The Code of Ethics for Nurses (American Nurses Association, 2015) Principle 9.4 calls nurses to
“advocate for policies, programs, and practices within the healthcare environment that maintain,
sustain, and repair the natural world” (p. 37). During a recent testimony for the Minnesota
Climate Caucus, it was reported that nurses are ethically bound to recognize that “Social justice
extends beyond human health and well-being to the health and well-being of the natural world”
(p.37). Further, The Executive Summary of the 2019 Lancet Countdown report warns: The life of
every child born today will be profoundly affected by climate change, with populations around
the world increasingly facing extremes of weather, food and water insecurity, changing patterns
of infectious disease, and a less certain future. Without accelerated intervention, this new era will
come to define the health of people at every stage of their lives.
Like a debate, a position paper presents one side of an arguable opinion about a topic or issue.
The goal of a position paper is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid and defensible.
Ideas that you are considering need to be carefully examined in choosing a topic, developing
your argument, and organizing your paper. Select a topic related to how the environment affects
the health of a population. Review and present the relevant literature. Your job is to take one
side of the argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the
topic being presented. It is important to support your argument with evidence to ensure the
validity of your claims, as well as to refute the counterclaims to show that you are well informed
about both sides. Be certain to consider all sides of the issue and present it in a clear manner.
The topic is unsafe water sources, poor water quality, and its effect on the population. Include examples from all over the world if necessary but specifically mention the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, USA.
Requirements:
Introduction to the topic
Summary of the relevant literature
Development and presentation of the argument
Refutation of counterclaims
Nursing role in the promotion of the health of the affected population
Summary of issues relevance to nursing and health
Writing style, use of APA citation