Expand our ideas about advocacy related to big legislative and policy matters. What does this look like? What are some of the current issues where nurse advocacy can have a positive influence?

Discussion Post

There are many ways that nurses can be advocates for health and healthcare. You have become familiar with how that works from the bedside perspective in terms of making sure that your patient’s have the treatments that they need to combat their illnesses. Now we are going to expand our ideas about advocacy related to big legislative and policy matters. What does this look like? What are some of the current issues where nurse advocacy can have a positive influence? For this week’s discussions please choose one of the topics below to explore. Find an article, piece of legislation, and/or activist group to explore. Identify different ways that nurses can be involved to positively impact the future of health care.
1. Climate change and healthcare
2. Social justice/inequity
3. Racism and health
4. Gun Violence
5. Vaccines and public health

Example:
In the United States, health disparities and inequities disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Much of this inequity is rooted in social determinants of health such as housing, education and nutrition. Two pieces of legislation, the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020 and the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020, would seek to eliminate these disparities while correcting the conditions that cause and perpetuate them. These bills are particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, as minority communities bear a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.