It is worth noting that health problems and immigration issues are interrelated. In many cases, people who immigrated to California have health problems similar to those experienced by the rest of the population (Chen et al., 2015). However, in some immigrant groups, some diseases and disorders may be more common. The purpose of this paper is to specify the link between immigration issues and health problems and discuss it as applied to nursing.
Discussion of Issue
Frequently enough, immigrants suffer from injuries and hypothermia that occur during this transition period. Due to malnutrition and increased stress levels associated with relocation, many immigrants also suffer from accidental injuries, respiratory illnesses, and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases. People with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes are at additional risk due to the character of their illnesses (Chen et al., 2015). It should be emphasized that women belong to a separate risk group since pregnancy and childbirth can proceed with complications, which causes harm to both the mother and the baby.
In addition, the health of immigrant people is more susceptible to non-communicable diseases than the health of the rest of the California population. In particular, eating disorders, substance abuse, and mental and psychological disorders are quite common among immigrants (Chen et al., 2015). The difficulty of the situation lies in the fact that the ongoing treatment that was recommended for a patient is often interrupted due to inadequate access to it. The main objective in the field of policy-making is to ensure access of immigrants to the health care system in such a way so that it is regarded as their right and not a privilege.
Solution
The basis for solving the healthcare issues in California is to prevent the development and spread of diseases and ensure adequate access to the health care system when the patient needs to continue ongoing treatment. These measures are necessary not only for preventing epidemics but also for creating normal living conditions for people. Initiatives are needed to inform the public about correct food handling, and it is important to disseminate such information not only among immigrants but also among food suppliers (Lee, Rhee, Kim, & Ahluwalia, 2015). Policies should be developed to create clear procedures for referring patients to secondary and tertiary care facilities to maintain a continuous course of treatment. As stated in a letter to a politician, “homelessness is a social justice issue” (see Appendix A). In the same manner, inadequate access to healthcare among immigrants is also a social justice challenge. It is necessary to promote policies that will ensure the provision of medical services to immigrants regardless of their legal status.
Application to Nursing Practice
Nurses should become active agents of change and assist in promoting initiatives aimed at resolving the health issues of immigrants. Nurse leaders should advocate for the development and implementation of preventive programs both at the state level and at the level of their healthcare institution (Kourkouta, Frantzana, Koukourikos, Dimitriadou, & Tsaloglidou, 2019). In addition, the absence of effective healthcare policies provides room for the professional and personal growth of nurses. In particular, they should seize this opportunity and provide psychological support to immigrants. They have the knowledge and expertise needed for informing and educating immigrants so that they become more health literate (Kourkouta et al., 2019). Apart from that, public health nurses should support their underage patients and assist them in their emotional development and socialization.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that health problems and immigration issues are linked directly. Due to inadequate access to the healthcare system, immigrants may develop various diseases or experience a deterioration in health if their course of treatment is interrupted. Public health nurses should take on a leadership position and initiate the development of policies securing the rights of immigrants while also acting as educators and service providers at the level of their institution.
References
Chen, J., O’Brien, M. J., Mennis, J., Alos, V. A., Grande, D. T., Roby, D. H., & Ortega, A. N. (2015). Latino population growth and hospital uncompensated care in California. American Journal of Public Health, 105(8), 1710-1717.
Kourkouta, L., Frantzana, A., Koukourikos, K., Dimitriadou, A., & Tsaloglidou, A. (2019). Living conditions and health problems of immigrants. American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research, 5(1), 1-4.
Lee, H. Y., Rhee, T. G., Kim, N. K., & Ahluwalia, J. S. (2015). Health literacy as a social determinant of health in Asian American immigrants: Findings from a population-based survey in California. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 30(8), 1118-1124.