Policy Discussion Post
PART1- Describe how the educational level achieved by a nurse or the entry point into professional nursing practice affects the quality and competence of a nurse’s participation in policy-making. Why it is important for registered nurses to influence the regulatory process? Does the nurse’s education have an influence on their ability to make an impact?
Resources Part 1-
Reading Assignment: Austin
Ch. 10: The Public Health System: The Government’s Role
https://online.vitalsource.com/reader/books/978013…
Reading Assignment: Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady
Ch. 60: The Nursing Workforce
Ch. 66: The Politics of Advanced Practice Nursing
Ch. 70: Nursing Education Policy: The Unending Debate Over Entry Into Practice and the New Debate Over Doctoral Degrees
https://online.vitalsource.com/reader/books/978032…
PART2- Reflect on what you have learned in this course. What were your major takeaways? Surprises? How will you apply what you have learned to your career?
Resource to answer part 2 – Below (Description of the material spoken in class)
| Week | Topic | Objectives | Activities & Assignments |
| 1 | An introduction to health care in America. Understanding the business side of Health Care. Action, Policy and Politics | Describe the size and scope of the health care industry in the United States
Summarize the major components of the health care industry and the role that government plays in this industry Describe health care policy, and the policy process Review the history of policy, politics, and nursing |
Reading:
Chapter 1 (Austin) Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Assignments: Public Policy Meeting Topic Approval- Post in the Discussion Board Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. |
| 2 | The payment process: who is covered, interacting with third-party party payers. Understand basic insurance terms. Policy, Politics and Advocacy in Health Care The role of nurses, demographics, career ladder, certification vs. license, and the job outlook. | Describe the role and characteristics of the different types of health care providers.
Compare and contrast the major issues facing the different types of health care providers. Discuss the roles and functions of hospital administrators and the laws affecting hospital administration. Describe legal issues facing primary care providers. Review political analysis and strategies nurses can use to influence health policy issues. Examine the United States health care system from a variety of aspects. Review several ethical approaches for resolving health care issues. |
Reading:
Chapters 5, 6 (Austin) Chapters 9, 14, 15 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Assignments: View/Attend Public Policy Meeting Position Paper Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. |
| 3 | The U.S. Health Care System, financing health care and a national health system | Describe how health care services are paid for in the United States.
Identify legal forms of business ownership and key business functions. Identify who is and who is not insured and how much is spent for coverage. Review financing of health care in the United States and investigate if a national health system could work in the United States. Discuss the problem of the uninsured and underinsured in the United States and approaches to address health disparities. Compare and contrast the other federal health insurance programs, such as SCHIP and those for government and military personnel. |
Reading:
Chapter 2 (Austin) Chapters 16, 18, 19, 20, 23 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Assignments: Public Policy Meeting Summary Paper Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. This week, your instructor will assign your Ethical Issue Debate topic and viewpoint stance. |
| 4 | The Government’s role in health care. The uninsured and underinsured in the U.S. | Describe the interaction between the patient, the third-party payer, the employer, and the health care provider, and how third-party payers are regulated.
Identify the major components and reimbursement processes of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Explore the rural health care environment. Explain the various ways LTC is provided and financed. Review some of the ethical and political issues in LTC. Explain Social Security policy formulation and Social Security policy enactment. |
Reading:
Chapters 3, 4 (Austin) Chapters 18, 25, 38, 61 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Assignments: Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. |
| 5 | The Government’s role in health care. Health care research and technology. Health care research and prevention. | Identify the major goals of health care research.
Explain the issues involved in the use of technology to enhance the quality of health care. Examine the policy issues of quality and safety in health care. |
Reading:
Chapters 11, 12 (Austin) Chapters 26, 58, 71 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Assignments: Ethical Issues Debate -Post your video in the discussion board. Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. |
| 6 | Nurse managed health centers. Community health centers. Social Security in the United States. Quality and safety in health care. The nursing workforce. Nursing Education Policy. Advanced practice nurses. | Summarize the different forms for the delivery of primary care.
Discuss secondary care and compare the different types of hospitals. Review community health centers, what services they provide, their history, and their future. Discuss nurse-managed health centers and the National Nursing centers Consortium. |
Reading:
Chapters 7, 8, 9 (Austin) Chapters 33, 34 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Assignments: Ethical Issues Debate Rebuttals Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. |
| 7 | Nurse managed health centers. Community health centers. Social Security in the United States. Quality and safety in health care. The nursing workforce. | Define the concept of public health.
Explain the role of government in public health and key public health functions. Explain the role of the government in disease prevention. Review the goals of Healthy People 2020. Discuss the supply of nurses in the United States, the different categories of nurses, and the forecasted demand for nurses in the future. Explain the issues of educational entry level into nursing practice. Review the issues and debates surrounding advanced practice nurses. |
Reading:
Chapters 10 (Austin) Chapters 60, 66, 70 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Assignments: Ethical Issues Debate with peer response rebuttals Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. Review of a Bill Paper |
| 8 | Nursing and government. | Discuss how nurses can support improvements in policies affecting health.
Analyze the nurse’s role in influencing health care policy issues. |
Reading:
Chapters 40, 41, 42, 43, 48 (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, and O’Grady) Supplemental readings Assignments: Respond and participate in the weekly discussion boards. |