NURS 6050 Advocating for the Nursing Role in Program Design and Implementation

NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

ADVOCATING FOR THE NURSING ROLE IN PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

Mental health prevalence has been a big challenge in the United States (U.S), especially in

Florida. And it keeps rising annually. Going by the data in  “State of mental health in America – Prevalence data” (2017), Florida ranks 8 in the prevalence of mental health nation wild. Though the data presents Florida as a low ranked mental health challenge state compared to most states in the U.S, the target remains population free of or near mental wellbeing. The data also reported Florida as 16.03 percent of the nation’s wild mental illness. Thus, meeting the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regulations on mental health fitness (State of mental health in America – Prevalence data,” 2017). On this note, formed the aim of this interview/presentation.

Interviewer: Tell us about a healthcare program within your practice. What are the costs and projected outcomes of this program?  

Interviewee: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

  Florida has put many programs in place to fight the prevalence of behavioral health issues in the state. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) implemented various initiatives in different jurisdiction in each county. The primary mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. These stakeholders from various sectors like private, health organizations, communities, and individual/ volunteer healthcare providers have provided grants to sponsor the program to combat mental health in Florida. With set funding ranging from $98,310 to $1,000,000 to finance education, training, equipment, organizations, healthcare institutions, etc., that directly or indirectly contribute to the reduction in mental health prevalence in the state, as well as the families of individuals affected by substance abuse (“About SAMHSA,” 2020).

A substantial amount has been spent since the inception of these programs. At the same time, evaluation is ongoing with an expected outcome to reduce substance abuse and mental illness and improve the Florida communities’ mental wellbeing by at least 80%.                                            

Interviewer: Who is your target population?

Interviewee:

  People with mental health problems, needing all sorts of treatment/management or program to help them cope with lifestyle modification. And to provide support to the affected individuals and their families (“About SAMHSA,” 2020).

Interviewer: What is the nurse’s role in providing input for the design of this healthcare program? Can you provide examples?

Interviewee:

  In general, nurses are the healthcare system; therefore, their advocacy roles range from ensuring that the patient-centered goals are met. Also, nurses are essential in ensuring that clinical pathways that promote the seamless flow of all deliverables healthcare programs are in place. It is every nurse’s nation to see the successful completion of any program relating to patients’ wellbeing. And to achieve these, they engage in teaching, training participants, advocacy, and being good stewardship and leaders towards accomplishing a successful program’s successful outcome. Nurses ensure that the target population benefits from the program by creating awareness channeling to the group of individuals in need of the health program. Also, coordinate stakeholders’ involvement, thus promoting improved quality outcomes (Gerber, L. 2018).

Interviewer: What is your role as an advocate for your target population for this healthcare program? Do you have input into design decisions? How else do you impact design? 

Interviewee:

            I have a crucial role to play as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in ensuring a positive outcome of the incepted mental health programs. As a health advocate, it is my primary duty to create awareness and see that the targeted population actively participates in the program. I must guide and assist patients in making informed decisions about their health and providing them with their family members accurate information necessary for decision-making. As a PMHNP, I must represent the masses both at state, local, and federal levels. And to present the health need of the population, making sure that the designed program meets their needs, and make suggestions that will incorporate the holistic framework and community-centered goals. Again, when a patient becomes incapacitated to make decisions for themselves, it is my responsibilities to stand for them, ensuring the family’s findings align with my patient’s health need and autonomy (Gerber, 2018).

Interviewer: What is the role of the nurse in the healthcare program implementation? How does this role vary between the design and implementation of healthcare programs? Can you provide examples?

Interviewee:

The Institute of Medicine U.S. (2022) narrates that nurses strive to see every healthcare program’s successful implementation through their skills and professional expertise. Nurses’ duty in program implementation ranges from playing the leadership role, active participation, and driving forces that lead to the program’s achievement. These roles vary significantly between design and implementation. However, in the program design, nurses demonstrate their duties in providing expert knowledge, ideas, and skills on how the health care program should work to benefit the needy population. For example, in the design phase, nurses participate in the program’s election, delegation and suggest ideas, procedures, and policies necessary for accomplishing the plan. While in the implementation stage, nurses enhance active participation, teamwork, provide education, training, also evaluate the program outcome in alignment with the expected outcome (Betz et al., 2016). 

Interviewer: Who are the healthcare team members that you believe is most needed to implement a program? Can you explain why?

Interviewee:

Though every mind counts in the achievement of every healthcare program, however,

there is a key group of people with vital roles for this program’s successful outcome. Therefore, psychiatrists, clinical counselors, nurses, and patients. The psychiatrist plays their roles in bringing their expertise and knowledge through evidence-based practice. And the clinical counselor brings their psychological input; nurses contribute with their skill, leadership, and professionalism. And the patients contribute through their active participation (Salmond &

Echevarria, 2017).

In conclusion, the prevalence of mental health problems is complex. Its effects cost not

only financial but also the social and physical being of the affected individual, families, and society. Thus, it has led to the design and implementation of different programs to enhance the affected population’s lives and wellbeing and curb further occurrence. To achieve the goals and denied these programs’ outcomes, it is essential that all stakeholders, especially the nurses, demonstrate their leadership and advocacy power for a successful program outcome.

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NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

As their names imply, the honeyguide bird and the honey badger both share an affinity for honey. Honeyguide birds specialize in finding beehives but struggle to access the honey within. Honey badgers are well-equipped to raid beehives but cannot always find them. However, these two honey-loving species have learned to collaborate on an effective means to meet their objectives. The honeyguide bird guides honey badgers to newly discovered hives. Once the honey badger has ransacked the hive, the honey guide bird safely enters to enjoy the leftover honey.

Much like honeyguide birds and honey badgers, nurses and health professionals from other specialty areas can—and should—collaborate to design effective programs. Nurses bring specialties to the table that make them natural partners to professionals with different specialties. When nurses take the requisite leadership in becoming involved throughout the healthcare system, these partnerships can better design and deliver highly effective programs that meet objectives.

In this Assignment, you will practice this type of leadership by advocating for a healthcare program. Equally as important, you will advocate for a collaborative role of the nurse in the design and implementation of this program. To do this, assume you are preparing to be interviewed by a professional organization/publication regarding your thoughts on the role of the nurse in the design and implementation of new healthcare programs.

Review the Resources and reflect on your thinking regarding the role of the nurse in the design and implementation of new healthcare programs.
Select a healthcare program within your practice and consider the design and implementation of this program.
Reflect on advocacy efforts and the role of the nurse in relation to healthcare program design and implementation.
The Assignment: (2–4 pages)

In a 2- to 4-page paper, create an interview transcript of your responses to the following interview questions:

Tell us about a healthcare program, within your practice. What are the costs and projected outcomes of this program?
Who is your target population?
What is the role of the nurse in providing input for the design of this healthcare program? Can you provide examples?
What is your role as an advocate for your target population for this healthcare program?
Do you have input into design decisions? How else do you impact design?
What is the role of the nurse in healthcare program implementation? How does this role vary between design and implementation of healthcare programs? Can you provide examples?
Who are the members of a healthcare team that you believe are most needed to implement a program? Can you explain why?

I HAVE ADDED AN EXAMPLE ASSIGNMENT TO FOLLOW