Introduction
The role of Advanced Nursing Professionals (ARNP) in public health organizations is to collect patient history, monitor community health, implement preventive measures, and gather data to improve understanding of population health trends. The health of ethnic minorities, in particular Hispanics, requires an individual approach from the ARNPs. Prevention is becoming one of the most effective interventions that nurses can use for this population to reduce the tendencies of various diseases.
The Hispanic Community in the USA
Hispanics living in the US are descendants of Hispanic people. Hispanics represent the largest ethnic minority in the United States, reaching one-sixth of the total population; the total number of representatives of this ethnic group is almost 50 million people (Kauh et al., 2021). Hispanic Americans are the second oldest component of American society (Sanchez & Garcia, 2021). Whether Hispanics are recent immigrants or have lived in the US for generations, they may face ethnic discrimination in the field of medicine.
Access to health care is one of the common problems Hispanics may face. According to statistics, Hispanic adults have lower chances, in comparison with other Americans, to receive preventive care or have health insurance (Trevino et al., 2019). The social factors that have led to this phenomenon are language and cultural barriers.
Among the economic factors that play a role is the high level of poverty, especially among recent emigrants. Another factor is working in hazardous occupations because of the lack of more suitable employment options. The ARNP, when working with people from the Hispanic community, should take into account these factors and try to close the gap as much as possible to provide the highest level of care.
The Role of ARNP
ARNP has a master’s or doctoral degree in a specific area of nursing practice, a high level of responsibility, and an individual approach to each patient is expected from certified specialists. Meeting the high standards of ARNP care is associated with an increase in complex cases of chronic illness and a growing number of immigrants requiring special treatment due to language and cultural barriers (Knights et al., 2021). Difficulties for ARNPs and the need for an individualized approach stem from the fact that immigrants may have special health conditions that make them more susceptible to certain diseases.
Hispanics are particularly susceptible to cardiovascular disease and may face higher mortality rates than white Americans due to lower access to health care (Bulka et al., 2019). At the same time, there are three times more uninsured people among Hispanics than among whites (Ortega, 2023). There is an opportunity for ARNPs to make a difference and close the gap, as the prevalence of preventive interventions in this population needs to be increased.
Anamnesis
One of the most important functions of the ARNP is the collection of anamneses in clinical settings and the community to ensure a high level of patient health. Obtaining health data through extensive interviews and clinical observation is an effective measure for the subsequent delivery of quality care. A qualified nurse can help identify the problem and recommend the most effective course of treatment. ARNPs can monitor the correctness of the chosen treatment within the community to reduce the number of medical errors and monitor the health of patients.
Prevention
ARNPs in the field of preventive medicine improve the health of their patients through evidence-based advice and recommendations. ARNPs have the potential to improve the health and well-being of a wide range of populations by raising awareness of health problems and the ways to address them. Nurses can spread knowledge and promote a healthy lifestyle, which is especially important in the fight against cardiovascular diseases. Nurses are also capable of identifying individuals with high-risk factors and facilitating their regular screening. Prevention is especially beneficial for Hispanics as it saves on further treatment costs, which can make a significant difference when choosing to visit a health facility.
Collecting Data for Future Improvements
Using their medical knowledge and community experience, ARNPs can gain insight into community health trends. They can highlight health issues among vulnerable populations and bring these issues to the attention of health planners. Nurses can use the knowledge they have gathered to help the state develop health programs that protect ethnic minorities. The knowledge collected during the observation of the health of certain ethnic groups contributes to future research aimed at identifying general health trends.
Conclusion
ARNPs play a significant role in organizing public health, acting as a link between the population and medical professionals. The Hispanic community shows general trends of lower access to healthcare services due to socioeconomic factors. ARNPs should pay significant attention to this population group in overcoming language and cultural barriers to provide the highest level of care.
By taking anamnesis, nurses can better understand the general health trends of this population. By promoting healthy lifestyles and monitoring people at risk, ARNPs can reduce the severe consequences of the diseases. Finally, nurses can bring the problems of this population to the authorities to reduce the gap in access to medical care.
References
Bulka, C. M., Daviglus, M. L., Persky, V. W., Durazo-Arvizu, R. A., Lash, J. P., Elfassy, T., & Argos, M. (2019). Association of occupational exposures with cardiovascular disease among US Hispanics/Latinos. Heart, 105(6), 439-448. Web.
Kauh, T. J., Read, J. N. G., & Scheitler, A. J. (2021). The critical role of racial/ethnic data disaggregation for health equity. Population research and policy review, 40(1), 1-7. Web.
Knights, F., Carter, J., Deal, A., Crawshaw, A. F., Hayward, S. E., Jones, L., & Hargreaves, S. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on migrants’ access to primary care and implications for vaccine roll-out: a national qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice, 71(709), 583-595. Web.
Ortega, A. N. (2023). Population Health Challenges for Latinos in the United States. In Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos (pp. 33-40). Springer, Cham.
Sanchez, G. R., & Garcia, J. A. (2021). Latino Politics in America: Community, Culture, and Interests. United States: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Trevino, F. M., Moyer, M. E., Valdez, R. B., & Stroup-Benham, C. A. (2019). Health insurance coverage and utilization of health services by Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans. In Health Policy and the Hispanic (pp. 158-170). Routledge.
