Advocacy through Legislation

Problem 

In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues. 

Nursing is a very demanding job as it requires a lot of efficiency and effectiveness in dealing with human lives. This also creates a problem to the nursing staff due to a large workload they are entitled to do and therefore, suffer from fatigue and stress issues as they carry on with their work. However, understaffing has been identified as the main obstacle in the nursing sector that has put the lives of nurses and patients at risk. According to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration researchers at the Columbia University School of Nursing found that there was a connection between nurse understaffing and an increase in infections that were associated with healthcare. The research had been carried over a period of five years and over a 100.000 patients were involved (LaMantia, 2019). 

Understaffing of nurses have brought up a lot of problems to the whole healthcare systems in all manner of ways. Nurses have been forced to stretch their working hours to ensure patients receive proper treatment and to cover for nurses who are absent. More working hours translates to more fatigue and working under stressful conditions. This reduces their effectiveness and efficiency of the nurses and thus they are unable to put more care when dealing with the patients. As a result patients have suffered by contracting other infections during treatment. Hospitals too have been on the receiving end as poor services has led to loss of revenue in lawsuits and compensation fees. 

Idea for Addressing Solution 

In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy. 

It is evident that nurse understaffing and fatigue are associated directly to affect the safety and care of patients. It is the responsibility of the nurses to ensure that they work with rational workload that they can properly cater for and one that guarantees safety of the patients. Moreover, nurses must ensure that their problems such as fatigue and difficult working conditions are recognized and addressed to prevent the issues becoming a safety concern. In order to achieve such measures, there is need to draft legislations that will protect the interest of the nurses and it is through advocacy that the plight of nurses can be addressed and solved. According to a publication in Minority Nurse, many of the registered nurses are familiar with the rights of the patients and are obliged to work hard to eliminate suffering and maintain respect for human dignity (Turner, 2018). 

Nurses faces the same legal issue as other employees (Turner, 2018). Therefore, it is necessary to introduce laws that will protect nurses from parties that try to infringe on their rights or exploit them. Having such legislation will improve the output of nurses by ensuring that they get adequate rest to calm their minds and relieve them of work pressure. Also it will ensure that they are not overworked and can hence ensure that the safety of the patients is not compromised. Nurses will then be able to work in favorable conditions bearing in mind that they are well protected. 

Research the Issue 

Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for addressing the problem (studies, research, and reports). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states. 

Stakeholder Support 

Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support. 

Reps. David Joyce (R-OH-14). 

Being a husband to a nurse, he admits the challenges that nurses face. Patient safety should always be a priority but when nurses are overworked and hospitals understaffed then ensuring patient safety becomes a challenge. 

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). 

The senator is also a husband to a nurse and thus he confesses to have experienced the challenges that nurses face. He admits that safe staffing reduces medical errors, it ensures patient receive quality care and chances of nurses leaving are minimal. 

Stakeholder Opposition 

Discuss the stakeholders who would oppose the proposed idea. Explain why they would be in opposition and how you would prepare to debate or converse about these considerations. 

Senator Richard Shelby 

Implementing the bill will increase the cost of operation for hospitals. This may cause the cost of services offered to rise and affect patients especially those who cannot afford basic healthcare services. 

Senator Dan Sullivan 

The bill might cause some facilities to close down due to huge operational cost of adhering to the requirements of the staff ratio. Closure of facilities will lead to lose of jobs and loss of revenue which is a huge drawback to the economy of the country. 

Financial Incentives/Costs 

In no more than 250 words, summarize the financial impact for the issue and the idea (added costs, cost savings, increased revenue, etc.). Provided support. 

A report by HPC sought to gain insight on the financial implication of safe staffing found that the health sector will receive both negative and positive impacts (Heath, 2018). It predicated that healthcare facilities will likely face cost escalations worth millions of shillings. These cost would arise due to the need of hiring new full-time nurses to fulfill the requirement of nurse-to-patient ratio. This will lead to increase in wages for the registered nurses. The cost for developing and implementing the ratio will also be another factor that will inflate the cost. 

However, there will also be benefits to be realized from the safe staffing issue. Hospitals will likely see savings due to reduction of adverse patient safety incidents and longer stays in hospitals due to quality care. Nurses will likely consider staying longer in their respective hospitals due to safer working environments and reduced incidents of burnouts. The job market will also enjoy its share of benefits as the demand for nurses will rise thereby creating more opportunities for nurses to fulfill the required staffing ratio and keep up with the patient needs. 

Legislature: Information Needed and Process for Proposal 

Discuss the how to advocate for your proposal using legislation. Include the following: 

Reps. David Joyce (R-OH-14) 

1124 Longworth HOB 

Washington, DC 20515 

Phone: (202) 225-5731 

Call the US Senate switchboard. 

Ask to speak with the scheduler, introduce yourself as a constituent and mention your place of residence. 

Tell the scheduler of the legislation you would like to discuss with your elected official and request for a meeting. 

Be sure to send a confirmation email or follow-up letter for your appointment. 

First, a representative sponsors a bill. 

The bill is assigned to a committee for study. 

If released by the committee, the bill is put on calendar to be voted on, debated or amended. 

If the bill passes by simple majority it proceeds to the senate. 

In the senate, it is reassigned to another committee for study and, if released, debated and voted on. 

If senate makes changes, it is returned to the House for concurrence. 

The resulting bill returns to the Senate and House for final approval. 

The president then has 10 days to veto or sign the final bill into law. 

Christian Principles and Nursing Advocacy 

In no more than 250 words, discuss how principles of a Christian worldview lend support to legislative advocacy in health care without bias. Be specific as to how these principles help advocate for inclusiveness and positive health outcomes for all populations, including those more vulnerable, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, religion/belief, etc. 

“ The uniqueness of Christ-inspired nursing lies in its emphasis on caring for the whole person as embodied, respecting each person as created in the image of God. It is both a science and an art, but primarily it is a response to God's grace and a reflection of his character” (Shelley and Miller, 2006). Nursing can be termed as an ideal profession where God’s love can be incorporated to patients and co-workers alike. Nurses struggle with holistic caring as the healthcare system challenges them with providing care that goes beyond medical model of meeting physical needs. Therefore, nurses should have a healthy spiritual live as it is very important in the nursing practice. 

Nursing requires accountability of the highest order as the profession requires the nurses to show care irrespective of the affiliation one identifies with. It also requires them to not only take care of the patients physically but also psychosocial and spiritually to enable them to heal inwards and outwards. Nursing requires one to have a heart of accommodation, to carry out initiatives without having to look who benefits or who is gaining more. Compassion to carry out their work without ill motives no matter how hard the situation or environment looks like.