Collaboration to advance health equity

Full Answer Section

• Advocate for policies that support health equity: Nurses can advocate for policies that support health equity, such as policies that expand access to healthcare and address the social determinants of health. For example, a nurse could advocate for a policy that provides universal healthcare coverage.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals: Nurses can collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, social workers, and dietitians, to provide comprehensive care to patients. This can help to improve the quality of care and reduce fragmentation of care. For example, a nurse could collaborate with a doctor to develop a care plan for a patient with diabetes.

One example of how nurses can include the community population and interprofessional collaboration to advance health equity:

A nurse is working in a community health center that serves a low-income population. The nurse notices that there is a high prevalence of obesity in the community. The nurse decides to partner with a local grocery store to offer cooking classes and nutrition counseling to community members. The nurse also collaborates with a doctor and a registered dietitian to develop the curriculum for the classes and to provide counseling to participants.

The cooking classes and nutrition counseling are a success. Participants learn how to cook healthy meals on a budget and how to make healthy choices at the grocery store. The nurse also notices that participants are more likely to follow their doctor's orders and to take their medications as prescribed.

The nurse's collaboration with the community grocery store and other healthcare professionals helped to improve the health of community members and to reduce health disparities.

Here are some additional tips for nurses who want to include the community population and interprofessional collaboration to advance health equity:

• Build relationships with community organizations: Get to know the different community organizations in your area and learn about their work. This will help you to identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Be culturally responsive: Be aware of and respectful of the cultural beliefs and practices of the communities you serve. This will help you to build trust and rapport with community members.
• Be a team player: Be willing to collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to patients.
• Advocate for your patients: Speak up for your patients and advocate for their needs. This includes advocating for policies that support health equity.

By following these tips, nurses can play a vital role in advancing health equity in their communities.

Sample Answer

Nurses can include the community population and interprofessional collaboration to advance health equity in a number of ways. Here are a few examples:

• Partner with community organizations: Nurses can partner with community organizations to provide health education and services to underserved communities. This can help to improve access to care and reduce health disparities. For example, a nurse could partner with a local homeless shelter to provide health screenings and vaccinations to homeless individuals.