CDC NIH and Government Role in Public Health

Agencies That Affect Public Health Systems

Governmental and quasi-governmental agencies play a vital role in providing public health systems and nursing services in the United States (Whitsel et al., 2021). These agencies are responsible for setting rules and regulations, providing funding for public health programs, collecting data for research and evaluation, and promoting social justice. Moreover, cultural diversity plays a major role in the public health arena, as it affects the availability of resources, access to services, and the quality of health care that is provided (Ratima et al., 2019).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the primary governmental agencies that affect public health systems and nursing in the United States. The CDC (2022) works to protect public health by researching and preventing communicable diseases, promoting healthy lifestyles, and helping Americans make informed decisions about health care. Other key governmental agencies include the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, which works to promote the health and safety of all Americans, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which focuses on improving the quality of health care available to all Americans.

In addition to governmental agencies, there are several quasi-governmental organizations that also have a significant impact on public health systems and nursing in the United States. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest biomedical research agency in the world and provides grants to universities and other organizations to support a variety of public health initiatives (NIH, 2022). Likewise, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2022) focuses on creating a culture of health and supporting vulnerable populations.

When it comes to addressing cultural issues in public health, it is important to use value-expectancy theories that acknowledge the impact of cultural values on health behaviors. Value-expectancy theories suggest that individuals will be more likely to take action if they believe that doing so will result in positive outcomes. For example, if a healthcare provider understands their patient’s cultural beliefs, they can better tailor advice and instruction accordingly and increase the chances of their patient engaging in healthier behaviors. To build a program using value-expectancy theories that acknowledge the impact of cultural values on health behaviors, it would be important to conduct a needs assessment to identify the specific health needs and concerns of the target population; incorporate cultural values and beliefs into program design and implementation; assess the effectiveness of the program using culturally appropriate measures; and involve members of the target population in program planning and evaluation.

The DNP Essentials relevant to this discussion include: (1) Scientific Underpinnings for Practice and (2) Organizational and Systems Leadership. These essentials focus on the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions that are appropriate for the cultural environment. Additionally, they require nurse practitioners to understand how to work with interprofessional teams and collaborate with community organizations in order to effectively deliver health care services and improve public health across communities (DNP Essentials, 2022).

Other DNP Essentials that relate to this discussion include: Essential 3: Clinical Prevention and Population Health: This essential focuses on the role of the DNP in improving population health through the use of evidence-based practice and utilizing community-based participatory research methodologies. Also, Essential 5: Organizational and Systems Leadership: This essential focuses on the role of the DNP in leading complex healthcare organizations and systems, including developing policies and programs that promote health equity and address health disparities among diverse populations. Finally, Essential 8: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice: This essential focuses on the role of the DNP in using analytical methods to evaluate healthcare outcomes, including the impact of cultural diversity on health outcomes.