Social Causes and Health Care
These are the position statements from ANA regarding social causes and health care. Background information regarding each of these statements is available in the Members Only section of the site. Login required.
Elimination of Violence in Advertising Directed Toward Children, Adolescents and Families - 7/13/07
Based on the current level of evidence, the American Nurses Association (ANA) takes the position that, television advertising should contain no violent content since it poses unacceptable risks to children, adolescents, and families. Background Info
Adult Immunization - 12/12/02
The American Nurses Association supports:
1. Vaccine delivery st rategies that remove barriers to access for all persons; regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, immigration status or geography.
2. Public policy that removes barriers to access to immunization for all adults;
3. Research to evaluate consumer and professional attitudes and behaviors in regard to immunization delivery and to guide t he design of evidence-based programs to improve vaccine acceptance and immunization levels;
4. Clinical practices linking assessment of vaccination status and administration of vaccines to other recommended preventive measures and strongly recognizing nursing’s role in this process;
5. Forums for health care professionals to develop, share, disseminate and become educated about current information regarding indications, efficacy, safety, and delivery of adult immunization and consumer educational materials that reflect current research in these areas.
6. Collaborative and cooperative agreements and partnerships with private and public sector organizations to promote adult immunizations in a variety of settings and to advance ongoing vaccine research.
Adolescent Immunization - 12/12/02
The American Nurses Association (ANA) recognizes continuing advancement in widespread public immunization against vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) as among of the greatest public health achievements in the 20th century. Further, ANA acknowledges the essential role of nurses in progress toward control of VPDs and in maintaining and improving vaccine coverage levels in all age groups. But while vaccination rates for infants and children are now reaching record levels, achieving optimal coverage levels for protection against VPDs during adolescence presents unique challenges requiring specific strategies to reduce risks and meet the special needs of this population. To meet immunization goals for adolescents, nurses must participate fully in developing and implementing strategies to reach this sometimes hard-to-reach and often neglected population. The American Nurses Association, the National Center for School Health Nursing, and the National Nursing Coalition for School Health have joined together to promote the incorporation of adolescent immunization recommendations into nursing practice so that adolescents, and in turn, the general public, are optimally protected against VPDs. Background Info
Violence Against Women - 3/24/00
The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports education of nurses, healthcare providers and women in skills necessary for prevention of violence against women; assessment of women in healthcare institutions and community settings; and research on violence against women. ANA believes there is a critical need for attention to and increased awareness of the problems of violence against women by all healthcare providers in order to reduce immediate and long term physical and psychological injuries that are associated with this crime. Through knowledge and clinical skills, nurses can engage in the assessment, intervention and prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence. Further, ANA supports a coordinated, interdisciplinary community-based focus using Healthy People 2010 objectives and other research that promote surveillance, prevention and intervention for violent behavior as priority issues for the nation. Background Info
Adolescent Health - 9/30/00
The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports:
- Education of nurses about the complex nature of adolescence;
- Education of nurses about the scientific, ethical, and practical issues that impact the health status of adolescents;
- Development of culturally sensitive, linguist ically and literacy appropriate programs for nurses w orking directly or indirectly w ith adolescents;
- Ident ification of adolescent health care issues that focus on societal expectations, environmental impacts, access, and delivery of quality health care services;
- Interdisciplinary approach to caring for the adolescent client/patient;
- Nursing research in adolescent health issues and services
- Legislation that recognizes the roles of the registered nurse (RN) and
- advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as providers of health care
- services for adolescents and reimbursement for such services;
- Funding of government programs aimed at improving access to care, including:
Title X Children’ s Healt h Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of reproductive health benefits, school-based health clinics and Title V Maternal Child Health
(MCH) block grants;
- Development and maintenance of school health services and eimbursement for such services.
Use of Placebos for Pain Management in Patients with Cancer - 12/1996
The position of The Oncology Nursing Society and endordes by ANA is that: Placebos should not be used 1) to assess or manage cancer pain, 2) to determine if the pain is "real," or 3) to diagnose psychological symptoms, such as anxiety associated with pain. Nurses should not administer placebos in these circumstances even if there is a medical order.
Background Info
Promotion and Disease Prevention - 7/2/95
Nursing must expand its efforts to design and implement interventions which support promotion of health and prevention of disease/illness and disability. Preventing illness and staying well involve complex, multidimensional activities focused not only on the individual, but also on families, groups and populations. Approaches to prevention should be comprehensive, encompass primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention and involve consumers in their formulation. Prevention strategies are more likely to be adopted by citizens who participate in influencing and developing such strategies.
Background Info
Childhood Immunizations - 3/30/95
The American Nurses Association recognizes the importance of immunizations to the health of individual children and the community as a whole, and of the pivotal role nursing plays in assuring immunizations. The fulfillment of the immunization goal is a major undertaking that cannot be realized without the full endorsement of all professional nurses. For that reason, ANA will strive to attain the highest rate of immunization coverage in order to insure maximum protection overall for the general population.
Background Info
Lead Poisoning and Screening - 4/8/94
ANA supports lead poisoning prevention activities to reduce children's blood lead levels to <10 micrograms per deciliter of whole blood. Childhood lead poisoning is the most common preventable pediatric health problem in the United States.
Background Info
Reproductive Health - 3/27/89
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has historically advocated for the healthcare needs of all patients, including services related to reproductive health. ANA believes that healthcare clients have the right to privacy and the right to make decisions about personal health care based on full information and without coercion. Also, nurses have the right to refuse to participate in a particular case on ethical grounds. However, if a client's life is in jeopardy, nurses are obligated to provide for the client's safety and to avoid abandonment.
Background Info