Sociopolitical factors refers to the interaction of political and societal issues, factors or changes. These factors have a strong influence on our daily lives and shape the world around us, whether we are aware of them or not. Sociopolitical factors have influenced the way nursing education is delivered and the topics studied today.

Cultural Competency

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing defines cultural competency as "the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary for providing quality care to diverse populations." Cultural competency recognizes that people's diversity, an increasing issue in most Western countries, affects their health, access to health care and attitudes about when to seek help from a medical professional. As nursing students develop their cultural competency skills they should take into account how their own beliefs about race and ethnicity, and those of the medical establishment, affect the care that they provide a patient. This will include understanding how cultural differences affect patients, being open to diverse research and working with translators to ensure information is communicated to patients and families.

Nursing students need to be aware of unique needs of different cultures.
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Social Determinants of Health

Developed by Dr. Dennis Raphael, the Social Determinants of Health model looks at non-medical factors that influence someone's health and their health care needs. These sociopolitical factors are issues outside of someone's individual control; they are imposed by society or life circumstances.

According to Dr. Raphael the 14 determinants are:

  1. Income and income distribution
  2. Education
  3. Unemployment and job security
  4. Employment and working conditions
  5. Early childhood development
  6. Food insecurity
  7. Housing
  8. Social exclusion
  9. Social safety network
  10. Health services
  11. Aboriginal status
  12. Gender
  13. Race
  14. Disability
Lack of access to healthy, nutritional food influences someone's health status.
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Social Justice

Social justice includes issues covered by cultural competency and the social determinants of health framework, but also has broadened to include awareness of stereotypes and oppression.

For nursing students this includes understanding how someone's gender presentation may not match their biological sex, or differing needs for health care of someone who identifies as gay or lesbian.

Understanding social justice also includes looking at issues of power, within and outside of the health care system. In order to best understand social justice issues students need to be able to examine their own privilege or marginalization and how it may affect services that they deliver.

Gay men have different health care needs than their heterosexual counterparts.
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Elder Care

As technology advances and access to health care improves people are living longer. The National League for Nursing says that "By 2020, more than 20 percent of the population will be 65 and older, with those over 85 constituting the fastest growing age group."

This adds challenges for the health care system. Nursing students need to be trained to understand the needs of the elderly and their families.

The "sandwich generation," those people raising both children and caring for their aging parents, is faced with increased pressure and needs support from health care professionals.

Nurses are well-placed to be able to watch for signs of elder abuse. They also can look out for frailty in aging spouses who accompany their partner to doctor's appointments or visit during hospitalization.

Seniors are living longer and need specialized care.
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