Promoting Health Equity

Abstract

In May 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released the Future of Nursing 2020-2030—Charting a Path to Health Equity. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the history and evidence of structural racism, the role of social determinants of health, and the role of nurses improving health equity in times of conventional care, disasters and crises, and public health emergencies. Palliative nurses are integral to impacting health equity for individuals with serious illness. Three strategies can help palliative nurses provide more equitable palliative care: 1) develop a more culturally sensitive practice and communication skill; 2) learn about the elements of social determinants of health to perform a simple Social Determinants of Health assessment as part of every patient's assessment; and 3) gather a list of community resources to help direct patients to resources.