NUR4636 Wk 3 Community Health Nursing Discussion

Running head: THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 1 Karen Echenique Florida National University Nursing Department BSN Program NUR 4636- Community Health Nursing Prof. Eddie Cruz, RN MSN September 18, 2019 THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 2 Question 1: Nurses, out of all healthcare professionals, have been one of the most influential team to transform and better our healthcare systems. In the nursing profession, there are two important factors that make up the career which include: the science of human well-being and caring for their patients. It works from a structure that values all individuals holistically and seeks to promote the health of individuals throughout their lives and throughout all levels of society. Policies that define and incorporate suitable requirements for care delivery and address the circumstances needed for care to take place are crucial. Nurses can and should impact norms and procedures of practice to ensure quality of care through policy work. Nurses influencing policy help shape today and tomorrow’s care. Policies also affect the distribution of resources to help healthcare delivery. (Burke, 2016) Many of the major nursing organizations encourage effective involvement in policy implementation by nurses. For example, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing emphasizes the role of nursing in policy and identifies the expected policy involvement at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels of professional nursing, including advanced practice, in its “Essentials” credentials, that should be focused in educational programs. As part of their specialist position, the National League for Nursing and the American Nurses Association expect nurses to tackle strategy. (Burke, 2016) THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 3 Question 2: Health care policy has been a hot topic for congressmen for the past few years. One of those topics has been prescription drug pricing, which ultimately affects all of us. The increasing price of prescription drugs has worsened, attracting attention across the political and press spectrum. Over 25 measures were adopted this year by lawmakers and several federal wellness and supervisory boards conducted meetings to explore the problem. We expect Congressional attention to proceed on this problem in 2020. Opioid abuse and addiction rates continue to rocket, with the National Drug Abuse Institute (NIDA) approximating that more than 91 Americans die every day from an overdose of opioids. In October, the congress proclaimed the opioid epidemic a national emergency, and policymakers broadly agree that enhanced financing and policy alternatives are required. Besides financing, we expect lawmakers to study policy alternatives that could include allowing health care professionals who prescribe opioids to finish ongoing education, extending the enforcement power of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and enhancing criteria for state prescription drug surveillance programs. Question 3: Governments at all levels (federal, state, and local) in the United States have a specific responsibility to strive to create the conditions for people to be as healthy as possible. In order for governments to play their role in the public health system, policymakers need to provide the necessary political and financial support for strong and effective public health agencies in government. NUR4636 Wk 3 Community Health Nursing Discussion

The federal government performs an important part in the country’s public health scheme. It studies the health position THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 4 and health demands of the population, sets rules and norms, implements legislation and regulations, promotes studies into biomedical and health facilities, enables finance and sometimes offers private health facilities, offers technical help and funds to state and local health systems, protects against international health threats and promotes international initiatives. States are the main regulatory organization accountable for defending the health of the U.S. public. They perform a broad variety of wellness operations. State health organizations gather and evaluate data; carry out checks; schedule; establish measures and norms; carry out domestic and state regulations; handle and supervise economic, social and private health facilities; and guarantee health care for underserved citizens; engage in resource growth; and address health risks and emergencies. (Hanlon & Pickett, 1984; Foundation for Public Health, 1986b) Local health services are the organizations’ “first line of defense.” They are usually accountable for providing public health services directly to people. They carry out communicable disease control programs; provide testing and immunization; gather health statistics; provide health education facilities and programs for chronic disease control; carry out sanitation, sanitary engineering and inspection programs; operate school health programs; and offer maternal and child health facilities, public health services, mental health services, and other homes. (Hanlon and Pickett, 1977; Miller et al., 1984) THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 5 Question 4: Socio-cultural health affects individual views about disease. Socio-cultural variables affect the health of individuals, groups, or communities. The variables are accountable for determining private knowledge of health and illness concept and knowledge, capacity to access health care, healing capacity, handicap reaction, suffering and illness, and therapy requirements. In comparison with other variables influencing health, few researches have been performed in this region. Citizens are more probable to appreciate excellent health facilities with a strong political system and at a lower price. In nations with an absence of political stability, owing to few numbers of medical professionals and absence of social facilities such as clinics, people will have an issue accessing health facilities. Economic factors have a major impact on the health of people and an influence on the health distinction between the wealthy and the poor. High levels of poverty imply poor health because low-income families cannot afford healthier food options. Furthermore, unemployment contributes to bad health. Ethical factors concentrate on variables beyond health care to guarantee that jobs provide quality facilities. Ethics has also helped protect human rights, such as preventing over-exploitation of low-income individuals. It has also led to global collaboration in health monitoring by having nations work together with the primary objective of health improvement. THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 6 References Thorogood, J. G. (2014). Analyzing Health Policy. New York: Routledge. Burke, S. A. (2016, June 2). Influence through policy: Nurses have a unique role. Retrieved from https://www.reflectionsonnursingleadership.org/commentary/morecommentary/Vol42_2_nurses-have-a-unique-role Mody, P. R., & Blackwood, K. (2018, January 4). 5 Health Care Policy Issues To Follow In 2018: Publications and Presentations. Retrieved from https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/publications/2018/01/5-health-carepolicy-issues-to-follow-in-2018 Natalie Nunez Florida National University Nursing Department BSN Program NUR 4636 – Community Health Nursing Prof. Eddie Cruz, RN MSN September 18, 2019 Discuss the power of nursing to influence and change health policy. The nursing profession and professionals are critical parties when it comes to influencing health policy change. This is because other than providing care for the individual and general population, they take on many other hats that allow them to be important sources of the knowledge and insight required in coming up with the best healthcare policies(Gordis, 2013). As researchers nursing professionals are able to provide evidence based information on such factors as the best cost-effective care, treatment modalities that are culturally sensitive and so forth. As educators, nursing professional know the best way to carryout health education, as care providers they engage in the collection of statistical information which shed pertinent information on the direction of policy changes. Nursing professionals also serve as advocates for various healthcare programs that they perceive to be instrumental in enhancing the general wellbeing of the public. NUR4636 Wk 3 Community Health Nursing Discussion

Nursing therefore has the power to influence health policy change because it brings in expertise and evidence based information on the changes that should be made. Mention and discuss current health policy issues. An examination of the healthcare landscape shows that there are a number of health policy issues that require swift attention in order to improve access for the entire population. These include increased health spending matters as a result of increase in healthcare costs (Simpson, 2019). One of the issues contributing to this high expenditure is drug pricing which is out of control. Drug manufactures are taking advantage of the broken market which lacks accountability, transparency and competition to make a financial gain at the expense of the system and its users (America’s Health Insurance Plans, 2019). Another issue is Medicaid policies which are marked with constant change although it has many that are dependent on it. The new innovation from Medicare Advantage that seeks to improve healthcare in general while keeping the costs minimized so as to improve the general public’s wellbeing is also of concern. Finally, social barriers which have a major impact on health also form a critical policy issue that should be addressed as better community health is sought (America’s Health Insurance Plans, 2019). Describe and discuss the organization of the public health care system at the federal, state and local levels. Public health care system in the United States is divided into three tiers; federal, state and local levels. These care systems are mandated by the constitution and focus specifically on the health of the entire population. These systems seek to promote the citizen’s general welfare and are coordinated under the federal department of health and human services (Gordis, 2013). At the federal level the health system is organized into a number of outfits namely the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as many other departments. In general at this subsystem seeks to provide health services to the entire population in general, it also reaches out to special population and engages in a health approach that is very intentional. The Health and Human Services which is a major player at the federal level works hard to bring about changes in the healthcare system. Also as part of its strategic plan, it seeks to strengthen the infrastructure and workforce of HHS, propel ahead innovation and knowledge scientifically, improve the safety, health and well-being of the citizens of the nation and improve the HHS’s general transparency, efficiency as well as accountability (Gordis, 2013). At the state level the public health subsystem is managed by the health departments of the state and tasked with the responsibilities of ensuring the health of the state’s citizens. This level relies on the directives, guidance and resources provided by the federal level and in the public care system, they are the central authorities. State system however establishes and operates using their own state laws. The public health department at the local level is overseen by the local health departments. This level is charged with the responsibility of offering citizens direct health services as well as their protection. Their responsibilities range from the health services of the entire community, health services related to the environment, individual as well as mental health services (Gordis, 2013). Analyze the influence of socio-cultural, political, economic, ethical and religious factors that influence the health of culturally diverse individuals, groups, and communities. There are numerous factors that affect the health of individuals. This is especially the case with persons, groups and communities that are culturally diverse. Religious, political, economic and sociocultural factors influence the health of these groups of people because it determines their definition and experience with health and illness. These factors influence the person’s ability to access healthcare as well as their worldview. It also influences how they respond to pain, disease and disability as well as their experiences in terms of pain and healing. Further these factors determine options of treatment they have, their expectations as well as health outcomes. References America’s Health Insurance Plans (2019). 4 Issues Shaping Health Care Policy. Retrieved from https://www.ahip.org/4-issuesshaping-health-care-policy/ Gordis, L. (2013). Epidemiology. Saunders; 5th Edition ISBN-13: 978-1455737338 Institute for Work & Health (2015). Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Retrieved from https://www.iwh.on.ca/whatresearchers-mean-by/primary-secondary-and-tertiary-prevention Simpson, L. (2019).Three Hot Topics for the Health Policy Research Community In 2019. Retrieved from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190123.63012/f ull/ …