Discussion and Responses
Name
Tutor
Institution
Date
Community activism
According to Reichlin et al. (2019), community activism is a comprehensive concept where groups, individuals, and organizations work together to bring some positive change into society. Consciousness-raising is a critical community concept (Reichlin et al., 2019). This is accomplished through problem-solving and interpretive decoding of lived experiences. Critical reflection is important in linking local community problems with the global issue. By engaging in actions and dialogues at the community level, nurses and other change drivers can envision possibilities to ensure that positive change is attained. Empowerment is a multifaceted concept that entails incorporates processes such as the generation of new knowledge and understanding of new issues at the community level to bring positive change.
Advanced Nurse Practice and Community Activism
Nurses with a doctorate, bachelor’s, masters, and diploma academic qualifications can influence public policy to the barn or reduce tobacco consumption. This is accomplished by providing professional and expert advice on the ravaging health effects of tobacco consumption (Maryland & Gonzalez, 2012). Their special position makes them properly engage and address health disparities existing at the community level. Nurses can mitigate the negative health effects of tobacco by creating social awareness and consciousness (Maryland & Gonzalez, 2012). Community members should be informed of how cigarette smoking will reduce the number of community people who smoke and those who do not smoke. Nurses should assess and determine if their patients are smoking. Community members should be aware of the ramifications and offer guidance and counseling sessions to enable members to quit this risky behavior (Maryland & Gonzalez, 2012). Through the offering of alternative coping measures, empowerment is critical in enabling members to stay a healthy life. Educating community members on the adverse effects of tobacco consumption is critical in reducing tobacco consumption.
Response 1
Community activism is a broad concept that entails social justice, raising awareness, praxis, critical reflection, and empowerment as critical concepts (Reichlin et al., 2019). Each community concept is associated with specific actions to bring positive change in the community. Nurse practitioners are encouraged to embrace all concepts of community activism with the sole purpose of improving the overall health of community members (Maryland & Gonzalez, 2012). Community activism starts by understanding the community members’ needs, realizing that they are part of the global community, and share a common interest to bring change. Nurses should play a critical role in reducing the effects of tobacco consumption on a multilevel approach. They are equipped with skills and experience and have acquired a transformational and participative leadership style to enable them to improve the life of the community members. Schooling and training make Advanced Nurse Practitioners equipped with indomitable skills and tools to assist community members in improving their health. Therefore, ARNP plays a fundamental role in community activism by bridging the gap of healthcare disparities.
Response 2
I find that social justice and critical reflection take center stage of community activism concepts (Reichlin et al., 2019). Social justice entails the fair distribution of community resources for a fulfilling and prolific lifestyle. For example, nurses can use campaigns, demonstrations, and policymaking to advocate for positive change at the community level. On the other hand, critical reflection boosts individual ability to understand issues that affect community residents. This approach enables Advanced Nurse Practitioners to devise long-term resolutions to issues such as increased cigarette consumption cases. Nurses should pay attention to the trends of tobacco use in the community. This enables them to come up with constructive interventions to prevent the negative health effects of tobacco use. Nurses should be on the front line to enlighten community members on diseases and addictiveness associated with increased tobacco consumption (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017). Advanced Nurse Practitioners can develop campaign programs to educate the public on why tobacco prevention policy, such as higher taxes, is necessary for reducing cigarette smoking.
References
Maryland, M., Gonzalez, R., (January 31, 2012) “Patient Advocacy in the Community and Legislative Arenas” OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 17, No. 1, Manuscript 2. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No01Man02
Reichlin, R., Peltier, M., Raether, E., & Polonsky, S. (2019). Nursing curriculum through a social justice lens: An upstream approach. Public Health Nursing, 36(3), 422-428.
Salmond, S.W. & Echevarria, M. (2017). Healthcare Transformation and Changing Roles for Nursing. Orthop Nurs. 2017 Jan/Feb;36(1):12-25. doi:10.1097/NOR.0000000000000308. PMID: 28107295; PMCID: PMC5266427.