Nursing Values, Professional Ethics, and Advocacy for Immigrant Health Equity

 Guerdie Nonez

Promoting healthcare equity and access for immigrant groups is closely linked to nursing principles and professional ethics. According to the American Nurses Association's (ANA) Code of Ethics, which places a strong emphasis on justice, beneficence, and respect for human dignity, nurses must speak up for marginalized groups and remove structural obstacles that stand in the way of equal access to healthcare. The ethical obligation to promote inclusive healthcare policies that remove obstacles relating to socioeconomic status, language, and immigration status is reinforced by the ANA's Provision 8, which mandates that nurses seek to address social determinants of health and reduce health inequalities.

Why Nursing Values and Ethics Demand This Be on the Agenda

Immigrant healthcare access must continue to be a top concern, as required by nursing's basic values of compassion, advocacy, and social justice. Numerous immigrants are compelled to postpone or forego necessary medical care, especially those without proper documentation or insurance, which raises the rates of avoidable illnesses, maternal health issues, and infant death. In order to guarantee that everyone receives timely, culturally sensitive medical treatment, nurses are compelled by the concept of justice to advocate for laws that guarantee equal access to healthcare for all people, regardless of immigration status. Furthermore, nurses have ethical duties to treat patients without prejudice, which emphasizes the necessity of opposing laws that disadvantage immigrant groups and worsen their health.

Impact of Law, Ethics, and Politics on Immigrant Health Advocacy

While ethical principles guide nursing practice, political policies dictate the real-world access and affordability of care, making political advocacy crucial for ensuring that immigrant populations receive equitable healthcare services. Nurses can champion systemic improvements for immigrant healthcare by advocating for policies, supporting relevant legislation, and promoting public health programs. This will help guarantee ethical and equitable treatment that reflects the nursing profession's values. Politics has the greatest impact on healthcare access for immigrants among law, ethics, and politics. Healthcare policies, such as Medicaid eligibility restrictions and public charge rules, directly determine whether immigrants can receive affordable care.

References

Dawes, D. E. (2020). The political determinants of health. Johns Hopkins University Press. Chapter 2, “Setting the Precedent: America’s Attempts to Address the Political Determinants of Health Inequalities” (pp. 18–40)

Khullar, D., & Chokshi, D. A. (2019). Challenges for immigrant health in the USA—the road to crisis. The Lancet, 393(10186), 2168-2174.

Porche, D. J. (2023). Health policy: Applications for nurses and other healthcare professionals (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Chapter 16, “Policy, Law, and Politics: Ethical Perspective” (pp. 239–254)