Peer Responses

Responding to Efetze M. Akana

Hello,

This is an insightful discussion on the DNP-prepared nurse’s role in policy advocacy and community health initiatives. I commend your focus on the legislative measures aimed at extending insurance coverage on preventive services, and immunizations for high-risk groups and categories included under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Another improvement that can be made in increasing access to healthcare is the implementation of telemedicine in rural and developing regions: Peer Responses.

Notably, telehealth interventions significantly improve chronic disease management and patient adherence to care plans (Ercia, 2021). Also, incorporating remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs alongside telehealth initiatives would help reduce hospital readmissions and enhance long-term patient outcomes.

Additionally, your discussion on nurse-led infection prevention programs is commendable. An intervention that may be considered is antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) work to address antibiotic resistance and infection prevention in healthcare settings. Previous studies involving ASPs directed by nurses revealed their benefits, such as reduced HAIs and appropriate use of antibiotics (Shrestha et al., 2023).

Your passion as a responsible, qualified, and caring individual for embracing upcoming nurses is highly valuable in developing nurses’ leaders. Additionally, promoting the structured courses in the healthcare institution would also promote the knowledge sharing and leadership development of nurses. Great job on this discussion!

References

Ercia, A. (2021). The impact of the Affordable Care Act on patient coverage and access to care: Perspectives from FQHC administrators in Arizona, California, and Texas. BioMed Central (BMC) Health Services Research, 21(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06961-9

Shrestha, J., Zahra, F., & Cannady, J. (2023, June 20). Antimicrobial stewardship. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572068/

Responding to Naah Allotey

Hello Allotey,

Your post highlights the crucial role of DNP-prepared nurses in mental health advocacy and equity. The emphasis on reducing mental health stigma and promoting community education is particularly important, as stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking mental health services (Flaubert et al., 2021). Another possible strategy one can use is the development of mental health literacy through the use of social media and technology. Notably, digital mental health campaigns can be useful in enhancing the levels of awareness, enhancing cascaded utilization of mental health resources, and reducing the level of stigma across different populations.

Your commitment to trauma-informed care (TIC) approaches in psychiatric settings is commendable. Another approach is the incorporation of peer support specialists into models of psychiatric treatment. Besides, peer support services can increase patient satisfaction, help reduce the number of hospital visits, and improve the process and results of recovery in mental health (Goldstein et al., 2024).

Furthermore, your plan to engage schools and community centers to promote awareness of mental health in adolescents is efficient based on the rationale that early intervention is key to addressing mental health conditions. The second strategy that could be proposed is the promotion of screening for mental health in school; heightened awareness of mental health disorders and timely detection results in improved prognosis in the long run (Goldstein et al., 2024). Indeed, your developmental plan for increasing mental health care services and cultivating psychiatric nurses of the future is commendable.

References

Flaubert, J. L., Menestrel, S. L., Williams, D. R., & Wakefield, M. K. (2021). The role of nurses in improving health equity. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573898/

Goldstein, E., Chokshi, B., Melendez-Torres, G., Rios, A., Jelley, M., & Lewis-O’Connor, A. (2024). Effectiveness of trauma-informed care implementation in health care settings: Systematic review of reviews and realist synthesis. The Permanente Journal, 28(1), 135–150. https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/23.127

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Topic: Week 11: Blog

Efetze M Akana

Feb 4 12:41am

The Role of the DNP-Prepared Nurse as an Agent of Positive Social Change
Social change is a fundamental component of Walden University’s mission, emphasizing the transformation of culture, behavior, social institutions, and structures over time (University of Minnesota, 2016). Walden University (n.d.) defines social change as “people working to improve the lives of others,” highlighting the significance of advocacy in professional practice.

As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-prepared nurse, I will be uniquely positioned to influence healthcare policy, improve patient outcomes, and advocate for equitable care in vulnerable populations.

Demonstrating Commitment to Positive Social Change
DNP-prepared nurses are essential in fostering innovation and advocating for systemic improvements in healthcare. One of my primary commitments to positive social change will be advocating for policy changes that improve healthcare accessibility for underserved populations. For instance, I intend to support legislative efforts that expand insurance coverage for preventive care, particularly immunizations for older adults and low-income communities.

Research indicates that policy-driven interventions in public health significantly reduce disease burden and improve long term patient outcomes (Milstead & Short, 2019).

Additionally, I will implement quality improvement initiatives within my workplace to ensure safer and more efficient care delivery. For example, I will advocate for standardized infection control measures to reduce hospital-acquired infections, particularly among immunocompromised patients. Studies suggest that nurse-led infection prevention programs significantly lower infection rates and enhance patient safety (Schmidt et al., 2020).

Becoming an Agent of Social Change
As a DNP-prepared nurse, my influence will extend beyond patient care to impact entire communities and the nursing profession. I plan to engage in community health initiatives, such as mobile clinics and telehealth programs, to reach populations with limited healthcare access.

Evidence supports that community-based nursing interventions improve chronic disease management and reduce hospital readmissions (Hirschman et al., 2018).

Furthermore, I will contribute to the advancement of nursing education by mentoring future nurse leaders and advocating for evidence-based practice. Educating nurses on social determinants of health and health disparities will empower them to become proactive advocates for their patients.

As an advanced practice nurse, I will also support workplace initiatives that enhance staff well-being, such as implementing structured respite programs to reduce burnout—a pressing issue in the nursing profession (Kelly et al., 2021).

Conclusion
In summary, DNP-prepared nurses play a pivotal role in fostering positive social change by advocating for policies, implementing quality improvements, and engaging in community outreach. By championing initiatives that enhance patient care, promote health equity, and support professional growth, I will contribute to meaningful and lasting improvements in healthcare.

As I advance in my career, I remain committed to being a catalyst for change and ensuring that nursing continues to evolve as a profession dedicated to improving lives.

References
Hirschman, K. B., Shaid, E. C., McCauley, K., Pauly, M. V., & Naylor, M. D. (2018). Continuity of care: The transitional care model. The Ochsner Journal, 18(1), 89-95. https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.18.0001

Kelly, L. A., Gee, P. M., & Butler, R. J. (2021). Impact of nurse burnout on organizational and position turnover. Nursing Outlook, 69(1), 96-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2020.06.008

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6thed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Schmidt, C., Huy, N. T., Hien, B. T., Ha, N. M., & Wertheim, H. F. (2020). Monitoring and evaluating hospital-acquired infection prevention programs in low-resource settings. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(1), e40-e50. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30611-5

University of Minnesota. (2016). Sociology: 20.1 Understanding social change. https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/20-1-understanding-socialchange/

Walden University. (n.d.). 5 things that everyone should know about social change. https://www.waldenu.edu/why-walden/social-change/resource/five-thingsthat-everyone-should-know-about-social-change

NA Naah Allotey

Main Post

Role of the DNP Prepared Nurse as an Agent of Positive Social Change
A doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepared nurse is considered a key leader and advocate for positive social change by addressing the health disparities, improvement of healthcare policies, and implementation of evidence-based interventions which enhance the patient outcomes.

The DNP nurses are trained in systems leadership, quality of improvement, and population health and this allows them to influence healthcare at both the individual and community levels (DREHER & URIBE, 2024). They are able to advocate for equitable access to care, promote health education, and drive policy changes which benefit the underserved populations.

As a DNP prepared nurses, I am uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice and ensure that the patients are able to receive high quality, equitable, and culturally competent care.

They are able to advocate for systemic changes in healthcare and influence the policy, promotion of health equity, and address the social determinants of health.

I will advocate for the mental health equity and work to eliminate the stigma which surrounds the mental heath disorders and promotes the educations and awareness in the community. It will include the organizing workshops on mental health literacy and collaborating with the community organizations and provide resources to the underserved populations.

I will aim to implement various evidence-based practices and will stay up to date with the latest research in psychiatric care and also include evidence-based interventions in the clinical practice (Dunbar-Jacob et al., 2023).I will plan to advocate for trauma informed care approaches in the outpatient psychiatric settings and improve patient outcomes and reduce retraumatization of the paitent.

Being an Agent of Social Change and Impacting Patients, Communities, and the Nursing Profession
There is an impact on the patient where I will implement patient centered culturally competent care which acknowledges individual backgrounds and experiences. For instance, I will aim to incorporate the holistic and integrative treatment approaches like mindfulness-based interventions and lifestyle modifications alongside pharmacological treatments to ensure comphrehnsive care.

I will also advocate for increased access to mental health services and participate in the policy discussions which will aim to expand mental health coverage and more so in the underserved areas (Pappas et al.,2023).

I will plan to collaborate with the schools and community centers to provide education on adolescents’ mental health and suicide prevention. In addition, I aim to mentor and support future psychiatric nurses and advanced practice providers by the engagement in professional organizations, precepting students, and contributing to the research on improvement of mental health outcomes (DREHER & URIBE, 2024).

I will aim to advocate for the legislative changes which expand the scope of my practice and allow for grater autonomy in addressing the growing mental health crisis.

I will drive meaningful social change by advocating for the health equity, integrating evidence-based interventions, addressing social determinants of health, and expanding access to the mental health services. My goal is to create a lasting improvement when it comes to the psychiatric care not only for the individual patients but also for the communities and the nursing profession as a whole.

Via leadership, advocacy, and mentorship, I will aim to propel change further and ensure that mental healthcare is accessible, effective, and compassionate for all the populations.

References
DREHER, H. M., & URIBE, J. (2024). Professional and Doctor of Nursing Practice Roles in Nursing: A Theoretical and Historical Approach. DNP Role Development for Doctoral Advanced Nursing Practice, 51.

Dunbar-Jacob, J., Schlenk, E. A., & Tuite, P. (2023). The Doctor of Nursing Practice: A Narrative Review of the History and Current Status. Medical Research Archives, 11(7.1). https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i7.1.4037

Pappas, S., Davis, K. K., Dubree, M., Foxx, M., Fuchs, M. A., Hayes, R., … & Williams, E. (2023). Nursing practice leaders’ perspectives on continuing challenges related to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree. Nursing Outlook, 71(4),102002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102002