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.
QUESTIONS
PLEASE ANSWER ALL 3 QUESTIONS BELOW THOROUGHLY.
1. Explanation of how healthcare policy can impact the advanced practice nurse profession?
2. Explanation of why advocacy is considered an essential component of the advance practice nurse\’s role?
3. Discuss the four pillars of Transformational leadership and the effect it may have on influencing policy change?
Advance Practice Nurse(APN) as Healthcare Policy Leaders
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Advance Practice Nurse(APN) as Healthcare Policy Leaders
Introduction
The primary aim of every health care system across the world is to ensure quality, safety, and excellent patient outcomes. To achieve this goal, proper health policies must be developed and implemented (Brassard et al., 2020). As a result, healthcare policy is an integral part of the U.S. healthcare system aimed at protecting the well-being of the entire population. In that regard, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the healthcare policy of the advanced practice nurse profession and how transformational leadership can influence policy changes.
Explanation of how healthcare policy can impact the advanced practice nurse profession?
Healthcare policy defines the entire healthcare landscape including patients and care providers. Advanced practice nurses are significantly impacted by health care policy both at the federal and state levels (Brassard et al., 2020). Healthcare policy defines the scope of practice for advanced practice nurse APNs. For instance, in some states, APNs are allowed full practice authority while in other states their work is restricted. APNs in some states are required to work under the strict supervision of a physician (Grace, 2018). Also, the law dictates APN prescription authority, licensure, accreditation, and educational requirements.
Explanation of why advocacy is considered an essential component of the advanced practice nurse\’s role?
Advocacy is an integral component of the advanced practice nurse’s role. Registered nurses and advanced practice nurses play a direct role in implementing, shaping, and assessing health care policies. APNs are both patient and staff advocates. They can influence health systems and organizations to enhance better health outcomes for the patients (Brassard et al., 2020). Nurse practitioners are often at the front line of care, hence, taking more time with patients. They understand the needs of patients, hence, can advocate for policies to address them. APNs can relay successes and limitations to policymakers, who can hone health policy accordingly (Grace, 2018). For instance, nurses may recognize when the cost of health care is not affordable to many patients and push for policies that aim to reduce the costs. At the organizational level, APNs may advocate for a better environment within the wards to enhance healing (Brassard et al., 2020). Therefore, advocacy is considered a critical component of advanced practice nursing.
Discuss the four pillars of Transformational leadership and the effect they may have on influencing policy change?
The four major pillars of transformational leadership include idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellection stimulation, and individual consideration. Idealized influence helps transformational leaders to become role models Julius (M’Lingera et al., 2020). In policy, leaders can be role models to promote policy adoption. Inspirational motivation allows leaders to motivate others to commit to the vision. Health leaders can motivate others to adhere to policy changes to improve patient outcomes. Intellectual stimulation enables leaders to emphasize critical thinking to encourage innovation and creativity. In healthcare, leaders can encourage staff to be creative in terms of policy changes, last but not least, is individual consideration which describes leaders who give employees a sense of ownership (M’Lingera et al., 2020). Leaders can encourage policy change by considering every individual’s interest to give everyone the feeling of ownership.
Conclusion
The main goal of healthcare professionals is to provide high-quality care and to improve patients’ health outcomes. Healthcare advocacy ensures that both patients and staff have better experience and outcomes in the healthcare facility. Advance practice nurses are significantly involved in advocacy. Healthcare policy shapes all aspects of health care including APN scope of practice. Four pillars of transformational leadership required to enhance policy change include idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration.
References
Brassard, A., Quinn, W. V., Little, P., & DiChiacchio, T. (2020). Advocacy for Nurses and Consumers. In Advanced Practice Nursing Leadership: A Global Perspective (pp. 313-326). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20550-8_23
Grace, P. J. (2018). Nursing ethics and professional responsibility in advanced practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Julius M’Lingera, Meeme & Guantai, Kiende. (2020). Nexus between Pillars of Transformational Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness: A Case of 21 st Century Organizations. IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM), 22. 01-13. https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-2203050113