Erasing idological ambiguities related to social justice

Betty Bekemeier, MSN, MPH, RN, Turning Point National Program Office, University of Washington-School of Public Health, 6 Nickerson St., Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98109, 206-616-8410, bettybek@u.washington.edu

National nursing policy statements and standards of practice describe a core public health nursing mission of social justice - a mission to address social structures and to create conditions in which all people can be healthy. At times, however, our practice gets overwhelmed by direct services. How must we be engaged in transforming systems to improve environmental and social conditions? This presentation will use historical examples of dramatic social movements to illustrate how public health nurses have been and are involved in creating more just and equitable systems. In addition, examples from the Turning Point National Initiative will be used to describe public health nursing roles and responsibilities in the activities of social change and public health systems improvement.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the session participants will be able to

1. Describe how public health nurses can and have transformed systems to create a more socially just environment for populations.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation

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

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