NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

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NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony – Step-by-Step Guide With Example Solution

The first step before starting to write the NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony is to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the paper’s audience and purpose, as this will help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, review its use, including writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review the formatting requirements for the title page and headings in the paper, as outlined by Chamberlain University.

How to Research and Prepare for NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify a list of keywords related to your topic using various combinations. The first step is to visit the Chamberlain University library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from the Chamberlain University Library, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last 5 years and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, such as APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next, create a detailed outline of the paper to help you develop headings and subheadings for the content. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part, as it helps provide the context of your work and determines whether the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. Begin with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence collected from the research, and ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance, as well as how it relates to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

In-text citations help readers give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their work. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

“The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Morelli et al. (2024), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Alawiye (2024) highlights that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.”

How to Write the Conclusion for NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restating your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. Conclude with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader or offers recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically, and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Morelli, S., Daniele, C., D’Avenio, G., Grigioni, M., & Giansanti, D. (2024). Optimizing telehealth: Leveraging Key Performance Indicators for enhanced telehealth and digital healthcare outcomes (Telemechron Study). Healthcare, 12(13), 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131319

Alawiye, T. (2024). The impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 13, 13-22. 10.4236/etsn.2024.132002.

NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony Instructions

Purpose

The purpose of this discussion is to demonstrate advocacy skills in health policy related to the selected population and practice problem. This week, you discovered that the DNP-prepared nurse needs to develop an advocacy plan to impact healthcare policy with an emphasis on population health. In this discussion, you will create written testimony that can be used to advocate for change to improve the outcomes for your selected population and practice problem. The next class after NR717 is NR706 Week 1 Nursing Informatics and Health Information Technology Systems.

Instructions

Review the lesson and readings about advocacy, especially the Jurns (2019) article on ISBAR. Then, using the population, population problem, and policy from previous weeks, prepare written testimony advocating for policy change or implementation. Using the ISBAR format presented by Jurns (2019), provide written testimony about policy change you would like to propose. You may address any policymaker from the local to national level but please identify your audience.

(I) Identify

  • Address the person to whom you are speaking.
  • Introduce self and provide credentials.
  • Present expertise/experience and interest in issue.

(S) Situation

  • Describe the issue.
  • Identify the policy and provide the bill name and number if applicable.
  • Present the consequences if the policy is not enacted using data.

(B) Background

  • Acknowledge the decisionmaker’s interests.
  • Restate your expertise and ability to comment on the issue.
  • Share a personal note of interest or brief story.

(A) Assessment

  • Give your expert professional assessment of the situation.
  • Provide evidence supporting how the policy positively affects stakeholders.
  • Identify support from stakeholders, special interest groups, and/or coalitions.

(R) Recommendation/Request

  • Offer your recommendation for a course of action.
  • Thank the policymaker for their time/attention.
  • Offer your assistance and expertise.

Salutation

  • Your name and title
  • Credentials
  • Contact information 

Please click on the following link to review the DNP Discussion Guidelines on the Student Resource Center program page:

  • Link (webpage): DNP Discussion Guidelines.
Program Competencies

This discussion enables the student to meet the following program competencies:

  • Analyzes health care policies to advocate for equitable health care and social justice to all populations and those at risk due to social determinants of health. (POs 2, 9)
  • Translates a synthesis of research and population data to support preventative care and improve the nation’s health. (PO 1)
  • Leads others in professional identity, advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, resilience, and accountability in selecting, implementing, and evaluating clinical care. (PO 1)
Course Outcomes

This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:

  1. Critically analyze the history, formation, and implementation of local, state and national health policies from the perspectives of stakeholders and the profession of nursing. (PC 5; PO 2)
  2. Synthesize ethical and legal principles to advocate for value-based, equitable, and ethical health policies at the micro, meso, and macrosystem levels. (PC 5; PO 9)
  3. Assimilate epidemiology principles and interventions to impact the social determinants of health, Global Burden of Disease, and population health outcomes. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
  4. Formulate strategies for providing culturally relevant and high-quality healthcare to vulnerable and high-risk populations to address social injustice and health inequities. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
  5. Demonstrate collaborative interprofessional leadership and political competency to develop and implement healthcare policy to improve healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. (PC 5; PO 2)

NR717 Week 7 Discussion | Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony Example

Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony

(I) Identify

My name is (Nurse name and designation); I am a nurse at 640 Jackson St Parking Hospital, Jackson, Minnesota. I am currently in pursuit of a master’s in (Specialization). I have lived and practiced in this area for over three years. I am interested in the high health disparities among African Americans in Jackson, Mississippi. More cases of heart disease and hypertension are reported among the black population than the white population. Evidence suggests that the quality of healthcare services given to the African American population is inferior to that accorded to whites.

(S) Situation

As an experienced healthcare worker, I am concerned about the staggering number of patients who present to the hospitals with heart disease and hypertension, especially among African Americans. The public healthcare system needs to innovate ways to have this under control. If health disparities are not addressed, a substantial amount of taxpayers’ finances, in the tune of billions of dollars, will be used to treat these cases.

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 was adopted to ensure all people have access to quality healthcare without financial hardships. Through Medicare and Medicaid, these people can access care and management of their conditions. Despite the availability of funds through the act, there are no adequate measures that have been put in place to control hypertension and heart diseases among the populations, even though they are preventable (Di Palo & Barone, 2020).

There is not enough public awareness about the effects of health disparities and how they can negatively influence the health of those affected by these deplorable conditions (Di Palo & Barone, 2020). African Americans have lost trust in the current healthcare system, and all agree that tremendous adjustments must be made to meet their healthcare needs. The proposed resolution is that healthcare accessibility should be extended to disadvantaged populations, and health awareness about health disparities should be implemented.

(B) Background

Your tenure has seen increased efforts in fighting the existing health disparities. I have worked in the state for over three years and have been part of a workforce that aims to reduce health disparities in Jackson. These enormous experiences have made me proficient in these matters. There is a disproportionately high rate of hypertension and heart disease among African-Americans in the United States (Ogunniyi et al., 2021).

Almost half of all Black adults have hypertension. Black people also suffer from significantly higher rates of extremely high blood pressure and an earlier onset of the condition than any other demographic (Ogunniyi et al., 2021). Some of these numbers can be attributed to historical and systemic reasons. Inadequate healthcare access, unhealthy food options, and other socioeconomic factors contribute to the observed disparities (Spruce, 2019).

Lower adherence to blood pressure drugs may be caused by several factors, including difficulty getting prescriptions and distrust of healthcare workers based on prior discrimination. To obtain the desired blood pressure (BP) management, two or more drugs may be necessary for some African Americans. I am interested in fighting these disparities because I saw the misery these patients experienced in my neighborhood while growing up. I vowed to make efforts to change this situation as a healthcare worker. I believe in equity and serving all humankind regardless of their background.

  • Assessment

Health disparities still exist in modern-day healthcare. There are discernible differences in disease rates among the African Americans in Jackson, Mississippi, compared to their counterparts. Most of these disparities exist due to a lack of public awareness, prejudices among healthcare workers, and the effects of social determinants of health (Di Palo & Barone, 2020). Adopting the ACA has positively affected the population of interest as the primary stakeholders.

African Americans in Jackson can now access healthcare through Medicare and Medicaid provided by the ACA. Their health outcomes are improving daily, and with increased efforts to make healthcare more affordable and enhance public awareness, they will continue to improve in the future. New stakeholders have joined the fight to decrease health disparities. For instance, the Jackson Heart Study is a private organization that researches heart disease in the population and develops measures to control it. More stakeholders are expected to join the fight in the future.

(R) Recommendations

Health disparities affect access to work, inexpensive, healthy meals, medical treatment, and other essential health and wellness determinants. Nutrition policies and programs, such as those that encourage the establishment of small stores in low-income communities and efforts to promote the consumption and cultivation of healthy foods, should be adopted (Benson & Koroshetz, 2022). Providing high-quality education to low-income communities of color can improve students’ health and promote health equity (Benson & Koroshetz, 2022). To sum it up, all initiatives adopted should aim at decreasing the effects caused by social determinants of health in this vulnerable population. I assure you that you can count on my service to help promote health equity. Thank you for your time. I wish you success in improving the health of the population.

Yours sincerely,

Your name and title

Credentials

Contact information 

References

Benson, T., & Koroshetz, J. (2022). Health disparities: Research that matters. Stroke, 53(3), 663–669. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.121.035087

Di Palo, E., & Barone, J. (2020). Hypertension and heart failure. Heart Failure Clinics, 16(1), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hfc.2019.09.001

Ogunniyi, O., Commodore-Mensah, Y., & Ferdinand, C. (2021). Race, ethnicity, hypertension, and heart disease: JACC focus seminar 1/9. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 78(24), 2460–2470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2021.06.017

Spruce, L. (2019). Back to basics: Social determinants of health. AORN Journal, 110(1), 60–69. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.12722