Social justice through the eyes of practicing PHNs

Julie A. Willems Van Dijk, MSN, Marathon County Health Department, 1200 Lake View Drive, Room 200, Wausau, WI 54403, 715-261-1900, jawvd@mail.co.marathon.wi.us

Dr. William Foege (2003) recently noted that in public health the mantra of “do no harm” is not measured by errors of commission, but by errors of omission. The charge to today's public health nurses (PHNs) is to live social justice by eliminating the errors of omission—the vaccines not given, the health care access not created, the substandard housing not rehabilitated. PHNs face many challenges as they reclaim their social justice role, including an overwhelming emphasis on care to individuals, categorical funding streams, perceived limitations on advocacy and lobbying, and unclear role definitions.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the session participants will be able to

1. Apply the cornerstone of social justice to contemporary public health nursing.
2. Describe challenges to implementing social justice and ways to overcome those challenges.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment by Marathon County Health Department

Recorded presentation

Speaking Truth to Power: Reclaiming PHN's Social Justice Role

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA