Healthy Public Policy Essay

Build Healthy Public Policy

Nurses play a key role, not just in promotion of healthy public policies, but also in their creation. Healthy public policies focus on the collaboration of many organisations to provide policies that are safe and equitable, allowing all people the opportunity to lead healthy lives (WHO, 1986). McMurray and Clendon (2015) state that all those in health sectors should aim to ensure public policies contain knowledge of the impacts of health. The practical experience and relationships nurses create with clients allows them insights into areas that could be improved to provide quality health care. This information allows them to be advocates for healthy public policies that allow for the betterment of safe, equitable and relevant nursing practice (McMurray & Clendon, 2015; Webber, 2011). In the issue of obesity prevention of school aged children, nurses can use the healthy public policies already in place to promote nutrition. For example, The Nutrition in Schools Policy (2011) states that any instance that any time food or drink is involved in a New South Wales school, whether this be in the canteen or on excursions, there should be a focus on promoting healthy choices. In addition, the Sports and Physical Activity Policy (2015), states

Support while changing habits and lifestyles is essential to creating health literacy, and supporting the health and wellbeing of children (McMurray and Clendon, 2015). McMurray and Clendon (2015) also suggest that nurses play a key role in the creation of these supportive environments by supporting parents and children, which can be done through providing access to culturally and socially responsible health education resources. This information should also be family friendly in order to enable parents to also participate in the health education of their