NSG 508 Week 6 Advocacy Plan Paper

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University of Phoenix

NSG/508 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice

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Date

Advocacy Plan to Advance Nursing’s Role

Improving health equity requires policy and regulatory reforms that enable nurses to identify, address, and manage social determinants of health (SDOH) across all healthcare settings. As the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, nurses are uniquely positioned to reduce health disparities through early assessment, care coordination, patient education, and community partnerships. However, outdated reimbursement models, limited regulatory authority, and fragmented healthcare systems restrict nurses from practicing to the full extent of their expertise. Strengthening nursing policies can improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and create a more equitable healthcare system.

Why Nurses Are Essential to Advancing Health Equity

Health outcomes are influenced by far more than clinical care alone. Social determinants of health—including access to safe housing, nutritious food, quality education, stable employment, transportation, and healthcare services—play a significant role in determining an individual’s overall health and well-being.

Research indicates that social determinants may account for up to 80% of health outcomes, making them one of the most influential factors affecting population health (Greer et al., 2023). Because nurses interact with patients across hospitals, clinics, schools, homes, and communities, they are often the first healthcare professionals to identify social barriers that negatively affect health.

Without adequate policy support, however, nurses often lack the resources, authority, and reimbursement needed to address these non-medical factors effectively.

The Need for Policy and Regulatory Reform

Expanding nursing’s role in addressing social determinants of health requires meaningful policy changes that recognize preventive and community-based care as essential components of healthcare delivery.

Key policy priorities include:

Reimbursement for SDOH screening and assessment
Funding for nurse-led care coordination programs
Support for partnerships between healthcare organizations and community agencies
Expanded authority for nurses to address social needs through referrals and interventions
Increased investment in nursing education focused on health equity and population health
Stronger interprofessional collaboration across healthcare and social service sectors

These reforms would allow nurses to move beyond treating illness and actively address the underlying causes of poor health.

Integrating Social Determinants of Health into Nursing Practice

The Future of Nursing 2020–2030 report emphasizes that achieving health equity requires systemic changes in nursing education, healthcare delivery, leadership, and public policy. The report recommends integrating SDOH assessment into routine nursing practice while encouraging collaboration across healthcare, public health, education, housing, and community organizations (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021).

Embedding social determinants into everyday nursing practice enables healthcare professionals to identify risk factors earlier, connect patients with community resources, and reduce preventable hospitalizations.

The Importance of Stakeholder Collaboration

Health equity cannot be achieved by healthcare providers alone. Sustainable change requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including:

Nurses and healthcare professionals
Healthcare organizations and administrators
Insurance providers and healthcare payers
Policymakers and legislators
Public health agencies
Community organizations
Educational institutions

Recent research demonstrates that stakeholder engagement improves the relevance, quality, and long-term effectiveness of healthcare initiatives while increasing public trust and participation (Pellegrini & Lovati, 2025).

Because nurses maintain strong relationships with patients and communities, they serve as trusted advocates who can bridge gaps between healthcare systems and local support services.

Benefits of Empowering Nurses to Address Social Determinants of Health

Supporting nurses through policy reform produces benefits for patients, healthcare systems, and communities alike.

Potential outcomes include:

Improved patient health outcomes
Earlier identification of social risk factors
Reduced healthcare disparities
Lower emergency department utilization
Decreased healthcare costs
Better chronic disease management
Increased access to preventive care
Stronger community partnerships
More equitable healthcare delivery

These improvements contribute to healthier populations while reducing the financial burden associated with preventable illness.

The Future of Nursing and Health Equity

Healthcare systems are increasingly recognizing that achieving health equity requires addressing both medical and social needs. Nurses possess the clinical expertise, patient trust, and community presence necessary to lead these efforts. However, outdated policies continue to limit their ability to intervene effectively.

Expanding reimbursement models, strengthening nursing education, and modernizing regulations will allow nurses to fully participate in population health initiatives and equity-focused care. Investing in nursing leadership is not simply a workforce issue—it is a public health strategy that addresses the root causes of health disparities.

Citation-Friendly Snippets

Social determinants of health significantly influence health outcomes and may account for up to 80% of overall health status (Greer et al., 2023).
Nurses are uniquely positioned to identify social determinants of health because they provide care across hospitals, clinics, schools, homes, and community settings.
Policy reforms that reimburse nurses for SDOH screening and care coordination can improve health outcomes while reducing avoidable healthcare costs.
The Future of Nursing 2020–2030 report identifies nurses as essential leaders in advancing health equity through education, policy, and intersectoral collaboration.
Collaboration among healthcare providers, policymakers, insurers, and community organizations is essential for sustainable improvements in health equity.
Empowering nurses to address social determinants of health supports preventive care, reduces disparities, and strengthens population health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are social determinants of health (SDOH)?

Social determinants of health are the environmental, social, and economic conditions that influence a person’s health. They include factors such as housing, education, employment, food security, transportation, income, and access to healthcare.

Why do nurses play an important role in addressing SDOH?

Nurses interact with patients throughout the healthcare continuum and often identify social barriers affecting health before other providers. Their close relationships with patients position them to coordinate care, provide education, and connect individuals with community resources.

How can policy reforms strengthen nursing practice?

Policy reforms can expand reimbursement for preventive services, support nurse-led care coordination, increase funding for community health initiatives, strengthen nursing education, and remove regulatory barriers that limit nursing practice.

How does addressing social determinants improve health equity?

Addressing social determinants reduces disparities by ensuring individuals have equitable access to resources that support good health. This proactive approach improves outcomes, prevents disease, and lowers long-term healthcare costs.

Why is stakeholder collaboration important for health equity?

Health equity requires coordinated efforts among healthcare providers, policymakers, insurers, public health agencies, and community organizations. Collaboration improves resource sharing, patient outcomes, and the long-term sustainability of health initiatives.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, January 17). Social determinants of health (SDOH). https://www.cdc.gov/about/priorities/why-is-addressing-sdoh-important.html

Greer, M. L., Garza, M. Y., Sample, S., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2023). Social determinants of health data quality at different levels of geographic detail. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 302, 217–221. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI230106

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2021). The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982