Role of APRN in Youth Care

Posted: April 5th, 2023

References

Leader, G., Tuohy, E., Chen, J. L., Mannion, A., & Gilroy, S. P. (2020). Feeding problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, challenging behavior, and sensory issues in children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(4), 1401–1410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04357-7

Sieving, R. E., Mehus, C., Catallozzi, M., Grilo, S., Steiner, R. J., Brar, P., Gewirtz O’Brien, J. R., Gorzkowski, J., Kaseeska, K., Kelly, E. D., Klein, J. D., McRee, A.-L., Randazzo, L., & Santelli, J. (2020). Understanding Primary Care Providers’ perceptions and practices in implementing confidential adolescent sexual and reproductive health services. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(4), 569–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.03.035

Thomas, C., Ramirez, A. P., Alderfer, M. A., Patton, S. R., Carakushansky, M., & Enlow, P. T. (2023). Telehealth and type 1 diabetes care during COVID-19: Perceptions from the youth of color, caregivers, and health care providers. Diabetes Spectrum. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds22-0053

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) have a crucial role to play in ensuring a safe transition from adolescence to adulthood for youths in society. Adolescents face various challenges such as drug abuse, mental health issues, homicide, unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Leader et al., 2020). APRNs are professionally trained to prevent and treat chronic illnesses that affect members of society. Their roles include health promotion services that ensure disease management and health education.

Education Services

APRNs are responsible for providing free educational services to adolescents and youths who are vulnerable to developmental issues, including low self-esteem. Youth often feel judged by society and need interventions to prevent them from continuing to suffer. APRNs should research the challenges affecting youths, such as drug abuse, and offer evidence-based advisory services to inform them of the impact of negative behaviors. APRNs can develop education plans to address mental health challenges and create awareness among the youth about the symptoms and treatment interventions.

Creation of Immunization Centers

APRNs play a crucial role in offering vaccination and immunization services to youths. APRNs can collaborate with community health personnel to combat infectious diseases such as diphtheria, tuberculosis, poliovirus, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and Hepatitis B. They can create immunization centers in rural areas with lower vaccination rates and increase awareness about the benefits of immunization among youths.

Treatment and Diagnosis of Healthcare

APRNs are advocates for safe and quality care and practice evidence-based approaches. They act as nursing leaders to clinical nurses, providing a supervisory role to ensure safe and quality care. APRNs support clinical nurses to work in conducive environments to diagnose and treat diseases affecting the youth. They advocate for applying evidence-based approaches in offering care to adolescents and intervening early to prevent STIs.

Public Health Advisory

APRNs are public health advisors who conduct community health analyses to provide recommendations to address youths’ health needs. They act as links between the federal government and the community, pushing the government to increase funding for critical public health concerns affecting youths, such as drug abuse and unwanted pregnancies. These funds will play a more significant role in training programs and the publication of source materials that address such health concerns.