Purpose: Review the Forensics PowerPoint, select a relevant article, write a summary, 

#1

 

1. The vulnerable population I chose is neonates. Nurses can actively listen to families, educate them, foster cultural sensitivity, enhance nursing skills, collaborate with the healthcare team, and advocate for policies that improve neonatal care to achieve positive health outcomes for neonates (Maleki et al., 2022). Nurses should listen carefully to the concerns and needs of neonatal parents and families, considering their viewpoints and cultural backgrounds. They should provide concise and accurate information about neonatal care, potential complications, and available services. It is important to recognize and respect the diverse cultural backgrounds of families and to provide care accordingly. Nurses must maintain current knowledge and skills in newborn care through continuous education and professional development. Developing strong communication skills is essential for interacting with newborns, families, and healthcare team members. Identifying and advocating for the necessary resources to deliver the best neonatal care, including equipment, staffing, and funding, is crucial. Encouraging and supporting family-centered care emphasizes the importance of involving families in the care of their newborns (Maleki et al., 2022).

2. Many organizations support advocacy in healthcare. Some include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which protects the safety and efficacy of medications, medical equipment, and other health-related items. Therefore, its decisions are critical for patient safety and significantly impact medication research and access. Others include the American Nurse Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

3. Healthcare systems can implement the following guidelines to strengthen advocacy efforts. The first one is patient-centered care; healthcare practitioners should prioritize their patients’ needs and preferences (Kuehne et al., 2022).  This involves respecting their decisions and ensuring they are fully informed about their health state and treatment alternatives. The next one is communication, healthcare providers and their patients must communicate clearly and openly. This includes explaining medical concepts in a language the patient can understand. We continue with confidentiality; the patient’s health information should be kept private and only shared with those involved in their treatment. Respect for autonomy which talks about patients being permitted to make their own health-related decisions. This includes the ability to refuse any treatments. Lastly, community engagement and collaboration. Working with community organizations, leaders, and residents to address health challenges. Promote public health awareness by increasing knowledge of health issues, encouraging healthy practices, and advocating for policies that benefit the community by supporting community-wide activities to increase health and well-being.

4. Enhancing neonatal support at a microsystem level entails offering support and interventions within the immediate environment of the neonate and their family. It can be achieved by providing parents with education, resources, and emotional support regarding newborn care, nursing, and early childhood development. In addition, advocating for policies that support kangaroo care, breastfeeding, and family-centered care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can also improve support for neonates and their families. Facilitating family therapy, parenting training, and support groups to enhance family dynamics and reduce stress, such as advocating for access to food, housing, and other essential requirements for neonatal families, would also be beneficial. When referring to the mesosystem, it is essential to encourage communication and collaboration among hospitals, clinics, and social service agencies to ensure complete support for neonates and their families. Motivate parents and childcare providers to work together to ensure a consistent approach to infant care and development. Creating community-based initiatives that offer services and support to neonatal families, such as early childhood centers, parenting groups, and community health clinics, can help support neonates and their families. At a macrosystem level, we focus on influencing larger societal institutions, regulations, and cultural norms to provide a more supportive environment for neonates and their families. It can be started by promoting policies that encourage parental leave, affordable daycare, and paid family leave. To improve neonate outcomes, there should be support for research and innovation in neonatal care and early childhood development. Advocating for more money and resources for neonatal care, particularly NICUs and early intervention programs, can support neonates.

5. Healthcare advocacy plays a pivotal role in enhancing the financial health of healthcare organizations. By proactively addressing patient needs, improving satisfaction, and streamlining financial processes, effective advocacy can lead to improved revenue cycles, reduced costs, and strengthened patient loyalty (Lazuka et al., 2022). The first level of effective advocacy is the patient level; it focuses on patient advocacy by providing customized support by assisting patients in understanding their benefits, navigating the healthcare system, and managing expenditures. This support results in enhanced patient experiences and timely payments. The next level is the organizational level; Healthcare institutions can establish complete advocacy programs that improve billing processes, increase transparency, and address patient complaints proactively. Such activities promote confidence and encourage quick payment, which improves financial health. Advocacy at the policy level has the potential to impact reimbursement rates, budget allocations, and regulatory structures. Engaging in policy advocacy ensures that financial incentives are aligned with quality care goals, which helps the organization’s financial stability.

 #2

Identify a vulnerable population and describe ways a nurse can advocate for a change to promote health outcomes for this group.

• The vulnerable population I chose for this post is individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities. “Individuals with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities are more likely than the general population to experience problems in accessing a range of health care services” (Ernstmeyer & Christman, 2022). They may be subjected to social stigma and experience challenges in accessing healthcare appropriate for their needs. I chose this population because chronic illnesses and disabilities affect everyone, no matter their age, race, or ethnicity.
• Nurses can advocate for individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities in several ways. These include policy advocacy, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Nurses can ensure that the appropriate policies are addressed by engaging in policy advocacy. This can be done by connecting with their local legislators and collaborating with professional organizations. “Addressing social needs across the health system can improve health equity from the individual to the system level” (Flaubert et al., 2021). Nurses can also collaborate with other professionals and use continuing education to better understand the population’s needs.

What government organizations and policies support advocacy in healthcare?

• The Department of Health and Human Services oversees Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. “The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services” (Department of Health & Human Services, 2024). They have multiple divisions overseeing services to support and protect all populations.

What guidelines can healthcare systems implement to strengthen advocacy efforts?

• Healthcare systems can establish policies advocating for equal care, offering continuing education, and encouraging staff to engage with local legislators regarding current policies.

Consider the role of microsystems, macrosystems, and mesosystems. Describe how advocacy at each level could enhance support for the vulnerable population you identified. How might advocacy actions differ at each level?

• “Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory posits that an individual’s development is influenced by a series of interconnected environmental systems, ranging from the immediate surroundings (e.g., family) to broad societal structures (e.g., culture)” (Guy-Evans, 2024).

o   The microsystem is the immediate environment the individual has contact with, including family, friends, coworkers, and healthcare workers assisting in their care. Nurses can provide personalized care plans and assist with patient education regarding diagnoses, lifestyle changes, and other specific needs.

o   The mesosystem is the interconnection between different microsystems. This would include interdisciplinary communication in the healthcare system, such as an interdisciplinary team. Including family, at the patient’s discretion, in health decisions, and case managers connecting patients with local community resources.

o   According to Guy-Evans (2024), the macrosystem focuses on cultural elements such as cultural ideologies, attitudes, and social conditions in which the patient is immersed. Nurses can advocate for populations by engaging with legislators regarding policies on equal treatment of patients with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Discuss the link between healthcare advocacy and the financial outcomes of an organization. How can effective advocacy at each system level impact an organization’s financial health?

• Microsystem—Nurses who assist in educating their patients on their chronic conditions and disabilities can help reduce readmissions, improve HCAHPS scores (patient satisfaction), and reduce ER visits. They can review medication regimens, dietary requirements, and condition specifics.
• Mesosystem—Nurses and case managers can help connect patients with community resources and outreach programs. This can help the patient with transportation to appointments and needs for home health assistance.
• Macrosystem – Continuing to engage with current policies, local legislation, and community resources can help ensure up-to-date information to pass on to patients during discharge planning.

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

Collaborate with your group from Topic 2 to develop a presentation using your instructor-approved article on a specific intervention or new treatment tool for the management of diabetes in the aging/elderly population or children. The article must be published within the last 5 years and relevant to nursing practice.

Create a 12-15-slide PowerPoint presentation (not including the title and references slides) on the study’s findings and how they can be used by nurses as an intervention. Include speaker notes for each slide and additional slides for the title page and references.

Include the following:

1. Describe, using the PICO(T) question format, the specific population and intervention or treatment tool used in the article.
2. Summarize the PICO(T) outcome evaluated by your selected article. The research presented must include pathophysiological findings that are current, thorough, and relevant to nursing practice.
3. Provide a description of how the treatment tool or intervention can be integrated into nursing practice. Provide evidence to support your discussion. Reflect how the treatment tool or intervention will affect nursing practice and the disease process.
4. Explain why psychological, cultural, and spiritual aspects are important to consider for the patient population which your article reviews. Describe how support can be offered in these respective areas as part of a plan of care for the patient. Provide examples.
5. You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.

Refer to the resource, “Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations,” located in the Student Success Center, for additional guidance on completing this assignment in the appropriate style.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. 

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. 

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

You should respond to both discussions separately–with constructive literature material- extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. 

Minimum 150 words each reply with references under each reply. 

Incorporate a minimum of 2 current (published within the last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work. Journal articles should be referenced according to the current APA style (the online library has an abbreviated version of the APA Manual).

Discussion 1

Promoting Population and Community Health

Health professionals serves an essential role for promoting population and community health regardless of their practice area. Healthcare workers can improve health outcomes and reduce disparities through preventive care combined with health education and advocacy and community engagement. Various healthcare settings can implement these specific actions to enhance public health.

Advocate for Preventative Care

Health professionals should focus on preventive care promotion as an effective method to enhance community health outcomes. Routine screenings along with vaccinations and health check-ups enable disease detection at an early stage which produces improved treatment results (Persaud et al., 2023).  Health providers including nurses and physicians must both educate patients about preventive services and arrange accessible access to these services.

A primary care provider should establish reminder systems to prompt patients about flu vaccinations, mammograms and diabetes screenings. The discharge planning process in hospitals should focus on arranging follow-up care and lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of hospital readmissions. The awareness of preventive measures should be increased through public health campaigns which utilize social media and community workshops and health fairs.

Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

The health outcomes substantially affected by social determinants such as income levels, education status, housing conditions and food security (Adler et al., 2016). Healthcare professionals need to evaluate and manage these factors during their clinical practice. Healthcare providers should implement patient screenings for social needs when patients visit their medical facilities (e.g., food insecurity, housing instability, transportation issues). Healthcare providers should direct their patients toward community resources which include food pantries and housing assistance programs and medical expense financial aid. Healthcare providers should work with social workers and case managers and community organizations to establish service connections that fulfill patients’ non-medical requirements. A nurse practitioner working in a clinic should use SDOH screening tools during patient assessments to detect individuals who need help extending beyond clinical services.

Promote Health Education and Literacy

Health literacy functions as a fundamental element for preventing diseases and managing their treatment. Health professionals should ensure patients receive full understanding about their medical conditions and available treatments along with healthy lifestyle recommendations. Healthcare providers should communicate with patients through straightforward language that excludes technical medical terms. Patients may benefit from visual aids along with pamphlets and digital resources which are designed to match their individual literacy abilities. The practice of shared decision-making should be encouraged because it makes patients active partners in their healthcare (Gizaw et al., 2023). For example, a pharmacist teaches patients about medication adherence while a dietitian instructs communities about nutritious eating habits to stop chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

Utilize Technology for Health Promotion

Healthcare providers can enhance community health through the implementation of telemedicine and digital health tools. Healthcare providers can use telehealth services to provide care to rural and underserved populations while simultaneously promoting mobile health apps for patients to monitor their physical activity and diet and chronic condition management. The implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) enables better care coordination and community-level health trend monitoring (Gizaw et al., 2023). For example, virtual therapy sessions are available to people who cannot access in-person care through mental health counselors.

Conclusion

Health professionals, regardless of their field or work setting, can contribute to population and community health by promoting preventive care, addressing social determinants, engaging in health education, advocating for policies, and embracing technology. By adopting a holistic approach, healthcare providers can make a significant impact on improving health outcomes and reducing disparities across diverse communities.  

Discussion 2

Regardless of practice area or setting, health professionals have a vital role to play in the advancement of population and community health. Specific actions can make a meaningful difference in addressing social determinants of health, advancing health equity, and building a culture that contributes to better well-being in the community. Below are some key strategies that can help.

Participating in Community Outreach and Education

Through active engagement in community outreach initiatives, health professionals can promote preventive care, healthy living, and accessible health services. It is believed that organizing workshops, seminars, and health fairs will enable disseminating vital information on health condition, risk factors, prevention measures, and discourage risky behaviors. For example, the Ad Council had developed the “It’s Up to You” campaign to help inform and engage in communities around the country to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake (Delgado, 2021).

Working with Community Health Workers (CHWs)

Collaborating with CHWs, who have already built a sense of trust among members of local communities, can help connect the needs of disparate populations with available health care systems. An example of this is the UK initiative that dispatches Community Health and Wellbeing Workers to visit homes in disadvantaged communities. These workers implement preventive measures for health and social needs, resulting in more screening and vaccinations, and fewer emergency department visits (Campbell, 2025). ​

Implementing Medical–Legal Partnerships (MLPs)

MLPs allow health professionals to address such legal issues impacting the health of patients, like housing conditions or access to benefits, by integrating legal services with healthcare settings. The resultant legal environments foster healthier communities and are effective in addressing health-harming legal needs (Baciu et al., 2021).

Use of Technology and Social Media in Health Promotion

Digital platforms are helping health professionals connect with larger audiences to deliver health education materials and updates on public health initiatives and interactive programs. The use of engaging content to spread information and motivate community participation through infographics and videos can be used effectively to inform the community about health programs (Jammy, 2024).

Advocating for Health Equity

By focusing on systemic factors that contribute to health disparities, health professionals can advocate for policies and practices that promote health equity. Working with sectors such as transportation and housing can help incentivize behavior by establishing environments conducive to healthy choices and by decreasing inequities. For instance, key initiatives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Health Equity involve partnerships to address social determinants of health and promote equitable health outcomes (Park, 2024).

Empowering Volunteerism in Healthcare Settings

Community members working as volunteers within health-care settings is one way of increasing the capacity of services to meet the needs of patients. A well-structured voluntary program trains and acknowledges volunteers’ contributions, creating a spirit of cooperation that is mutually beneficial to volunteers and the community (Jammy, 2024). ​

Supporting Local Health Research

By participating in or supporting research projects addressing local health issues, health professionals find their actions grounded in the evidence better prepared to meet the health needs of their community (Jammy, 2024). Partnerships with academic institutions and research organizations can help with studies that dictate effective interventions and policies.

Promoting Peer Collaboration in Healthcare

Creating networks across hospitals, clinics and public health departments helps with resource sharing and coordinated care (Jammy, 2024). In such efforts, joint initiatives, like health screening events, can maximize impact and guarantee holistic services for the community. ​

Promote Healthy Public Policy

Public policies that can help create healthy behavior–promoting environments are influenced by health professionals and the research that informs policy. Working with lawmakers to build policies that favor health, like nutritional standards or smoking bans, can create changes in the communities where they work for a very long period (Jammy, 2024).

Fostering Peer Support Groups

Peer support groups for individuals facing the same health challenges can provide not only emotional support, but also practical advice, leading to better health outcomes and community cohesion (Brookline College, 2025). These actions not only promote population and community health immediately; they also help to eliminate fundamental social determinants therein.