Influencing Social Change

Influencing Social Change

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Discussion: Influencing Social Change

Individuals with psychiatric mental health disorders are frequently stigmatized not only by society as a whole, but also by their friends, family, and sometimes healthcare providers. In your role, however, you have the opportunity to become a social change agent for these individuals. For this Discussion, consider how you might make a positive impact for your clients and advocate for social change within your own community.
Learning Objectives

Students will:
• Apply strategies to become a social change agent for psychiatric mental health

To prepare for this Discussion:
• Reflect on how you might influence social change for psychiatric mental health.

Post an explanation of how you, as a nurse practitioner, might become a social change agent for psychiatric mental health. Include how you might advocate for change within your own community.

All references require creditable sources, nothing less than 5 years. References require doi or http. Please add conclusion.
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Influencing Social Change
Introduction
Healthcare delivery involves tasks such as creating social change that promote positive patient outcomes. Stigma affects psychiatric patients by lowering their self-esteem and discriminating against them in the health system. It is my role as a registered nurse to ensure I collaborate with various stakeholders to trigger the necessary change (Watson, 2019). For example, nurses should work with patients, policymakers, fellow nurses, and the community to promote change. I will empower patients to understand their rights and also encourage them to participate in decision-making forums. It is essential to educate the community to understand that psychiatric disorders are not strange health issues. I will also encourage policymakers to develop policies that will create a better healthcare environment for the nurses (Flaskerud, 2018). It is my role as a nurse practitioner to encourage my fellow nurses to participate in social change. The purpose of the paper is to examine my role as a registered nurse in creating social change to alleviate stigma related to psychiatric disorders.
Patients and Communities
As a nurse practitioner, I will provide other crucial roles apart from delivering care to patients. One of the roles is to be an agent of social change to help improve the welfare of patients. Social change in nursing aims at preserving human dignity, promoting equality, alleviating patient suffering, prioritizing patient care, and providing information to patients (Flaskerud, 2018). My role as an advocate for change is important in boosting access to quality care.
I will advocate for the needs of patients and their families in the community. It will also be my duty to share crucial information with community leaders on the healthcare costs of psychiatric mental disorders (Watson, 2019). Information about the process and cost of treatment can raise awareness that the conditions are also similar to other health issues (Watson, 2019). For instance, I will provide information in public forums to advocate for a change in perception regarding psychiatric patients. The information in the public forums can also focus on the need to expand the healthcare infrastructure to provide the necessary support to the patients (Hanks et al., 2019). I will also provide the necessary information to various institutions such as schools to reduce the risk of stigma.
My role will be providing materials to patients, community leaders, healthcare workers, and community members. The purpose of the materials is to educate the various community stakeholders on the need to support psychiatric patients (Hanks et al., 2019). For example, materials on the treatment of psychiatric disorders promote access to quality care. In some communities, people believe psychiatric disorders are a source of evil powers, which cannot be treated. However, I will indicate the options available for treatment and the strategies of supporting patients to promote recovery (Hanks et al., 2019). I will also offer hope that both children and adults with psychiatric disorders can be treated successfully.
My role will involve providing support to the patients to alleviate the social stigma. One of the ways is to protect the patients from harm to avoid deterioration of the condition. I will also provide crucial information to patients to ensure they make the right decisions (Murray, 2019). It is also important to respect the care and choices of patients. My role as a nurse practitioner will be to provide support to realize better health outcomes for patients.
Policy Change and Nursing
I will also support the alleviation of stigma in society by promoting and supporting policies. As a registered nurse practitioner under the American Nurses Association (ANA), I have a huge influence on various government and community levels. My focus will be on changing the perspective about psychiatric disorders. For instance, ANA has over 3.4 million workers which can influence the community positively (Hanks et al., 2019). As a registered nurse I will provide expert testimony to policymakers to influence the policies they make regarding psychiatric disorders. I will also contact or meet the elected leaders to inform them of the challenges their patients go through. It is essential to inform professionals and leaders at various levels to promote collaboration (Sundqvist et al., 2016). The reason is that all stakeholders in society including policymakers and professionals can draft and enact policies that eliminate discrimination of psychiatric patients.
I will encourage facilities providing care to improve various care settings. For example, care settings should allow family members to also attend one of the psychiatric sessions. Attending the sessions is an opportunity to inform and empower the family members about the plight of psychiatric patients (Sundqvist et al., 2016). For example, the information will change their perspective of family members. The information will help them to provide the necessary support to avoid making a patient feeling odd or dejected (Sundqvist et al., 2016). They should also know the symptoms they can observe to determine when to take a patient to a healthcare facility for a checkup. It is also necessary for family members to encourage patients to always attend all the clinics.
Empowering Patients and Nurses
I will play a crucial role in ensuring I educate patients about their rights. I will also empower them to know the opportunities they should exploit. For example, nurses can register the patients in key community committees and motivate them to participate in meeting forums (Hanks et al., 2019). I will also encourage other nurses to ensure they promote healthy and safe working environments. The massive changes will ensure that people are aware of the need to change their perspective of psychiatric disorders (Hanks et al., 2019). I also have an important role to play to eliminate stigma.
My role is working in my community to make an impact on patients and healthy individuals. The focus will be to prevent discriminating against psychiatric patients. I will determine to educate my community on the causes of mental conditions (Flaskerud, 2018). It is also important for the community to know the condition is a normal health issue. Creating health awareness will help discard the problems associated with myths on psychiatric mental problems. I will also strive to understand the dynamics of my community (Flaskerud, 2018). For example, my community is dominated by whites and Hispanics, who need to be educated. Therefore, while developing solutions for the communities, it is important to understand what they believe. The background information will help promote social change in society.
Conclusion
I have a responsibility to create social change by acting as advocates for various health issues. One of the health concerns is stigma among psychiatric mental patients. Creating social change involves working with various stakeholders in society. The stakeholders include fellow nurses, patients, communities, and patients. It is my role as a nurse practitioner to ensure I do not discriminate against the patients but to appreciate and comfort them. I will also educate society on the dynamics of mental problems. I will also work with policymakers to ensure we address issues related to psychiatric disorders. Creating social change requires nurses to act as advocates for change in treatment plans, cost of care, and perception in society.

References
Flaskerud, J. H. (2018). Stigma and psychiatric/mental health nursing. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 39(2), 188-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2017.1307887
Hanks, R. G., Eloi, H., & Stafford, L. (2019). Understanding how advanced practice registered nurses function as patient advocates. Nursing Forum (Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 213-219). https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12319
Murray, T. A. (2019). The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Educating the Workforce. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(9), 499-500. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20190819-01
Sundqvist, A. S., Holmefur, M., Nilsson, U., & Anderzén-Carlsson, A. (2016). Perioperative patient advocacy: An integrative review. Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, 31(5), 422-433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2014.12.001
Watson, J. (2019). Nurses as advocates. Nursing made Incredibly Easy, 17(3), 42-46. DOI: 10.1097/01.NME.0000554601.68360.36

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