XA3004 Assignment Health Equity Advocacy and Political Engagement

XA3004 Assignment

Health Equity Advocacy and Political Engagement

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Student Name

Walden University

XA3004: Health Equity Advocacy and Political Engagement

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Date

Health Equity Advocacy and Political Engagement

Disparities in health care and health status are now important issues for professional nursing organizations in the United States, which concentrate on increasing health equity. Various organizations including the American Nurses Association (ANA) have come up with efforts to push for the right change in policy to end discrimination, reduce barriers, and increase opportunities for equal availability of health care services (Kelsey et al., 2021).

Political and Civic Engagement in the American Nurses Association (ANA)

The ANA influence in healthcare policy can be direct through lobbying, being involved in legislative activities and even encouraging advocacy movements. Its political engagement is the ANA-PAC, a political arm that supports politicians and policies that have a positive impact on nursing and the health care sector (Kelsey et al., 2021). The ANA also supports voter registration and voting among nurses and mobilizes itself to lobby for policies that will improve the health of nurses. In position statements, educational toolkits and webinars, the organization empowers the nurses on patient safety, staffing and healthcare for all. Some of the campaigns include the ‘Nurses Vote, a for voting popularity among nurses which will in turn enhance their representation in determining policies in the health sector.

Opportunities to Advocate for and Advance Health Equity

The ANA’s functions include influencing health policy through advocacy, engagement in policymaking, and promotion of grassroots campaigning for changes. In this respect, the ANA has the ANA-PAC, a political entity whose main function is to support politicians and policies that will help advance the nursing profession (Kelsey et al., 2021). Apart from the political participation, the ANA encourages the nurses to be informed voters and also work on advocating nursing issues in public policy. The organization also offers nurses various means through position statements, toolkits, webinars that can enable the nurses to express themselves on issues that include patient safety, nurse to patient ratios, and equality in access to health care. Only a few specific examples are the “Nurses Vote” campaign, which focuses on the importance of voting and advocacy among nurses and the policies affecting the healthcare system. 

Professional Nursing Organizations and Their Efforts to Promote Health Equity

ANA has always focused on policy advocacy to address health disparities. Its work is aimed at promoting equal access to health care for all people. An example of such a commitment is the ANA partnership with the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations to engage with matters concerning ethnic minorities (Grant & Cole, 2022).. Furthermore, the ANA seeks to have equity content infused in nursing curricula and leadership development initiatives (Cleveland et al., 2019). The organization has also been very vocal on racism especially to the healthcare institutions calling on them to become anti-racist to transform the current unfair healthcare system.

Examples of ANA’s Impact on Health Equity

A significant example of ANA’s impact is in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was actively involved in campaigning for fair distribution of the vaccines especially targeting the vulnerable groups of society that usually get neglected. An example of such an effort was ANA’s collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Moore, 2021). Aside from efforts against the COVID-19, the ANA also supports campaigns on mental health, opioids use and maternal health including those that affect women of color. Through research, formation of focused working committees and groups, and hosting community-oriented activities, the ANA has continued to address the issue of health equity locally and nationally.

Connection to Health Equity and Impact of the American Nurses Association (ANA)

ANA is involved in the promotion of health equity by addressing the issue of inequalities in health care and health care services. As an advocate for change of policies, the ANA ensures that efforts are directed towards eradicating the existing systemic inequalities in the delivery of healthcare systems. The organization embraces diversity in patients, and this is considered an important aspect of the treatment process to be able to see the background of the patients. It also supports reforms in health policies such as Medicaid to guarantee that vulnerable individuals in society receive quality health care services.

Opportunities to Advocate for and Advance Health Equity 

ANA offers a range of opportunities for actively promotion of health equity within their professional roles. Nurses are encouraged to participate in initiatives aimed at addressing disparities linked to factors such as income, education, and housing. The ANA supported capacity-building programs equip nurses with the skills to conduct thorough community health needs assessments, identify gaps, and recommend evidence-based interventions (DuBose, 2021). In addition, the ANA provides access to toolkits and webinars that support nurses in advocating for equitable healthcare policies at both local and national levels. The organization also collaborates with community partners to design and implement programs tailored to the health needs of rural and underserved populations. 

Professional Nursing Organizations and Their Efforts to Promote Health Equity

ANA’s strategic plan is vast in an endeavor to address health equity, and this can be evidenced with policies, education, and advocacy. One of the goals of this work is to promote diversity of the nursing workforce in terms of the populations, which need their services. By affiliating with organizations such as the National Minority Nurse Association, the ANA enhances its campaign against discrimination of minorities in the nursing profession (Dyrbye et al., 2020). However, the ANA remains an organization that fights for the improvement of policies that would improve healthcare accessibility, like the expansion of Medicaid. To support long term sustainability, the organization incorporates equity-minded content into the nursing curriculum and into leadership development to ensure that future nurses are equipped to lead on equity work in their organizations. 

Examples of ANA’s Impact on Health Equity

It is quite apparent that the ANA has a great impact on health equity through its commitment to addressing core public health concerns. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization having been actively involved in the fight for equal access to the vaccines especially among the minority and the underrepresented communities. Also, the ANA partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to establish programs based on the social determinants of health (SDOH). It also released measures that were taken to address the issue of stigma on mental health disorders and enhance maternal health since the services are scarce in some parts of the world (Kelsey et al., 2021). The ANA has also been supportive of healthcare reforms, and it has been a staunch supporter of the ACA, which demonstrates its dedication to policy changes that will improve health equity. 

Conclusion

The ANA is a strong example of how professional nursing organizations can take the lead in eliminating health disparities through advocacy, education, and policy. In that respect, the ANA fosters culturally sensitive care and advances efforts to change for the better for a fair and just health care environment for nurses and patients alike. Its current efforts to eliminate racism, increase workforce diversity and advance equity-minded scholarship are indicative of the institution’s long-standing commitment to ensuring all patients are treated fairly in healthcare facilities. 

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References for XA3004 Assignment Health Equity Advocacy and Political Engagement

Understanding and prioritizing nurses’ mental health and well-being. https://prd.healthynursehealthynation.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disaster-preparedness/coronavirus/what-you-need-to-know/survey-4/contentassets/understanding-and-prioritizing-nurses-mental-health-and-well-being.pdf

Cleveland, K., Motter, T., & Smith, Y. (2019). Affordable care: Harnessing the power of nurses. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol24No02Man02

Davidson, J. E., Bojorquez, G., Upvall, M., Stokes, F., Bosek, M. S. D., Turner, M., & Lee, Y.-S. (2021). Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1097/njh.0000000000000820

DuBose, L. (2021). Fostering peer evaluation skills in nursing students. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, 75. https://doi.org/10.54119/jaas.2021.7509

Original research: An investigation of career choice regret among American nurses. AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 120(4), 24–33. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.naj.0000660020.17156.ae

Grant, E. J., & Cole, L. (2022). ANA’s Racial Reckoning: Name it, aim it, and claim it. Nursing2024, 52(9), 6. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000854008.82652.6f

Kelsey, E. A., West, C. P., Cipriano, P. F., Peterson, C., Satele, D., Shanafelt, T., & Dyrbye, L. N. (2021). Original research: Suicidal ideation and attitudes toward help seeking in U.S. nurses relative to the general working population. AJN the American Journal of Nursing, 121(11), 24–36. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000798056.73563.fa

Moore, E. (2021). Managing through a pandemic: Approaches to support nurse managers’ success. American Nurse Journal, 16(12), 38–41. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA692227008&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=19305583&p=HRCA&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Ed14debd&aty=open-web-entry