To prepare:
Review resources about nursing values and professional ethics.
Review your identified population from previous discussions “Advocacy Priorities & Allegory of Orchard”.
Consider the connection to nursing values and professional ethics to your identified advocacy priority.
Post a response detailing the following:
Describe the nursing values and professional ethics related to the advocacy priority identified for the selected population.
Why do our nursing values and ethics demand it be on the agenda?
Compare the role of law, ethics, or politics on the population identified in your Week 2 “Advocacy Area” Assignment. Consider which area (law, ethics, or politics) has the most impact on the area.
include at least 3 references APA format
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Nursing Values and Ethics Related to Veteran Homelessness and Mental Health Advocacy
Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to advocate for vulnerable populations, including veterans experiencing homelessness and mental health issues. The nursing values of compassion, respect for human dignity, and commitment to the patient (ANA, 2015) compel nurses to prioritize advocacy efforts for this underserved group. Provision 8 of the ANA Code of Ethics states that nurses collaborate with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities (ANA, 2015). This provision underscores the ethical imperative for nurses to engage in policy advocacy to address the social determinants of health, such as poverty and lack of affordable housing, that contribute to veteran homelessness.
Advocacy on behalf of homeless veterans aligns with nursing’s core values and ethics. The principle of justice demands that all individuals have fair and equitable access to healthcare resources and social services (Davoodvand et al., 2018). However, homeless veterans face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, stable housing, and supportive services. By the principle of beneficence, nurses have a moral obligation to take positive action to help others and improve their welfare (Heymans et al., 2021). Advocating for policies and programs that prevent and end veteran homelessness, such as the expansion of affordable housing and targeted outreach initiatives, allows nurses to uphold this ethical duty.
Among law, ethics, and politics, political factors arguably have the greatest impact on veteran homelessness and mental health. Laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act provide important civil rights protections, but their enforcement relies on political will. Securing necessary funding for homeless veteran programs through the appropriations process is an inherently political act. Executive actions, such as the Obama administration’s 2014 launch of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness (HUD, n.d.), can catalyze local efforts. Sustaining the political momentum to achieve the goal of ending veteran homelessness will require ongoing advocacy by nurses and their allies. While nurses must uphold ethical principles in their individual practice, systems-level change demands engagement with the political process.
In summary, nursing’s professional values and ethics, including compassion, respect for human dignity, justice, and beneficence, require nurses to embrace advocacy on behalf of veterans experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. Political advocacy in particular allows nurses to address upstream determinants of health and advance the cause of health equity for this vulnerable population. By aligning practice with professional ethics, nurses can make a meaningful difference in the lives of homeless veterans.
References:
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/
Davoodvand, S., Abbaszadeh, A., & Ahmadi, F. (2018). Concepts of justice in nursing. Nursing Ethics, 25(8), 933-943. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733016677872
Heymans, I., van der Arend, A., & Gastmans, C. (2021). Moral duties of nurses based on the ICN, UK, Irish and Polish codes of ethics for nurses. Nursing Ethics, 28(1), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733020935501
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (n.d.). Mayors challenge to end veteran homelessness. https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/resources-for-homeless-veterans/mayors-challenge/
