Covid-19 pandemic.
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DISCUSSION POST # 1 Hona
Childhood obesity has been becoming more prevalent ever since the Covid-19 pandemic. With more children spending the majority of their time indoors and reducing their physical activity from being away from school for more than a year, obesity has steadily increased. According to The Associated Press (2021), studies showed that child obesity increased by 3% from last year in Bakersfield. Additionally, children between the age of 6 to 11 (who are considered to be dependent on parents) were seen to have a dramatic increase in childhood obesity (The Associated Press, 2021). The increasing rate of obesity in children can have many consequences such as health concerns, low self-esteem, disturbed body image, social problems. Although health problems associated with obesity will not become prominent until adulthood, some of these problems include cardiac or respiratory issues, diabetes, or eating disorder.
This problem is preventable and can have multiple approaches. The primary causes of overweight in children include inactivity, home eating habits, and unhealthy food choices. An APRN can advocate for this health issue by increasing public education on obesity. Some of these educations can include encouraging parents to implement a healthy lifestyle at home such as increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits in a child’s diet. Ensuring that children are not given non-nutritious food such as chips, candies, and other unhealthy food choices that are not nutritionally beneficial. Decreasing the amount of sedentary period on electronics such as computers, cellphone or video games is essential in order to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and incorporate an active lifestyle such as engaging in regular physical activity. This education can also be incorporated during clinical visits and ensuring parents are given a handout or pamphlets after discharge.
Preventions for childhood obesity can be accomplished through dietary and lifestyle changes to help maintain a healthy weight. I would also target programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC), or Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to promote a healthy lifestyle and provide additional information and education regarding healthy choices. I would also suggest for the continuous follow-up to ensure that parents are fully educated for each visit.
DISCUSSION POST # 2 Gita
Advocacy is the core of nursing. Because of the complex and fragmented health care system, patients and families often find themselves overwhelmed and lacking the essential information they need to make informed choices (Hanks, Eloi & Stafford, 2019). Patient advocacy has been seen as a critical role for the nurses. Nurse practitioners can have a profound and positive impact on communities through patient advocacy and exceptional service delivery. With their advanced education and extensive experience of caring for patients and their families, nurse practitioners are serving as advocates by providing a much-needed voice for patients, their communities, and their profession. Nurse practitioners advocate for patients in a different way including protecting patients from harm, communicating patient preferences, fostering collaboration, providing essential information to inform decision making, and supporting the voice of the patient regarding choice and care.
Mental health and substance abuse is some of the health issues in Texas right now. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of people in Texas struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorder. Studies have reported that residents of Texas are having anywhere from 3.4 to 3.7 days of mental illness every 30 days. It has increased more since the COVID 19 pandemic. Substance use impacts the health of individuals and families, along with the communities in which they live. Among these people, many struggles with substance abuse and addiction. Texas legislators made substantial investments during the 2017 session in mental health that includes launching a community grant program for mental health services, addressing how health insurance companies offer mental health benefits, and funding to renovate state mental health hospitals (Texas Health and Human Service, 2020).
