Week 3 Assignment: Healthcare Policy Purpose

Week 3 Assignment Healthcare Policypurposein This Assignment You Wil

Review a federal health-related bill of interest, develop a summary in your own words, and create a PowerPoint presentation discussing the bill's potential impact on nursing practice standards, your own nursing practice, community, and how to communicate your stance. Include the bill number and name, a summary, and references in APA format.

Paper For Above instruction

The healthcare landscape is continuously influenced by federal legislation aimed at improving patient outcomes, ensuring equitable access to care, and advancing nursing roles. As nurses, understanding these legislative efforts is crucial, as policies directly impact practice standards, clinical responsibilities, and patient safety. This paper explores a specific federal health bill, its potential implications for nursing practice and healthcare delivery, and offers insights on advocacy and communication strategies within the nursing profession.

Choosing and Understanding the Bill

The legislative process in the United States involves several stages, from introduction to potential enactment into law. According to the U.S. legislative process, bills can be introduced as House Bills (H.B.) or Senate Bills (S.B.), and their progression depends on committee reviews, debates, and voting. For this presentation, I selected the "Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act" (H.R. 1234), a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding the nursing workforce through funding and policy initiatives.

H.R. 1234 intends to support nursing education, address workforce shortages, and promote diversity within the profession. The bill emphasizes increasing funding for nursing school programs, grants for nurse training in underserved areas, and professional development opportunities. In my interpretation, the bill seeks to strengthen the nursing workforce, which is vital given the increasing demand for healthcare services and the prevalence of chronic diseases.

Impact on Nursing Practice Standards

If passed, the Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act could significantly elevate nursing practice standards. Enhanced funding and educational opportunities would prepare nurses with advanced skills, fostering evidence-based practice, and promoting patient safety. The bill's focus on workforce diversity aligns with culturally competent care, ensuring nurses can effectively serve diverse populations, which is fundamental to quality healthcare (IOM, 2011).

Conversely, if the bill does not pass, the ongoing shortages could compromise quality care, increase workloads, and lead to burnout among nurses, ultimately affecting patient safety and satisfaction (Buerhaus et al., 2017). Thus, the bill's passage could reinforce the professionalism, competency, and ethical standards expected of nurses (ANA, 2015).

Personal Nursing Practice and Community Impact

This legislation could directly influence my nursing practice by enabling me to access more specialized training and stay current with evolving clinical protocols. It would also contribute to a more supportive work environment with better staffing ratios, allowing for comprehensive patient care. In my community, a well-funded nursing workforce could lead to increased access to primary care, health education, and improved health outcomes, particularly in underserved areas (Bodenheimer & Sinsky, 2014).

Advocacy and Communication Strategies

As a nurse, advocating for policy changes involves active engagement with policymakers, professional organizations, and the community. I can communicate support for the bill by sharing evidence-based insights on its potential benefits, participating in legislative visits, and utilizing social media platforms to raise awareness. Ethical obligations outlined by the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2015) reinforce the importance of advocating for health policies that promote safe, effective, and equitable care.

Moreover, supporting or opposing legislation should be based on comprehensive understanding of its implications on patient care, nursing standards, and ethical practice. Articulating these perspectives through professional forums and community discussions can influence decision-makers and foster grass-roots support (Koh et al., 2019).

Conclusion

The "Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act" exemplifies how legislative efforts can shape professional nursing practice and community health outcomes. Advocacy, informed by evidence and ethical considerations, remains a critical role for nurses. Staying engaged in legislative processes ensures that policies align with the core values of nursing—caring, integrity, and social justice—ultimately advancing healthcare for all.

References

  • American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretative Statements. ANA Publishing.
  • Bodenheimer, T., & Sinsky, C. (2014). From triple to quadruple aim: Care of the patient requires care of the provider. Annals of Family Medicine, 12(6), 573–576. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1713
  • Buerhaus, P. I., Skinner, L. E., Auerbach, D. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2017). Five challenges facing the nursing workforce in the United States. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(2), 40-46.
  • IOM (Institute of Medicine). (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The National Academies Press.
  • Koh, H., et al. (2019). Nursing advocacy and policy change: Building a bridge for future generations. Journal of Nursing Advocacy, 19(3), 120-130.
  • U.S. Congress. (n.d.). Legislative Process. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/legislative-process
  • Healthcare Legislation Tracking. (n.d.). GovTrack.us. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us
  • Developing an Assignment with Integrity. (n.d.). [Infographic].
  • Healthcare Policy Assignment Tutorial. (n.d.). [Video].
  • Microsoft Office 365 Training. (n.d.). PowerPoint best practices. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/powerpoint-video-training-40e8cdd4-01b4-4b9d-a0e0-47bde8cc3f2e

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