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Social Justice and Health Equity

Casey Gatto

Seton Hill University

SNU 301 01 Health and Illness 1

Tara Phillips MSN, RN

October 5th, 2022

Health equity as defined by Scorgie & Forlin is “the assurance of the condition of optimal

health for all people” (2019, p. 11). As described further in the book, achieving health equity
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includes three components: valuing all individuals and populations equally, recognizing and

correcting historical injustices, and providing resources/support/care according to need (Scorgie

& Forlin, 2019). By comparing this definition to the one found on the Center for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC) website we can create a more coherent definition of health equity. Health

equity is achieved when an individual is given the opportunity to reach their full potential and are

provided support/care based on their own individual level of needs. When health disparities are

eliminated then health equity can be achieved. The CDC describes patient disadvantages as

“Health disparities, inequalities, and inequities are important indicators of community health and

provide information for decision making and intervention implementation to reduce preventable

morbidity and mortality.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Social Justice,

according to Ignatavicius “refers to equality and fairness; that is, all patients should be treated

equally and fairly, regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity,

or education” (Ignatavicius, 2021). These two principles, being social justice and health equity

go hand in hand. One social justice example is a nurse advocating for the patient. Nurses should

want to do no wrong to the patient. The nurse should want to provide the most competent care

available to the patient. Nurses have always advocated for the rights and safety of the patient

whether it be on the front of surgical or pharmaceutical matters. The nurse will always intervene

if the patient is uncomfortable or is not receiving the best care possible for their individualized

circumstances.

On the topic of social justice, there is a divide between appreciating the work done to

move toward a more fair healthcare system and despising it. On one hand are the individuals

who absolutely need for there to be social justice in order for them to get care. This could be

individuals who don't have access to healthcare or those who don't have insurance.
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Socioeconomics plays a major factor in the divide, upper class citizens do not appreciate having

to work for what the lower classes are handed. This could include able bodied individuals that

are unable to keep jobs there for lowering their chances of receiving the healthcare they need.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the divide like number of kids in a household, drug

users as compared to non drug users, the background education of those running a household,

financial standing of individuals, and homeowners who pay taxes. These are all factors that play

a role in social justice, it may seem that some individuals are more fortunate than others in the

ways of social justice. The individuals who start with nothing will receive more than the

individuals who work for their healthcare. This is where the frustration in the healthcare system

comes from.

Health inequities include factors that can be disadvantageous to an individual receiving

care. It is important for the nurse to address these inequities in order for the nurse to provide the

best and most competent patient care. Socioeconomic factors and the lifestyle of the patient is

very important when considering health inequities. The availability of care for a patient can be

detrimental to the patient's health. It is the nurses responsibility to provide the patient with

resources and support during these times. Another health inequity includes those who speak

another language. If a Spanish speaking patient were to communicate with an English speaking

nurse then the patient will be at a disadvantage as they may not understand their care plans and

will not be able to consent to that care plan. To break this barrier nurses should be able to reach

out to translators at any point throughout the patient's care. To go a step further, nurses should be

able to identify baseline medical terms in different prominent languages in the United States in

case of emergent situations. Patients from different populations, ethnic groups, or races other

than the nurses own need to be understood in a way that enhances that patient's care. The nurse
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should be educated in different cultures, religions, mannerisms, and ideologies of all different

kinds of individuals. This will ensure the patient is given the proper care that they need as it

focuses on their background and situation. A population that has been left out of the healthcare

system for some time is the LGBTQ community. Most of the time gender and sexuality is

overlooked. A nurse can address sexuality and gender when performing a health assessment. A

patient's entire being physically, mentally, and emotionally should be taken into account for all

care plans and patient interactions. Like many groups, addressing a patient and respecting their

wants and needs is essential for not only the physical well-being of the patient but the mental

well-being. The nurse's primary goal is to create a healthy nurse-patient relationship and enhance

a patient's wellness outcome.

When an individual is seeing a healthcare professional they can feel vulnerable which is

why it is important for the nurse to respect the patient so as the patient trusts the nurse. Every

patient should be given the support and care they need as an individual. Understanding their

inequities can bring about the social justice the patient deserves. The nurse can correctly care for

a patient with an inequity once that inequity has been addressed providing the patient with a

better outcome to their care. In turn, the nurse will be able to provide specific patient centered

care as all patients are different with their own needs and wants that have to be addressed by the

nurse when providing care. Each patient should be cared for based on their own set of needs but

every individual should be treated and valued as human beings no matter their situation or

background. Overall, nurse and healthcare professional education is to be provided about each

individual patient's circumstances for there to be a better understanding on how to treat all

patients. Patient’s must all be treated with respect and compassion but their needs vary.
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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Morbidity and mortality weekly report
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(MMWR). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/ind2011_su.html

Ignatavicius, D. D., Workman, M. L., & Rebar, C. R., Heimgartner, N.M. (2021).

Medical-surgical nursing: Concepts for interprofessional collaborative care.

National, A. O. S. E. A., Health, A. M. D., Division, O. B. A. S. S., Board, O. C. Y. A. F.,

Roundtable, O. T. P. O. H., & Forum, F. C. W. P. C. (2019). Achieving behavioral health

equity for children, families, and communities : Proceedings of a workshop. National

Academies Press.

Scorgie, K., & Forlin, C. (Eds.). (2019). Promoting social inclusion : Co-creating environments

that foster equity and belonging. Emerald Publishing Limited.