NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

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NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

 

At first glance, it may seem that the realms of politics and nursing exist on somewhat opposite ends of a spectrum. But a closer examination reveals quite a connection between the two.

Nurses occupy a unique and powerful position in the healthcare system. They spend more time than other health professionals in direct patient care. They interact with patients and families, often during times of great need and distress. Because of this, nurses are often among the first to know when the healthcare system does not meet patient needs, and they have a deep understanding of how it might succeed or fail to provide access to safe, affordable care. NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

 

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In addition to identifying problems with healthcare, nurses are in an equally unique position to improve it. As experts in the delivery of healthcare, nurses can participate in regulatory and legislative processes and can directly impact the laws and rules that govern their practice.

This important course in the MSN program, Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health, examines this impact and explores how nurses can make it a reality. You will examine sources of regulatory and legislative information, and how best to apply this information to analyzing current and future policy. You will consider the role that nurses can play in healthcare program design, implementation, and evaluation. Additionally, you will examine the impact that nurses have on addressing not only local and domestic healthcare issues but global issues as well.

Welcome to Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health!

Photo Credit: [Rocketclips]/[Verve+]/Getty Images

Academic Integrity

Walden University considers academic integrity to be essential for each student’s intellectual development. Therefore, students and faculty should familiarize themselves with the university’s Code of Conduct, which includes the policy on academic integrity, as outlined in the Walden University Student Handbook. You should also be familiar with Walden’s Technology Policies.

More information about the Code of Conduct is located on the Support, Guidelines, and Policies page.

A violation of academic integrity is any action or attempted action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage for the student or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other member or members of the academic community. A violation of academic integrity can include, but is not limited to:

NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

  • Plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as use of intellectual material produced by another person without acknowledging its source. Plagiarism includes using the views, opinions, or insights of another without acknowledgment as well as misuse of your own scholarly work.
  • Cheating. Cheating is defined as fraud, deceit, or dishonesty in an academic assignment.
  • Providing False Information. Providing false information includes fabricating or altering information or data and presenting it as legitimate as well as providing false or misleading information to an instructor or any other university staff member.
  • Copyright Violation. Walden recognizes and respects intellectual property rights and requires all members of the university community to use copyrighted materials in a lawful manner.
  • Misrepresentation of Credentials. Any statements made and documents supplied by a student or applicant regarding past or current academic programs, degrees, or professional accomplishments must be complete and accurate.
  • Theft or Damage of Property. Theft or damage of property includes, but is not limited to, obtaining a copy of an assignment or exam prior to its approved release by the faculty member.
  • Alteration of University Documents. Examples of alteration of university documents include forging the signature of an instructor or university official on a document and submitting an altered transcript of grades.

For more information on and examples of the above violations, as well as the review process for Code of Conduct violations, please refer to the Walden University Student Handbook.

Walden University Student Handbook

SafeAssign Policies

To review Walden’s policy on academic integrity, visit the Code of Conduct in the Walden University Student Handbook. More information about the Code of Conduct is located on the Support, Guidelines, and Policies page.

NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Thank you for your commitment to and partnership in maintaining academic integrity.

Walden University Student Handbook

SafeAssign Drafts

Within the classroom, students can submit drafts to SafeAssign during a course, to be proactive in checking for potential inadvertent plagiarism issues or incorrect APA 7th edition style citations. Please note that this area is for drafts only; and students must submit the final copy of their assignment in the appropriate area in the classroom.

For more information on how to use SafeAssign and interpret originality reports, please refer to the following resource:

SafeAssign Student Tutorial

Click the “SafeAssign Drafts” link below to begin submitting drafts.

To submit your SafeAssign Drafts:

SafeAssign Drafts

Doc Sharing

 

As we collaborate with each other throughout the term, you may wish to support other members of the class by sharing documents or other files. Doc Sharing encourages us to collaborate and help each other to be successful.

 

Click the “Doc Sharing” link to begin sharing files or return to “Course Home” from the slide out menu, and then click “Doc Sharing” from the Blackboard menu!

To participate in Doc Sharing:

Doc Sharing

Webliography

 

Similar to Doc Sharing, you may wish to share hyperlinks to articles, web pages, presentations, videos, or other items that are already on the Internet. Posting Webliography items is another great way to help each other to be successful.

NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

 

Click the “Webliography” link to begin sharing hyperlinks or return to “Course Home” from the slide out menu, and then click “Webliography” from the Blackboard menu!

To participate in the Webliography:

Webliography

 

Module 1: Agenda Setting (Weeks 1-2)

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Meet the Experts: Pioneers in Policy [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Policy Process [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Learning Objectives

Students will:
  • Compare U.S. presidential agenda priorities
  • Evaluate ways that administrative agencies help address healthcare issues
  • Analyze how healthcare issues get on administrative agendas
  • Identify champions or sponsors of healthcare issues
  • Create fact sheets for communicating with policymakers or legislators
  • Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues

 

Due By
 Assignment
Week 1, Days 1–2
 Read/Watch/Listen to the Learning Resources.
Compose your initial Discussion post.
Week 1, Day 3
 Post your initial discussion post.
Week 1, Days 4-5
 Review peer Discussion posts.
Compose your peer Discussion responses.
Begin to compose your Assignment.
Week 1, Day 6
 Post at least two peer Discussion responses on two different days (and not the same day as the initial post).
Continue to compose your final draft of your Assignment.
Week 1, Day 7
 Wrap up Discussion.
Week 2, Day 1–6
 Continue to compose your Assignment.
Week 2, Day 7
 Deadline to submit your Assignment.

 

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

  • Chapter 1, “Informing Public Policy: An Important Role for Registered Nurses” (pp. 11–13 only)
  • Chapter 2, “Agenda Setting: What Rises to a Policymaker’s Attention?” (pp. 17–36)
  • Chapter 10, “Overview: The Economics and Finance of Health Care” (pp. 171–180)
  • Chapter 12, “An Insider’s Guide to Engaging in Policy Activities”
    • “Creating a Fact Sheet” (pp. 217-221)

DeMarco, R., & Tufts, K. A. (2014). The mechanics of writing a policy brief. Nursing Outlook, 62(3), 219–224. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

Kingdon, J.W. (2001). A model of agenda-setting with applications. Law Review M.S.U.-D.C.L., 2(331)

Lamb, G., Newhouse, R., Beverly, C., Toney, D. A., Cropley, S., Weaver, C. A., Kurtzman, E., … Peterson, C. (2015). Policy agenda for nurse-led care coordination. Nursing Outlook, 63(4), 521–530. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2015.06.003.

O’Rourke, N. C., Crawford, S. L., Morris, N. S., & Pulcini, J. (2017). Political efficacy and participation of nurse practitioners. Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 18(3), 135–148.

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Enhancing Environmental Health Content in Nursing Practice, Pope, A. M., Snyder, M. A., & Mood, L. H. (Eds.). (n.d.). Nursing health, & environment: Strengthening the relationship to improve the public’s health.

USA.gov. (n.d.). A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a

USA.gov. (n.d.). Executive departments. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.usa.gov/executive-departments

The White House. (n.d.). The cabinet. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-trump-administration/the-cabinet/

Document: Agenda Comparison Grid Template (Word document)

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Setting the Agenda [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Discussion: Presidential Agendas

Regardless of political affiliation, every citizen has a stake in healthcare policy decisions. Hence, it is little wonder why healthcare items become such high-profile components of presidential agendas. It is also little wonder why they become such hotly debated agenda items.

Consider a topic that rises to the presidential level. How did each of the presidents (Trump, Obama, and Bush) handle the problem? What would you do differently?

To Prepare:

  • Review the Resources and reflect on the importance of agenda setting.
  • Consider how federal agendas promote healthcare issues and how these healthcare issues become agenda priorities.

By Day 3 of Week 1

Post your response to the discussion question: Consider a topic that rises to the presidential level. How did each of the presidents (Trump, Obama, and Bush) handle the problem? What would you do differently?

NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

By Day 6 of Week 1

Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days by expanding on their response and providing an example that supports their explanation or respectfully challenging their explanation and providing an example.

*Note: Throughout this program, your fellow students are referred to as colleagues.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 1 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6 of Week 1

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 1 Discussion

Assignment: Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief

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.

NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

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 narrative) with a title page, an introduction, purpose statement, and a conclusion. This is an APA paper.

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.
  • At least 3 resources must be used

    NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

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: Narrative

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.
  • The response fully integrates at least 2 outside resources and 2-3 course specific resources that fully supports the summary provided.

By Day 7 of Week 2

Submit your final version of Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid, Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis, and Part 3: Narrative.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

  • Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
  • Click the Week 2 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
  • Click the Week 2 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
  • Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
  • If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
  • Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 2 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 2 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 2

To submit your Assignment:

Week 2 Assignment

Next Module

To go to the next module:

Module 2

 

Module 2: Legislation (Weeks 3-4)

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Legislation [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Learning Objectives

Students will:
  • Analyze how cost-benefit analysis affects legislative efforts
  • Analyze legislative intent of bills
  • Identify proponents and opponents of bills
  • Analyze legislative process of bills
  • Advocate policy position for bills

 

Due By
 Assignment
Week 3, Days 1-2
 Read/Watch/Listen to the Learning Resources.
Compose your initial Discussion post.
Week 3, Day 3
 Post your initial Discussion post.
Begin to compose your Assignment.
Week 3, Days 4-5
 Review peer Discussion posts.
Compose your peer Discussion responses.
Continue to compose your Assignment.
Week 3, Day 6
 Post at least two peer Discussion responses on two different days (and not the same day as the initial post).
Week 3, Day 7
 Wrap up Discussion.
Week 4, Days 1-6
 Continue to compose your Assignment.
Week 4, Day 7
 Deadline to submit your Assignment.

 

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

  • Chapter 3, “Government Response: Legislation” (pp. 37–56)
  • Chapter 10, “Overview: The Economics and Finance of Health Care” (pp. 180–183 only)

Congress.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.congress.gov/

Taylor, D., Olshansky, E., Fugate-Woods, N., Johnson-Mallard, V., Safriet, B. J., & Hagan, T. (2017). Corrigendum to position statement: Political interference in sexual and reproductive health research and health professional education. Nursing Outlook, 65(2), 346–350.

United States House of Representatives. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.house.gov/

United States Senate. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.senate.gov/

United States Senate. (n.d.). Senate organization chart for the 115th Congress. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.senate.gov/reference/org_chart.htm

Document: Legislation Grid Template (Word document)  NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health