What are the primary SDOH, and how do these factors impact individual, community, and population health? What role do nurses and nurse leaders play in addressing the SDOH? Why are nurses and nurse leaders ideally suited to this role? How important are nursing advocacy, community action, and policy campaigns in addressing the SDOH? How can nurses and nurse leaders promote better population and community health through these activities?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): Their Impact and the Role of Nurses
Primary Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are the conditions in which individuals are born, grow, live, work, and age. They encompass a wide range of factors, including:
1. Economic Stability: Income level, employment status, and financial resources.
2. Education Access and Quality: Educational attainment and access to quality education systems.
3. Healthcare Access and Quality: Availability and accessibility of healthcare services, insurance coverage, and the quality of care received.
4. Neighborhood and Built Environment: Housing quality, transportation options, access to healthy foods, and safety in the community.
5. Social and Community Context: Social cohesion, support systems, discrimination, and civic participation.
Impact of SDOH on Health
Individual Health
SDOH significantly influence individual health outcomes. For example, individuals with higher income levels often have better access to healthcare services, quality nutrition, and safe living conditions. Conversely, those living in poverty may face barriers that lead to chronic stress, poor health outcomes, and higher morbidity rates.
Community Health
At the community level, SDOH play a critical role in shaping health equity. Communities with limited resources may experience higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues, and substance abuse. A lack of social cohesion can lead to increased violence and crime, further adversely affecting community health.
Population Health
On a larger scale, SDOH impact population health metrics such as life expectancy and overall health disparities. Communities with systemic inequities often exhibit significant differences in health outcomes across different demographics, leading to persistent health disparities that can affect generations.
Role of Nurses and Nurse Leaders in Addressing SDOH
Nurses and nurse leaders are uniquely positioned to address the SDOH due to their holistic understanding of patient care and community dynamics. Their roles include:
1. Assessment: Nurses can assess patients’ social determinants during health evaluations, identifying barriers to health that may be overlooked.
2. Advocacy: Nurses advocate for policies that address systemic inequities impacting health outcomes. They can use their voice to influence health policy at local, state, or national levels.
3. Education: They educate patients about available resources, guiding them to services that address social needs (e.g., food banks, housing assistance).
4. Collaboration: Nurse leaders can collaborate with community organizations and other healthcare providers to develop interventions that target specific SDOH affecting their populations.
Why Nurses Are Ideally Suited for This Role
– Holistic Care Perspective: Nurses are trained to consider the whole patient—body, mind, and environment—making them well-prepared to address the multifaceted nature of SDOH.
– Patient Advocacy: Nurses often build strong relationships with patients and communities, positioning them as trusted advocates for change.
– Community Engagement: Many nurses work in community settings where they can directly observe the effects of SDOH on health outcomes.
Importance of Nursing Advocacy, Community Action, and Policy Campaigns
Advocacy
Nursing advocacy is crucial in highlighting the importance of addressing SDOH within healthcare systems and public policy. By advocating for equitable access to resources and services, nurses can help to dismantle barriers that contribute to health disparities.
Community Action
Community action initiatives led by nurses can effectively mobilize resources to meet local needs. For example, organizing health fairs or vaccination drives can directly address gaps in healthcare access for underserved populations.
Policy Campaigns
Engaging in policy campaigns allows nurses to influence legislative decisions that shape health policies. By participating in campaigns focused on healthcare reform or social justice issues, nurses can advocate for changes that improve population health.
Promoting Better Population and Community Health
Nurses and nurse leaders can promote better population and community health through several activities:
1. Conducting Outreach Programs: Developing outreach initiatives aimed at vulnerable populations can help bridge gaps in access to care and resources.
2. Participating in Research: Engaging in research focused on SDOH can provide valuable data that informs policy making and practice improvements.
3. Collaborating with Interdisciplinary Teams: Working with social workers, public health officials, and community organizations enhances care coordination efforts aimed at addressing SDOH.
4. Engaging in Continued Education: Pursuing ongoing education regarding SDOH equips nurses with the knowledge needed to effectively address these determinants in their practice.
Conclusion
Social Determinants of Health play a vital role in influencing individual, community, and population health outcomes. Nurses and nurse leaders are critical players in addressing these determinants through assessment, advocacy, education, and collaboration. Their unique position enables them to promote health equity effectively. By engaging in advocacy efforts, community action initiatives, and policy campaigns focused on SDOH, nurses can significantly improve overall population health outcomes and contribute to a more equitable healthcare system.
