PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY,
ADVOCACY, LEADERSHIP, AND
HEALTH EQUITY IN
COMMUNITY HEALTH
NURSING
Objective
To understand the role of public health policies in shaping community health nursing
practice.
Explore the significance of advocacy in nursing.
Examine leadership opportunities for nurses in community settings.
Promote understanding of health equity and social justice as essential components of
nursing practice.
INTRODUCTION
Community health nursing focuses on improving the health of
entire populations, not just individual patients.
Nurses play essential roles in shaping public health policies,
advocating for health rights, and leading community initiatives.
This presentation aims to explore how nurses contribute to
public health through advocacy, leadership, and by promoting
equity and social justice.
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY IN
CONTEXT
Public health policies are official decisions or actions taken by
governments to protect and improve the health of communities.
These include laws and guidelines such as vaccination requirements
for school entry, safety regulations for food and water, or mask
mandates during disease outbreaks.
Nurses must understand and implement these policies to ensure safe,
effective, and ethical care in community settings.
.
REGULATORY IMPACTS ON
NURSING
Nursing practice is governed by laws and regulations that define our
scope of practice, licensing, and legal responsibilities.
These rules ensure that nurses are qualified and accountable.
For example, HIPAA laws protect patient confidentiality, while
mandatory reporting laws require nurses to report abuse or
communicable diseases.
Being informed about these regulations helps nurses protect both
their patients and themselves.
NURSE INVOLVEMENT IN
POLICY
Nurses are valuable contributors to health policy development
because they have firsthand knowledge of patient and community
needs.
They can participate in health advisory boards, professional
organizations, or government hearings to influence decision-making.
By sharing evidence-based insights, nurses can shape more practical,
compassionate, and effective public health policies.
WHAT IS ADVOCACY IN
NURSING?
Advocacy in nursing means speaking up and taking action on behalf of
individuals and communities who face barriers to health.
It involves helping patients navigate the healthcare system, access
resources, and make informed decisions about their care.
Advocacy also includes promoting health equity by addressing social and
environmental factors that affect well-being.
According to the ANA Code of Ethics, advocacy is a core duty of every nurse.
LEVELS OF ADVOCACY 01. Individual advocacy includes helping
patients access medications, schedule
follow-ups, or understand their diagnosis.
02. Community advocacy involves organizing
local health fairs, vaccination clinics, or
support groups.
Policy advocacy refers to influencing
03. legislation to improve healthcare systems,
such as lobbying for universal access to
care or increased funding for underserved
areas.
LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNITY
SETTINGS
Community health nurses often take the lead in identifying health
problems and designing solutions tailored to their communities.
They coordinate programs such as school health education, maternal-
child care initiatives, and disaster response plans.
Effective leadership also involves mentoring, collaborating with
stakeholders, and building trust among diverse populations.
Through leadership, nurses improve health outcomes and create
lasting change.
UNDERSTANDING HEALTH
EQUITY
Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to
achieve their best health, regardless of social, economic, or
geographic background.
It is not the same as equality, which gives everyone the same
resources.
Health equity focuses on distributing resources based on individual
and community needs to overcome disadvantages such as poverty,
racism, and limited access to care.
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-medical factors that
influence health outcomes.
These include income, education, employment, housing, access to
healthy food, and exposure to discrimination.
Nurses assess these factors during community health work and
connect individuals with resources to help reduce their negative
impact on health.
NURSE’S ROLE IN EQUITY AND
JUSTICE
Community health nurses promote equity and justice by delivering
culturally sensitive care, recognizing and addressing health disparities,
and partnering with organizations to support vulnerable populations.
They speak up against discrimination and systemic barriers, advocate
for policies that ensure equal access to care, and help build inclusive,
responsive health systems.
CASE STUDY – NURSE-LED
MOBILE CLINIC
In a rural area with limited healthcare facilities, nurses launched a
mobile clinic to serve underserved populations.
Services included diabetes screenings, prenatal check-ups,
immunizations, and health education.
As a result, chronic conditions were diagnosed earlier, emergency
room visits decreased, and maternal health improved.
This demonstrates how nurse-led community interventions can
dramatically improve health equity and access.
CONCLUSION
Community health nurses are central to promoting health at the
population level.
Public health policy shapes our scope of work, while advocacy and
leadership allow us to respond to the unique needs of our
communities.
Our ultimate mission is to reduce disparities and promote health
equity and justice for all.
By staying informed, taking action, and leading by example, nurses
can be powerful agents of change..
REFERENCES
Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2020). *Community/public health nursing:
Promoting the health of populations* (7th ed.). Elsevier.
World Health Organization. (2023). Social determinants of health.
https://www.who.int
American Nurses Association. (2015). *Code of ethics for nurses with
interpretive statements*. American Nurses Association.
THANK YOU
VERY MUCH
