Influencing Social Change Discussion
Influencing Social Change Discussion
A nurse practitioner has the role of transforming the society and acting as a social change agent, patient advocate, community advocate, and as a champion of minorities and as a facilitator of mental health (Boucher et al, 2015). The nurse practitioner can achieve this by promoting and maintaining mental health. Influencing Social Change Discussion
As a social change agent, a nurse practitioner in psychiatric mental health should actively participate in public education and community education regarding mental health. This should not only include risk factors, prevention, and management of mental health conditions but should also include educating the community members regarding psychiatric mental health (Fraino, 2015). As aforementioned, the role of a nurse practitioner has been expanded to include society transformation. Therefore, the nurse practitioner can work as a mental health educator and focus on educating the community members on the drawbacks of stigmatizing people with mental illness. The nurse practitioner can influence the community to view mental illness like any other disease and encourage people to seek treatment in order to avoid the condition worsening (Kverno, 2016). This can be achieved by the nurse practitioner working collaboratively with the community nurses and also the community members in order to ensure that the community members support initiatives presented by the nurse practitioner (Thomas et al, 2016). In addition, during service provision, nurse practitioners get direct exposure to the community’s most pressing health issues. Therefore, during service delivery, the nurse practitioner can act as an advocate by educating the patients about mental health and trying to normalize mental health (Kverno, 2016).
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Moreover, nurse practitioners can advocate for people with mental health issues through community leaders and elected officials. This can include providing information about the available community resources for people with mental health issues and advocating for the expansion of available mental health facilities. Nurse practitioners can also hold public educational forums with the public and the community leader; these forums can be used as educational platforms regarding mental health issues (Thomas et al, 2016). Influencing Social Change Discussion
Nurse practitioners can also participate in community assessments regarding mental health issues and advocate for public health policies that advocate for more support for people with mental health disorders. By taking part in community assessments, a nurse practitioner can assist in ensuring that government officials gather accurate information regarding people with mental health issues. This can ensure that adequate resources are allocated towards mental health to address various issues in mental health (Boucher et al, 2015). Nurse practitioners can also advocate for cost-effective medications and treatments for people with mental disorders. Currently, healthcare providers along with patients encounter numerous challenges that have increased concerns regarding medical expenditures. Numerous stakeholders have the ability to effect changes in the healthcare area through legislation. Therefore, nurse practitioners being stakeholders in healthcare can voice the mental health needs of the community through the legislative process. In addition, the nurse practitioner can enhance community advocacy by creating a rapport with legislative professionals and this can provide a conduit for presenting important health welfare issues (Fraino, 2015). Political affiliations can enable nurse practitioners to advance community welfare agenda by presenting the pertinent and timely information to the decision-makers within the government. Influencing Social Change Discussion
References
Boucher N, Marvin M & James G. (2015). Agents for Change: Nonphysician Medical Providers and Health Care Quality. Perm J. 19(1), 90–93.
Fraino A. (2015).The Role of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner as Part of a Mobile Health Unit for the homeless population. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects. 58.
Kverno K. (2016). Promoting Access through Integrated Mental Health Care Education. Open Nurs J. 1(10), 73–77.
Thomas S, Jenkins R, Tony B, Nasir C, Gina G, Gnani S, Kurt S, Paul T, White R & Wright F. (2016). Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental Illness in General Practice. London J Prim Care (Abingdon). 8(1): 3–9. Influencing Social Change Discussion
