Position Paper: Advocacy Letter

ADVOCACY ASSIGNMENT

Nursing 492 – Community Health

Purpose of Assignment

Purpose:

The purpose is to allow the student the opportunity to complete an in-depth analysis of a health issue in order to serve as an expert witness advocating for community health nursing and consumers. An issue involves controversy and therefore may include positive and negative aspects. Students are expected to present a sound logical argument regarding the issue assigned

Student Approach to Assignment

Initially, I began an investigation of current health issues today’s nurses are facing. One health issue that captured my interest was establishing a system to identify patients who need palliative care and providing them with information and access to services. . After researching the benefits of providing palliative care options to chronic patients on patient safety and outcomes, I determined that this was a health issue that I could stand behind and advocate for. After adequate research, I wrote a persuasive letter to Congressman Tammy Baldwin in regards to supporting the bill HB 473 Palliative Care Information and Education program I urged him to support the bill by highlighting the benefits of providing palliative care to both patients and nurses.

Reason for Inclusion

Communication

· Expresses oneself and communicates effectively with diverse groups and disciplines using a variety of media in a variety of contexts.

This assignment allowed me the opportunity to communicate about quality patient care and nursing practice to someone who is not a health care professional. The goal of my letter was to persuade him to care about patients in need of palliative care. This persuasion required me to confidently take a stance and to communicate effectively so it interests the reader.

Professionalism

· Understands the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and health care delivery, as well as limits to one’s own scope of practice.

This assignment allowed me to learner further both the legal and regulatory processes related to nursing practice. I researched the affordability and practicality of palliative care programs at various hospitals. The main benefit of putting this bill in to law is that it will help to keep chronic patients comfortable and keep costs low for hospitals to implement .

Culture

· Considers the impact of research outcomes and, the effect of health and social policies, on persons from diverse backgrounds.

Research showed that lack of access to palliative care showed significantly poor patient outcomes and sometimes death. With the implementation of the program patient satisfaction and outcomes will improve. The overall quality of care provided to all patients would easily be impacted and hospitals would save money in the long term.