In This Written Assignment Identify One Specific Contemporar

In This Written Assignment Identify One Specific Contemporary Issue O

In this written assignment, identify one specific contemporary issue or trend that you are interested in learning more about. Choose from the categories below. Global Healthcare and Nursing Healthcare Reform U.S. Healthcare Financing Nursing's Role in the U.S. Healthcare System Integrative Healthcare Nursing Leadership and Management Nursing Education Nursing Practice Nursing Professionalism Advancing Nursing as a Profession Client Access to Care Delivering Client Care Interdisciplinary Teamwork and Collaboration Ethical Practices in Healthcare Quality and Safety in Healthcare Delivery Health/Nursing Informatics

Paper For Above instruction

The selected contemporary issue for this assignment is "Nursing's Role in the U.S. Healthcare System." This issue is increasingly relevant given the evolving healthcare landscape and the critical role nurses play in delivering quality care. An exploration of this issue reveals significant facts about the importance and impact of nursing within the broader healthcare framework.

One significant fact is that nurses constitute the largest segment of the healthcare workforce in the United States, making their role pivotal in ensuring efficient healthcare delivery. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2020), there are over 4 million registered nurses practicing in various healthcare settings across the country. This extensive presence positions nurses as key contributors to patient outcomes, healthcare costs, and system efficiency. Their frontline engagement means that nurses influence everything from direct patient care to health policy advocacy.

A second important fact is that advanced nursing roles, such as Nurse Practitioners (NPs), are increasingly essential in addressing healthcare access issues, especially in underserved areas. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2016) report highlights that NPs can provide a high level of care comparable to physicians, especially in primary care. This expansion of nursing roles not only alleviates physician shortages but also improves patient access to care, reduces healthcare costs, and enhances health outcomes. For instance, studies have shown that NPs improve access to primary care services and patient satisfaction (Buerhaus et al., 2018).

This emphasis on nursing's expanding responsibilities underscores its vital contribution to the U.S. healthcare system. Nurses are not only caregivers but also key players in health promotion, disease prevention, and healthcare management. Their role in healthcare reform, particularly in expanding access and improving patient outcomes, makes understanding and strengthening this professional sector critical for current and future health system effectiveness.

References

• American Nurses Association. (2020). Data and statistics. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position-statements/id/data-and-statistics/
• Buerhaus, P. I., Skinner, L. E., Auerbach, D. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2018). Four Challenges Facing the Nursing Workforce in the United States. Healthcare, 6(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6010001
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advance Health. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/21838