Name
Western Governors University
D025 Essentials of Advanced Nursing Roles and Interprofessional Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Advanced professional nurses play a critical role as patient advocates across a wide range of healthcare and community settings. Advocacy is recognized by the American Nurses Association (ANA) as a foundational component of nursing practice, requiring nurses to actively protect patient rights, promote safety, and support informed decision-making (American Nurses Association [ANA], n.d.). Nurses naturally engage in advocacy not only at the bedside but also within healthcare organizations and the broader community.
The scope of advocacy varies by setting. Advanced professional nurses expand traditional advocacy roles by addressing systemic and population-level health concerns, particularly those affecting vulnerable and marginalized populations. These nurses assess social, environmental, and economic factors influencing health outcomes and design advocacy initiatives that extend beyond individual care. In community-based contexts, demographic data, epidemiological trends, and public health statistics are frequently used to justify policy reform or the development of targeted health programs aimed at reducing disparities and improving population health outcomes.
In contrast, advocacy within clinical practice is highly individualized. Clinical advocacy focuses on optimizing outcomes for a single patient by considering their medical history, preferences, cultural background, and unique health needs. In this setting, nurses advocate for appropriate treatments, patient education, and ethical decision-making to ensure holistic and patient-centered care.
As healthcare systems become increasingly complex, advanced professional nurses assume leadership roles in policy development, care coordination, and quality improvement initiatives (Moss et al., 2016). Effective advocacy at this level requires collaboration through an Advocacy Action Team (AAT), which brings together professionals from multiple disciplines.
Interprofessional collaboration is defined as multiple healthcare professionals working collectively with patients, families, and communities to deliver high-quality, coordinated care (World Health Organization [WHO], 2017). This collaborative approach strengthens advocacy efforts by integrating diverse expertise and shared accountability.
Two strategies are essential for maximizing collaboration within an AAT:
Clearly defining professional roles ensures that each team member understands their responsibilities and contributions. Role clarity reduces duplication of effort, enhances communication, and promotes coordinated action toward shared advocacy goals.
Diverse teams enhance advocacy effectiveness by incorporating varied professional perspectives, cultural insights, and problem-solving approaches. Inclusion of diverse backgrounds and disciplines fosters innovation and supports comprehensive, equitable decision-making.
Solano County, California, which has a population exceeding 400,000 residents across seven cities, has experienced a significant rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Between 2012 and 2015, reported STI cases increased by 13.3%, reaching 2,430 confirmed infections (Solano County Health, 2019). The most prevalent infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Of particular concern is the dramatic increase in gonorrhea cases, which rose by 95.5% between 2012 and 2016. These local trends mirror statewide data, which indicate an overall STI rate increase of more than 14% during the same period (Hansen, 2018). These statistics highlight the urgent need for targeted public health interventions.
Young adults aged 20–24 represent the population most affected by STIs in Solano County, followed closely by adolescents aged 13–19 (Hansen, 2018). Significant racial disparities are evident, with African American populations experiencing disproportionately higher infection rates. Chlamydia rates are four to five times higher, and gonorrhea rates are six to eleven times higher among African Americans compared to non-Hispanic White populations (Solano County Health, 2016). These disparities underscore the influence of social inequities on health outcomes.
Limited access to quality healthcare is a major social determinant contributing to elevated STI rates among adolescents and minority populations. Barriers such as high healthcare costs, lack of insurance coverage, transportation challenges, and provider shortages restrict access to preventive services, early diagnosis, and timely treatment. Addressing these systemic barriers is essential for reducing STI transmission and improving long-term health outcomes.
At present, Solano County does not have targeted policies specifically addressing the rising STI rates among adolescents and minority populations. Existing public health initiatives focus broadly on improving healthcare access but fail to address the unique needs of these high-risk groups. This policy gap highlights the need for focused, population-specific interventions.
The proposed policy emphasizes a combined approach of prevention, education, and treatment targeting middle and high school students. Under this initiative, licensed healthcare professionals would volunteer on a monthly basis to provide free STI screening, education, and treatment services directly within school settings.
Delivering services in schools reduces financial and logistical barriers while increasing accessibility for adolescents. This approach supports Healthy People 2030 objectives aimed at increasing preventive healthcare visits and confidential provider interactions among adolescents (Healthy People 2030, n.d.).
Education is a central component of the proposed policy. School-based health programs would provide students with accurate information on STI transmission, symptoms, prevention strategies, and treatment options. Early testing and diagnosis are critical for reducing transmission rates, as timely intervention prevents complications and further spread (Hansen, 2018).
Providing private consultations within the school environment promotes confidentiality and autonomy, which are essential for adolescent engagement and trust in healthcare services (Healthy People 2030, n.d.).
The policy ensures equitable allocation of healthcare resources by prioritizing schools in both underserved and affluent communities. Recruiting healthcare professionals who reflect the cultural and demographic composition of the community further enhances trust and utilization of services. This equitable approach supports health justice and reduces disparities.
The proposed policy aligns with the ANA Code of Ethics, particularly Provision 3, which mandates that nurses advocate for patient rights, safety, and health (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2016). It also supports Provision 8, which emphasizes collaboration among healthcare professionals to address social inequities and promote population health.
Potential barriers include parental resistance to STI education and treatment without explicit consent, which may limit adolescent participation. Additionally, approval from school administrators is essential, and institutional resistance could delay or prevent implementation of the program.
The superintendent of Solano County schools, Lizette Estrella-Henderson, holds significant influence over policy implementation. Her authority over school programming, funding allocation, and interagency coordination positions her as a key stakeholder in advancing this initiative.
To strengthen nursing advocacy efforts, interventions should be tailored to adolescent developmental stages to maximize engagement and effectiveness. Additionally, obtaining Public Health Nurse certification would equip nurses with advanced skills to address community-level health challenges, including STI prevention and policy advocacy.
| Advocacy Aspect | Community-Level Advocacy | Clinical Practice Advocacy |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | At-risk populations | Individual patient |
| Data Sources | Population statistics, epidemiological trends | Personal medical history |
| Advocacy Goals | Policy reform, program development | Individualized treatment |
| Scope | Broad, population-wide | Narrow, patient-specific |
| Strategy | Community-tailored interventions | Personalized care plans |
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Advocacy.
https://www.nursingworld.org/practicepolicy/advocacy/
American Nurses Association. (2016). Code of ethics for nurses.
https://nursing.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ANA-Code-of-Ethics-for-Nurses.pdf
Hansen, T. R. (2018, February 14). STD rates on the rise in Solano. Daily Republic.
https://www.dailyrepublic.com/all-dr-news/solano-news/solano-county/std-rates-on-the-rise-in-solano-state/
Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of adolescents who speak privately with a provider during preventive medical visits.
https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/adolescents/increase-proportion-adolescents-who-speak-privately-provider-preventive-medical-visit-ah-02
Moss, E., Seifert, P., & O’Sullivan, A. (2016). Registered nurses as interprofessional collaborative partners: Creating value-based outcomes. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 21(3).
https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol21No03Man04
Solano County Health. (2016). Solano County chlamydia and gonorrhea rates.
https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=2617
Solano County Health. (2019). Public health data.
https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/reports.asp
World Health Organization. (2017). Framework for action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice.
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70185/1/WHO_HRH_HPN_10.3_eng.pdf
