Nurses Often Become Motivated To Change Aspects Within The L ✓ Solved

Nurses Often Become Motivated To Change Aspects Within The Larger Heal

Nurses often become motivated to change aspects within the larger health care system based on their real-world experience. As such, many nurses take on an advocacy role to influence a change in regulations, policies, and laws that govern the larger health care system. For this assignment, identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity for advocacy through legislation. Research the issue and use the "Advocacy Through Legislation" template to complete this assignment. You are required to cite to a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment.

Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice. While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Legislative advocacy plays a crucial role in shaping healthcare policies that directly impact nursing practices and patient care. Nurses, with their firsthand experience and understanding of patient needs, are uniquely positioned to influence such policies to create meaningful change. This paper explores a specific healthcare issue within my community that warrants advocacy through legislation. I will present a comprehensive analysis of the issue, supported by current research and legislative considerations, and propose strategic actions for advocacy.

Identifying the Issue: Access to Mental Health Services

In my community, one of the most pressing concerns is limited access to mental health services, especially for vulnerable populations such as adolescents and the elderly. Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders, existing services are insufficient, leading to adverse health outcomes. Several factors contribute to this issue, including inadequate funding, stigma, shortages of mental health professionals, and restrictive policies that limit service expansion.

Recent Research and Policy Landscape

Current literature underscores the urgent need for legislative interventions to improve mental health care accessibility. A recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2023) indicated that states with expanded Medicaid and increased mental health funding experienced better access to services. Furthermore, studies highlight the systemic barriers created by policies that limit telehealth expansion, which could otherwise mitigate provider shortages and geographic disparities (Roberts et al., 2022).

State legislation, such as the Mental Health Parity Act, aims to address insurance coverage disparities; however, its implementation remains inconsistent. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the necessity of flexible policies promoting telehealth and community-based care (Johnson & Lee, 2021). Addressing this issue through targeted legislation could significantly impact community health outcomes.

Legislative Advocacy Strategies

Effective advocacy requires strategic actions, including engaging with policymakers, mobilizing community support, and leveraging professional nursing organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA). Developing a compelling legislative proposal that emphasizes data-supported benefits of expanded mental health funding can influence decision-makers. Building coalitions with mental health organizations and community leaders enhances advocacy efforts and amplifies the message.

Nurses can provide invaluable insights into the day-to-day realities faced by patients and frontline staff. Policymakers are often receptive to such narratives, which humanize statistical data. Moreover, attending public hearings and submitting testimony are practical ways for nurses to participate actively in legislative processes.

Conclusion

Addressing limited access to mental health services demands legislative action rooted in evidence-based advocacy. Nurses, as trusted healthcare professionals, have the responsibility and opportunity to influence policy changes that improve community health outcomes. Through strategic advocacy initiatives, including policy proposals, community engagement, and professional organization collaborations, nurses can drive meaningful reform in mental health care access.

References

• Johnson, M., & Lee, S. (2021). Telehealth policy expansion during COVID-19: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Healthcare Policy, 15(3), 45-56.
• Roberts, K., Edwards, T., & Smith, J. (2022). Overcoming barriers to mental health care: Policy implications for underserved communities. Public Health Reports, 137(2), 210-220.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2023). State mental health strategies: Access and funding. SAMHSA Reports.