Describe How The Advanced Practice Nurse Can Play A Role In ✓ Solved

Describe how the advanced practice nurse can play a role in improving the health of young adults through preventive screening and intervention

Despite increased abilities across developmental realms, including the maturation of pain systems involving self-regulation and the coordination of affect and cognition, the transition to young adulthood is accompanied by higher rates of mortality, greater engagement in health-damaging behaviors, and an increase in chronic conditions. Rates of motor vehicle fatality and homicide peak during young adulthood, as do mental health problems, substance abuse, unintentional pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. Describe how the advanced practice nurse can play a role in improving the health of young adults through preventive screening and intervention.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is characterized by significant physiological, psychological, and social changes that influence health outcomes. Despite developmental maturations in pain regulation and affect-cognition coordination, this period is marked by heightened risks for mortality and health-compromising behaviors. Advanced practice nurses (APNs), including nurse practitioners, hold a pivotal role in mitigating these risks through comprehensive preventive screening and targeted interventions tailored to this demographic.

Preventive screening is foundational to early detection and management of health issues prevalent among young adults. These screenings should encompass mental health assessments for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, considering the surge in mental health problems during this age. For example, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) facilitates efficient depression screening, enabling timely counseling and intervention (Kroenke et al., 2001). Similarly, substance use screenings using tools like the CRAFFT screening test can identify risky alcohol and drug use behaviors (Knight et al., 1999). Screening for sexually transmitted infections and unintentional pregnancies through regular testing is also crucial, given their peak incidence in this age group. The role of the APN extends to ensuring that young adults are aware of and have access to these preventive services, thus fostering early intervention and reducing long-term health burdens.

Interventions by APNs should be multifaceted, addressing behavioral health, lifestyle modification, and health education. Health promotion strategies must focus on reducing health-damaging behaviors such as reckless driving, substance misuse, and unprotected sex. For example, motivational interviewing techniques can effectively encourage young adults to adopt safer behaviors and adhere to health recommendations (Miller & Rollnick, 2013). Additionally, APNs can implement vaccination programs for human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B, which are vital in preventing future health complications (Hariri et al., 2014). Counseling about nutrition, physical activity, and sleep hygiene is also essential in fostering healthy lifestyle choices that can prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions.

Furthermore, health education delivered through various modalities, including digital platforms, can promote health literacy. Young adults are highly engaged with technology, making apps and social media effective avenues for disseminating health information and reminder alerts about screenings. Telehealth services also provide accessible avenues for follow-up and mental health support, overcoming barriers such as transportation and stigma (Sharma et al., 2020). By leveraging technology, APNs can sustain ongoing engagement with young adults, ensuring that preventive measures translate into sustained health behaviors.

In conclusion, advanced practice nurses are vital in improving the health outcomes of young adults through comprehensive screening and tailored interventions. Their role encompasses early detection of health risks, health education, behavioral counseling, and leveraging technology to reach this digitally connected generation. By fostering an environment of preventive care, APNs can significantly reduce mortality and morbidity rates, ultimately promoting healthier trajectories into later adulthood.

References

• Hariri, S., Dunne, E. F., Waste, D., Markowitz, L. E., & Panicker, S. (2014). Strategies for improving HPV vaccination coverage among young adults: A review of recent evidence. Preventive Medicine, 58, 156-161.
• Knight, R. G., Sherritt, L., Harris, S. K., &Donalds, M. (1999). Validity of the CRAFFT substance abuse screening test among adolescent clinic patients. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 153(6), 591-597.
• Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606-613.
• Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
• Sharma, A., Southwick, S., & Shah, N. (2020). Telehealth approaches to mental health care for young adults: A review. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 26(6), 351-360.