RN, BAN
Many nurses have heard of the U.S. surgeon general, but perhaps they’ve also thought, “What does that have to do with the nursing profession?”
There are several ways the surgeon general’s initiatives relate to the nursing field — most notably, the connection to valuable public health priorities that affect patients and the communities nurses serve.
The Office of Surgeon General has been a leading voice of public health in the United States since 1871. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. surgeon general carries out a vital mission “to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of our nation.” In 1968, the office shifted from administering public health services to a greater focus on advising policy and informing the public.
Appointed by the Senate, the surgeon general oversees the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) , which consists of more than 6,000 highly trained uniformed service members. This includes medical, health, and engineering professionals, such as registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
Vice Admiral Dr. Vivek H. Murthy has served as the 21st U.S. surgeon general since 2021 — a reprisal of his previous role from 2014-17. As the appointed surgeon general, Dr. Murthy uses “the best scientific information available to provide clear, consistent, and equitable guidance and resources for the public.”
In addition to his work as a physician, Dr. Murthy also is a renowned scientific researcher, entrepreneur, and author of “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.”
The U.S. surgeon general promotes crucial public health topics by distributing information to policymakers, workers, and the general public. According to HHS, “These influential documents bring together the expertise of scientific, medical, and public health professionals nationwide on a variety of topics.” These publication types include reports, calls to action, and advisories.
Topics contained in these publications can include:
The surgeon general also identifies core priorities that act as guiding pillars for public health awareness and reform. Each priority has its own web page containing background information, official publications, and role-based actionable steps.
The surgeon general’s advocacy efforts often relate to topics of interest for nurses because public health impacts everybody, either directly or indirectly. Nurses are not only part of the population, but also help support the public’s well-being.
The nursing profession operates in diverse and valuable roles, including patient care, case management, government and community outreach, leadership, research, and education. Therefore, nurses can act as powerful agents of change.
By staying up to date on these topics, nurses can ensure they have a grasp on health factors that affect the populations they serve. Being aware of the surgeon general’s publications allows nurses to stay informed, get inspired, and take action.
Consider checking out Dr. Murthy’s curated selection of current priorities impacting public health:
The U.S. surgeon general’s current Reports and Publications website also is a great place to explore potential topics and public health communications. The National Library of Medicine has also compiled an online collection of the past reports and publications after 2000.
A wealth of resources exists, and the stage is set for nurses and other healthcare workers to get started making a difference!
Making actionable change often requires an interdisciplinary effort. As a vital part of the broader medical community, nurses can both learn from other health professionals and play an active role in improving health outcomes.
On a daily basis, they engage in the necessary patient care, communication, research, leadership, education and advocacy efforts to help make an impact. Nurses are also considered among the most trusted professions by the general public. When nurses and other healthcare providers share information and call for change, people listen. Begin using that platform as a launching point for positive change today!
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