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According to WHO, health promotion is about empowering individuals to increase control over and improve their health. To underpin this, the Ottawa Charter was further elaborated and key conditions to achieve the goals were identified. These include education, food, income, equity, peace, shelter, etc (WHO, 202). In promoting health, it is therefore important to understand the different health settings, as they can help accelerate the development and implementation of comprehensive health promotion strategies for the nurse (Darly. E, Dina. C, and Patricia. F, 204). In this way, the individual’s health status and quality of life can be improved quicker. Moreover, as a health promoter, the nurse must have a full understanding of the individual and community needs in order to provide a level of service that satisfactorily meets the needs of the public (Department of Health, 2007). In addition, the nurse must view individuals as part of the socioeconomic environment in which they live and consider the impact on their health so that the nurse knows which setting is most appropriate for promoting health. For example, the nurse may use a behaviour change approach or an empowerment approach, all of which depends on knowing the person as an individual. (Darly. E, Dina. C, and Patricia. F, 204) HELATH PROMOTION AND PUBLIC HELATH FOR NURSING STUDENTS- DARLY EVANS, DINA COUTSAFTIKI, C. PATRICIA FATHERS. 204.
Income, education, access to green space and healthy food, work, and place of residence are important determinants of health, as an individual’s health and well-being depend on these factors (King’s Fund, 2020). Inequalities in these factors lead to population-wide health inequalities. Therefore, it is critical for nurses to address these broader socioeconomic inequalities in order to reduce population health ine

qualities. This is because people living in disadvantaged areas may not have the same access to health and social care services as people living in advantaged areas. The nurse’s role is therefore to refer them to health services that are beneficial to their health and well-being and to raise awareness about the benefits of using health services. This can reduce unequal access to health services and break down the barriers people face when seeking treatment. Additionally, people may face barriers in accessing health and social services or can be treated unfairly because of their origin. However, as an advocate, the nurse’s role is to improve the quality of care they receive, meet their personal needs, and treat them with dignity and respect (Nursing and Midwifery Council, -NMC, 208). Moreover, the Equality Act 200 also plays an important role in protecting individuals from being discriminated, harassed and victimised because of their age, race, religion, sex, gender, disability, sexual orientation, marriage, or pregnancy. In contrast, the Equality Act fails to protect the elderly from age discrimination during the pandemic which makes them more vulnerable to inequality. For instance, the Help Age International 202 noted that older people were separated and isolated, presented as week and helpless and their rights have been ignored which put them at risk of facing more violence, abuse and neglect. Moreover, although there are ethical grounds to consider the patient’s age when making a triage decision however, utilising age as a categorical exclusion is not fair (Brown et al., 202) because using age as a category can perpetuate social inequalities and structural disadvantages as it promotes preconceptions about the quality of life, health status, and broad social utility of the older population (Rueda, 202).