Healthcare today is increasingly focused on reducing health disparities and ensuring equitable care for all. These disparities — gaps in health outcomes among different social, economic or demographic groups — are influenced by factors like race, income and location. As primary caregivers, nurses are essential in advocating for fair healthcare access, especially for underserved populations.
Specialized programs, such as the online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), provide nurses with advanced skills in advocacy to address these issues. This article explores how nursing education equips nurses to address health disparities and the practical ways they implement these skills.
Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health (SDoH) are the conditions that influence an individual’s health outside of direct medical care, such as housing, education and food security. Research suggests these factors significantly impact health outcomes, often more than medical care itself.
The online RN to BSN program at UNCW prepares nurses to address these social determinants by offering coursework in areas like Population and Community Health Nursing. The program curriculum enables nurses to identify external factors affecting a patient’s health and provide support, advocacy and resources to help mitigate these challenges.
Advocacy in Nursing Education
Nursing education is key to preparing nurses for advocacy by teaching cultural competency and effective communication with diverse patients. Programs like UNCW’s online RN to BSN include courses in health policy and transcultural care to help build trust and improve patient experiences across communities.
The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity report outlines focus areas that help integrate advocacy into nursing practice. A chapter on the role of nurses in improving health equity provides practical examples of those ideas in the real world:
- Community engagement: Nurses participate in outreach programs to bring healthcare directly to underserved communities. Nurses can detect and address health issues early by providing education and preventive care, such as free health screenings at community centers.
- Policy advocacy: Nurses play an active role in advocating for policy changes that promote accessible healthcare. This form of advocacy may involve attending local government meetings or collaborating with health organizations to push for policy improvements that benefit marginalized communities.
- Education and training: Continuous education on health disparities ensures nurses stay informed about effective strategies for reducing inequities. Programs like UNCW’s online RN to BSN are instrumental in keeping nurses updated on addressing social determinants of health through advocacy.
- Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams: Nurses work alongside social workers, public health officials and community leaders to ensure patients receive comprehensive care. This team approach allows nurses to connect patients with additional resources that support their overall well-being.
- Data collection and research: By collecting data on patient demographics and health outcomes, nurses can identify specific community needs and focus on areas with the greatest impact. This data-driven approach helps healthcare providers allocate resources effectively.
Recognizing and addressing barriers is essential to a nurse’s advocacy role. These obstacles might include financial constraints, limited transportation or cultural misunderstandings that prevent patients from accessing needed services.
The Role of Nurses in Reducing Health Inequity
According to Wolters Kluwer, health inequity stems from various factors, including socioeconomic status, education, location and systemic discrimination. These elements influence people’s access to healthcare, living conditions and overall health outcomes. Often, policies and healthcare infrastructure fail to adequately support marginalized communities, creating gaps in access and quality of care. Nurses are vital in recognizing and addressing these disparities, working to promote health equity in underserved populations.
Through community outreach and education, nurses empower individuals to manage their health and connect them with essential resources. In low-income and rural areas, nurses lead initiatives like chronic illness workshops and preventive screenings, increasing health literacy and preventing untreated conditions. Nurses often collaborate with social workers and local organizations, helping patients access support beyond healthcare — such as transportation and food assistance — and remove barriers to proper care.
Nurses as Champions of Health Equity: Education, Outreach and Advocacy
Nurses play a transformative role in advancing health equity. Through targeted education, community outreach and collaboration with other professionals, they become leaders in the field who advocate for improved access and resources for marginalized populations.
Programs like UNCW’s online RN to BSN provide nurses with the knowledge and skills to reduce health disparities. With skills gained from the program, graduates can work toward a future of more inclusive and accessible healthcare for all.
Learn more about UNCW’s online RN to BSN program.
