Programs for African American Pregnant Women, Essay Example

Programs that support African American pregnant women require a high level of cultural sensitivity and an opportunity to address the needs of this population in a very specific manner. This group requires a practical set of approaches in order to accomplish the desired objectives to obtain adequate prenatal care and to deliver healthy babies. This requires nurses to be fully engaged in the population’s overall wellbeing and to be proactive in meeting the needs of this patient population effectively. A specialized program must entail practical educational strategies that will suit the target population, such as those associated with prenatal care, diet, and exercise, while also targeting the need for routine prenatal care by a physician in order to promote healthier outcomes for mother and child.

A program designed for this target population must identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities that exist, such as lack of knowledge and access to appropriate resources. A proposed education program must bridge these gaps and also provide a means of improving access and enabling this population to access resources that will positively impact this group. The role of nurse educators is particularly critical in this process because they will have a significant impact on the outcomes of this group when the proper attention is paid to addressing their deficiencies. Nurse educators must be able to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and resources that attract members of this population group to comply with the required recommendations. Educating this group requires nurses to be flexible and to have a number of plans in place that will accommodate any change that may impact one or more areas of focus. It is believed that nurse educators will facilitate a greater understanding of this population and how to best overcome deficiencies that will have a lasting impact on the health of this population group. When the appropriate resources are available, African American women will be able to identify methods to preserve their health and wellbeing as best as possible.