Nurse Advocacy: Adopting a Health in All Policies Approach

Abstract

Policy advocacy and committed resources are essential to address social factors that shape population health. In this article, we discuss nurse advocacy to advance public health and health equity through targeted social determinants, particularly on behalf of poor and disadvantaged persons. We discuss components of the right social policies and consider evidence-based policies that have linked improvements in social and economic conditions with increased physical, emotional, and mental health outcomes among poor and disadvantaged social groups. With a partnership perspective, select social determinants of health (SDOH) and mitigating policies focus nurses' social policy advocacy to improve the health of disadvantaged populations and reduce health inequities. We suggest nurses engage in multisectoral partnerships and adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach to address social and health needs of concern. The conclusion offers resources and strategies to promote nurse engagement in health policy.