Role of Advanced Nursing Professionals in Public Health

Introduction

Throughout its development, humanity has been confronted with a significant variety of new viruses and infections that must be studied actively. Various tools and techniques are used to minimize the effects of the disease and collect the necessary data to develop the treatment. Such challenges to humanity as the coronavirus pandemic have shown the importance of rapid response and decision-making regarding the public health of countries around the world. It is important to emphasize that one of the most critical instruments in the study of the disease’s symptoms and the condition of the patient is observation and constant communication with the patient. Advanced Nursing Professionals (ARNPs) are the specialists responsible for these activities. This essay will discuss the role of ARNPs in public health in the United States. In addition, attention will be focused on the features of ARNP in the Hispanic Community in the U.S. Although many people believe that nurses play a secondary role in treating patients, their communication with patients and gathering the necessary information are critical factors in improving people’s health in the Hispanic population in the USA.

The Definition of the Advanced Nursing Professional

Advanced Nursing professionals must have the necessary skills to collect and analyze patient information to improve the communities’ public health. Recording details and symptoms of patient medical history and preparing patients for treatment are among the primary duties of the ARN professional (Lopes-Júnior, 2021). In addition, the duties of an ARNP include administering medications and treatments and monitoring patients for side effects and reactions (Vega, 2020). This wide range of responsibilities underlines the importance of involving the advanced nursing professional in studying certain diseases. In addition, APRNs are nurses who have met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements such as a master’s degree or doctorate in nursing (Vega, 2020). It is important to highlight such prominent roles of ARNPs as clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists, certified nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives (Castilla-Puentes, 2022). Therefore, by examining in detail the roles and types of ARNPs in treating patients, it is possible to define their role in public health.

The Role of the ARNP in Public Health

The skills listed in the previous paragraph make it possible to identify the activities of an Advanced Nursing professional as one of the critical roles not only in treating a particular patient but in improving public health. The main factor for this conclusion is the process of collecting information about the disease and its symptoms, as well as the patient’s condition at different stages of treatment. In addition, ARNP has an essential educational background that matches the challenges of the 21st century (Lopes-Júnior, 2021). According to Lopes-Júnior (2021), it is “characterized by an accelerated demographic transition, accompanied by a scenario of triple disease burden: 1) the unsurpassed agenda for infectious diseases; 2) the increase in deaths to external causes; and 3) the predominance of chronic noncable diseases” (p. 1). It follows that advanced nursing professionals specialize in areas of public health, such as maternal and child health, infectious diseases, or chronic disease management. In this way, ARNPs play an essential role in improving the overall health and well-being of the public.

The Role of the ARNP in the Hispanic Community in the USA

In addition to standard patient care, Advanced Nursing professionals can significantly affect the well-being of individual communities such as Hispanics in the U.S. The Hispanic population in the U.S. is diverse and has a growing presence in the country. Healthcare providers must understand and respect this population’s cultural and linguistic differences. ARNPs play a crucial role in providing primary care and preventive health services to the Hispanic community. They conduct physical exams, order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and provide education and counsel on maintaining a healthy lifestyle (Castilla-Puentes, 2022). Additionally, ARNPs can assist in addressing specific health disparities in the Hispanic community, such as high rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, or lower rates of access to preventive care (Castilla-Puentes, 2022). They can advocate for the health needs of the Hispanic community and work to increase access to healthcare services for this population.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is essential to emphasize the high degree of involvement of Advanced Nursing professionals at all stages of research and treatment of the disease. Among the main stages of this type of specialist, activities, such as assessing, observing, and monitoring different treatments, medications as well as side effects, and patients’ reactions, were considered. It is important to stress that, among all health workers, nurses have one of the most critical skills – communication with patients. It allows one to obtain important first-hand information not only about a particular patient’s condition but also to draw certain conclusions to achieve improvements in public health in general. Based on the example of the Hispanic community in the United States of America, the role of the ARNP in the cultural diversity and well-being of individual communities was discussed. In addition, the ability of healthcare providers to respect cultural and linguistic differences becomes a critical factor in creating a long-term strategy for a healthy lifestyle in the community.

References

Castilla-Puentes, R. (2022). Mental health for Hispanic communities: A guide for practitioners. Springer Nature.

Lopes-Júnior, V. C. (2021). Advanced practice nursing and the expansion of the role of nurses in primary health care in the Americas. SAGE Open Nursing, 7, Web.

Vega, J. M. (2020). Role of an Advanced Practice Nurse. Verywellhealth. Web.