30 Jan DQ2 Contributing Factors

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 1 Discussion

DQ1 Connecting Workplace Issues With Policy

New information based on policy decisions locally, regionally, and nationally is often presented to staff by nurse leaders. Identify a recent change at your current, or most recent, workplace that was policy based. Discuss the policy and how the change supported positive patient outcomes.

DQ2 Problem Identification for Public and Policy Decision Makers

Nursing leaders and bedside staff are often confronted with problems that affect their workflow and ability to deliver best practices to their patients. One example of a policy that has been adopted by many healthcare organizations to reduce confusion and improve efficiency in communication is the use of the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, & Recommendation) tool to ensure clear, concise, and effective communication between professions. Describe a situation or issue that you see within your work environment or local community related to a healthcare issue, and describe what you believe the solution would look like.

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 2 Discussion

DQ1 Leading Change

Consider an educational or healthcare organization with which you are familiar. Analyze the organization with respect to its attitude toward change. Identify a healthcare policy that has been adopted by this organization and determine the change model used throughout the change process (if any). Include the history of the change in terms of how the issue was identified, who the stakeholders were, and how the implementation and evaluation were received.

DQ2 Applied Change Implementation

Identify a socially visible healthcare issue that you would like to see developed into a healthcare policy. It can be an issue that you are aware of through the course textbook, literature, peers, or through experiences with other healthcare systems. What change strategy could be developed to present to leaders within your healthcare organization?

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 3 Discussion

DQ1 Politics of Science Policy

Identify a current or previously funded National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) research study and identify the area of ‘determination of need’ that this research study addresses. Identify the population that the findings of this research support and list several potential outcomes and the policy that it would support. What are the key drivers of this issue?

DQ2 Building Research Locally; Supporting Research Nationally

Nursing leaders are often presented with problems and issues, some that are departmental and organizationally focused, and others that have wide national impact. Consider the different levels of challenge for the nursing leader that move from local to state to national health policy agenda. Consider one project, either one that is local OR one that has national implications, that created policy change and was implemented in your organization. What are the greatest challenges on the project for the leader within the context of healthcare policy and use of evidence support?

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 Social Visibility of Health Issue

Discuss how social visibility and financial cost impact healthcare policy.

DQ2 Analysis of Path to Recent Healthcare Policy

Think of a current health issue. Explain the path of this issue, from conception toward being in the forefront of society.

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 5 Discussion

DQ1 Imbedding Policy Into Healthcare Culture

From the perspective of the nursing leadership position that you expect to have upon graduation, consider how you would move a new healthcare policy into your healthcare organization. What would be the first steps taken with the organization’s leadership to gain buy-in?

DQ2 Leader Responsibility to Influence and Inform Healthcare Policy

Discuss the main task of leaders’ responsibility related to influencing and informing healthcare policy issues and how you will apply these tasks within your current role and/or expected role after graduation.

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1 Nurse Advocate Power

Nursing leaders are under pressure to share their professional expertise. What is your obligation as a professional nurse to advocate for healthcare policy issues? What are the influences that impact nursing advocacy in the healthcare policy realm? What skills should you gain to successfully advocate for change?

DQ2 Committees and Communication

Communication effectiveness is a key factor throughout nursing regardless of the level or type of practice. Select a specific venue where healthcare policy discussions may be held. What communication strategy would you use to communicate with stakeholders on politics, economics, team building, legal, or regulation?

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 7 Discussion

DQ1 Resource Appreciation

Share your experiences with interdisciplinary, community, state, and national individuals or special interest groups. How are healthcare issues approached? How do the views of non-healthcare professionals contribute to the healthcare policy discussion?

DQ2 Contributing Factors of Change

Considering the many factors that contribute to the change process, what are the most consistent factors that challenge nurse advocates seeking change?

NR554The Nurse Leader and Healthcare Policy

Week 8 Discussion

Future Work

How do you envision using concepts and skills learned in this course in your future work as a healthcare-policy nurse leader?