Discussion

Discussion: Trends Influencing Access and Equity in Health CareVast changes in health care require nurses to be prepared to advocate effectively for improved health outcomes for all Americans, measured by quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness. In order to be effective advocates, nurses must be full partners in shaping health and social policy.A main part of your experience in this course involves a Position Paper shaped around a health care policy that you will choose this week. Examples of health policies include needle exchange programs, death pronouncement by nurses, the Death with Dignity Act, BSN legislation, staffing legislation, meaningful use legislation, and medical use of marijuana.Beginning with this Discussion, you will carry your selected policy throughout the course and into your Position Paper. Your Assignments for Weeks 2 and 3 will be formed around your selected policy. Select a policy that you have personal experience with and that you feel strongly about.To prepare for this Discussion, review the following: • AWE Checklist (Level 4000) • Discussion Rubric, provided in the Course Information area • This week’s Writing Resources and Program Success Tools (link to e-guide) • This week’s readings in the Learning Resources pertaining to various and changing health advocacy and health policy initiatives • Mason, D. J., Gardner, D. B., Outlaw, F. H., & O’Grady, E. T. (2016). Policy & politics in nursing and health care (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. • Foreword, “Mary Wakefield” (p. xxiv) • Chapter 1, “Frameworks for Action in Policy and Politics” (pp. 1–21) • Chapter 2, “An Historical Perspective on Politics, Policy, and Nursing” (pp. 22–29) • Chapter 3, “Advocacy in Nursing and Health Care” (pp. 30–37) • Chapter 4, “Learning the Ropes of Policy and Politics” (pp. 38–48)