Vaccine and immunization legislation.

Vaccine and immunization legislation.

Nutritional assistance programs for school youths.

Diabetes education for elderly outpatients in a community health clinic.

Reducing the number of re-admits of patients who have had outpatient procedures.

Reducing the number of patient falls on a medical/surgical hospital floor.

These represent a few community and organizational needs, challenges, and issues that may require and merit the advocacy, skill set, and knowledge of the DNP-prepared nurse. In your role as a DNP-prepared nurse, you may find yourself the champion and advocate for improved health outcomes both at a local and individual patient level to one of a national or global and population-based level. The DNP-prepared nurse is well poised to address and advocate changes not only in a healthcare setting but in a community context to promote positive social change and positive health-based outcomes.

For this Discussion, reflect on those needs, challenges, and issues that may be most important for your community or organization. Why do these needs, challenges, and issues merit the attention of a DNP-prepared nurse?