delivering new updated health care polices H e a l t h M e d i c a l

Explanation of how healthcare policy can impact the advanced practice nurse profession

Healthcare policy can impact the advance nurse practice by either limiting or maximizing their ability to provide the most effective patient quality of care with the support of the current evidence-based practice. Addressing health care policies is very crucial in the nursing field. Health care is advancing at such a fast rate with the use of technology and science. Delivering new updated health care polices, methods, and theories are important to stay current with the ever-evolving health care. Our unique discipline involves nursing to incorporate multiple health care disciplines in order to maximize our plan of care.

Collaborative agreements effects nurse practitioners within the workforce. Evidence proves 13% higher odds of a nurse practitioner working in states with full practice authority (Barnes et al., 2017). In addition, studies show these odds may increase to 20% when health care reimburse nurse practitioner at a 100% (Barnes et al., 2017). This proves both health care reimbursement rates and collaboration agreements with a physician are limiting factors for nurse practitioners. As a result, nurse practitioners are being steered away from primary care, which is being in demand due to the shortage of health care providers.

In addition, increase Medicaid insurance have proven to show increase in beneficiaries’ satisfaction (Barnes et al., 2017). A negative impact is proven to be in those states which have lower Medicaid physician fees. Studies prove physicians are less likely to care for new patients whom have reimbursements rates of 75% to 100% of the physician’s rates (Barnes et al., 2017). This discourages physicians from providing care within a particular geographical area and without full practice authority nurse practitioners will be limited in providing care within that geographical location as well. This will negatively affect the population health within the community by inhibiting it from evolving with science and technology.

Why advocacy is considered an essential component of the advance practice nurse’s role

As nursing in general, it is our duty to advocate for our patients and their families by respecting their values and believes in order to guide them throughout their decision-making process (Choi, 2015). This is an important concept to understand and promote because nursing spends the most time with the patients than any other health care provider and if we don’t advocate for our patients then who will? Furthermore, as advance nurse practitioners it is our role to expand, microsocial levels to the macrosocial levels and address health care polices in order to minimize health disparities, poverty, cultural differences, or any economic inequalities which may limit health care access (Choi, 2015). We need to think of the population community as a whole with its sub parts of physical, social, economic, and political factors which effects, health care access, quality of care, and the outcome of patient care.

Advocacy is directed to reduce barriers and promote population health by contributing to policy making, educate stakeholders, and steering specific stakeholders together to form a common purpose to improve and change health care policies (Choi, 2015). This can be done by studying individual stakeholders and targeting specific lobbyist whom have the same values and beliefs in what is being targeted in order to promote self-encouragement into policy making. In addition, as nurse practitioners advocating for our patients and their families should be priority, this can be through a state level of enforcing healthcare reimbursement, insurance authorization denials, or delays in coverage in order to provide a holistic person-centered care model (Choi, 2015).

Four pillars of Transformational leadership and their effects on influencing policy change

The four pillars of transformational leadership are: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration (Fischer, 2017). Idealized influence focuses on being a positive behavioral role model for an organization (Fischer, 2017). This form of leadership influences advocacy for patient rights which are compromised from being treated. Inspirational motivation leaders are focused on analyzing the current drawbacks and articulating a vision to improve organizational concerns for the greater good (Fischer, 2017) In additional, emotional investment from this form of leadership will promote inspiration and motivation towards patient centered care (Fischer, 2017). Intellectual stimulation encourages and promotes staff to voice their opinions and challenge the status quo, to use higher level of abstract thinking to change the mundane into more advance evidence base- interventions (Fischer, 2017). Individualized consideration is an intrinsic concern of addressing the needs and feelings of others. This form of leadership is usually self-motivated staff whom empower other colleagues and encourage a positive organizational environment to illustrate an acceptable level of practice (Fischer, 2017). Improving staff engagement is proven to influence coworkers to make positive changes within the health care policies, a few examples, are addressing patient safety concerns, job satisfaction, and patient and family outcomes (Fischer, 2017).

Overall, transformational leader uses their individual strength and power to motivate others to follow their envisions. Trust is important to their followers in order to provide patient centered care rather than providing care based on their own interest. This pivotal role contributes to policy development to enhance health care services (Fischer, 2017). Study suggest, transformational leaders can influence policy change by taking their envisions and address current issues within a facility, in order to improve job satisfaction, which in return will improve health care outcomes, and promote acceptable standards within a facility (Fischer, 2017). Also, creating a shared vision within an organization will embrace coworkers to challenge processes which are ineffective to improve policy in the fast-evolving health care.

References

Barnes, H., Maier, C. B., Sarik, D. A., Germack, H. D., Aiken, L. H., & McHugh, M. D. (2017). Effects of regulation and payment policies on nurse practitioners’ clinical practices. Medical Care Research and Review, 74(4), 431-451. https://doi.10.1177/1077558716649109 (Links to an external site.)

Choi, P. P. (2015). Patient advocacy: The role of the nurse. Nursing Standard, 29(41), 52-58.

Fischer, S. A. (2017). Developing nurses’ transformational leadership skills. Nursing Standard, 31(51), 54-61. https://doi.10.7748/ns.2017.e10857