Assignment Task:
Create a Reply for a discussion using APA 7 format, and scholarly references no older than 5 years.
A Reflection on Healthcare Policy, Nursing Leadership, and Delivery Systems
The Healthcare Policy and Delivery Systems course I took has deeply ingrained in me the importance of healthcare policy in patient care, service access, and healthcare outcome. I regarded policies as outside forces that did not affect the role of a nurse, and that was my view before this course. I realized, however, that policies dictate who gets care, what type of care, and how efficiently it can be provided. For example, policies like the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have shown that legislation can directly impact vulnerable populations by expanding insurance coverage and preventive services. Additionally, I explored how reimbursement policies (such as value-based care models) affect the quality and cost-effectiveness of care delivery (Day et al., 2022). During my practice, I saw that a Medicaid eligibility policy change made a difference in helping our community clinic access even more diabetic care for many of our patients. Connecting the dots between high-level policy decisions and the reality of patients' and providers' experiences helped me see that you cannot deliver equitable, effective care if you do not understand policy.
Through this course, I have understood the role of the advanced practice nurse (APN) in reshaping healthcare policy. Our unique, holistic, patient-centered approach positions APNS to bridge clinical expertise with policymaking. From APNs, I have learned that we may lead initiatives, serve on healthcare boards, do policy research to help make change, and testify to be persuasive in legislative decisions. Through this, I have learned that being an APN is more than direct patient care; it is also about advocating for system-level change that benefits everyone, not just a part of the whole (Day et al., 2022). I hope to become actively involved in policy reform in my future career by joining advocacy groups, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and going to policy forums to keep abreast with what is happening in the debates. While drafting policies to combat health disparities, to increase primary care access, and to encourage preventive health strategies, I anticipate being a part of that. By following these steps, I will not only extend my boundaries as a healthcare provider but also satisfy my ethical obligation to use my profession to influence social justice in healthcare.
Based on my assessment of this course, applying what I have learnt will entail my full dedication, awareness, and consistent engagement with my daily nursing practice. I intend to keep abreast of policy updates by reviewing these through professional journals and healthcare news platforms. Furthermore, I will also engage in continuing education with an emphasis on healthcare legislation and regulatory change (Day et al., 2022). At my workplace, I plan to start talking about the policy impacts in the staff meetings so that these effects can be made known to the staff, and I can work with them to make collective efforts. This is also a part of my learning that I also know how important it is to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure that the policy changes are effectively implemented at the organizational level. Finally, I will argue for evidence-based policy that enshrines patient safety and equitable care delivery. The first concrete thing I will do to help will probably be to promote and encourage the inclusion of frontline nursing perspectives in organizational decision-making processes. By doing so, I can help ensure that the policies we follow are practical, patient-focused, and reflective of the realities of clinical practice.
This course has been transformative personally and professionally in forming my identity as a nurse leader, advocate, and change agent. I have learned to be more accountable for the decisions I get to make to influence the systems in which I work, rather than being acted upon (Day et al., 2022). I have gained confidence in knowing how things are done and understand why, so I can be more effective in pulling the levers nurses can push to effect change. I have come to value that being a nurse leader is about more than managing teams; it also requires having the courage and knowledge to spearhead policy that upholds ethical care practice and bears forth better health outcomes. The communication and critical thinking skills in analyzing policy proposal implications to various populations have improved after this course. It has spurred me on more than ever to seek out leadership roles and to use my voice to work for underserved communities. In conclusion, this course has set me on not only being a more informed and empowered practitioner, but more so, it has ignited my interest in and passion for a lifelong engagement in health care policy and reform. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Day, S., Acquafredda, E., Humphrey, J., Johnson, M., Fitzpatrick, M., Spasojevic, J., & Konty, K. (2022). The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene School Vision Program: A description of program expansion. PLOS ONE, 17(1), e0261299.