Assignment task: Healthcare Policy and Analysis
Legal, Ethical, Political, and Social Factors
Discussion Problem:
Introduction
Politics, policy, and law are not often the first words we think of when describing healthcare; however, these three words have a huge impact on public health. Consider for a moment the Affordable Care Act that became a law in 2010. This act sought to reduce the number of uninsured Americans to facilitate healthcare coverage for many that had never had the opportunity. As a result, the healthcare system was forever changed. How might politics, policy, and law impact healthcare in the future?
During the next week, you will explore role of politics, policy, and law on the protection of vulnerable, marginalized, and underserved populations. You will also explore the role of nursing values and professional ethics on setting policy agenda. You will explore both of these areas through your selected advocacy priority.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the role that politics, policy, and the law have in protecting the rights of vulnerable or marginalized populations
- Describe how nursing values and professional ethics statements play a role in setting a policy agenda
Nursing Values and Professional Ethics:
What is the importance of values and ethics? Values and ethics set the tone for human behavior. Values and ethics determine how we interact with the world, with those around us, and with ourselves. Values and ethics provide the framework for how we view the world, as well as what we put out into it. Nursing values and professional ethics are no different. These values and ethics determine the code by which we care, communicate, and approach the job of nursing.
So, what role do nursing values and professional ethics play on public health and policy?
For this Discussion, you will consider the role of nursing values and professional ethics on your selected advocacy issue. You will also consider the impact of law, politics, and ethics on the issue.
Resources:
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Required Readings:
- Dawes, D. E. (2020). The political determinants of health. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Chapter 2, "Setting the Precedent: America's Attempts to Address the Political Determinants of Health Inequalities" (pp. 18-40)
- Porche, D. J. (2023). Health policy: Applications for nurses and other healthcare professionals (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Chapter 16, "Policy, Law, and Politics: Ethical Perspective" (pp. 239-254)
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretative statements
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Chapter 1. Social contract theory: This profession called "nursing," and its rights, privileges, and obligations. In Guide to nursing's social policy statement
- Satcher Health Leadership Institute. (n.d.). COVID-19 fact sheets [Infographics].
To Prepare:
- Review the resources about nursing values and professional ethics.
- Review your identified population from Weeks 1 and 2.
- Consider the connection to nursing values and professional ethics to your identified advocacy priority.
Post a response detailing the following:
- Describe the nursing values and professional ethics related to the advocacy priority identified for the selected population. Need Assignment Help service?
- Why do our nursing values and ethics demand it be on the agenda?
- Compare the role of law, ethics, or politics on the population identified in your Week 2 Advocacy Area Assignment. Consider which area (law, ethics, or politics) has the most impact on the area.