Benchmark – Epidemiology Paper
Assignment: Benchmark – Epidemiology Paper The purpose of this assignment is to discuss concepts of epidemiology and apply nursing theories and research to a communicable disease. Refer to “Communicable Disease Chain,” “Chain of Infection,” and the CDC websites, all located in the topic Resources, for assistance when completing this assignment. Choose a communicable disease topic from the resources mentioned above or select one from the list below: Chickenpox Tuberculosis Influenza Hepatitis B HIV/AIDS STIs (HPV, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis) Ebola Measles Polio Foodborne illnesses (E. coli, salmonella, listeria, hepatitis A) Hepatitis C SARS-CoV-2 Monkeypox Dengue Botulism Norovirus CA-MRSA In a 1,000-1,250-word paper, apply the concepts of epidemiology and nursing to research a communicable disease. Address the following: Provide an overview of the chosen communicable disease with emphasis on mode of transmission and demographic of interest, including whether or not the disease selected is reportable. Apply the epidemiologic triangle as it relates to the communicable disease selected. Include the host factors, agent factors (presence or absence), and environmental factors. Describe the role of the community health nurse in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention through tasks such as case finding and contact tracing, reporting, data collection, analysis, and follow-up. Identify at least one national patient safety resource or initiative that addresses the communicable disease chosen and describe how the resource or initiative contribute to resolving or reducing the impact of disease at the point of care. Discuss a global implication of the disease. How is this addressed in other countries or cultures? Identify changes in conditions that might indicate a public health emergency related to this communicable disease. Cite a minimum of three peer-reviewed or professional references (e.g., professional health organizations like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], World Health Organization [WHO], Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]). Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines 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. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Resources if you need assistance. Benchmark Information This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies: RN-BSN 3.6: Advance preparedness to protect population health during disasters and public health emergencies. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 1.1, 3.4, 3.6, 5.2, and 6.1 Expert Answer: Epidemiology of Measles Measles, an acute viral respiratory illness, remains one of the most contagious communicable diseases globally. Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, measles continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource settings (Bankamp et al., 2024). The disease spreads rapidly in unvaccinated populations, with an alarming potential to cause outbreaks in under-immunized communities. Understanding the transmission dynamics, factors involved in the epidemiologic triangle, and the role of community health nurses in the prevention and control of measles is critical to mitigating its impact. This paper explores measles in terms of transmission, prevention strategies, and epidemiological management, while also examining global implications and public health efforts. Overview of Measles Measles is caused by the measles virus, a member of the Paramyxoviridae family (Nwalozie et al., 2023). It is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain viable in the air for up to two hours, making it highly contagious in crowded settings. Individuals without immunity, either through vaccination or previous infection, are at high risk of contracting the disease, especially in densely populated or low-vaccination areas (Sarawarastri, 2023). Measles is a reportable disease in many countries, including the United States, due to its significant public health risk and potential for rapid spread. The disease typically affects children, particularly those under five years old, although unvaccinated adults are also susceptible (Sarawarastri, 2023). Measles is of particular concern in low-income countries with weak healthcare systems, where vaccination coverage is low. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic maculopapular rash (Sarawarastri, 2023). Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, especially in malnourished children and individuals with weakened immune systems. The demographic of interest for measles includes children in resource-limited settings, though measles can impact anyone who is unvaccinated. Application of the Epidemiologic Triangle The epidemiologic triangle, a core concept in epidemiology can be used to help explain the dynamics of measles transmission. The triangle focuses on three components of host, agent, and environment. Host Factors In the case of measles, the host is the human population, particularly unvaccinated individuals, infants too young for vaccination, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Host factors such as age, nutritional status, and immune competence greatly influence susceptibility (John & Kompithra, 2023). For example, children under the age of five and those living in crowded, unhygienic environments are at the highest risk of infection and complications. Malnutrition, particularly vitamin A deficiency, increases the severity of measles, leading to higher mortality rates in affected populations. Agent Factors The agent is the measles virus, which is characterized by its ability to spread rapidly in susceptible populations. The absence of the virus in a community is usually due to high vaccination coverage. However, in areas where vaccination rates fall below the herd immunity threshold (approximately 95%), outbreaks can quickly occur (John & Kompithra, 2023). The measles virus is highly infectious, with a basic reproduction number (R0) of 12-18, meaning that one infected individual can spread the virus to 12-18 others in a susceptible population. Environmental Factors The environment plays a crucial role in measles transmission. Crowded living conditions, poor hygiene, and limited access to healthcare and vaccines create the ideal conditions for measles outbreaks. Environmental factors that contribute to outbreaks include urbanization, migration, and conflict, which disrupt healthcare services and reduce access to immunization programs (John & Kompithra, 2023). Additionally, seasonal variations also influence the spread of the disease. Role
Describe the ethnic minority group selected. Describe the current health status of this group. How do race and ethnicity influence health for this group?
Describe the ethnic minority group selected. Describe the current health status of this group. How do race and ethnicity influence health for this group? Select an ethnic minority group that is represented in the United States (American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander). Using health information available from Healthy People, the CDC, and other relevant government websites, analyze the health status for this group. In a paper of 1000-1250 words, compare and contrast the health status of your selected minority group to the national average. Include the following: Describe the ethnic minority group selected. Describe the current health status of this group. How do race and ethnicity influence health for this group? What are the health disparities that exist for this group? What are the nutritional challenges for this group? Discuss the barriers to health for this group resulting from culture, socioeconomics, education, and sociopolitical factors. What health promotion activities are often practiced by this group? Describe at least one approach using the three levels of health promotion prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) that is likely to be the most effective in a care plan given the unique needs of the minority group you have selected. Provide an explanation of why it might be the most effective choice. What cultural beliefs or practices must be considered when creating a care plan? What cultural theory or model would be best to support culturally competent health promotion for this population? Why? Cite at least three peer-reviewed or scholarly sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and public health content. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines 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. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Resources if you need assistance. Expert Answer and Explanation Health Disparity in Arizona’s American Indian Population The unequal nature of the United States (U.S.) as a country is noticeable in the country’s social problems including the health gap, and this gap takes on different forms. The rates of mortality incidences, for instance, differ across the country’s minority and non-minority populations. The former tends to experience higher rates compared to the latter, and one can attribute this to a wide spectrum of factors including the low social and economic empowerment opportunities in minority communities. However, the degree of the health disparity for a state may differ from that of the entire country, and one can notice this when comparing Arizona’s health gap rates to the country’s rates (Isaac et al., 2018). It is important to examine the health of American Indian Population in Arizona in terms of disparities, the barriers, promotion activities, and cultural considerations. Profile of the Minority Group Each U.S. state is diverse, and this is a case with Arizona which has white as well as minority populations including the Native Americans. Compared to other minorities including Hispanics, however, the American Indians are fewer. A high population of this minority population is found in Arizona, California and Oklahoma. These states host 31% of the country’s American Indian population. Based on the statistical data, this group consists of 1.7% of the U.S. population. 1.6 million Teenage Americans who are part of this group are below the adult age. Arizona recognize this group as part of the state’s tribes. This group speak different native languages ranging from the Ponca to Sioux. This together with the education-based barriers can be impediments to access to the care for this group. Currently, the state has a number of American Indian tribes (Liddell et al., 2018). Examples include the Navajo, Hopi and Apache. Most of these tribes engage in spiritual and cultural activities which sometimes may contradict practices of the modern medicine. The Health Gap for the Minority The American Indians face health concerns which other minority groups struggle with. This group is socially and economically disadvantaged. The mortality rates for this population exceeds that of the U.S. by approximately 40%. One can attribute this to the high rates of mortality for this group to the prevalence of the cases of chronic diseases in this group. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) prepares and publishes reports on health, and according to this agency, the life expectancy for this group is below the national level (Adakai et al., 2018). Equally, the quality of life for this group in Arizona is low compared to the national average. Individuals who are part of this group in the state of Arizona are likely to adopt poor nutritional health behaviors compared to the national population. For example, the rates of consumption of the sweetened beverages for this group reached 33%. Averagely, 28% of Americans use sweetened products. Health Barriers for the Minority People who identify as American Indians face various health obstacles which take on different forms. From the cultural perspective, the American Indians have an intrinsic view concerning the relationship between spirituality and health. For example, they would attach certain cultural meanings to the mental health issues, and this may cause a scenario where they do not seek medical care but rather resort to spiritual intervention. This population is socially and economically disadvantaged, and there are high rates of unemployment among members of this group. Equally, the group struggles with high rates of illiteracy (Wille et al., 2017). Due to these social and economic barriers, Native Americans residing in Arizona are struggling with access to care, and because of lack of education, some may not get to learn about the appropriate health behaviors. Equally, there is low political representation for this group, and this poses the problem of lack of advocacy for this group. Health Promotion Activities Native Americans’ health practices intertwine with their spiritual and cultural practices, and
Post a description of your views on whether or not digital inclusion or broad band access should be added as a key area to the social determinants of health
Post a description of your views on whether or not digital inclusion or broad band access should be added as a key area to the social determinants of health Post a description of your views on whether or not digital inclusion or broad band access should be added as a key area to the social determinants of health. Be specific and provide examples that support your position. Explain how electronic health records, mobile health, patient portals, or telemedicine can impact and be impacted by the social determinants of health. Support your explanation with the required or optional resources. Expert Answer Digital Access as Social Determinants of Health The evolution of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) concept reflects the shift in population health needs, and the recognition of the role access to information plays in terms of supplementing preventive care. Unfortunately, only a segment of the world’s population has access to devices of communication, limiting their access to meaningful health information (Benda et al., 2020). This has in turn led to disparity in population health outcomes. However, the inclusion of digital access into the SDOH is contested, with proponents of this idea citing the lack of adequate evidence that shows its actual impact on hampering or facilitating health access. Analysis of the Need for Digital Inclusion in Social Determinants of Health The inclusion of the broadband or digital access as one of the SDOH is crucial because it will compel the individuals tasked with addressing the SDOH to focus on empowering and supporting populations to access health services using the contemporary healthcare technologies. Currently, some of these technologies supplement the traditional care, allowing patients to access health services delivered virtually. For instance, a patient discharge from the hospital may have virtual consultation with their provider, providing them with the opportunity to receive new recommendations on how to manage their health. Including access to the digital technologies into SDOH is equally critical in the sense that it supports the preparation of the populations for a potential disaster (Sieck, et al., 2021). This implies that it helps address the disadvantages tied to the divide in access to pertinent information during public health emergencies. A recent study showed that digital exclusion was associated with higher incidences of Covid-19, with digitally excluded counties recording higher rates of Covid-19 including Covid-19-based mortality compared to counties with established digital infrastructure (Li, 2022). The results of this study highlight the need to expand access to digital technologies, which essentially sustains access to information. Impact of the Social Determinants of Health on EHRs, Mobile Health, Patient Portals or Telemedicine and Vice Versa The usefulness or the impact of the digital technologies on population health depends on education and income, which are some of the SDOH. For one to benefit from these technologies, for instance, they have to be literate and computer literate because ability to read is a prerequisite for successful or effective interaction with communication devices. Conversely, the informatics technologies impact the SDOH in the sense that it addresses the impediments tied to the individuals’ income status. The lack of transport to health facilities, and living in underserved communities are some of the disadvantages that people from low-income families are likely to experience. Additionally, lack of adequate funds may limit individuals from purchasing mobile health devices like wearable devices that take vital data like blood pressure. If patients have access to digital technologies, they would less likely to worry about missing out on essential health services delivered virtually (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022). Conclusion Reflecting on how access to or lack of access to digital technologies is impacting the delivery of health services, there is need to adopt it as one of the social factors that determine health outcomes among populations. Digital access is tied to other SDOH, and it is imperative that it is considered as a SDOH because it affects other determinants. This implies that even if the other SDOH were to be addressed, divide in access to digital technologies may exacerbate the disparity in access to health services. References Benda, N. C., Veinot, T. C., Sieck, C. J., & Ancker, J. S. (2020). Broadband Internet Access is a Social Determinant of Health!. American Journal of Public Health, 110(8), 1123-1125. Https://Doi.Org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305784. Li, F. (2022). Disconnected in A Pandemic: COVID-19 Outcomes and The Digital Divide in the United States. Health & Place, 77, 102867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102867. Mcgonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge (5th Ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Sieck, C. J., Sheon, A., Ancker, J. S., Castek, J., Callahan, B., & Siefer, A. (2021). Digital Inclusion as A Social Determinant Of Health. NPJ Digital Medicine, 4(1), 52. Https://Doi.Org/10.1038/S41746-021-00413-8. Place your order now for a similar assignment and get fast, cheap and best quality work written by our expert level assignment writers.Use Coupon: NEW30 to Get 30% OFF Your First Order Social Determinants of Health When we talk about health, it’s not just about our physical well-being or the absence of illness. It’s a complex interplay of various factors that influence our overall quality of life. These factors are what we refer to as determinants of health, and among them, the social determinants of health (SDoH) play a particularly significant role. In this article, we will delve into the world of determinants of health, with a specific focus on the social determinants of health and the impact they have on our well-being. Understanding Determinants of Health Determinants of health are the wide array of factors that affect our physical, mental, and social well-being. They encompass everything from our access to healthcare services to our lifestyle choices. These determinants can be categorized into two broad categories: social determinants and health determinants. Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Social determinants of health (SDoH) refer to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These conditions are shaped by various socioeconomic and environmental factors and have a profound influence on our health. SDoH encompass a wide range of elements, including: Economic Stability: Our income, employment status, and economic opportunities
Examine changes introduced to reform or restructure the U.S. health care delivery system. In a 1,000-1,250 word paper
Examine changes introduced to reform or restructure the U.S. health care delivery system Examine changes introduced to reform or restructure the U.S. health care delivery system. In a 1,000-1,250 word paper, discuss action taken for reform and restructuring and the role of the nurse within this changing environment. Include the following: Outline a current or emerging health care law or federal regulation introduced within the last 5 years to reform or restructure some aspect of the health care delivery system. Describe the effect of this on nursing practice and the nurse’s role and responsibility. Discuss how quality measures and pay for performance affect patient outcomes. Explain how these affect nursing practice and describe the expectations and responsibilities of the nursing role in these situations. Discuss professional nursing leadership and management roles that have arisen and how they are important in responding to emerging trends and in the promotion of patient safety and quality care in diverse health care settings. Research emerging trends. Predict two ways in which the practice of nursing and nursing roles will grow or transform within the next five years in response to upcoming trends or predicted issues in health care. You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines 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. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance. Expert Answer and Explanation Trends and Issues in Healthcare Today The US healthcare system has undergone tremendous reforms since it was developed. Some of the laws that have been passed to improve US healthcare include the Affordable Care Act of 2010, HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid, and many more. These laws have improved the healthcare system and made the role of nurses clear. The purpose of this assignment is to discuss action taken for reform and restructuring and the role of the nurse within this changing environment. Current Law The US Congress has passed many laws regarding the US healthcare system. One such law is the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act of 2019. The law expands and reauthorizes the provisions introduced first in the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (Congress.Gov, 2019). The Autism CARES Act ensures support for prevalence tracking, services, research, and other government activities in the improvement of care among people with autism. The law increases yearly authorized federal spending on autism activities to $369.7 million through 2024. The law aims to improve the entire lifespan of people with autism spectrum (Congress.Gov, 2019). This law was enacted to restructure healthcare delivery among people with autism. It aimed to improve the quality of care provided to patients with autism. The Autism CARES Act will affect nursing practice by promoting evidence-based care when dealing with people with autism. The law provides support for prevalence tracking and research regarding autism services (Congress.Gov, 2019). It affects nursing practice by promoting evidence-based practice and high-quality care services in the treatment of patients with autism. The role of nurses based on the law is to engage in research activities that aim to improve the quality of life of people with autism. The responsibility of nurses is to ensure that people with autism receive care that is supported by research and evidence-based. Nurses are also responsible for ensuring that the added funds are used as intended. The law will also affect nursing practice by supporting the inclusion of knowledge about autism in nursing education. Impact of Quality Measures and Pay-for-Performance on Patient Outcomes Quality measures are significant, especially in nursing practice. For a healthcare service to be of high quality, it should be patient-centred, safe, effective, timely, and equitable (Zarowitz et al., 2018). Quality measures affect patient outcomes by identifying what to be done to improve patient outcomes and provide high-quality care. One of the patient outcomes is patient experience. The nurse can improve the patient experience by providing safe, effective, and timely care. In summary, quality measures affect patient outcomes by providing ways for how nurses can achieve these outcomes. pay-for performance, also known as performance-related pay is a care delivery system where healthcare professionals are paid based on their performance. This delivery system affects patient outcomes by ensuring that healthcare professionals achieve what patients envision from the treatment plan (Kyeremanteng et al., 2019). Pay-for-performance ensure that patients get value for their services. Quality measures and pay-for-performance affect nursing practice by directing how nurses should conduct their duties. The role of nurses in these situations is to ensure that patients achieve the best and high-quality care. Nurses also have the role of working together with other healthcare professionals and patients to provide the best care. For instance, nurses need to work with patients in developing a care plan that fits their needs of the patient. Nursing Leadership and Management Roles Nursing management and leadership are vital in nursing practice. New professional nursing management and leadership roles have emerged to respond to emerging trends in promoting patient quality and safe care in diverse healthcare settings. One such role is education and training. Nurse leaders and managers have the role to educate junior nurses and training them about emerging issues in nursing. Nurses need requisite knowledge to handle emerging trends in healthcare such as covid-19 pandemic and other problems. As such, the role of education is vital in ensuring that nurse knowledge to implement emerging trends (Noh et al., 2020). The second role is policy development. Nurse managers and leaders also have the role to develop and implement policies that support emerging trends. One of the emerging trends is the use of electronic health records to manage patient data. Nurse managers and leaders have
Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous
Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: It may seem to you that healthcare has been a national topic of debate among political leaders for as long as you can remember. Healthcare has been a policy item and a topic of debate not only in recent times but as far back as the administration of the second U.S. president, John Adams. In 1798, Adams signed legislation requiring that 20 cents per month of a sailor’s paycheck be set aside for covering their medical bills. This represented the first major piece of U.S. healthcare legislation, and the topic of healthcare has been woven into presidential agendas and political debate ever since. As a healthcare professional, you may be called upon to provide expertise, guidance and/or opinions on healthcare matters as they are debated for inclusion into new policy. You may also be involved in planning new organizational policy and responses to changes in legislation. For all of these reasons you should be prepared to speak to national healthcare issues making the news. In this Assignment you will analyze recent presidential healthcare agendas. You also will prepare a fact sheet to communicate the importance of a healthcare issue and the impact on this issue of recent or proposed policy. To Prepare: Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations. Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by each of the last three U.S. presidential administrations. Reflect on the focus of their respective agendas, including the allocation of financial resources for addressing the healthcare issue you selected. Consider how you would communicate the importance of a healthcare issue to a legislator/policymaker or a member of their staff for inclusion on an agenda. The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page Fact Sheet) Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations and their agendas related to the public health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following: Identify and provide a brief description of the population health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it. Describe the administrative agenda focus related to the issue you selected. Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue. Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue. Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid on the template, complete the Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis portion of the template, by addressing the following: Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected? How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there? Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents? Part 3: Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page narrative that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. Be sure to address the following: Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation. Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues. Expert Answer and Explanation Agenda Comparison Grid Assignment Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid Identify the Population Health concern you selected. Opioid Crisis The Population Health concern. According to statistics by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, over 50,000 people died from opioid overdose in 2019. Similarly, the same statistics indicate that close to $80 billion is spent on dealing with issues associated with opioid addiction including, loss of productivity, rehabilitation, involvement with the criminal activities to list a few. Over the years, different presidents established different approaches to tackle opioid issue, with each approach eliciting different reactions. This paper will compare former President Obama and President Trump’s policy stand on the opioid crisis. Administration (President Name) President Barrack Obama President Donald Trump How each of the two presidential administrations approached the issue. During President Obama’s tenure as president, he raised the level of sensitization on how serious the opioid crisis is and the impact on the American community. He made all stakeholders, especially the legislative wing of the government to start recognizing the intensity of the problem. However, it was until the final days of his term that the Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which among other things increased the state funding channeled towards response against the opioid crisis (Barlas, 2017). During President Trump’s tenure, he established opioid crisis as both a security and a health issue. He was quite vocal on recognizing the fact that opioid crisis is a matter of national concern joining gun violence as part of the leading causes death in the US. To help curb the issue, president trump passed into law the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, also known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which among other things helped to increase the federal funding on evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder. President Trump also declared the opioid crisis as a national crisis in 2018, making him the first president to do so (The White House, n.d.). Allocations of resources After the implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act, over one billion dollars was allocated by the federal government towards collaborative efforts with states and other agencies in dealing with the opioid crisis (Office of the Press Secretary, 2016). President Trump’s administration in 2018 through congress, passed a budget of $13 billion to be spread across two financial periods. This allocation
Clearly diagnosis is a critical aspect of healthcare. However, the ultimate purpose of a diagnosis is the development and application of a series of treatments or protocols
Assignment: Workplace Environment Assessment Clearly diagnosis is a critical aspect of healthcare. However, the ultimate purpose of a diagnosis is the development and application of a series of treatments or protocols. Isolated recognition of a health issue does little to resolve it. In this modules Discussion you applied the Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory to diagnose potential problems with the civility of your organization. In this Portfolio Assignment, you will continue to analyze the results and apply published research to the development of a proposed treatment for any issues uncovered by the assessment. To Prepare: Review the Resources and examine the Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory, found on page 20 of Clark (2015). Review the Work Environment Assessment Template. Reflect on the output of your Discussion post regarding your evaluation of workplace civility and the feedback received from colleagues. Select and review one or more of the following articles found in the Resources: Clark, Olender, Cardoni, and Kenski (2011) Clark (2018) Clark (2015) Griffin and Clark (2014) The Assignment (3-6 pages total): Part 1: Work Environment Assessment (1-2 pages) Review the Work Environment Assessment Template you completed for this Module’s Discussion. Describe the results of the Work Environment Assessment you completed on your workplace. Identify two things that surprised you about the results and one idea you believed prior to conducting the Assessment that was confirmed. Explain what the results of the Assessment suggest about the health and civility of your workplace. Part 2: Reviewing the Literature (1-2 pages) Briefly describe the theory or concept presented in the article(s) you selected. Explain how the theory or concept presented in the article(s) relates to the results of your Work Environment Assessment. Explain how your organization could apply the theory highlighted in your selected article(s) to improve organizational health and/or create stronger work teams. Be specific and provide examples. Part 3: Evidence-Based Strategies to Create High-Performance Interprofessional Teams (1–2 pages) Recommend at least two strategies, supported in the literature, that can be implemented to address any shortcomings revealed in your Work Environment Assessment. Recommend at least two strategies that can be implemented to bolster successful practices revealed in your Work Environment Assessment. Expert Answer and Explanation Work Environment Assessment Summary of Results – Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory From the Clarks healthy workplace inventory, the results indicated that my workplace is very healthy with a score of 81 according to the inventory ratings (Clark, 2015). Some of the key features that ranked highly included appreciation of collective achievement, teamwork and collaboration, fair and respectful treatment of employees to list a few. The attributes that seemed lacking according to the inventory were improvement of organization culture, a comprehensive mentoring program for all employees, and allocation of adequate resources for professional growth and development. The results from the inventory had most of the items reviewed in the 4 scores (somewhat true). Identify two things that surprised you about the results. Also, identify one idea that you believed prior to conducting the Assessment that was confirmed. Before taking the inventory, I was quite sure that my workplace environment was quite healthy but on carrying out the inventory, I found it surprising that some key areas were seemingly lacking which I never considered in my earlier assumption. I also found it surprising that. I was also surprised to find several key areas that could be improved from an organizational standpoint that I would have otherwise overlooked, which are essential in the development of a healthy work environment. what might seemingly seem as a flawless workplace environment may actually have some areas that stain the health of the workplace environment. However, the results confirmed my belief in the health status of my workplace environment which I considered as being favorable. What do the results of the Assessment suggest about the health and civility of your workplace? The results indicate that the environment I work in is quite favorable and civil but with some room for improvement. It also shows that the civility experienced is a result of mutual respect for one another and the organizational policies in place that do not tolerate incivility Briefly describe the theory or concept presented in the article(s) you selected. Explain how the theory or concept presented in the article(s) relates to the results of your Work Environment Assessment. The theory highlighted in an article by Clark (2015) highlights the aspect of encouraging open communication and conversations within the workplace as a way of developing a healthy and civil environment. The article reiterates that many nurses often fail to engage with uncivil colleagues at times when candid conversations are needed. Others often fail to express their concern of incivility especially when expressed by someone with a higher authority, and such cases at times can prove detrimental to patient outcomes. Therefore, the article provides different models that can be used to promote such candid conversations in a civil and respectful manner and one such model is the DESC model. This model focuses on describing the situation, explaining the concerns, stating the available alternative solutions and indicating the consequences. The model facilitates nurse engagement in a professional and civil manner. The theory focuses on the aspect of collaboration and respectful interprofessional engagement. These are some of the features which I considered to be strongly embraced in my workplace. Having a workplace culture that embraces high collaboration between teams requires employees to constantly engage with one another, even amidst their disagreements (Marshall & Broome, 2017). Such a workplace goes in accordance with the article’s view on the importance of healthy and respectful conversations in promoting a civil and safe workplace environment Explain how your organization could apply the theory highlighted in your selected article(s) to improve organizational health and/or create stronger work teams. Be specific and provide examples. The organization can use the DESC model to solve differences in opinions on the best patient interventions that will improve their outcomes or improve the organizational processes. For example, the model can be applied when considering the right therapy
Post an explanation of how competing needs, such as the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients, may impact the development of policy
Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues Post an explanation of how competing needs, such as the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients, may impact the development of policy. Then, describe any specific competing needs that may impact the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected. What are the impacts, and how might policy address these competing needs? Be specific and provide examples. Sample Expert Answer When developing a policy at any level, it is crucial to understand how the policy may affect other aspects of care delivery. This brings the importance of balancing the different competing needs to ensure that an optimal balance, especially in managing stakeholder interest, is achieved. An example is the need to increase the workforce within the healthcare sector. This may necessitate policymakers to weigh the staffing needs alongside the increased operational costs that come with employing the extra personnel. Nonetheless, the impact on care quality, patient safety, and staff wellbeing may justify the cost (Kirk, 2024). The same goes for policies that focus on resource allocation. For example, while hospitals were demanding increased investment in technology during COVID-19, the government, through its policies, had to ensure that they prioritize the resources based on the need at that time, like investing in safety gear for the frontline personnel. Therefore, competing needs may alter how policies are formulated, with high priority needs, or those that have the highest benefits, or even those that justify a certain political agenda being given higher priority (Evans, 2025). This may alter how policymakers or even nurse advocates or lobbyists approach their stakeholder engagement during the policy-making process. My healthcare stressor was inadequate staffing, an issue that has several competing needs. One of the needs is inadequate resources, which makes it a challenge to provide sustainable solutions that can fully address the stressor. Employing more nurses requires financial resources, which the government only has in finite quantities. This means that the policies made, especially in resource allocation to address the problem, can only be made to a certain extent. Additionally, the need for high-quality patient care significantly impacts nurse staffing in healthcare organizations (Alkhameeas et al., 2024). High nurse-to-patient ratios are needed for quality care, which requires investment in human capital. The impact of nurse shortages is well documented, some of which include high rates of burnout, increased errors, and lower job satisfaction (Getie et al., 2025). Policies may help address these competing needs by necessitating organizations to have a minimum staffing level that matches their patient capacities. An example of such is California’s nurse-to-patient ratio law, which improves care quality while addressing workforce needs. References Alkhameeas, A. A., Madani, Y. A., Aldailej, S. A., Alsada, F. A., Alotaibi, D. M., Albahooth, M. B., & Al Mutairi, H. S. (2024). The impact of nurse staffing on patient outcomes: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 6(231491), 1–15. Evans, A. C. Jr. (2025). How APA is responding to the rapidly changing policy landscape. Monitor on Psychology, 56(4). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/06/navigating-changing-policy-landscapeLinks to an external site. Getie, A., Ayenew, T., Amlak, B. T., Gedfew, M., Edmealem, A., & Kebede, W. M. (2025). Global prevalence and contributing factors of nurse burnout: An umbrella review of systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nursing, 24, Article 596. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03266-8Links to an external site. Kirk, K. (2024). Time for a rebalance: Psychological and emotional well-being in the healthcare workforce as the foundation for patient safety. BMJ Quality & Safety, 33(8), 483–490. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2024-017236Links to an external site. Alternative Sample Answer Impact of Competing Needs on Policy Development Workforce Needs: Nurses’ wellbeing depends on the number of hours they work per shift considering that prolonged work shift hours results to burnout which is associated with undesirable patient care outcomes like the spike in rates of medical errors. A policy that is meant to provide flexible work schedule, while requiring nurses to work for 12 hours can cause emotional and physical exhaustion, increasing the risk of clinical errors and loss of motivation in one’s work (Gu et al., 2023). This may play out in a scenario in which a nurse misses entering crucial information into the EMRs system during the implementation of a policy that requires nurses to work for longer hours. Resource Constraints: Resource-based issues like the lack of adequate funds may complicate balancing between recruiting enough staff and adopting a new healthcare system that enhances the delivery of care. If an organization invests on such a system, it is left with limited financial resources to fund recruitment of the required nurse population. Clinical Intervention Standards: If a policy mandates providers to meet a specific level of quality standard, nurses may struggle meeting these standards especially with high patient volumes. An example is a policy on value-based care that penalizes or rewards providers depending on health outcomes (Teisberg, Wallace, & O’Hara, 2020). The Selected Competing Needs and their Impact on National Healthcare Issue As a stressor, burnout can be affected by the limited availability of the resources. The lack of funds to recruit new nurses coupled with the lack of availability of nursing staff can exacerbate the burnout problem because the existing nursing population is compelled to work for longer hours. This may lead to undesirable events like the increase in rates of readmissions, and higher incidences of medical errors (Dall’Ora et al., 2023). How Policy Addresses the Competing Needs Policy may require that nurses have short-breaks in between shifts as a means of managing work shifts to reduce burnout. The policy may also require increasing funds to help with training and hiring of nurses. Reference Dall’Ora, C., Ejebu, O. Z., Ball, J., & Griffiths, P. (2023). Shift work characteristics and burnout among nurses: cross-sectional survey. Occupational medicine (Oxford, England), 73(4), 199–204. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqad046. Gu, H., Lee, J., Hwang, Y., Kim, J., Lee, S., & Kim, S. J. (2023). Job burnout among workers with different shift regularity: interactive factors between sleep, depression, and work environment. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1131048. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1131048. Teisberg, E., Wallace, S., & O’Hara, S. (2020). Defining and Implementing Value-Based Health Care: A Strategic Framework. Academic
The Quadruple Aim provides broad categories of goals to pursue to maintain and improve healthcare. Within each goal are many issues that
Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue The Quadruple Aim provides broad categories of goals to pursue to maintain and improve healthcare. Within each goal are many issues that, if addressed successfully, may have a positive impact on outcomes. For example, healthcare leaders are being tasked to shift from an emphasis on disease management often provided in an acute care setting to health promotion and disease prevention delivered in primary care settings. Efforts in this area can have significant positive impacts by reducing the need for primary healthcare and by reducing the stress on the healthcare system. Changes in the industry only serve to stress what has always been true; namely, that the healthcare field has always faced significant challenges, and that goals to improve healthcare will always involve multiple stakeholders. This should not seem surprising given the circumstances. Indeed, when a growing population needs care, there are factors involved such as the demands of providing that care and the rising costs associated with healthcare. Generally, it is not surprising that the field of healthcare is an industry facing multifaceted issues that evolve over time. In this module’s Discussion, you reviewed some healthcare issues/stressors and selected one for further review. For this Assignment, you will consider in more detail the healthcare issue/stressor you selected. You will also review research that addresses the issue/stressor and write a white paper to your organization’s leadership that addresses the issue/stressor you selected. To Prepare: Review the national healthcare issues/stressors presented in the Resources and reflect on the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected for study. Reflect on the feedback you received from your colleagues on your Discussion post for the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected. Identify and review two additional scholarly resources (not included in the Resources for this module) that focus on change strategies implemented by healthcare organizations to address your selected national healthcare issue/stressor. The Assignment (2-3 Pages): Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Develop a 2 to 3 page paper, written to your organization’s leadership team, addressing your selected national healthcare issue/stressor and how it is impacting your work setting. Be sure to address the following: Describe the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected and its impact on your organization. Use organizational data to quantify the impact (if necessary, seek assistance from leadership or appropriate stakeholders in your organization). Provide a brief summary of the two articles you reviewed from outside resources on the national healthcare issue/stressor. Explain how the healthcare issue/stressor is being addressed in other organizations. Summarize the strategies used to address the organizational impact of national healthcare issues/stressors presented in the scholarly resources you selected. Explain how they may impact your organization both positively and negatively. Be specific and provide examples. Looking Ahead The paper you develop in Module 1 will be revisited and revised in Module 2. Review the Assignment instructions for Module 2 to prepare for your revised paper. Expert Answer and Explanation Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Inadequate nurse staffing has been a persistent challenge in the U.S. healthcare system, frequently highlighted in research and public policy discussions due to its link to burnout, poor patient outcomes, and increased healthcare costs (Gjellebæk et al., 2020). While various initiatives have been implemented, such as safe staffing legislation and recruitment incentives, many efforts remain insufficient or inconsistently applied across institutions. This inconsistency has exacerbated strain in healthcare environments, especially in high-acuity settings. The lack of sustainable, systemic change continues to impact nurse satisfaction and care quality (Carter & Busby, 2023). The purpose of this paper is to describe how inadequate nurse staffing affects healthcare organizations and examine strategies to address this issue. National Healthcare Issue Selected Inadequate nurse staffing remains a significant national healthcare issue that adversely affects patient care and organizational performance. Within our healthcare facility, persistent understaffing has resulted in elevated nurse-to-patient ratios. For example, some medical-surgical units report ratios of one nurse to seven patients during peak hours, which exceeds the American Nurses Association’s recommended standard of one nurse to four patients (Ansah et al., 2021). This imbalance contributes to increased levels of nurse burnout, absenteeism, and a rising turnover rate. In 2023, the registered nurse turnover rate within the organization reached 24 percent. Based on national benchmarks, this corresponds to an estimated financial loss of approximately $4.4 million annually due to recruitment, training, and onboarding costs (Oshodi & Sookhoo, 2023). Moreover, patient satisfaction metrics declined by 12 percent in the most affected units, indicating a direct correlation between staffing deficiencies and diminished quality of care. These outcomes underscore the urgent need for sustainable staffing interventions. Summary of Two Outside Resources The issue of inadequate nurse staffing is explored from two distinct perspectives in recent scholarly literature. Oshodi and Sookhoo (2024) did a systematic review to examine how nursing students see understaffing in clinical settings. Seven studies found that students did not get enough attention when there were too few staff members, their educational results suffered, and patients were at greater risk. Many students said they were often employed as workers instead of staff, which made them tired, reduced their chances to learn, and exposed them to unsafe ways of providing care. The review underlined that changes in staffing and better mentoring are required to help nursing education. A similar study by Ansah Ofei et al. (2021) looked at nurse managers’ staffing methods in hospitals across Ghana. Using this approach, the research found that ineffective staff scheduling is due to quick changes, high staff leaving, and unequal division of work. The problem was made worse by nurses being insufficiently prepared and not getting enough compensation, leading to their discontent and weaker patient care. These studies pointed out that there are major consequences of insufficient staff, such as burnout, less quality care, and education problems. Although Oshodi and Sookhoo urge policymakers to update rules for clinical learning, Ansah Ofei et al. calls for using data-based staffing models, mentorship schemes, and fair salaries. These strategies are part of the organization’s efforts to handle the problems of understaffed
[Solved] Post a description of the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected for analysis, and explain how the healthcare issue/stressor may
Post a description of the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected for analysis, and explain how the healthcare issue/stressor may impact your work setting If you were to ask 10 people what they believe to be the most significant issue facing healthcare today, you might get 10 different answers. Escalating costs? Regulation? Technology disruption? Social Determinant such as environment/community, education, access/quality to healthcare? These and many other topics are worthy of discussion. Not surprisingly, much has been said in the research, within the profession, and in the news about these topics. Whether they are issues of finance, quality, workload, or outcomes, there is no shortage of changes to be addressed. In this Discussion, you examine a national healthcare issue and consider how that issue may impact your work setting. You also analyze how your organization has responded to this issue. To Prepare: Review the Resources and select one current national healthcare issue/stressor to focus on. Reflect on the current national healthcare issue/stressor you selected and think about how this issue/stressor may be addressed in your work setting. By Day 3 of Week 1 Post a description of the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected for analysis, and explain how the healthcare issue/stressor may impact your work setting. Which social determinant(s) most affects this health issue? Then, describe how your health system work setting has responded to the healthcare issue/stressor, including a description of what changes may have been implemented. Be specific and provide examples. Expert Answer and Explanation National Healthcare issue/stressor One of the most critical national stressors that has remained so for some time is the shortage of healthcare providers. The U.S. healthcare system faces a critical shortage of healthcare workers, amidst the ever-growing demand for healthcare services with an increasing aging population (Wilensky, 2022). This demand cuts across most healthcare professions, including nurses, primary care physicians, and mental health professionals. Impact on Work Setting With the persisting shortage, the care provider workload continues to increase, leading to increased burnout, poor patient outcomes, and increased cost of care (Greco et al., 2022). From an organizational perspective, increased workloads could cause low staff satisfaction, increased staff turnover, increased litigation costs resulting from errors in care delivery, and other factors that worsen the situation. Social Determinant The major social determinant affecting this issue include access to education, which can result from various factors, including high tuition costs and disparities in educational opportunities for persons intending to pursue courses in healthcare-related fields, thus affecting the supply of qualified professionals. Another determinant could be the stressful work environments, including high rates of burnout and inadequate support systems, which lead to increased staff turnover rates (Nagle et al., 2024). Poor staffing levels and high patient-to-provider ratios exacerbate burnout, making healthcare, especially nursing, less attractive as a long-term career. Another aspect is geographical aspects, for example, the remoteness of a region, which makes it less attractive for healthcare workers to work there, coupled with fewer professional opportunities, lower salaries, and limited access to professional development. How My Health System Work Setting Has Responded to the Healthcare Issue/stressor In response to the shortage of nurses, my current healthcare facility has tried to implement innovative solutions to attract and retain staff. One of the approaches is to create competitive reimbursement programs that attract nurses to the network, for example, by using sign-on bonuses. Another approach is that they have tried to implement flexible shift options and mental health support programs to deal with burnout and support the mental wellness of the staff working for the network. One of the changes they may have to implement includes investing in assistive technology, other than electronic health records, to improve the efficiency of care delivery and reduce the workload that the staff experience on a day-to-day basis. For example, the use of robotics to facilitate patient mobility or the collection of vital signs, as documented by Mireles et al. (2023). Nonetheless, there is a need to continue engaging in a national dialogue involving all stakeholders on how best to address the persisting shortage of healthcare providers. References Greco, E., Graziano, E. A., Stella, G. P., Mastrodascio, M., & Cedrone, F. (2022). The impact of leadership on perceived work-related stress in healthcare facilities organisations. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 35(4), 734-748. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-07-2021-0201Links to an external site. Mireles, C., Sanchez, M., Cruz-Ortiz, D., Salgado, I., & Chairez, I. (2023). Home-care nursing controlled mobile robot with vital signal monitoring. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 61(399–420). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-022-02712-yLinks to an external site. Nagle, E., Griskevica, I., Rajevska, O., Ivanovs, A., Mihailova, S., & Skruzkalne, I. (2024). Factors affecting healthcare workers’ burnout and their conceptual models: A scoping review. BMC Psychology, 12, Article 637. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02130-9Links to an external site. Wilensky, G. R. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic and the US health care workforce. JAMA Health Forum, 3(1), e220001. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.0001 Alternative Expert Answer Description of the Issue My selected issue of analysis is the nursing shortage which is characterized by the lack of adequate nursing professionals, resulting to the difficulty meeting patients’ demand for nursing care. This issue is tied to various factors including the bulging population of seniors, which drives up demand considering the prevalence of chronic health disorders such as hypertension in this population. The United States’ nursing shortage issue is a concern because of its negative impacts (Costa & Friese, 2022). It particularly increases nurses’ workload, a problem seen in clinical settings understaffed with nurses. With nurses working intensively due to the high workload, they experience burnout, resulting to loss of motivation to work. This in turn causes the surge in cases of medical errors considering that emotional and physical exhaustion that occurs when nurses work for longer hours. Impact of the Issue The access to educational opportunities and the family income status are some of the social determinants of health that influence nursing shortage. The former is seen in underserved communities which have limited educational institutions or facilities that offer nursing training. Conversely, children from households that earn below the minimum wage may struggle with financing their education, resulting to poor educational outcomes for this group (Van Merode,
For this task you will write a paper on an existing organization with which you have had personal experience. The organization can be a business or a nonprofit, and you may represent any level of the organization
For this task you will write a paper on an existing organization with which you have had personal experience DCM2 — DCM2 Task 2: Organization and Leadership Evaluation Competencies 3018.1.1 : Practice of Management The graduate explains the theoretical bases, current knowledge, best practices, and trends related to the practice of management. 3018.1.2 : Theories of Leadership The graduate uses contemporary theories of leadership to develop personal leadership skills based on a personal leadership philosophy. 3018.1.3 : Sustaining Business Performance The graduate applies management and leadership theories for long-term global-business success. 3018.1.4 : Organizational Performance Methods The graduate analyzes appropriate methods to improve organizational performance. Introduction For this task you will write a paper on an existing organization with which you have had personal experience. The organization can be a business or a nonprofit, and you may represent any level of the organization (e.g., team, department, division, whole) in your analysis. You will first describe the chosen organization. Your description of the organization should convey personal experience, rather than information gained from secondhand sources or media coverage. You will then perform a SWOT analysis on that organization. Last, you will analyze that organization’s leadership. Note: Any information that would be considered confidential, proprietary, or personal in nature should not be included in the actual task submission to WGU. Do not include the actual names of people, suppliers, the organization(s), or other identifiable information. Fictional names should be used. Also, organization-specific data, including financial information, should not be included but should be addressed in a general fashion as appropriate. Work performed for clients and employers is their property and should not be used without written permission. Requirements Your submission must represent your original work and understanding of the course material. Most performance assessment submissions are automatically scanned through the WGU similarity checker. Students are strongly encouraged to wait for the similarity report to generate after uploading their work and then review it to ensure Academic Authenticity guidelines are met before submitting the file for evaluation. See Understanding Similarity Reports for more information. Grammarly Note: Professional Communication will be automatically assessed through Grammarly for Education in most performance assessments before a student submits work for evaluation. Students are strongly encouraged to review the Grammarly for Education feedback prior to submitting work for evaluation, as the overall submission will not pass without this aspect passing. See Use Grammarly for Education Effectively for more information. Microsoft Files Note: Write your paper in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) unless another Microsoft product, or pdf, is specified in the task directions. Tasks may not be submitted as cloud links, such as links to Google Docs, Google Slides, OneDrive, etc. All supporting documentation, such as screenshots and proof of experience, should be collected in a pdf file and submitted separately from the main file. For more information, please see Computer System and Technology Requirements. You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course. Write a paper (suggested length of 10–16 pages) by doing the following: A. Describe an existing organization with which you have had personal experience and its objective(s). 1. Describe three leadership practices of the current leader, other than yourself, in the existing organization. Note: Leadership practices are routine actions, behaviors, functions, and responsibilities that the current leader performs. 2. Discuss how the current leader has affected organizational culture. Note: You may represent any level of the chosen organization (e.g., team, department, division, whole) and the respective current leader in your description. B. Conduct a SWOT analysis evaluating the chosen organization by doing the following: 1. Evaluate two of the organization’s current strengths. 2. Evaluate two of the organization’s current weaknesses. 3. Evaluate two of the organization’s current unmet opportunities. 4. Evaluate two of the organization’s current unresolved threats. Note: The accepted model for a SWOT analysis defines strengths and weaknesses as internal to the organization, and opportunities and threats as external to the organization. C. Conduct a leadership evaluation of the current leader discussed in part A1, using one of the scholarly leadership theories below that is different from task 1, by doing the following: transformational leadership transactional leadership situational leadership participative leadership servant leadership behavioral leadership trait theory of leadership 1. Evaluate three strengths of the current leader, using the chosen scholarly leadership theory, including how each strength relates to the theory. Support the evaluation of the leader’s strengths with at least one scholarly source. 2. Evaluate three weaknesses of the current leader, using the chosen scholarly leadership theory, including how each weakness relates to the theory. Support the evaluation of the leader’s weaknesses with at least one scholarly source. 3. Recommend three actionable items to improve the effectiveness of the current leader, including how each actionable item relates to the chosen scholarly leadership theory. Support the recommendations of actionable items with at least one scholarly source. Note: The recommendations need to address the current leaders identified leadership weakness. Note: A scholarly source could be a reputable journal, a published book, or any source from a university faculty member or business leader. Scholarly sources also include any article or book in the online WGU library. D. Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. E. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission. File Restrictions File name may contain only letters, numbers, spaces, and these symbols: ! – _ . * ‘ ( ) File size limit: 200 MB File types allowed: doc, docx, rtf, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, odt, pdf, csv, txt, qt, mov, mpg, avi, mp3, wav, mp4, wma, flv, asf, mpeg, wmv, m4v, svg, tif, tiff, jpeg, jpg, gif, png, zip, rar, tar, 7z Expert Answer and Explanation DCM2: Organization and Leadership Evaluation Through the provision of skilled and compassionate care in the comfort of their own homes, Harmony Home Health & Hospice seeks to restore equilibrium and dignity to the lives of its patients. I have direct knowledge of the company’s service-oriented culture because to my personal interaction with it. Harmony Home Health & Hospice is thoroughly examined in this essay, which starts with an explanation of its goals, values, and organizational structure (Harmony Home Health & Hospice, 2025). After that, it provides a SWOT analysis to determine the opportunities, threats, and internal and external strengths and weaknesses. The study concludes with