Profile of the role of professional nursing in anti-bullying in the community: A systems and policy approach

We have a federal mandate in the United States to confront “Bullying” in society and in the schools. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan and President Obama say, “Preparing young people for success in life is not just a moral obligation…but an economic imperative.” Bullying is the element involved in the misuse of power on all levels of society, beginning with the development of children, what they learn in their homes, schools, playgrounds, through to adults and the incivility in our public discourse today. This presentation profiles a holistic, systems model to educate adults first, on a human approach to bullying to help heal communities in which we are all responsible. The overriding framework is the role of the professional nurse to help educate communities through the exploration of values, thinking, and acting, and in turn empower adults in the community to lead our youth. Specifically through a series of Train the Adults courses for school boards, teachers, parents, and community members, offered at a community health training center in Washington, DC, conducted by a mental health psychiatric nurse, attendees will come away with a briefing paper on how to advocate for replicating these programs in their communities, with policy implications for health care reform.