Research legislation that has occurred within the last 5 years at the state or federal level as a result of nurse advocacy. Describe the legislation and what was accomplished
WEEK 4 DQ 1
Choose a legislator on the state or federal level who is also a nurse and discuss the importance of the legislator/nurse‘s role as advocate for improving health care delivery. What specific bills has the legislator/nurse sponsored or supported that have influenced health care.
WEEK 4 DQ 2
Research legislation that has occurred within the last 5 years at the state or federal level as a result of nurse advocacy. Describe the legislation and what was accomplished. What additional steps need to be taken to continue advocacy for this issue?
Advocacy Through Legislation
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.
DQ 1: Expert Answer and Explanation
Legislation Based on Advocacy
Nurse advocacy focuses on various aspects of care, including the issues related to quality care, affordable medication availability of resources, among many others. In conjunction with legislators, the healthcare system needs to ensure that essential laws are passed that resolve the issues and advocacies presented by the nurses. One of the legislations within the recent five years as a result of nurse advocacy is the H.R. 3-116th Congress (2019-2020), the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Cost Now Act (Bendix, 2019). The legislation focuses on the need to regulate and possibly lower the prices of prescription drugs to meet the affordability of the patients.
Be that has it may, the healthcare sector has an increasing demand for medication with the complexity of illness and comorbidity. This has resulted in a consequent increase in medication pricing, leading to an uproar by both the patients and the nurses who tend to their daily needs as they recover. The Act focuses on the mitigation of prices on essential medication for chronic illness such as insulin (Bendix, 2019). The legislation accomplished to offer subsidies to the essential medication and mitigated the pricing of other medical supplies and drugs.
Nurse advocacy is a continual process that requires constant evaluation and acting to facilitate the changes. Several additional steps need to be taken to ensure continued advocacy for this issue of drug pricing (Kang et al., 2019). For instance, there is a need to have oversight to correspond to pricing and market fluctuation. Additionally, the demand for medication also varies with changes in time. While the prices are subsidized, nurses need to ensure that there is a constant supply of the medication to meet the increasing demand. These measures are critical for the sector and improve the overall patient outcome and satisfaction.
References
Bendix, J. (2019). Healthcare policy in 2019: A look ahead. (2020). Retrieved 6 April 2020, from https://www.medicaleconomics.com/article/healthcare-policy-2019-look-ahead/page/0/2
Kang, S. Y., DiStefano, M. J., Socal, M. P., & Anderson, G. F. (2019). Using external reference pricing in Medicare Part D to reduce drug price differentials with other countries. Health Affairs, 38(5), 804-811.
DQ2: Expert Answer and Explanation
Nursing Advocacy Efforts in Massachusetts
The signing into law, the Massachusetts’ bill, H.4228, in 2014 marked an important event in the advocacy role of the nurses in the state. This bill would put limit to the number of patients a nursing professional has to work with in emergency units. This legislation enforces a 1:1 nurse to patient ratio where nurses work with new mothers and newborn babies, and a 1:4 provider to patient ratio in surgical units.
According to this bill, hospitals which violet this legislation would be liable to a fine of $25,000. This signing of this law was a result of persisted efforts partly influenced by the passage of a similar legislation in California in 2004 (Bill H.4228, 2014).
While this bill is linked to favorable patient care outcomes, Massachusetts’ voters recently, voted against this bill. California has experienced a decline in the number of the mortality incidences since a similar law came to effect. In Massachusetts, the idea of enactment of the bill has been contentious, and this manifested when Massachusetts’ public rejected it in 2018, just less than four years after the passing of the bill into law (Bill H.4228, 2014).
The Massachusetts’ nursing bodies such as the state’s American Nursing Association (ANA) wing can advance the advocacy objectives using key strategies. The nurse advocacy groups should target the public in the state, and select representatives who can act on the behalves of these groups to survey the opportunities as well as risks associated with the bill.
The collected information should guide training processes as well as activities focused on helping create and implement public awareness campaign (Wright & Jaffe, 2014). Accordingly, the public will become sensitized on the benefits associated with the improvement of the nurse to patient ratio.
References
Bill H.4228 (2014). An Act Relative to Patient Limits in All Hospital Intensive Care Units. Retrieved from https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/H4228.
Wright, A. C., & Jaffe, K. J. (2014). Six steps to successful child advocacy: Changing the world for children. Los Angeles : SAGE.
Assignment – Expert Answer and Explanation
Advocacy through Legislation
Advocacy Through Legislation
Identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity to be advocated through legislation. Research the issue and complete the sections below. For each topic that requires the listing of criteria, a minimum of two criteria should be identified and discussed. Add more rows as is appropriate for the topic/proposal.
| Problem In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues. | ||||||||||
| Nursing shortage is increasingly affecting the Texas healthcare sector in negative ways but there is till capacity for advocacy regarding is causes, impacts and implication on the patients. According to Cathy Rozmus Ph.D. who is currently the vice dean in charge of academic affairs at the Cizik School of Nursing, approximately 5 percent of the entire nursing workforce in Texas are 56 years or older. This high number of baby boomers is the leading cause for nursing shortage with the projection expected to increase the issue in the next ten years (Haddad, Annamaraju, & Toney-Butler, 2020). Similarly, the shortage of nurses is also attributed to the high number of patients who have access to quality care within the healthcare facilities. Since the adoption of the affordable car act on 2010, the high number of patients with access to healthcare services overwhelms the constant number of nurses and nursing institution. The IOM report offers key messages on the future of nursing and how the healthcare sector can improve the nurse patient ration to meet the demand. The main individuals affected by this problem are the nurses, the patients and the hospital the shortage will lead to poor quality services, nurse burnout due to excess work, and poor standards of operation. | ||||||||||
| Idea for Addressing Solution In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy. | ||||||||||
| The Institute of Medicine in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation led a committee that focused on the identification of nursing issues and consequent formulation of probable solutions. Based on the report, the future of nursing is faced with various changes that prompt the use and adoption of new measures to solve the high demand of care with the limited supply of nurses. One of the solutions to nursing shortage entails the transformation of the learning institutions to accommodate the changing dynamic of nursing by attracting more student to pursue a career in nursing. Nurses should also focus on attaining high academic prowess to sufficiently meet the demands of the sector either through knowledge or adept understanding of technology. Nurses can also be used as recruiters to recommend their peers who are qualified and would also be open to work with the organization and mitigate the shortage issue. While the nurses and he hospital can only determine a handful of measures, the government can also ensure that there are policies that mitigate the frustrations of acquiring licensing which is also an issue that prevents majority of people joining the nursing profession. | ||||||||||
| Research the Issue Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for addressing the problem (studies, research, and reports). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states. | ||||||||||
| Evidence 1 | The main evidence for the support of the idea is the legislation on National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act (S.846-114th Congress 2015-2016). The act is an amendment of the preexisting Public Health Act which is a requirement for the hospitals to provide their elaborate staffing ratios within each unit of nursing with regards to the patients (Congress, 2015). | |||||||||
| Evidence 2 | The second evidence is the report by the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with regards to the mitigation of nursing shortage using the recommended key messages (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine., 2016). The report offers a detailed analysis of the issue and determines the future of nursing regarding the required transformation and preparedness. | |||||||||
| Stakeholder Support Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support. | ||||||||||
| Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1 | Patients These stakeholders are the beneficiaries of healthcare services which means that shortages witnessed in the unit directly affects their progress. As a consequence, they could offer support for the proposed idea as it affects the overall outcome and leading a healthy life | |||||||||
| Stakeholder(s) Supporting 2 | Nurses The nurses would also be in support of the idea since the transformation of the learning institution will aid in more nurses joining the unit and lessening the burden and constant burnout. | |||||||||
| Stakeholder Opposition Discuss the stakeholders who would oppose the proposed idea. Explain why they would be in opposition and how you would prepare to debate or converse about these considerations. | ||||||||||
| Stakeholder(s) Opposed 1 | The learning Institution The main reason to the opposition is due to the high cost required to initiate the transformation. The resources, and professionals to offer educational services to the high number of nurses would require complete changes to the institution | |||||||||
| Stakeholder(s) Opposed 2 | Health care organization Meting the nurse-patient ratio is also expensive for the organization since some states have unrealistic requirements to the formulation. | |||||||||
| Financial Incentives/Costs In no more than 250 words, summarize the financial impact for the issue and the idea (added costs, cost savings, increased revenue, etc.). Provided support. | ||||||||||
| Transformation of the education is a critical asset for nurses but the financial implication int has may affect all the elements of functionality from cost to revenue to profits. However, improving the education sector has a positive impact on the healthcare system as a whole as it would help lessen the issue of nursing shortage and consequently mitigate medical errors and patient readmissions. The mitigation measures mitigate unnecessary healthcare spending and possible law suits. On the other hand, the healthcare sector also has to finance the new hires through seminars, trainings and staying at par with technology. In the long run, the facility can be able to offer quality care with high skilled nurses and increase their revenue and cost savings. | ||||||||||
| Legislature: Information Needed and Process for Proposal Discuss the how to advocate for your proposal using legislation. Include the following: | ||||||||||
| Provide the name and complete contact information for the legislator. | Congresswoman Lauren Underwood
| |||||||||
| Describe the steps for how you would present this to your legislator. | The presentation of the idea would be formal through a detailed draft of the issue and the recommended solution including financial overview and policies required for change | |||||||||
| Outline the process if your legislator chooses to introduce your idea as a bill to congress. | Stage 1: Creation of a Bill. Draft, and introduce bills in the Congress. Stage 2: Committee action. Stage 3: Floor action. Stage 4: Voting. Stage 5: Conference committees. Stage 6: Presidential action. Stage 7: Creation of a law. | |||||||||
| Christian Principles and Nursing Advocacy In no more than 250 words, discuss how principles of a Christian worldview lend support to legislative advocacy in health care without bias. Be specific as to how these principles help advocate for inclusiveness and positive health outcomes for all populations, including those more vulnerable, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, religion/belief, etc. | ||||||||||
| Christianity is based on a moral code focusing on just and fair conduct. Each person has to be their neighbor’s keeper and take care of them when they need their help bias. The principles ensure that there is adequate inclusivity in terms of sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, culture and religious belief (Ash, Clark, & Jun, 2017). The principles include the autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice. These issues affect the legislative process since they shape how the bill will factor in the role of the patient in autonomy, and that of the physician or nurse on nonmaleficence. Christianity also looks on all human beings as equal and should not be discriminated against. | ||||||||||
References
Ash, A. N., Clark, K., & Jun, A. (2017). The paradox of faith: White administrators and antiracism advocacy in Christian higher education. Christian Higher Education, 16(4), 232-254.
Congress. (2015). S.864 – 114th Congress (2015-2016): National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act. (2020). Retrieved 26 July 2020, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/864#:~:text=%2F25%2F2015)-,National%20Nursing%20Shortage%20Reform%20and%20Patient%20Advocacy%20Act,to%2Dpatient%20ratios%20by%20unit.
Haddad, L. M., Annamaraju, P., & Toney-Butler, T. J. (2020). Nursing shortage. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Assessing progress on the Institute of Medicine report The Future of Nursing. National Academies Press.
Parker, J. C. (2018, June). Clinical ethics consultation after God: Implications for advocacy and neutrality. In HEC Forum (Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 103-115). Springer Netherlands.
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