Actions you can take as an NP to mitigate the social impacts on marginalized women and/or children

Identify and describe three actions you can take as an NP to mitigate the social impacts on
marginalized women and/or children
According to Sacks (2020), women often receive less quality care or even do not seek care.
There are several reasons. In the article, women were frowned upon for not having items for
their babies. Disparities in healthcare are real and as healthcare providers, we must be
aware and help decrease disparities that arise in our communities. Three actions that I can
take as an NP to mitigate the social impacts on marginalized women and/or children are to
be open and honest with patients to develop trust, so they will feel comfortable to talk to
me; o er an environment that is inviting and nonjudgmental that does not expect them to
look or think a certain way; and to be aware of my own biases and stereotypes to not place
them on marginalized women and/or children. These interventions will help decrease the
resistance to seeking medical care and will prevent delays in care that lead to poor patient
outcomes.
Discuss the role of federal, state, and local health policy in the marginalization of women,
children, and childbearing families.
The role of federal, state, and local health policy in the marginalization of women, children,
and childbearing families can either be positive or negative depending on the policy and
those it a ects. Those not in healthcare such as politicians do not always understand the
consequences of a policy and the outcome it may have on patients as well as providers.
Studies have shown that social determinants of health a ect patient outcomes. Disparities
including race and ethnicity account for higher morbidity and mortality of women and
children in the United States. Many programs aim to decrease disparities in healthcare and
improve the health of women, children, and the childbearing family.
Identify one policy that impacts marginalized groups (include whether the policy is at the
federal, state, or local level).
Many policies and programs look to improve the health of women and children. Medicaid is
one such program that provides health insurance for low-income pregnant women through
the Department of Health & Human Services. The purpose is to provide needed neonatal
care for better outcomes for both mother and baby. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of
1978 provides that employers can’t discriminate based on sex due to pregnancy under the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. One recent piece of legislation is The White
House Blueprint For Addressing The Maternal Health Crisis which was enacted in June

  1. It is a federal policy.
    Discuss how the selected policy impacts marginalized groups either positively or
    negatively.
    The White House Blueprint For Addressing The Maternal Health Crisis is an action plan that
    has 5 goals and entails help from multiple agencies to address these goals. This Blueprint
    is to have a positive impact on marginalized groups. The goals are increasing access to and
    coverage of high-quality maternal health services; ensuring those giving birth are heard and
    are decision-makers in accountable systems of care; advancing data collection,
    standardization, harmonization, transparency, and research; expanding and diversifying
    the perinatal workforce; and strengthening economic and social supports for people
    before, during, and after pregnancy. With these goals, interventions will be in place by the
    federal government to decrease the marginalization of women, children, and childbearing
    families and thus improve patient outcomes leading to better outcomes for the community
    and nation as a whole.

Full Answer Section

       
      • Furthermore, according to the CDC, only 68.3% of Hispanic adults have a primary care provider, compared to 77.1% of white adults, indicating a potential barrier to consistent care and trust building.
    • NP Action: Actively work to counter these trends by consistent communication, and follow ups.
  1. Creating a Non-Judgmental and Inviting Environment:
    • Action: Ensure the clinic environment is welcoming and inclusive.
    • Data:
      • The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. This disparity is linked to factors including implicit bias in healthcare settings.
      • Also, according to the CDC, in 2021, the infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black infants was 10.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with 4.3 deaths per 1,000 live births for non-Hispanic White infants.
    • NP Action: Create a space where all patients feel valued and respected, regardless of their background.
  2. Recognizing and Addressing Personal Biases:
    • Action: Engage in ongoing self-reflection and education about implicit bias.
    • Data:
      • Studies have demonstrated that healthcare providers, like the general population, hold implicit biases that can affect clinical decision-making.
      • A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations exists, which can lead to disparities in pain management.
    • NP Action: Implement standardized assessment tools and actively seek feedback to minimize the impact of subjective biases.

Role of Health Policy and the White House Blueprint

  • Policy Impact:
    • Federal, state, and local policies can either exacerbate or mitigate disparities.
    • For example, restrictive Medicaid eligibility can limit access to prenatal care, leading to poorer outcomes.
    • Conversely, policies that expand access to community health centers can improve access for underserved populations.
  • The White House Blueprint:
    • The Blueprint's goals are indeed aimed at positive change.
    • Impact:
      • Goal 1 (increasing access) is crucial, as lack of insurance and access to providers are major barriers.
      • Goal 3 (data collection) is vital for tracking disparities and measuring the effectiveness of interventions.
      • Goal 5 (strengthening economic and social supports) recognizes the importance of addressing social determinants of health.
    • Data to Consider:
      • According to the CDC, in 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 1 compared with 26.6 deaths per 100,000 live births for non-Hispanic White women.  
      • This data highlights the urgent need for policies that address racial disparities in maternal health.
    • NP Action: NPs should actively advocate for policies that promote health equity and address the social determinants of health.

By incorporating specific statistics, you can strengthen your arguments and demonstrate the urgency of addressing disparities in healthcare.

Sample Answer

       

You've outlined a solid foundation for addressing the needs of marginalized women and children as an NP. Let's incorporate concrete statistics and address the impact of policy with a focus on data.

Mitigating Social Impacts: NP Actions with Data

  1. Building Trust Through Open and Honest Communication:
    • Action: As you stated, establish trust. This is critical as research shows that marginalized populations, particularly racial minorities, often experience mistrust in healthcare systems.
    • Data:
      • A study published in the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice found that African American patients reported lower levels of trust in their physicians compared to White patients. This distrust is often linked to historical and ongoing experiences of discrimination.