Assignment: NRS 415 Creating Change Through Advocacy

Assignment: NRS 415 Creating Change Through Advocacy

Assignment: NRS 415 Creating Change Through Advocacy

NRS 415 Assignment: Creating Change Through Advocacy

The purpose of this assignment is to identify a problem or concern in your organization, local community, or state in which change can occur through advocacy and legislation.

Nurses often become motivated to change aspects within the larger health care system based on their real-world experience. As such, many nurses take on an advocacy role to influence a change in regulations, policies, and laws that govern the larger health care system.

Identify a problem or concern in your organization, local community, or state. Examples of problems relevant to nursing include, but are not limited to, title “nurse” protection, sharps injury prevention, nursing shortage, nurse well-being, valuation of nursing services, etc. Research the issue you selected and use the attached “Creating Change Through Advocacy” template to complete this assignment.

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You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies and professional standards:

RN-BSN

9.4: Comply with relevant laws, policies, and regulations.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education

This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 4.3, 9.4.

Attachments

NRS-415-RS-T3-Creating Change Through Advocacy.docx

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Creating Change Through Advocacy
Advocacy for change in healthcare provision is essential to improve health outcomes through the enactment of effective legislative measures in tackling healthcare issues affecting care delivery. As a core part of healthcare provision, nurses can create change through advocacy by engaging their elected representatives to present their proposed ideas to solve such issues (Luca et al., 2022). The opioid epidemic remains a national public health issue that requires more mitigation measures to reduce and prevent its occurrence in the community. Formulation of effective legislation can help healthcare providers develop and implement evidence-based practice (EBP) approaches to tackling the problem (Luo et al., 2021). Nurses can create change by advocating for better measures to reduce the prevalence of the problem. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the opioid epidemic and measures that nurses can take to create change through advocacy efforts.
Problem
In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.
The opioid epidemic is a national health concern that requires more measures to address. In their article, Klobucista et al. (2023) assert that the opioid epidemic is a prolonged problem that is threatening public health, economic output, and even national security. Statistical figures from different national drug agencies and institutions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that drug overdose deaths increased during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic by over 30%. The National Institute of Drug Abuse at the CDC asserts that over 106,000 persons died in the U.S. from drug-related overdose in 2021. CDC (2023) says that over three-quarters of close to 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved opioid use. The problem affects millions of Americans, especially those suffering from opioid use disorder. The CDC opines that for every drug overdose leading to death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each with a unique emotional and economic impact. According to the CDC (2022), close to 645,000 people have lost their lives due to overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids from 1999 to 2021. The implication is that addressing this issue is critical to improving health outcomes and reducing its consequences.
The continuation of the opioid epidemic will lead to serious health concerns and consequences, key among them mental health problems. In many instances, those who suffer from opioid use disorder are likely to have other mental health conditions. This implies that opioid use increases the possibility of mental health, a rise in the cost of health care, and the need for resource allocation (APA, 2023). Again, the opioid epidemic requires more healthcare providers, especially mental health practitioners to offer care to those recovering from opioid use disorder.
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.
Developing policies at both state and federal levels to address the opioid epidemic is critical to tackling this issue. Existing federal laws like the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act have been instrumental in developing interventions to tackle the opioid epidemic at the federal level. However, state policies across the nation, especially those affected most by the epidemic may also be critical to reducing the effects of the epidemic. State-based policies are essential as they consider the local dynamics concerning the opioid crisis and implement interventions like improved access to mental health services, better insurance coverage for the affected individuals, and more resources to reduce the power of big pharmaceutical companies that are the center of this epidemic. Again, legislation at the state level is critical to supporting the enacted federal policies and acts. Additionally, the federal government has enacted several acts like the 21st Century Cures Act, and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CBO, 2022). While these acts continue to have an impact on the severity of the epidemic, they are not making significant changes as expected to lower the negative effects of the opioid epidemic. As such, legislation at the state level could help bolster the national efforts at the federal level and improve the overall response to the problem. While the SUPPORT Act mandates state Medicaid programs to cater to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) that comprise all FDA-approved medications, counseling services, and behavioral therapy, it does not address efforts to reduce the supply of opioids and reduce their use. As such, having strong state-level policies will reduce the adverse effects of opioid use disorder among the most affected people in the country.
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.
Evidence 1 In their study, Grogan et al. (2020) assert that effective strategies to address the opioid epidemic are essential and should start at the state level. Based on Medicaid programs, such policies should seek ways to reduce and prevent the increased prevalence of opioids within the state jurisdiction. The article advances that having better policies buttressed on the Affordable Care Act’s expanded Medicaid program and state-level approaches to reducing harm is critical to addressing the opioid epidemic. The current policy designs emphasize devolution, fragmentation, and inequality which makes it difficult to address the epidemic.
Evidence 2 In its report, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (2022) advances that recent federal policy responses to the opioid crisis have not been sufficient because of limited commitment from states. The CBO asserts that effective interventions include addressing the factors that contribute to the crisis and the role of state legislation. The article notes that the federal government through Congress has enacted over four legislative policies on the opioid epidemic. However, the problem continues to increase in prevalence. As such, having supporting legislation at the state level will enhance efforts to address the problem.
Evidence 3 The article by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR, 2023) advances that federal actions to reduce and prevent opioids have led to better interventions but still do not address the sources of opioids. Therefore, state legislative policies that align with the federal ones should be enacted to reduce the negative effects of the epidemic.
Stakeholder Support
Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1 Nurses, especially psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), and other providers will support the idea because it will reduce cases of opioid use disorder and associated comorbidities. They will support the idea since it will enhance the management of the opioid epidemic from the state level to the national level.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 2 Regulatory agencies will also support this idea because it will bolster activities aimed at reducing the negative effects of the opioid epidemic both at the state and federal levels.
Stakeholder (s) Support 3 Communities and families of those affected by the opioid epidemic or use disorder will also support the intervention because it will reduce the burden of the problem. Communities and families continue to spend resources to help their kin affected by opioid use disorder.
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.
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 1 Big pharmaceutical companies may affect the proposed idea since it will lead to more scrutiny and streamline the distribution of medications. These companies have historically lobbied for softer policies on drug distribution and the use of opioids leading to the current epidemic. As such, it is essential to involve these companies to understand the effects of opioid use disorder, especially mortality and morbidity associated with the issue.
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 2 Conservative politicians, especially those with interests in reducing state expenditures, may oppose the idea. As noted, Medicaid expansion continues to face hurdles at the state level, particularly in Republican-led states. Therefore, these stakeholders may oppose the idea. The legislators opposed to the idea should consider the overall effects of the opioid epidemic and the need to address the source of the problem as opposed to addressing the effects.

Financial Incentives/Costs
In no more than 250 words, summarize the financial impact of the issue and the idea (added costs, cost savings, increased revenue, etc.). Provided support.
The opioid epidemic causes a lot of financial burden to taxpayers across the nation with conservative estimates showing that the healthcare system loses at least $5 billion each year to costs related to the problem. The financial burden emanating from the opioid epidemic hurts all people, including workers, families, business organizations, and agencies at the state and federal levels. The financial loss includes both resources spent directly due to the epidemic and the future resources that will be lost (Ropero-Miller et al., 2023). In their article, Jeri et al. (2019) estimate that close to $8 billion is used in the criminal justice system to address the epidemic. Again, Paris et al. (2023) explore the economic effects of the opioid epidemic, especially on the workforce the article is categorical that the epidemic has reduced the productivity and performance of workers in different sectors of the economy. As such, addressing the issue is critical to improving the overall satisfaction of employees and aligning resources to improve service delivery.
The proposed idea will reduce the cost of the opioid epidemic by ensuring that states have the capacities and resources to reduce and prevent the sources of opioids. The CDC (Luo et al., 2021) asserts that states continue to reel from the effects of the opioid epidemic, and having these policies will save them over $1 trillion. The report shows that all states spend millions of dollars to tackle the epidemic. Therefore, robust state-level policies will support federal efforts and help these governments save billions of dollars that can be directed to other areas of health delivery.
Legislature: Information Needed and Process for Proposal
Discuss how to advocate for your proposal using legislation. Include the following:
Provide the name and complete contact information for the legislator.
Describe the steps for how you would present this to your legislator. Presenting the idea to the legislator would entail seeking an audience with her by booking an appointment. The second step would entail gathering sufficient evidence based on facts from authoritative sources about the issue. Upon securing the appointment, I would make the case by presenting the report and asking the legislator to schedule the report for analysis. After the analysis, I would ask the legislator to consider the critical aspects of the presented idea for consideration during the state legislative sessions.
Interprofessional Collaboration in the Legislative Arena
In no more than 250 words, discuss the role inter-professional collaboration plays in advocacy through legislation
Inter-professional collaboration is a core part of advocacy as the nurse leader and other nurses will require input from different healthcare professionals. Inter-professional collaboration entails approaching patient care and healthcare issues from a team-based perspective, where teams comprise multiple health workers with varying professional backgrounds and skills. Through inter-professional collaboration in healthcare settings, multiple disciplines work more effectively as a team to assist in improving outcomes and dealing with health issues (Alderwick et al., 2021). As such, the use of inter-professional collaboration will be an indispensable part of this proposed solution as dealing with the opioid epidemic requires implementation of the interventions by all agencies and professionals. Advocacy requires gathering evidence that shall come from different sources while the providers will work collaboratively to implement measures that work in each state and their respective settings based on their uniqueness and patient care needs.
The use of inter-professional collaboration will implore nurses to develop common approaches to the proposed policy measures and implement them in their practice settings. As healthcare delivery becomes more interconnected, effective coordination among all stakeholders like nurses, physicians, social workers, and other disciplines becomes an indispensable part of improving the attainment of set goals (Gantayet-Mathur et al., 2022). Therefore, nurses and nurse leaders will work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including elected representatives, to advocate the need for state-based policies to reduce and prevent the increasing prevalence of opioids and their associated effects.
Leadership Competencies and Styles
The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) has identified leadership competencies relevant for nurse leaders to guide practice within the health care system. Describe two leadership competencies identified by the AONE that would also be necessary for a nurse to advocate for the legislative solution you have proposed. Discuss how the theory of servant leadership supports these competencies. This section should be addressed in no more than 250 words.
The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) asserts that nurse leaders should possess relevant competencies to guide their practice in the health system. Imperatively, the two leadership competencies necessary for nurses to advocate for legislative interventions are communication and relationship building and knowledge of the health care environment and clinical principles. These competencies are important as they allow the nurse leader to build relationships that enable them to interact and understand the problem at hand (Hughes et al., 2022). Again, communication is essential in developing relationships among the different agencies at the state and federal levels to address the identified problem through the proposed solution. For instance, presenting the idea to the legislator will require effective communication and knowledge of the healthcare environment, especially the negative effects of the epidemic on the healthcare system. The nurse leader should be aware of the dynamics in the health care system and their effects on overall access to associated services during the opioid epidemic. Leaders are only effective when they build teams and teamwork to solve problems like the opioid epidemic which is multidimensional and requires inter-professional collaboration among the different agencies and stakeholders at both state and federal level (Jalali et al., 2020). As such, lobbying for support for the proposed idea requires the nurse leaders to have effective communication skills and build positive relationships that will endure them with the different stakeholders. These competencies are essential in developing evidence-based practice (EBP) approaches to addressing the opioid epidemic at different levels.
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 Christian worldview supports the use of advocacy as a strategy to help improve and ensure that people are aware of the issues that impact others, especially those suffering from opioid use disorder in states that have limited resources as a result of not accepting expanded Medicaid and Medicare programs under the Affordable Care Act. Proverbs 31:8-9 (KJV) says that one should speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and fight for the rights of the destitute. They should defend the rights of the needy and poor. In this case, the opioid epidemic affects millions of Americans, and having measures at the state level to address the sources of the drugs is essential to reducing and preventing the ever-rising levels of the epidemic, leading to higher mortality and morbidity rates. Christians should seek justice and ensure that it flows in society. Advocacy for better state measures is one of the ways of ensuring that social justice happens in society and community for millions of Americans who suffer from the epidemic out of the greedy and manipulative needs of a few people in pharmaceutical companies. Christians should show love for their neighbors and advocacy means that one is concerned about the welfare of those close to them. Nurses should advocate better ways to improve the lives of different health populations based on the concept of love (Luca et al., 2022). As such, advocacy through legislation demonstrates the nurses’ concept of attaining change and ensuring better health populations.

Conclusion
The opioid epidemic is a public health concern that requires legislative measures at both state and federal levels because of its increasing severity despite the enactment of several policies by the federal government. These state policies will support federal legislation aimed at improving access to treatment interventions and addressing the sources of opioids. Nurses as patient advocates must integrate leadership competencies, use inter-professional collaboration, and incorporate Christian perspectives in handling various population health issues like the opioid epidemic.

References
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care organizations and factors shaping how they work: a systematic review of reviews. BMC Public Health, 21, 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10630-1
American Psychiatric Association (APA) (2023). Opioid Use Disorder.
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/opioid-use-disorder
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2023 August 8). Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic.
https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (2022 September). The Opioid Crisis and Recent Federal Policy Responses.
https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2022-09/58221-opioid-crisis.pdf
Congressional Research Service (2022). The Opioid Crisis in the United States: A Brief History.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12260
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