...Policy Issue Analysis: The Affordable Care Act and Nursing April 7, 2013 Policy Issue Analysis: The Affordable Care Act and Nursing Problem Identification Healthcare costs are soaring in the United States today. More people than ever before are uninsured or underinsured. In 2006-07, there were 46 million people uninsured (Gulley, Rasch, & Chan, 2011), and 9 million children also did not have health insurance (Coddington & Sands, 2008). A change in how healthcare is managed and financed is greatly needed to avoid worsening of this situation. Background The cost of healthcare and the number of uninsured individuals has become a critical issue today. Healthcare spending in the U. S. has grown faster than the economy, by about two to three percent per year since the end of World War II (Brown, 2009, p. 1). If nothing changes, Medicare will cost as much as the sum of all federal income taxes in about 75 years (Brown, 2009, p. 2). Healthcare premiums have become so unaffordable, that many families do without. The lack of insurance has a direct effect on poor health outcomes, increasing morbidity and mortality, which also contributes to increased healthcare costs (Coddington & Sands, 2008, p. 1). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law on March 23, 2010, and the Supreme Court made a final decision to uphold the law on June 28, 2012 (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services). The...
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... The Differences Between Baccalaureates Versus Associate Degree The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, believes that education has a significant impact on the knowledge and competencies of the nurse clinician, as it does for all health care providers. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today's nurse. BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Nurse executives, federal agencies, the military, leading nursing organizations, health care foundations, magnet hospitals, and minority nurse advocacy groups all recognize the unique value that baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to the practice setting. AACN encourages employers to foster practice environments that embrace lifelong learning and offer incentives for registered nurses (RNs) seeking to advance their education to the baccalaureate and higher degree levels. We also encourage BSN graduates to seek out employers who value their level of education and distinct competencies. Different Approaches to Nursing...
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...Significance Of Nursing In The Implementation Of Health Care Reform Abstract The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides for new professional roles and educational opportunities in nursing. As the number of insured Americans increases, so will patient numbers. Increased insureds will increase demands for nursing care as this legislation is fully enacted. The ways in which nurses can provide solutions for enacting the legislation and caring for the millions of newly insured Americans are discussed. The act also provides for professional training and development of advanced practice nurses to meet the demands of increased care and increased patient load. Keywords: healthcare reform, nursing education, nursing roles Significance Of Nursing In The Implementation Of Health Care Reform Healthcare reform has captured our time and attention during the past few months, it has been a long and heated discussion. As the healthcare and its underlying payment system evolve in the face of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; healthcare for all, a long time dream of many nurses, will be realized. This act requires all Americans to be covered by health insurance by 2014. Goals of the act are to not only enhance access to affordable care but also focus on wellness and prevention,...
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...The Impact of the IOM Report on the Future of Nursing Marsha McGinnis Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS-430V October 13, 2013 The role of nursing today has vastly changed over the years. Additional responsibilities, growing demands of higher education, and increased job requirements have resulted in an exceptionally complex practice for the modern nurse. In order to meet these higher demands, the committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a report containing recommendations to aid and enhance the future of nursing practice. This report contains four main key points. 1. Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. 2. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. 3. Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States. 4. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure (IOM (Institute of Medicine), 2011). These recommendations are essential tools that today’s nurses can use to assist in the evolution of nursing practice. Nursing education, nursing practice and leadership skills are all areas that need improvement according to the IOM report. If these improvements are achieved, nurses will be able to enrich the quality of...
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...The Impact of Nursing – 21st Century Changes This paper will review the 2010 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on the future of nursing and highlight the need of lifelong education for nurses as changes occur in the American health care system. The leadership role of the 21st century nurse is changing in and outside of traditional healthcare settings. The paper will include possibilities of the nurse’s functions in the changing administrative and policy making capacity in the health care profession. In addition to providing information about educational needs and leadership roles the paper includes an opinion of personal practice as it relates to the goals of the IOM report’s Focus on Scope of Practice. Learning should be a lifelong venture for many professions that have changes occurring during their careers. Nursing is one of the professions that will benefit if the majority of practitioners take up the challenge of continual education during their careers. Society will be the beneficiary of the nurse’s increased knowledge and skill. The IOM report states “All health care organizations and schools of nursing should foster a culture of lifelong learning and provide resources for interprofessional continuing competency programs” (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010, p. 6). The report continues with recommendations of “funding for grants and scholarships for nurses” to accommodate the lifelong learning...
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...known as the founder of modern day nursing, nurses have been at the forefront of change in health care and public health. Nurses provide ongoing assessment of patient’s health. Their round-the-clock presence, observation, skills, and vigilance allow doctors to make better diagnoses and develop proper treatments. Many lives have undoubtedly been saved by an attentive nurse who saw early warning signs of an impending cardiac arrest or some other crisis. Given the importance of nurses to the health of Americans, it is unfortunate, indeed, that the nation is facing a critical nursing shortage. There is a sense of urgency about the shortage this year as the first wave of baby boomers begins turning 60. As the country ages it means Registered Nurses will play an even larger role as the 78 million baby boomers require additional health services. Hospitals have struggled to attract more nurses, but working conditions keep getting tougher. Nurses frequently have to work double shifts, and new insurance rules, under which only the sickest people are treated in hospitals these days, mean that each of the patients requires much more care and attention. Introduction The United States is facing a critical shortage of registered nurses -- particularly the specialized, highly trained nurses who staff intensive care units, operating rooms and emergency rooms -- a trend that threatens to decrease access to and undermine quality health care. Unless something is done...
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...Report: "The Future of Nursing Leading Change Advancing Health" Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V Review Of the IOM Report: "The Future of Nursing Leading Change Advancing Health" This is a Review of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report: "The Future of Nursing Leading change Advancing Health. Primarily focusing on sections 3 Transforming Practice, 4 Transforming Education, and 5 Transforming Leadership. IOM: The Future of Nursing Leading Change Advancing Health The Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched a two-year study to assess the current state of nursing as a profession and provide recommendations for transforming the nursing profession. The key messages and recommendations that they come up with as a result of this study provide a synopsis of the report from the Committee on the RWJF Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the IOM. These key messages and recommendations provide a "how to" blueprint for the future of nursing (IOM Report, 2011). IOM Key Messages As a result of the study, the IOM committee came up with 4 key messages that structure the main points, discussion and recommendations in this report: 1. Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. 2. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. 3. Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States...
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...Implementation of the IOM Future of Nursing Report Grand Canyon University: NRS 440V Implementation of the IOM Future of Nursing Report In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA gave many Americans the opportunity to have health care coverage that previously may have not been available to them. The reform is primarily aimed at decreasing the number of uninsured and underinsured Americans. The landscape of health care is changing and nursing is evolving alongside it. This health care overhaul gives nurses a vital role in leading the reform revolution. With more than three million strong, nursing is the biggest sector of the nation’s health care labor force (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2012). In 2008, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) joined forces and embarked on a two year joint venture to really assess the need for changes in the nursing profession in the face of the changing health care landscape. This joint committee fashioned a report that outlined the necessary and dynamic actions that the nursing profession needs to make in order to progress with the climate of health care reform. Through its discussions, the committee fashioned four key points that erect the framework for its recommendations; these areas are nurse training, education, professional leadership, and lastly workforce policy (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [RWJF], 2011). This paper...
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...Health Advocacy on Childhood Obesity Janeane Horan Walden University August third, 2014 Introduction According to the Center of Disease Control approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled (CDC, 2012). Today’s nurses are faced with a growing trend in overweight and obese children and have the responsibility to be the patient advocate and help. Health promotion is one of the most important aspects of nursing, and no matter what setting a nurse is in; they have the power to provoke change. Childhood obesity will be discussed in detail throughout this paper. Public policy needs to address the arising concern that childhood obesity has on today’s society. Creating an advocacy program based on two effective childhood obesity programs; The Power Up Initiative and Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) can do just that. The potential community-based advocacy program in this paper will address what needs to be included in school and after school programs to promote health and prevention of obesity. The program will also need to have a specific plan on what and how to educate local pediatricians and nurses regarding childhood obesity. What is it and what is the cause? Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat in the body (Mckinney, E., James, S., Murray, S., Ashwill, J., 2009). Fat is accumulated in the body when there is a combination...
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...Nursing shortage is featured in every magazine, health articles, newspaper, television and other forms of communications. Nursing shortage creates serious concerns not only in the field of medicine but in the consumer’s eyes. Health is considered a basic need of mankind; therefore, everyone is affected in maintaining the health status. Nurses are a major workforce in the provision of health care. Where does this discussion lead? Is there a serious threat? What happens now? Is it global? All these questions pump adrenaline to everyone who is concern about their health status. Health care organizations, specifically hospitals have significantly felt the impact of nursing shortage. Nurses are an integral part of any health care organization; and are known to the health care community as front line workers. The following outline is to discuss a health care situation such as nursing shortage in hospital settings. This outline is to provide a comprehensive overview by analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of procedures that are in place, and recommend improvement strategies based on economic theories and concepts that support best practices. Key Players Nursing shortage is a work in itself, there is no immediate solution to the problem; therefore, nurses as the key players must be involved in the decision making occurring at every health care organization. As nurses, the sole responsibility lies upon them to establish a safe working environment, ensuring patients and nurses’...
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...The Future of Nursing Jennifer Mallion NRS 430V-109 September 18, 2013 The Future of Nursing Introduction In 1970 The Institute of Medicine was founded by the National Academy of sciences. The National Academy of sciences advises the federal government on issues involving medical care, education, and research. In 2010 the Institute of Medicine issued “The future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” The recommendations in the report are directed towards state and local governments, policy makers licensing bodies, colleges, nurses, health care researchers, and many other groups and organizations ("IOM," 2010, p. 16). The Institute of Medicine advised eight recommendations, however; in this report three of the recommendations are going to be discussed: Education, Nursing Practice, and Leaders in Nursing along with the impact they shall have on each recommendation. Nursing Education The Institute of Medicine recommends that nurses should achieve higher levels of education to provide a foundation for the new model of care for the Healthcare reform. The Institute of Medicine gives reason why a higher level of Education is necessary. A few of the reasons are as follows: * Nursing competencies have greatly increased over the years. Nurses need knowledge of evidence-based practice, health policy, public health, geriatrics, leadership skills, and system improvements. * Nurses must make critical decisions related to sicker patient populations. *...
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...Nursing Leadership Health Policy Paper Shoba Jacob Grand Canyon University Ethics, Policy and Finances in the Health Care System NUR-508 Nursing Leadership Health Policy Paper Professional growth and maintaining competencies mainly in knowledge and skill in the field of nursing is very important. Nurses needs to be updated with the current scope and standards of nursing practice. One of the important characteristics of any profession is the accurate educational preparation which can be achieved with the interest of the individual and funding. Every nurse is responsible for the professional growth (Association, 2001) Purpose for a Policy Change Education is important, it is the base for gaining knowledge and wisdom. It is an important tool and a path for success and paves the way in becoming good future citizens to the community, institution/organization and country. Once a person becomes a registered nurse (RN), it becomes important to pursue the career which helps nurses to apply and pass the knowledge to the fellow co-workers, apply the knowledge at the bed side with real patients and also in highly pressured situations. This knowledge gained by pursuing the career is also beneficial for the nursing students, by observing the clinical practice actions of skilled experienced nurses (Jackson, 2009). Due to the nations shortage of nurses, the effort to educate more nurses and advanced practice nurses has become one of the urging needs and the goal is to reach 340...
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...Development of the Nursing Professionals Professional Development of the Nursing Professionals Jill Blackman Grand Canyon University: NRS 430V January 6, 2012 Impact of IOM on Nursing Nursing has over three million members and is the largest sector in healthcare workers in the nation (Institute of Medicine, 2010). Since the Affordable Health Care Act passed in 2010, our nation now faces new challenges of providing affordable, quality health care to all Americans. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an organization that advises the federal government about how to improve our nation’s health care. The IOM has devised a plan to help change the future of nursing and break down the barriers that hinder the nursing profession in the new health care system. The report “Calls on nurses, individually and as a profession, to embrace changes needed to promote health, prevent illness, and care for people in all settings across the lifespan,” (Institute of Medicine, 2010 p. 10). How can nurses ensure that they are providing safe, quality care with the changing health care system and more complex patient care? Since nurses make up a major part of the health care workforce they can help shape and influence how the new health care reform will help the public obtain affordable, safe care that starts in the community and continues throughout all points of service, by further nursing education, establishing and participating in primary care and being leaders in the health care system. ...
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...The impact of the 2010 IOM report on nursing: Health care industry is a rapidly expanding field with new findings in research and innovation. The career of nursing stands out among all other fields not only in United States of America but in all parts of the world. The 2010 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) addressed many aspects in nursing. The impact of this report on nursing practice will be discussed below, with regard to nursing practice, nursing education, and a nurse’s role as a leader. Development in nursing recognizes the changing health care sector in the U.S. and tailors the future vision of health care and the role of nurses to fulfill that vision. The impact on nursing education: According to the IOM report, the format of nursing education must be changed. At present nursing education is very expensive and inaccessible. Funding from State and Federal Government agencies would provide support needed to generate more affordable nursing education. Lower education costs and increased availability of nursing seats in colleges will assist and encourage nurses with associate degrees to obtain their baccalaureate degree or higher in nursing. Colleges must continually review and remodel their curriculum to keep up with the advancements in the field of medicine. IOM reported that nurses’ knowledge and their potential are not utilized to its fullest. Nurses are still...
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...degree program? (Aiken, 2011) The Institute of Medicine (IOM) was founded in 1970 to help the government and non-government establishments make decisions in health care by evidence base practices. In 2010 The Institute of Medicine, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AARP, conducted a study on the future of nursing. The study was involved and asked the questions of “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how” of nursing to produce better quality patient care. The IOM instituted initiatives or a project plan to reform nursing care. Lets touch base on how the IOM initiatives made in impact on nursing education, nursing care, and nursing leadership roles. Education Education is a very important part of a nursing career, with advancing technology, the nurse has to stay informed and up to date. Education can be acquired by certifications and advancing in higher education. The IOM initiative has increased the awareness of the need of higher educated nurses. Nursing is broad and is advancing to public health care, preventative care, and chronic care, not just acute care. (Aiken, 2011) The IOM initiative drives the education system to help nurses pursue higher education without difficulties, like in the past. There is more programs designed to help the nurse work and go to school at the same time. The initiative implemented the idea for more funding for applicants, as well as, for the schools. The increasing need for nurse practitioners in the public health sector...
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