NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion

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NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion, it is essential 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 audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can 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, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the 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 PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in 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 about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start 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 NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion

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 conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. 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 Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight 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 NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting 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. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion

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

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion Instructions

Purpose 

The purpose of this assignment is to discuss healthcare policy of the APN profession and how Transformational Leadership can help to influence policy changes. This week’s assignment focuses on the APN as a Health Policy Leader, one of the nine NONPF NP competencies.  Students will analyze how health policy may affect NP practice and how Transformational Leadership can help to influence policy changes. Have a look at NR506 Week 8 Reflection on Achievement of Outcomes Discussion.

Activity Learning Outcomes 

Through this discussion, the student will demonstrate the ability to: 

  1. Critically analyze how healthcare systems and APRN practice are organized and influenced by ethical, legal, economic and political factors (CO2) 
  2. Demonstrate professional and personal growth concerning the advocacy role of the advanced practice nursing in fostering policy within diverse healthcare settings (CO3) 
  3. Advocate for institutional, local, national and international policies that fosters person-centered healthcare and nursing practice (CO4) 
Requirements: 

Criteria for Content 

  • Explanation of how healthcare policy can impact the advanced practice nurse profession 
  • Explanation of why advocacy is considered an essential component of the advance practice nurse’s role
  • Discuss the four pillars of Transformational leadership and the effect it may have on influencing policy change
  • A scholarly resource must be used for EACH discussion question each week.
DISCUSSION CONTENT 
Category Points % Description 
Explanation of how healthcare policy can impact the advanced practice nurse profession   25 25% Research healthcare policy for APNs on a state and national level and the impact on the APN profession 
Explanation of why advocacy is considered an essential component of the advance practice nurse’s role   25 25% Describe advocacy in healthcare terminology.  Discuss how advocacy is an essential role of the APN and the impact on patient care.       
Discuss the four pillars of Transformational leadership and the effect it may have on influencing policy change   25 25% Define Transformational leadership.  Discuss how Transformational Leadership may have an effect on influencing policy change 
   Total CONTENT Points= 75 pts 

NR506 Week 7 APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders Discussion Example

APNs as Healthcare Policy Leaders

Leadership is a universally recognized responsibility of advanced practice nurses (APNs). APNs are anticipated to exhibit advanced leadership competencies in their respective roles; however, there is a scarcity of comprehensive explanations regarding the definition of advanced leadership and its practical implementation within healthcare settings and policy processes. The objective of this discussion is to explore the healthcare policy of the APN profession and examine the potential impact of transformational leadership in driving policy reforms.

Impact of Healthcare Policy on the Advanced Practice Nurse Profession

At the state level, various policies impact the APN profession. The regulations governing the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) differ from state to state. In certain states, APNs are granted full practice authority, which allows them to work independently, prescribe medication, and perform various medical procedures without the need for physician supervision. However, other states have more restrictive regulations that necessitate a collaborative agreement with a physician. The ability of APNs to prescribe medications also varies depending on the state.

While some states grant APNs full prescribing privileges, others may impose limitations or require collaboration with physicians. Furthermore, state-specific reimbursement policies have a significant impact on the financial aspects of APN practice. APNS must understand how insurance providers reimburse for their services to ensure the sustainability of the profession. Federal policies, including those from CMS, can significantly affect APN practice (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, n.d.). Changes in reimbursement policies, quality reporting requirements, and national healthcare reform initiatives can all impact APN care. Workforce policies related to APN education and training can also influence the profession’s growth.

Policy Advocacy as an Essential Role for APN

Advocacy plays a vital role in promoting the overall well-being of individuals, communities, and the nursing profession. It goes beyond providing direct patient care and encompasses a range of actions. Engaging in political processes to initiate, enact, and enforce structural and policy changes is a common practice that benefits populations (Chiu et al., 2021). There are several important reasons why advocacy is crucial for Advanced Practice Nurses (Williams et al., 2018).

Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) have an important responsibility in promoting the well-being of underprivileged communities by proposing strategies to break the chain of inadequate health, poverty, and disadvantages (Wheeler et al., 2022). They have a moral obligation to ensure the welfare of all patients and can encourage policymakers to implement improved healthcare policies, such as assessing the social determinants of health and designing personalized care plans tailored to individual needs.

Transformational Leadership and Policy Change

Transformational leadership emphasizes building positive relationships and efficient processes. Leaders should create a shared vision and empower stakeholders to mobilize and support policy changes. Intellectual stimulation promotes knowledge sharing and innovative ideas, while inspirational motivation motivates people to accept changes for the future of healthcare. Transformational leaders can influence their employees by instilling values such as honesty, loyalty, and fairness (Asif et al., 2019).

They also emphasize other values, such as justice, equality, and human rights, while driving organizational changes. Transformational leaders possess the ability to motivate their employees to take on self-leadership roles and cooperate through their charismatic personalities, behavior, and relationships, which can drive policy change within an organization or healthcare system (Ghorbani et al., 2023). These leaders possess an inherent drive to make sacrifices and consider the benefits of the larger society and the organization.

Conclusion

As an integral part of their role, Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) engage in advocacy to promote the well-being of patients, the nursing profession, and their communities. Advocacy empowers APNs to be effective voices for patients and address barriers to accessing and navigating complex healthcare systems. APNs also advocate for evidence-based practices, policies, and legislation to secure professional autonomy. Advocacy efforts also include educating the public, fostering interprofessional collaboration, and promoting health equity by addressing the social determinants of health.

References

Asif, M., Jameel, A., Hussain, A., Hwang, J., & Sahito, N. (2019). Linking transformational leadership with nurse-assessed adverse patient outcomes and the quality of care: Assessing the role of job satisfaction and structural empowerment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), 2381. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132381

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicaid Eligibility. Medicaid.gov. Accessed December 7, 2023, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/index.html

Chiu, P., Cummings, G. G., Thorne, S., & Schick-Makaroff, K. (2021). Policy advocacy and nursing organizations: A scoping review. Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 22(4), 271–291. https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544211050611

Ghorbani, A., Mohammadi, N., Rooddehghan, Z., Bakhshi, F., & Nasrabadi, A. N. (2023). Transformational leadership in the development of transformative education in nursing: a qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 22(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01154-z

Wheeler, K. J., Miller, M., Pulcini, J., Gray, D., Ladd, E., & Rayens, M. K. (2022). Advanced practice nursing roles, regulation, education, and practice: A global study. Annals of Global Health, 88(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3698

Williams, S., Phillips, J., & Koyama, K. (2018). Nurse Advocacy: Adopting a health in all policies approach. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(3). https://doi.org/10.3912/ojin.vol23no03man01