A nurse is due to renew their nursing license. Which of the following information should the nurse identify as the purpose of renewal?

Choice A reason: This statement is true and should be included in the educational session. SDOH are the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, such as income, education, housing, food security, social inclusion, and access to health services. SDOH can affect a person's physical, mental, and social wellbeing, as well as their risk of developing certain diseases.

Choice B reason: This statement is false and should not be included in the educational session. SDOH are not determined by an individual’s ethnic background, but rather by the broader social, economic, and political context in which they live. However, ethnic background can influence how a person experiences SDOH, as some ethnic groups may face discrimination, racism, and marginalization that affect their access to resources and opportunities.

Choice C reason: This statement is false and should not be included in the educational session. Identifying SDOH does not increase disparities in health care, but rather helps to address them. Disparities in health care are the differences in the quality and accessibility of health services among different populations⁵. Identifying SDOH can help to understand the root causes of these disparities, and to design interventions that target the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

Choice D reason: This statement is false and should not be included in the educational session. SDOH do not include psychological factors, but rather affect them. Psychological factors are the individual characteristics and behaviors that influence a person's mental health and wellbeing, such as personality, coping skills, self-esteem, and stress management. SDOH can influence psychological factors by creating stressful or supportive environments, and by facilitating or hindering access to mental health services.

Choice A reason: Use of restraints is not included in the outcome category, but in the process category. The process category measures the nursing interventions and activities that affect the client's health outcomes. Use of restraints is a nursing intervention that can have negative effects on the client's physical and psychological wellbeing, such as injuries, infections, agitation, and depression.
Choice B reason: Client admissions is not included in the outcome category, but in the structure category. The structure category measures the characteristics and resources of the health care setting that affect the quality of care. Client admissions is a characteristic that reflects the volume and complexity of the client population and the demand for nursing services.
Choice C reason: Hospital readmissions is included in the outcome category. The outcome category measures the results and consequences of the nursing care provided to the clients. Hospital readmissions is a result that indicates the effectiveness and continuity of the nursing care. A high rate of hospital readmissions can suggest poor quality of care, inadequate discharge planning, or lack of follow-up care.
Choice D reason: Staffing is not included in the outcome category, but in the structure category. The structure category measures the characteristics and resources of the health care setting that affect the quality of care. Staffing is a resource that reflects the quantity and quality of the nursing staff, such as the number, education, experience, and skill mix of the nurses.