NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NURSING PROFESSION ISSUES
What issues are affecting healthcare? How do these issues affect you, your practice, and/or your organization? How do these issues affect your patients?
Throughout this course you have identified and supported an advocacy priority, focusing specifically on how best to move the agenda forward. Now is your opportunity to explore a specific issue affecting the nursing profession in the United States and a global health issues.. Nurses hold a front row seat to what is happening in healthcare. Nurses can see what is working and what is not working in the field on a daily basis. While it can be easy to focus specifically on our own practice and organization, healthcare is a global practice. And considering the impact of global initiatives, policy issues affecting nurses on a global scale can help us to better understand, remedy, connect, and even prepare for current or potential national issues.
For this Discussion, consider what you have learned thus far about the political and social determinants of health and healthcare policy and advocacy. Identify a nursing issue that many impact you. What can be done about this issue? Who is impacted by this issue? How might policy remedy this issue?
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
· Dawes, D. E. (2020).
The political determinants of health. Johns Hopkins University Press.
· Chapter 4, “How the Game is Played: Successful Employment of the Political Determinants of Health” (pp. 78–111)
· Porche, D. J. (2023).
Health policy: Applications for nurses and other healthcare professionals (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
· Chapter 13, “Board Governance and Policy Leadership” (pp. 185–192)
· Chapter 14, “Institutional and Organizational/ Association Policy” (pp. 193–199)
· Chapter 17, “Policy Institutes” (pp. 255–264)
· American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. (2022).
Advocacy and policyLinks to an external site.
.
· American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2022).
AANP advocacy: Championing the NP role and amplifying the NP voiceLinks to an external site.
.
· American Nurses Association. (2018).
ANA advocacy toolkitLinks to an external site.
.
· American Nurses Association. (n.d.).
Nurses serving in congressLinks to an external site.
.
· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Policy, Performance, and Evaluation. (2021).
Resources for writing briefsLinks to an external site.
.
· IDRC. (n.d.).
How to write a policy briefLinks to an external site.
.
· International Council of Nurses. (n.d.).
to an external site.
· International Council of Nurses. (2022).
Nursing policyLinks to an external site.
.
· National League for Nursing. (2022).
Public policyLinks to an external site.
.
· National League for Nursing. (2022).
Toolkit homeLinks to an external site.
.
· Open Secrets. (2021).
Health professionalsLinks to an external site.
: Summary.
· Pitsker, K. (2019, November 26). How to run for local office.
KiplingerLinks to an external site.
.
·
She Should RunLinks to an external site.. (2020).
to an external site.
Note: Explore this site on the topic of “Running for Elected Office.” You will need to join (free) to access the self-quizzes and materials.
· United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable development goals:
17 goals to transform our worldLinks to an external site.
.
· Weakley, S., & Tarrega, M. (n.d.).
How to write a policy briefLinks to an external site.
.
·
Document:
Global Issues Impacting Nursing
Download Global Issues Impacting Nursing(PDF)
· American Nurses Association. (2021, May 11). RNAction:
When nurses speak, Washington listensLinks to an external site.
[Video].
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 1 minute.
· Parks, M., & Weiner, C. (2019, October 19).
How to run for officeLinks to an external site.
[Multimedia]. NPR.
To Prepare:
· Review resources about nursing profession issues in the United States. Look specifically at the NLN and ANA website resources.
· Review the global issues explored by the International Council of Nurses.
· Consider a nursing issue that may impact you.
· Consider what might be done about this issue.
By Day 3 of Week 8
Select a nursing profession issue happening in the United States or a global health issue.
Post a response detailing the following:
· Provide a clear and detailed description of the nursing profession issue.
· Explain how you might be impacted by this issue.
· Explore how this issue might be addressed and/or remedied through policy.
By Day 6 of Week 8
Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts.
Respond to
at least two of your colleagues on
2 different days by supporting or expanding on the ideas identified by your colleagues or sharing additional perspectives on the issue described by your colleagues.
RESPOND TO THE DISCUSSION POST
Bibi Ndu
National and Global Nursing Profession Issues
The issue of safe working conditions and occupational health are critical concerns within the nursing profession, as nurses often face unique and multifaceted occupational hazards. These include exposure to infectious diseases, physical injuries from lifting patients, workplace violence, and mental health challenges such as burnout and compassion fatigue (Schulte et al., 2022). According to various studies, healthcare workers, including nurses, experience some of the highest rates of musculoskeletal injuries, with over 50% reporting back pain attributed to patient handling (Schulte et al., 2022). Furthermore, a 2021 report from the American Nurses Association (ANA) revealed that 44% of nurses experienced physical violence and 68% verbal abuse within the previous year, underscoring the pervasive risks of workplace violence in healthcare settings (Schulte et al., 2022).
The impact of this issue extends beyond individual nurses to affect the quality of patient care. Nurses working in unsafe conditions often report lower job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions, which exacerbates staffing shortages and increases the workload for the remaining staff (Schulte et al., 2022). This creates a cyclical strain that compromises worker well-being and patient safety (Schulte et al., 2022). For me, as a mental health nurse, unsafe working conditions increase the risk of burnout, impacting my ability to provide optimal care. In high-stress environments, such as the emergency department, which I find myself in many times due to the nature of my role, inadequate staffing or support often leads to emotional exhaustion and could ultimately hinder my professional growth and resilience.
Addressing the issue of safe working conditions and occupational health requires comprehensive policy interventions. Implementing evidence-based, safe patient handling programs, such as using mechanical lifts and providing adequate staffing ratios, can significantly reduce the risk of physical injuries (González‐Caballero, 2024). Additionally, legislative measures like the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, currently under consideration in the U.S. Congress, aim to mandate the development of workplace violence prevention plans, thereby addressing one of the most pervasive risks in nursing (González‐Caballero, 2024). Hospitals and healthcare organizations must also prioritize mental health resources for nurses, including access to counseling services, stress management programs, and mental health days (Kulchania, 2021).
To ensure effectiveness, policies must be informed by robust data collection and stakeholder engagement. Engaging nurses in policy development ensures that interventions address the realities of clinical practice (Kulchania, 2021). Moreover, regulatory bodies like OSHA and state boards of nursing should enforce compliance with safety standards, holding healthcare organizations accountable for creating safe and supportive work environments (Kulchania, 2021). These measures can collectively foster a culture of safety, protect the health of nursing professionals, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.
References
González‐Caballero, J. (2024). Occupational health nursing and political action.
International Nursing Review.
Kulchania, S. K. (2021). Occupational safety for nurses.
International Journal of Nursing Education and Research,
9(3), 370-372.
Schulte, P. A., Iavicoli, I., Fontana, L., Leka, S., Dollard, M. F., Salmen-Navarro, A., … & Fischer, F. M. (2022). Occupational safety and health staging framework for decent work.
International journal of environmental research and public health,
19(17), 10842.
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