Nursing and the Concept of Social Justice

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Social Justice’s Influence on Health Care
Human rights and equality in nursing practice are addressed by social justice in nursing. It seeks to address inequalities caused by race, gender, age, religion, and other forms of social injustice. As a result of social justice in health care, every individual receives high-quality care regardless of social background. Regardless of the inequalities that persist, everyone should have access to high-quality healthcare. According to Hellman (2018), racial minorities have more healthcare problems than the rest of the American population, and health inequalities account for approximately 30% of their direct medical costs. They face unconscious racial bias or lack access to quality health care. Nursing’s goal is to assist patients in reaching their full health potential. Disparities in health care, such as high insurance deductibles, a lack of access to nutritious food, and high medical costs, limit the success of social justice.

The Importance of Social Justice in Nursing Practice
Social justice is critical in healthcare to ensure that all individuals maintain the highest levels of wellness and health. A person’s access to quality healthcare can be influenced by socioeconomic and environmental status, education, and employment factors. Healthcare workers must be aware of the groups and individuals historically marginalized and vulnerable to inequity in nursing care. Healthcare institutions, for example, are created to provide a positive social service and to assist people in maintaining good health. Social justice is critical in establishing these social institutions and their stakeholders.

Social and Cultural Diversity in the Family and Patient-Centered Care
Social justice and diversity are related terms in that social justice necessitate equality, whereas diversity refers to inclusion. By recognizing and appreciating society’s diversity, social justice necessitates equal access to healthcare. Social justice may only be a reality once diversity is accepted and recognized as an inherent component of justice standards.

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Patient- and family-centered care encompasses healthcare planning, delivery, and evaluation based on a mutually beneficial partnership between healthcare workers, families, and patients. It emphasizes collaborating with diverse people and appreciating age and cultural diversity at all levels of care and in a healthcare setting. As a result, it redefines the relationships in nursing care (IPFCC, 2021). Families and patients decide how to participate in decision-making and care in this approach. The primary goal is to promote the well-being and health of patients and families while maintaining control. This viewpoint holds that families and patients are essential to providing quality healthcare.

Patient- and family-centered care results in better healthcare outcomes, a better family and patient experience, and more prudent resource allocation; thus, healthcare professionals listen to and respect family and patient choices and perspectives. This incorporates the values, knowledge, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds of the family and patients into the planning and delivery of care. It is about accepting the diversity of various families and respecting their principles, beliefs, and cultural relationships. Furthermore, healthcare professionals connect and share comprehensive and unbiased information in affirming and useful ways with families and patients; patients and families contribute to care and decision-making after receiving timely, comprehensive, and accurate information (IPFCC, 2021). According to this viewpoint, the criteria encourage patients and families to participate in care and decision-making at their preferred levels. Furthermore, healthcare practitioners are encouraged to work with patients, families, and healthcare leaders to develop programs and policies and implement and evaluate them in areas ranging from professional education to research to healthcare delivery.

Obstacles to Social Justice Provision Care for a Wide Range of People
Barriers to social justice prevent all people, regardless of background, age, or ethnicity, from developing and accessing quality healthcare. Nonetheless, despite progress toward social justice, it remains a challenge, particularly in a diverse population. Ethnicity, income, gender, and education are all factors that contribute to health disparities. Other factors, such as the environment and cultural backgrounds, also threaten social justice in health care.

Disparities in health
Health disparities are avoidable healthcare inequalities based on an individual’s income, education, gender, age, and ethnicity. These factors significantly contribute to poor health outcomes, such as a lack of access to quality healthcare resources or a shorter life expectancy. Healthcare professionals can help to reduce health disparities by educating other healthcare providers, promoting health equity, allocating more resources, and increasing health literacy in affected communities.

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Cultural backgrounds and diversity
Cultural background and diversity are other impediments to social justice. Accepting diversity is a major issue in healthcare practice. This entails inclusive healthcare administration and recognition. Negative elements such as racial discrimination and religious bias still exist in the healthcare sector. Healthcare administrators must identify and acknowledge the presence of such negative influences within the healthcare industry and implement appropriate strategies to encourage inclusive practice.

Environment
Environmental factors such as water and air quality influence social justice and overall health. These factors can lead to health disparities, especially if the environment is not conducive to good health. Environmental health inequalities exist when people are exposed to poor environmental qualities and social inequities and are less healthy than wealthy people who live in healthy environments (Nicholas et., 2017). Health administrators should encourage equal treatment and meaningful participation in environmental policies and laws regardless of culture, religion, or race to reduce environmental health disparities.

Recommendations for Promoting Health Activities
Social justice aims to recognize and respect human rights and equality in nursing practice. Disabled and chronically ill patients, low-income individuals, racial minorities, and specific geographical communities are among the most vulnerable to social injustice in healthcare. Promoting inclusivity aims to reduce negative barriers such as health disparities, diversity, and cultural background and mitigate environmental factors’ effects. In comparison to the high-income population, low-income communities require assistance. As a result, they must be encouraged to work toward universal health care. The importance of patient- and family-centered care cannot be overstated. Healthcare professionals should involve families and patients in the planning and implementation of an inclusive care plan.

Developing a culturally competent practice should be prioritized in pursuing social justice in health care. To create comprehensive care plans and promote positive outcomes, nurses must be educated on different communication styles and cultural values. In order to achieve social justice, health practitioners must understand the importance of inclusivity. Low-income people risk being excluded from social justice because they lack critical access to high-quality health care. By identifying and empathizing with minority groups who are victims of social injustice, healthcare administrators can advocate for better healthcare. As a result, they can create models that promote social justice as part of their healthcare strategies. Stakeholders such as politicians, nurses, patients, and community members can also influence strategic changes in these institutions to achieve the necessary social justice. They can advocate for lower healthcare costs, develop personalized care plans, and report malpractice.

References
A. N. Hellman, C. Cass, H. Cathey, S. L. Smith, and S. Hurley (2018). Understanding Poverty: Social Justice Education in Undergraduate Nursing Education Web. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 14(1), 11-17.

IPFCC. (2021). (2021). What exactly is PFCC? Web: ipfcc.org

P. K. Nicholas & S. Breakey (2017). Climate change, climate justice, and environmental health: nursing profession implications Web. Journal of Nursing Scholarship: An Official Publication of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 49(6), 606–616.