.d.). These five domains encompass the conditions in which people live their lives, and therefore they will also have a major impact on the wellbeing of people’s health and lives.
Care outcomes are affected by health disparities and SDOH in a myriad of ways. One example would be a senior citizen of color who lives in an economically challenged area that does not have access to transportation. This lack of access prevents the senior citizen from arriving to doctor’s appointments, picking up medications, being able to go grocery shopping, socializing with friends, and countless other events that are crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Missed doctor’s appointments and inability to take medications leads to negative health outcomes, and a lack of socializing can lead to isolation and depression.
A community health nurse through whichever organization they work, can help coordinate services for the underprivileged in areas where they may need help. To continue with the example of the senior citizen previously mentioned, the community health nurse could arrange for pharmacy deliveries of all medications as well as help coordinate free/low-cost transportation to all doctor’s appointments. Additionally, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, community health nurses evaluate health trends, work with communities to promote targeted healthcare and disease prevention, and provide case management to under served communities (Public Health Nursing Manual, n.d.) Social determinants of health (SDOH) Essay
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The community health nurse , as a direct participant in patient care, as well as one of the most accessible members of a care team, is in a unique position to advocate for practices to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. One way to accomplish this is by helping a patient understand the programs and benefits that are available to them, such as WIC or Medicare/Medicaid, is one way to address equity in healthcare.
Reference
Public Health Nursing Manual | Local Public health Agencies | Health & Senior Services. (n.d.). https://health.mo.gov/living/lpha/phnursing/phnroles.php
Social Determinants of Health – Healthy People 2030 | Health.gov. (n.d.). https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health
NRS 425 – Topic 1 DQ 1 – Topic 1 DQ 1
Identify the social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect families and communities. Describe the impact of health disparities and SDOH on care outcomes. Explain the role of the community health nurse in addressing these SDOH. Describe how the community health nurse can advocate for practices to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN Discussion Question Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 7.2, 9.2
NRS 425 – Topic 1 DQ 1 sample 2
Health Disparities and SDOH Impact on Patient Care Outcome
“Social determinants of health include factors such as housing, food and nutrition, transportation, social and economic mobility, education, and environmental conditions.” (Whitman, 2022) Health disparities and social determinants of health negatively impact patient care outcomes for many reasons. Access to healthcare may not be available to low socioeconomic groups due to them not being able to afford care or not have healthcare resources in their community. However, once gaining access to healthcare there are other systemic obstacles that negatively affect the outcome of patient care for patients with health disparities or low education levels such as prejudice, racism, and discrimination. Patients who are not able to be provided with quality care from healthcare professionals can lead to poor care outcomes and continuation of care.
Community Health Nursing
Effective resources can be provided by the community health nurse to help better patient care outcomes. According to St. Catherine’s University 2021, “Community health nurses create programs that promote community health and collect data to identify community needs.” Patients may not know how to apply for health insurance and are unable to be seen by a doctor due to their low socioeconomic status and educational level. Therefore, the community health nurse could suggest medicaid or other affordable health insurance for low income patients. The mental health of patients should be cared for as well. Nurses could recommend psychological consultations for patients who need psychological care. Nurses could also provide resources for women and child assistance and homeless shelters. It is important for nurses to advocate for patients with health disparities and unfortunate social determinants of health because sometimes they are not able to receive quality healthcare.
Resources:
Whitman, A., De Lew, N., Chappel, A., Aysola, V., Zuckerman, R., Sommers, B. (2022). Addressing social determinants of health: Examples of successful evidence-based strategies and current federal efforts. ASPE. https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/e2b650cd64cf84aae8ff0fae7474af82/SDOH-Evidence-Review.pdf
St. Catherine’s University. (2021). What is a community health nurse? https://www.stkate.edu/academics/healthcare-degrees/community-health-nurse Social determinants of health (SDOH) Essay
