Nursing Leadership Report: Policy, Health, and Social Factors

This report delves into various aspects of nursing leadership, examining the significance of policy development within healthcare systems. It explores the application of policy circles in the creation of new policies, using a smoke-free environment policy for a college as an example. The report also contrasts old and new public health approaches, highlighting the importance of multi-sectoral involvement and disease prevention strategies. Furthermore, it discusses policy considerations for a national obesity campaign, including food composition, labeling, and promotion. The report also addresses crucial social problems like income inequality, education, and employment, and their impact on individual wellness. The conclusion emphasizes the need to consider social, political, and economic factors to ensure equality and improve lives. The report references several academic sources to support its claims, providing a comprehensive overview of the topics covered.

Running head: NURSING LEADERSHIP 1
Nursing Leadership
Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Introduction
A policy is a set of basic rules that are associated guidelines which are enforced and
formulated by an organization’s governing body, to limit and direct its actions for the
achievement of its long-term goals (Birkland 2015).
Body
1. For what reasons is a policy circle suitable in a new policy development?
In creation of a new policy, a policy circle is necessary as explained by the following
stages of its development (Prebisch 2016).
Stage one: Agenda setting
Being the first step in the cycle, agenda setting helps policymakers to identify the key
problems that need to be addressed (Goddard & Krebs 2015). Themes of discussion have to
be subjected to different types of agenda before involved parties move them forward.
Stage two: Policy formation
This phase involves serious negotiations between parties, usually opposing one another as
they fight to ensure their desires and needs are met. The significance of this stage of
policymaking is that it answers to problems that are argued and shaped.
Stage three: Policy legitimation
To ensure legitimacy in Australia, a policy must be subjected to the process of legislation.
After this, it is regarded as law and can be implemented. The importance of the legitimation

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process is that it makes sure the public considers the actions of the government to be
authoritative and legal.
Stage four: Policy implementation
The action of policy is put in place by this phase. Obligation passes to policy
implementers from policymakers. Policies can further be developed as this is happening.
Stage five: Policy evaluation
Stakeholders evaluate the policy to find out whether they’ve created a policy that will
ensure they achieve their goals. They should put the following into consideration in order to
determine this: how outcomes can be evaluated effectively, criteria of determining outcomes,
ways of navigating between the effectiveness and policy efficiency.
Stage six: Termination, succession or maintenance of a policy
After implementation, use and relevance of policies are gauged periodically. The result of
this may be termination, amendment or continuation of the policies.
7. What are some of the four factors to be enclosed in development of an
environment free smoke policy for a college?
In creation of a smoke free ecosystem policy within a college, the below explained factors
ought to be put into consideration (Mamudu, Cairney & Studlar 2015).
A restrictive regulation in which smoking is not allowed on sight

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Use of tobacco and smoking to be prohibited while in class, while in the university library,
in the washrooms, area of residence, parking lots or any outdoor areas within the university’s
compound (Brose, Partos, Hitchman & McNeill 2017).
The higher learning institution doesn't allow the smoking break to go off premises. All
students must not have the smell of tobacco products or smoke on their person during their
stay within the university.
Within the appointed smoking place
The only smoking area within the institution is the outdoor space marked ‘’smoking zone’’
situated at the enclosed area behind the building. Smoking along the path to the smoking area
is considered illegal, by any entrance or exit to the building, in the parking area or any other
outdoor area. Failure to abide by these regulations leads to punishment.
Language to outline what is not and what is permitted
To enhance good health, comply with the institution or local government regulations to
ensure the improvement of indoor air quality, the institution ought to be entirely smoke-free.
That comprises the use of smoking products and all tobacco, including chewing tobacco,
pipes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and cigars. All smoking products are illegal within the
university. Smoking is prohibited in all premises of the institution without exception.
The inclusion of a notice of enforceability
Policy ought to be enforced and all students, workers, lecturers or any other person are
expected to abide by this policy while within the university compound. Any failure shall so
lead to disciplinary action including termination. To avoid trouble with the institution remain
responsible at all times.

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3. What are some of the differences between the old and new public health approach?
Former public health differs from recent public health in numerous ways. These
include,
Involvement of all sectors in the promotion of health
New public health approach has ensured the involvement of all sectors in health
promotion. Non-government organizations, private sectors and the government at large have
now come together in promoting health unlike in the old care system where such
collaborations were not developed. In the old health approach, each sector operated
independently reducing efficiency in service delivery. Through joining hands, the new health
care approach has improved efficiency through the support of the acquisition of new
knowledge, monitoring health care quality, development of improved health care force,
ensuring access to quality care for vulnerable groups and regulation of health care markets.
Equality achievement in health status
There were inequalities in old health care, for instance in Aussieland, risk factors, health
services, morbidity and health behaviour are statistical reference examples documenting
morbidity and morbidity-related inequalities (Ferreira & Peragine 2015). However, new
public health approach has advocated for the need to create opportunities for people to make
so that they can avoid disease causing factors through health information provision and
education to enhance life skills.
Disease prevention strategies
Old public health had no well-defined care strategies while the new public health approach
has come up with more effective health strategies. An example of a new strategy is the

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development of primary health care which has acted as a backbone of a nation's health
strategy, by emphasizing on disease prevention and health promotion strategies.
6. In a national obesity campaign, which are some of the policy considerations that
ought to be addressed?
One should pay attention to the following issues in developing a health campaign to
control obesity.
Food composition
Packaged food should be targeted and inspected for food composition standards.
Food labeling
Packaged food should be well labeled with food ingredient list or nutrient declarations,
regulatory systems for nutrition claims and for health (Huang et al. 2015).
Food prices
Minimization of taxes on healthy food and ensuring an increased tax on unhealthy food.
This will discourage people from purchasing highly taxed unhealthy food due to their high
selling prices.
Food promotion
Restriction of unhealthy food promotion in broadcast, non-broadcast media and in
children’s settings.
Food provision

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Ensuring policies in learning institutions, privately owned organizations, training systems
and public settings promote healthy food choices.
Food retail
Accessibility of healthful foodstuffs.
Food trade
Ensure protection of regulatory capacity pertaining to an assimilation of food and uses of
it for maintenance and growth (Lang & Heasman 2015).
Leadership
To ensure population nutrition there ought to be the provision of visible and strong
political support.
Targets of population intake established.
Implementation of food-based dietary guidelines.
Implementation of a comprehensive and plan linked to national or state needs.
Aspirations to get rid of nutrition-related inequalities.
Governance
Restriction of commercial influence on the development of policy.
Evidence used in policies relating to population nutrition.
Access to information regarding government and transparency.

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Assessment of potential health impacts of all policies.
Intelligence and monitoring
Supervision of food environments.
Overseeing population nutrition intake.
Policies and major programs evaluation and supervising population nutrition intake.
Resources and funding
Funding for research of NCD prevention and obesity.
Independent health promotion agency.
Platforms for interactions
Mechanisms for coordination (local, state and national government).
Platforms for civil society and government interaction.
Platforms for the food sector and government interactions.
Support for communities
Social marketing campaigns implementation.
Nutrition and food in education curricula (World Health Organization 2015).
4. What are crucial social problems and in what way do they ascertain an
individual’s wellness?

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The following are crucial social issues and how they ascertain an individual’s wellness
(Mirowsky 2017).
Wealth together with income
Behaviours considered to be unhealthy like smoking, tend to be more common in low-
income groups. Enough income enables one to afford nutritious diets, to rent or buy healthy
housing in a healthy neighbourhood.
Inequality in income
Income inequality is inversely associated with better health care. There has been
controversy concerning the health effects of income inequality other than the effects of
economic hardship or absolute poverty (Solt 2016).
Education
Health and education are strongly related. Education is a requirement for good desirable
employment, other resources and associated income e.g. sick leaves, medical pension, and
medical insurance. Early childhood development is shaped by education and early childhood
experience, which in return influences education attainment and school readiness. Education
aids in solving health-related problems.
Employment
Employment affects wellness in many ways, for instance, determining employment
opportunities as well as income. The unemployed and low skilled are more likely to involve
exposure to physical hazards, e.g. toxic chemicals. Economic contraction, unemployment,

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and job loss have been linked to higher mortality and ill health due to economic and
physiological consequences.
Social status
Education, wealth, employment and income all have implications for acceptance and
prestige in society. They can, therefore, affect health care through psychological pathways
involved in a post acquired in the social hierarchy (Lamont, Welburn & Fleming 2016).
Individuals from perceived to be from lower social status are associated with adverse health
outcomes even after putting into consideration objective measures of social status and
resources.
Conclusion
To ensure equality for the betterment of lives, all social, political and economic aspects of
human life must be put into consideration.

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References
Birkland, T. A. (2015). An introduction to the policy process: Theories, concepts, and models
of public policy making. Routledge.
Brose, L. S., Partos, T. R., Hitchman, S. C., & McNeill, A. (2017). Support for e-cigarette
policies: a survey of smokers and ex-smokers in Great Britain. Tobacco control, 26(e1),
e7-e15.
Ferreira, F. H., & Peragine, V. (2015). Equality of opportunity: Theory and evidence. The
World Bank.
Goddard, S. E., & Krebs, R. R. (2015). Rhetoric, legitimation, and grand strategy.
Huang, T. T., Cawley, J. H., Ashe, M., Costa, S. A., Frerichs, L. M., Zwicker, L., ... &
Kumanyika, S. K. (2015). Mobilisation of public support for policy actions to prevent
obesity. The Lancet, 385(9985), 2422-2431.
Lamont, M., Welburn, J. S., & Fleming, C. M. (2016). Responses to discrimination and social
resilience under neoliberalism. In New Perspectives on Resilience in Socio-Economic
Spheres (pp. 143-176). Springer VS, Wiesbaden.
Lang, T., & Heasman, M. (2015). Food wars: the global battle for mouths, minds and
markets. Routledge.
Mamudu, H., Cairney, P., & Studlar, D. (2015). Global public policy: Does the new venue for
transnational tobacco control challenge the old way of doing things?. Public
Administration, 93(4), 856-873.
Mirowsky, J. (2017). Education, social status, and health. Routledge.

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Prebisch, R. (2016). Towards a new trade policy for development. ECLAC Thinking, Selected
Texts (1948-1998). Santiago: ECLAC, 2016. p. 211-238.
Solt, F. (2016). The standardized world income inequality database. Social science
quarterly, 97(5), 1267-1281.
World Health Organization. (2015). Report of a regional meeting on health of older women:
policy, gender and delivery of service issues, Bangkok, Thailand, 23-25 September
2014(No. SEA-Ageing-2). World Health Organization.