Social Determinants Of Health

The social determinants of health are the influencing factors that determine health status among populations of people. They include conditions in the environment that influence disease. “Example of social determinants of health are education, childcare, housing, business, law, media, community planning, transportation, and agriculture” (Social Determinants of Health n.d., para. 3).
The development of illness in regards to social determinates of health affect health outcomes. Conditions in the environment and the social, economic, and physical resources available to a people influence a vast array of health issues. For examples: safe/affordable housing, education access, public safety, available healthy foods, local emergency/health services, …show more content…
By performing consistent hand hygiene such as keeping nails short, washing hands before and after patient contact, after touching environmental surfaces, and before and after gloving can prevent transmission. Consistent use of aseptic technique minimizes contamination by pathogens both protecting patients and preventing the spread of pathogens. When performing tasks and procedures nurses need to properly clean and disinfect devices between each patient use to prevent them from becoming a vector for transmission. Standard precautions and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), provides safety for the nurse providing care. Prompt and proper removal of PPE followed by performance of hand hygiene is the best practice to avoid transmission of infection to other patients and staff. Patient assessment and notifying the physician immediately of unexpected signs and symptoms, thereby reducing infection transmission and expediting patient treatment. Using your facility infection control and prevention plans, policies, procedures, and protocols for addressing the care and placement of patients suspected of having a communicable disease. Patient education to patients and their families about illness or disease processes and rationale for strategies and treatments. Removal of unnecessary invasive devices Nursing practice includes evaluating and reporting a patient's response to treatment. Removal of certain devices such as urinary catheters, central lines, and peripheral I.V. lines when the patient no longer needs them to avoid HAIs. Communicable diseases can be transmitted to patients who are under the care of healthcare workers who report for work when they're ill. You have the responsibility to look after your own health to avoid compromising patient safety (Benson & Powers

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