Despite increased abilities across developmental realms, including the maturation of pain systems involving self-regulation and the coordination of affect and cognition, the transition to young adulthood is accompanied by higher rates of mortality, greater engagement in health-damaging behaviors, and an increase in chronic conditions. Rates of motor vehicle fatality and homicide peak during young adulthood, as do mental health problems, substance abuse, unintentional pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections.
Describe how the advanced practice nurse can play a role in improving the health of young adults through preventive screening and intervention.
Instructions: Word limit 500 words. Please make sure to provide citations and references (in APA, 7th ed. format) within the last 5 years published for your work; no plagiarism, please..
Despite increased abilities across developmental realms, young adulthood is a stage of life that is accompanied by a range of health challenges. These challenges include higher rates of mortality, greater engagement in health-damaging behaviors, and an increase in chronic conditions. Research indicates that rates of motor vehicle fatality and homicide peak during young adulthood, as do mental health problems, substance abuse, unintentional pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Arnett, 2015). Therefore, advanced practice nurses (APNs) can play a significant role in improving the health of young adults through preventive screening and intervention.
APNs can assist in preventive screening for young adults through different approaches, such as regular checkups, health assessments, and health promotion activities. Regular checkups can help detect and prevent potential health problems, which can significantly impact the health and wellbeing of young adults. Health assessments can provide essential information about the current health status of young adults, such as their physical and mental health, lifestyle choices, and medical history. Health promotion activities, such as community outreach and education programs, can help improve the health literacy of young adults and increase their awareness of the importance of healthy behaviors.
APNs can also play a significant role in intervening in health-damaging behaviors and addressing chronic conditions among young adults. For example, APNs can provide smoking cessation counseling, substance abuse treatment, and reproductive health services. APNs can also provide mental health services, such as psychotherapy and counseling, to address the high rates of mental health problems among young adults. Additionally, APNs can provide management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, through medication management, lifestyle modifications, and patient education.
To effectively improve the health of young adults, APNs should adopt a holistic approach that considers the individual’s physical, mental, and social wellbeing. This approach should involve identifying the underlying factors that contribute to health-damaging behaviors and addressing them in a comprehensive manner. Additionally, APNs should collaborate with other healthcare providers, such as physicians, social workers, and psychologists, to provide coordinated and comprehensive care for young adults.
In conclusion, young adulthood is a stage of life that is accompanied by a range of health challenges, including higher rates of mortality, greater engagement in health-damaging behaviors, and an increase in chronic conditions. APNs can play a significant role in improving the health of young adults through preventive screening and intervention. APNs can assist in preventive screening for young adults through regular checkups, health assessments, and health promotion activities. APNs can also intervene in health-damaging behaviors and address chronic conditions through smoking cessation counseling, substance abuse treatment, reproductive health services, mental health services, and chronic condition management. By adopting a holistic approach that considers the individual’s physical, mental, and social wellbeing, APNs can significantly improve the health and wellbeing of young adults.
References:
Arnett, J. J. (2015). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. Oxford University Press.