Investigating the Role of Nurse Practitioners in Reducing Health Disparities in Minority Populations

Posted: Feb 15, 2020

• Gavin Torres
• Harper Brooks
• Julian Scott

Abstract

Health disparities among minority populations represent one of the most persistent and challenging issues in contemporary healthcare systems. Despite decades of initiatives and policy interventions, significant gaps in health outcomes continue to exist across racial and ethnic lines. These disparities manifest in higher rates of chronic conditions, reduced access to preventive services, and poorer quality of care for minority groups compared to their white counterparts. The complex interplay of socioeconomic factors, structural barriers, and historical inequities creates a healthcare landscape where minority populations consistently experience worse health outcomes. Within this challenging context, nurse practitioners have emerged as potentially transformative figures in the quest for health equity. Their unique training combines advanced clinical skills with a holistic understanding of patient care that encompasses biological, psychological, and social dimensions of health. This comprehensive approach positions nurse practitioners to address not only the immediate clinical needs of minority patients but also the underlying social determinants that contribute to health disparities. The present study investigates the specific mechanisms through which nurse practitioners contribute to reducing health disparities, examining both quantitative outcomes and qualitative experiences across diverse healthcare settings serving minority populations. This research addresses several critical gaps in the existing literature. While numerous studies have documented the existence of health disparities, fewer have systematically examined the specific healthcare provider roles that most effectively address these inequities. Furthermore, much of the existing research focuses on physician-led interventions, potentially overlooking the unique contributions of other healthcare professionals. Nurse practitioners operate with a distinctive scope of practice that blends medical expertise with nursing philosophy, creating opportunities for innovative care delivery models particularly suited to addressing the complex needs of minority communities. Our study employs a novel mixed-methods approach that captures both objective health outcomes and the subjective experiences of both providers and patients.