Social Justice and Health Equity 1
Social Justice and Health Equity 1
Social Justice and Health Equity 1
Casey Gatto
Health equity as defined by Scorgie & Forlin is “the assurance of the condition of optimal
health for all people” (2019, p. 11). As described further in the book, achieving health equity
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includes three components: valuing all individuals and populations equally, recognizing and
& Forlin, 2019). By comparing this definition to the one found on the Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) website we can create a more coherent definition of health equity. Health
equity is achieved when an individual is given the opportunity to reach their full potential and are
provided support/care based on their own individual level of needs. When health disparities are
eliminated then health equity can be achieved. The CDC describes patient disadvantages as
“Health disparities, inequalities, and inequities are important indicators of community health and
provide information for decision making and intervention implementation to reduce preventable
morbidity and mortality.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Social Justice,
according to Ignatavicius “refers to equality and fairness; that is, all patients should be treated
equally and fairly, regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity,
or education” (Ignatavicius, 2021). These two principles, being social justice and health equity
go hand in hand. One social justice example is a nurse advocating for the patient. Nurses should
want to do no wrong to the patient. The nurse should want to provide the most competent care
available to the patient. Nurses have always advocated for the rights and safety of the patient
whether it be on the front of surgical or pharmaceutical matters. The nurse will always intervene
if the patient is uncomfortable or is not receiving the best care possible for their individualized
circumstances.
On the topic of social justice, there is a divide between appreciating the work done to
move toward a more fair healthcare system and despising it. On one hand are the individuals
who absolutely need for there to be social justice in order for them to get care. This could be
individuals who don't have access to healthcare or those who don't have insurance.
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Socioeconomics plays a major factor in the divide, upper class citizens do not appreciate having
to work for what the lower classes are handed. This could include able bodied individuals that
are unable to keep jobs there for lowering their chances of receiving the healthcare they need.
There are a lot of factors that contribute to the divide like number of kids in a household, drug
users as compared to non drug users, the background education of those running a household,
financial standing of individuals, and homeowners who pay taxes. These are all factors that play
a role in social justice, it may seem that some individuals are more fortunate than others in the
ways of social justice. The individuals who start with nothing will receive more than the
individuals who work for their healthcare. This is where the frustration in the healthcare system
comes from.
care. It is important for the nurse to address these inequities in order for the nurse to provide the
best and most competent patient care. Socioeconomic factors and the lifestyle of the patient is
very important when considering health inequities. The availability of care for a patient can be
detrimental to the patient's health. It is the nurses responsibility to provide the patient with
resources and support during these times. Another health inequity includes those who speak
another language. If a Spanish speaking patient were to communicate with an English speaking
nurse then the patient will be at a disadvantage as they may not understand their care plans and
will not be able to consent to that care plan. To break this barrier nurses should be able to reach
out to translators at any point throughout the patient's care. To go a step further, nurses should be
able to identify baseline medical terms in different prominent languages in the United States in
case of emergent situations. Patients from different populations, ethnic groups, or races other
than the nurses own need to be understood in a way that enhances that patient's care. The nurse
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should be educated in different cultures, religions, mannerisms, and ideologies of all different
kinds of individuals. This will ensure the patient is given the proper care that they need as it
focuses on their background and situation. A population that has been left out of the healthcare
system for some time is the LGBTQ community. Most of the time gender and sexuality is
overlooked. A nurse can address sexuality and gender when performing a health assessment. A
patient's entire being physically, mentally, and emotionally should be taken into account for all
care plans and patient interactions. Like many groups, addressing a patient and respecting their
wants and needs is essential for not only the physical well-being of the patient but the mental
well-being. The nurse's primary goal is to create a healthy nurse-patient relationship and enhance
When an individual is seeing a healthcare professional they can feel vulnerable which is
why it is important for the nurse to respect the patient so as the patient trusts the nurse. Every
patient should be given the support and care they need as an individual. Understanding their
inequities can bring about the social justice the patient deserves. The nurse can correctly care for
a patient with an inequity once that inequity has been addressed providing the patient with a
better outcome to their care. In turn, the nurse will be able to provide specific patient centered
care as all patients are different with their own needs and wants that have to be addressed by the
nurse when providing care. Each patient should be cared for based on their own set of needs but
every individual should be treated and valued as human beings no matter their situation or
background. Overall, nurse and healthcare professional education is to be provided about each
individual patient's circumstances for there to be a better understanding on how to treat all
patients. Patient’s must all be treated with respect and compassion but their needs vary.
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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Morbidity and mortality weekly report
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(MMWR). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/ind2011_su.html
Ignatavicius, D. D., Workman, M. L., & Rebar, C. R., Heimgartner, N.M. (2021).
Academies Press.
Scorgie, K., & Forlin, C. (Eds.). (2019). Promoting social inclusion : Co-creating environments