The Rise of Nurse Practitioners Is a Sociological Sign of Change - Essay Example

? The rise of Nurse Practitioners is a Sociological sign of change School The rise of Nurse Practitioners is a Sociological sign of change Issue The rise of nurse practitioners in our current health care establishment is one of many changes to the health care system that can be traced to the way that society perceives the many different needs of the patients. Heralded by many as a long delayed occurrence, events such as these remain key to helping resolve our current health care crisis. The issue constantly facing our society is that different portions of society receive better, or more well-rounded care than those parts of society that have been deemed not as important, or less influential. Within cultures such as the Australian, European, North American and most economically prosperous countries there is the perception of even more rigidly defined sects of monetary influence, the reality seeming to be that the more funds there are, the better care the patient receives. The common assumption that upper management receives better health care than their laborers is a common complaint. All of these variables have their own effect on the life style, health and overall well-being that populations the world over experience. As Germov (2009) stated many sociological factors have determined the amount, quantity, quality and overall effectiveness that each segment of the population receives. It is the overall state of the environment around them that helps to determine the most pressing health needs that the governing body must address. Previously, many of these decisions were based on economics, monetary policy and federal regulation, frequently followed by physical placement and strata of society. The poorest sections of society, from Melbourne to New York, in every society, report the most problems with health, continuous health care and are often denied any hope of future health care. These portions of society are commonly forced to suffer with maladies that could be easily cured in a better economic market. As Brown (2011) revealed, with the realization that sick people will continue to accrue regardless of how little the government wants them, the time for new and innovative scientific theories combined with sound sociological understanding, are needed to adequately address the needs of the existing population as well as the growing and continued issues that will arrive with the next generation. Recently there has been a building and resonating shift in the established thinking when it comes to health care. Deeply embedded within this overall shift is the ability for the competent nurse practitioners to assume traditional roles of doctors or expand their talents to encompass many useful and vital areas that have long been neglected. This has been an area that many nurses have been silently filling already, but not to the best of their ability. By recognizing their achievements and applying these advancements in the drive for better health care, both in the office and in the real world, society will not only benefit from a healthier physicality, ensuring a happier culture, but the over-all cost for the care of the population as a whole will become far more manageable. Theoretical perspective Burton (2011) was succinct when he states that people must be able to live healthy lives, health care solutions on paper rarely translate to truly workable solutions on the ground. As many legislatures and rule makers have discovered to their continuing dismay, reality is often times different than the picture painted on paper, events often change dramatically and rather quickly, which is hard for many to understand. This is a theory that is expounded upon vehemently by those with the experience enough to see the results of trying to implement policy with no regard for the realities of vastly different living situations that their guidelines are attempting to regulate. It is no stretch to view the different segments of the population and relate their primary health issues directly to their way of life, availability of quality care alongside the proper administration and availability of prescription medicine. The differences each level of society translates into differences in living conditions, which in turn translate into common health concerns. As Eikemo (2008) pointed out, there is a clear and abiding disparity due to education levels and living conditions. The poorer educated commonly report more sickness, more cases of infectious disease and far shorter life spans. This is an even that occurs the world over, in every modern day society. With the continued growth of populations around the globe, the need to address these issues becomes more pressing with each new generation. Society itself often provides a solution to the problems of the masses. In this case, blocks of the population have begun to answer the call of inequality in health care in the form of advocacy groups that fight to delay or derail hospital closures or perceived injustice, enabled in large part by the expansion of the roles of nurses into the fields once filled by doctors. Brown 2004) went on to say that this act, and others in a similar vein have enabled a vast swath of the lower class and remote societies to receive a form of primary care once unheard of. Often times it seems to be society’s all-encompassing conscience that dictates direction of public policy. Other times, policy has been presided over by the man holding the coin purse. In almost every case it is the upper class that has held the reins of power and ability to decide the fates of millions. Allsop (2011) wrote, it is through collective actions by concerned and diligent citizens, often sparked by a single poignant illness, that have been able to provide real surcease to many patients in financial distress and in many cases have provided a measure of control back into the hands of the population itself, rather than the regulators. It is when fundamental issues become larger than the current health care system can maintain or address, that society steps in with solutions. Many different factors influence our social structure, or how we study the various components in our lives and the ways that these things affect that way that we live, work and intertwine. As Williams (2011) pointed out, the true science of society is not simply the study of human beings and their interactions, but also the way the various constructs of the world work on individuals. Karlsen (2011) went on to point out that it is by recognizing and acknowledging that previous modes of thought that promote practices such as racism and discrimination also promote bad health practices, which in turn helps to continue the downward economic and cultural spiral. Popay (2011) very clearly showed that it is now coming to light that being deprived of simple necessities, many items that most people consider common place, can contribute to an individual’s poor health situation. It is the complete picture that is needed when searching for the solutions to health care. The perceived ability to pigeon hole patients into stereotypical treatments has proven to be ineffectual. It is the continued diversification of health practice based on societal influences that will drive the markets of the coming years. By examining not only the obvious signs about a cultures health such as infrastructure, population mood and economic status, but delving deeper into the true sociological situation that dwells underneath the veneer, a stark picture about the state of health care will emerge. With that knowledge mosaic of the health issues facing any one culture will stand in clear reflection and the ability to correctly remedy health related issues will become that much more transparent. The studies continue point to the necessity of a society based health regime, grounded in common sense as the best method of addressing our global health care concern. By applying the knowledge found in these studies, advancement in the field on of health care will continue. Conclusion This research shows that it will be through the understanding that signs of true progress will begin by making use of readily and completely able tools such as the nurse practitioner. By employing skills, and assigning more trust to responsible and well trained nurses, the entire system is relieved to some extent of the terrible patient burden. Identifying new and innovative methods and ideas such as entrusting more responsibility to Nurses and their associates, we are enabling our best and brightest to reach out and apply their knowledge, during a time and moment that their skill is truly needed. By following these innovations with further societal based policy, the potential to truly redress the inequalities in health care substantially increases. With a world population growing and no end to society’s woes, it is a continuing obstacle to reach out and tackle any one crisis. Yet with continuing dedication, diligence and attention to social equality, these studies have shown the bridge to a health system with new solutions to old problems. Not only are professionals such as Nurses being acknowledged as being desperately needed in these positions of medicine, but through their medicinal support the needs of the population has begun to be met. With recognition that all fields of medicine are connected and that the best way to find a solution is to tailor a cure to the source of the problem, it seems likely that we will find many different but similar ways to solve many of society’s current health problems with solutions such as the nurse practitioner. As demonstrated with technology, science and our improving ability to communicate and identify needs, the opportunity for positive social change, our ability to incorporate new knowledge and expand our thinking continues to grow daily. With more innovative ideas such as the position of the Nurse Practitioners and the obvious benefits this would have on society being incorporated every day, positive sociological change will certainly continue in the health and medical field. References Allsop, J., Jones, K., & Baggott, R. (2011). Health consumer groups in the UK: a new social movement?. Sociology of Health and Illness. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Brown, P., & Zavestoski, S. (2011, September). Social Movements in health: an introduction. Sociology of Health and Illness. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Brown, P., Zavestoski, S., McCormick, S., Mayer, B., Morello-Frosch, R., & Gasior Altman, R. (2011). Embodied health movements: new approaches to social movements in health. Sociology of Health and Illness. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Burton, R., & Nettleton, S. (2011). The Sociology of Health Promotion. (1st ed.). United States: Psychology Press. Eikemo, T. A., Huisman, M., Bambra, C., & Kunst, A. E. (2011). Health inequalities according to educational level in different welfare regimes: a comparison of 23 European countries. Sociology of Health and Illness. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Germov, J. (2009). Second Opinion . (4th ed.). United States: Karlsen, S., & Nazroo, J. Y. (2002). Agency and structure: the impact of ethnic identity and racism on the health of ethnic minority people. Sociology of Health and Illness. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Popay, J., Bennett, S., Thomas, C., Williams, G., Gatrell, A., & Bostock, L. (2011). Beyond ‘beer, fags, egg and chips’? Exploring lay understandings of social inequalities in health. Sociology of Health & Illness. Sociology of Health and Illness. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Williams, G. H. (2011). The determinants of health: structure, context and agency. Sociology of Health and Illness. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Read More