Principles in Community Health and Public Health Nursing

Nursing Advocacy

• Supporting a cause, idea, or policy for someone else

• Examples

  • Providing education so client can make informed decisions

  • Speaking for client when they are unable to do so

  • Providing community resources to client

  • Requesting appropriate PPE in the workplace

Regulations and standards

Guide delivery of safe and ethical nursing care

• American Nurses Association (ANA)

• Publishes resources to guide nursing practice

• Defines scope and standards of nursing practice

What are the ANA standards of practice?

• Assessment: Data collection

• Diagnosis: Data analysis and formation of diagnoses

• Outcomes identification: Expected outcomes/goals determined

• Planning: Plan of care developed

• Implementation: Interventions implemented

• Evaluation: Goal achievement evaluated

Legal Standards

• Legal guidelines for providing safe care to clients

• Determined by Nurse Practice Act in specific state of practice

• Reports of legal misconduct can be made to state board of nursing

• Examples of unprofessional conduct

  • Criminal behavior

  • False documentation

  • Providing care of out of nursing scope

What is the ANA Code of Ethics (Ethical principles)?

• Includes nine provisions

• Provisions guide nurses to provide evidence-based quality care

• Focus on moral values

• Autonomy

  • Ability to make informed decisions independently

  • Nurse must respect client’s decisions

• Beneficence

  • Protect client from harm

  • Nurses must act in best interest of client

• Nonmaleficence

  • “Do no harm”

• Justice

  • Fairness and treatment based on equality

  • Nurses must ensure all resources are distributed fairly

Social Justice

• Defined as equal rights, equal treatment, and equitable opportunities

• Nurses need to have a commitment to social justice

• When achieved, inequities can be eliminated

• Important for nurses to advocate for social justice

Communication Skills

• Allows nurse to perceive client’s verbal and nonverbal communication accurately

• Essential to the nurse-patient relationship

• Ineffective communication makes advocacy difficult

Nursing and Health Policy

• Nurses have a big influence on health policy

• Ways to get involved

  • Communicate with stakeholders and policymakers

  • Advocate for specific approaches or policies

  • Maintain active membership in professional organizations

Regulations and standards

• Who: licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)

• What: The care and commitment to protect and promote the health and well-being of your clients.

• Where: Nursing care is provided wherever it is needed.

• When: Whenever there is a need to provide nursing care.

• Why: Basically, because nurses want to provide quality care and have positive client outcomes.

• How: How nurses provide care following the scope of practice guidelines utilizing the tools provided to them.