Policies in healthcare have an impact on individuals, whether at the institutional, local, state, or federal level. As a profession, nursing has the opportunity to influence health policies on all levels. By understanding healthcare policies, nurses can be advocates for patients as a unified group.

Although the majority of healthcare professionals are nurses, nursing has many opportunities to increase their involvement in healthcare policy. Healthcare and nursing practice are influenced by policy. Policy affects care delivery, patient preferences, and reimbursement. Nurses are in a unique position to influence policy due to the holistic care model and patient-centered care.

For this task, you will analyze a federal and state policy that relates to a current area of focus in healthcare. You will discuss how the federal and state policies influence patient and healthcare delivery. You will consider the population impact of the policies and if the policies are equitable at both the federal and state level.

Your goal in this task is to discuss how a nurse can impact policy at the state and federal level. You should consider the role of the nurse in the development of policy at the state and federal level and how the nurse will support or influence improvements to the policy at each policy level.

A.  Compare public healthcare policies at the federal and state level that affect the provision of patient care and healthcare delivery by doing the following:

1.  Describe one federal and one state public healthcare policy that affect the provision of patient care and healthcare delivery.

2.  Explain how each policy works (e.g., Is it mandatory? Will enforcement be necessary? Who is responsible for administering the policy?).

3.  Discuss each policy’s impact on the population(s) by answering the following questions:

•  What populations will benefit?

•  How will they benefit?

•  What populations will be negatively impacted?

•  How will they be impacted?

•  Does the policy impact health disparities and health equity?

4.  Discuss the evidence that informs each policy, including two scholarly evidence sources published within the last five years to support your discussion.

a.  Discuss whether the evidence identified in part A4 supports the chosen policies, including any modifications that should be made to each policy based on the identified evidence.
B.  Explain the role of the nurse in policy development and how the nurse could impact the administration of, or the revision of, a policy at both federal and state levels.

1.  Reflect on barriers to the nurse’s engagement in each of the following healthcare policy areas:

•  development

•  administration

•  revision

2.  Reflect on ways that you will engage with healthcare policy in each of the following areas in your future nursing practice:

•  development

•  administration

•  revision

please provide references

ANSWER

Healthcare policies play a significant role in shaping patient care and healthcare delivery at both the federal and state levels. As a profession that directly interacts with patients and has a comprehensive understanding of healthcare systems, nursing has a vital role to play in influencing and advocating for effective policies. By engaging with healthcare policies, nurses can contribute to improving patient outcomes, enhancing care delivery, and promoting health equity.

A. When comparing public healthcare policies at the federal and state levels, it is evident that these policies impact various aspects of patient care and healthcare delivery. At the federal level, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a prominent policy that has transformed healthcare access and delivery across the United States. The ACA aims to provide affordable health insurance to a broader population through state-based health insurance marketplaces and expanded Medicaid coverage. At the state level, policies related to nurse staffing ratios are of significance. These policies dictate the required nurse-to-patient ratios in different healthcare settings to ensure safe and effective care delivery.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) works by mandating that individuals obtain health insurance coverage and expanding Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income individuals and families. This policy has positively impacted populations that were previously uninsured or underinsured, improving access to essential healthcare services. However, it has also faced challenges in terms of healthcare disparities, particularly in states that did not expand Medicaid, leading to unequal access to care for certain populations. Nurse staffing ratio policies, on the other hand, regulate the number of patients a nurse can care for at any given time. These policies benefit patients by ensuring safe care environments and adequate attention from healthcare providers. However, they can also be a challenge to implement due to variations in patient acuity and staffing availability.

The evidence supporting the ACA is rooted in research demonstrating that increased healthcare coverage leads to improved health outcomes, reduced mortality rates, and enhanced preventive care utilization. Nurse staffing ratio policies are supported by evidence indicating that lower nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with reduced patient mortality and adverse events. Modifications to both policies could include ongoing evaluation and adjustments based on the changing healthcare landscape and emerging evidence.

B. Nurses play a crucial role in policy development, administration, and revision. In policy development, nurses can contribute their expertise by participating in policy discussions, sharing insights from frontline care, and advocating for patient-centered approaches. During policy administration, nurses can ensure compliance, monitor the policy’s impact, and provide feedback for necessary adjustments. In policy revision, nurses can actively engage in identifying areas of improvement, advocating for changes, and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance policy effectiveness.

Barriers to nurse engagement in policy areas include limited time, resources, and awareness. Nurses may face challenges in participating due to their demanding clinical responsibilities. To overcome these barriers, nursing education should incorporate policy advocacy skills, and organizations should provide opportunities for nurses to be involved in policy discussions. In my future nursing practice, I plan to engage in policy development by joining nursing associations and participating in healthcare policy forums. In administration, I will ensure compliance with policies while advocating for their effective implementation. In policy revision, I will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to provide input on improving policies based on frontline experiences and evidence.

In conclusion, healthcare policies have a profound impact on patient care and healthcare delivery. Nurses have a significant role in influencing policy development, administration, and revision. By actively engaging with policies at both federal and state levels, nurses can contribute to enhancing patient outcomes, promoting health equity, and shaping the future of healthcare.