NR-503 Final Exam (2021) Graded A+
Health Disparities:
Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence,
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opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged
populations. Health disparities are inequitable and are directly related to the historical and
current unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources.
Disparities occur across many dimensions, including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age,
location, gender, disability status, and sexual orientation.
-Action Model
The Action Model addresses the places where health starts — where we live, learn, work, and
play. The action model shows a feedback loop of intervention, assessment and dissemination that
would enable achievement of Healthy People 2020 overarching goals. It is adapted from an
Institute of Medicine (IOM) model that illustrates the determinants and ecological nature of
health across the life course. Interventions, such as policies, programs and information, affect the
determinants of health at multiple levels (e.g., individual; social, family and community; living
and working conditions; and broad social, economic, cultural, health and environmental
conditions) to improve outcomes. Results of such interventions are demonstrated through
assessment, monitoring and evaluation. Through dissemination of evidence-based and best
practices, these findings feedback to intervention planning to enable the identification of
effective prevention strategies in the future. (helps to improve outcome)
A Call to Action: It falls to nurses and midwives, the most numerous and arguably most patientcentered component of the health workforce, to assume a leadership role in addressing planetary
health. Leadership begins with educating ourselves, students, staff, patients, and communities.
Engagement in political and policy processes are needed-and can take many forms. Even small
measures may have impact. Local level sustainability and readiness is meaningful at one's
university, hospital, and or health system levels.
* Learning-and teaching-about planetary health is a key productive action. The collective
changes possible with law and policy changes-in short, better governance-are necessary to limit
further harm.
* Communication about planetary health matters requires special care to keep emotions even
keeled and avoid an apocalyptic focus. Just as gain-framed messages are demonstrably more
effective in health prevention strategies for individuals, prevention in the planetary health
domain can include emphasis on improved economies, jobs, population health, and social justice.
-HP2020 Goals
Healthy People 2020 is the federal government’s prevention agenda for building a healthier
nation. It is a statement of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant
preventable threats to health and to establish national goals to reduce these threats. The vision of
Healthy People 2020 is to have a society in which all people live long, healthy lives. The
overarching goals of Healthy People 2020 are to: attain high-quality, longer lives free of
preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death; achieve health equity, eliminate
disparities, and improve the health of all groups; create social and physical environments that
promote good health for all; and promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy
behaviors across all life stages. [Show Less]