Category: Nursing

Discussion: Applied Behavior Analysis

Photo Credit: GoodIdeas / Adobe Stock

You have made a significant decision to further your formal education in the field of applied behavior analysis. You likely have an interest in behaviors and their relationship with the environment and a desire to learn and apply behavioral techniques that will help individuals achieve beneficial behavioral change. While applied behavior analysts work with individuals of different ages, the skills of an applied behavior analyst are especially needed with children with autism.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) reports that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect 1 in 54 children, representing a tripling of the prevalence rate since 2000. The respected and specialized behavior analysis assessment and intervention strategies you employ in your role as an applied behavior analyst can help autistic children and others with developmental issues to learn new skills and meet behavioral challenges.

For this Discussion, you will analyze your decision to embark on a course of study that will lead to your becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Reference:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years — autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2016
.
 
Surveillance Summaries
, 
69
(4), 1–12. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/ss/ss6904a1.htm

To Prepare

Reflect on what motivated you to pursue a course of study that will lead to your becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Consider what professional goals you will have once you earn your BCBA.

By Day 4 of Week 4

Post
 a reflection addressing the following:

What led you to decide to study behavior analysis?

What experience do you have in behavior analysis?

What work do you hope to do once you earn your BCBA and how might this impact your desire for positive social change?

Read
 your colleagues’ postings.

Note:
 For this discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the 
To Participate in this Discussion
 link, then select 
Create Thread
 to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on 
Submit
, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on 
Submit
!

By Day 6 of Week 4

Respond
 to at least 
two
 colleagues’ posts by providing your perspectives on their professional goals once they earn their BCBA.

Be sure to support your posts and responses with specific references to behavior-analytic theory and research. In addition to the Learning Resources, search the Walden Library and/or the internet for peer-reviewed articles to support your posts and responses. Use proper APA format and citations, including those in the Learning Resources.

Return
 to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained because of your colleagues’ comments.

NURS 6051 Module 2, Week 3 Main Discussion Post

I think I have a rather interesting perspective with this week’s subject, as a few quarters ago I did my preceptorship here at my workplace for one of the required bachelor level courses and I ran into some quirks with regards to data availability and nursing informatics.  While I was not aware of the term at the time, the concept of nursing informatics as using data and computer science to improve or streamline the practice of nursing (McGonigle, 2017) was really the heart of the task given to me in the task for the class.  However, despite obtaining pre-approval to do my preceptorship here at work, I found a complete wall put up in front of me with obtaining the necessary data to complete my project.  Fortunately, my instructor was able to let me just continue my work in theory as the project was not something that we had to enact to complete the class, but it was frustrating to say the least.  So, apparently, the MN DHS is VERY guarded with its data, and this makes the work of nursing informatics very difficult within the organization NURS 6051 Module 2, Week 3 Main Discussion Post.

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Now that I have worked here a year longer, I see this trending continuing, often with nurses being left out of the decision-making process.  This means that projects, procedures and policies that could benefit from nursing informatics can be stymied from nursing input.  Very unfortunate.  What is fortunate, however, is I am told that this difficulty does not necessarily extend to all of DHS and may actually be a more local attitude.

With respect for proposing ideas to improve the use of nursing informatics, Mosier and Englebright suggest in their research that facilities adhere to 3 principles:  clearing defining who is responsible for a proposed project, ensuring that all applicable professional disciplines are part of the project and finally ensuring that all the overall goals of the project are kept in mind throughout the entire process of implementing the project (2019).  I think that my facility could greatly benefit from nursing informatics, and by following the above principles, nurses and the data and experience we have to bring to a policy or procedure will not be left out of the design and implementation NURS 6051 Module 2, Week 3 Main Discussion Post.  Finally, nursing informatics can help with assessing and evaluating projects to see if the policies and procedures implemented are having the desired impact on patient care (Sipes, 2016).  This is especially important at my facility, as it has been my personal experience that policies and procedures are implemented, but follow up is not conducted to see if they are working or are in fact better for the patients than pre-existing policies.

References

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Mosier, S., Roberts, W. D., & Englebright, J. (2019). A Systems-Level Method for Developing Nursing Informatics Solutions: The Role of Executive Leadership. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(11), 543-548.

Sipes, C. (2016). Project management: Essential skill NURS 6051 Module 2, Week 3 Main Discussion Post.

NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness

 
School of Nursing and Health Science, NUR 681: Integration of Evidence for Advanced Practice

Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness

The purpose of this quality improvement proposal is to study what is the impact of obesity and diet has on patients’ blood pressure. There are several elements that play a role in obesity and hypertension. The clinic organization discussed in this paper meets the readiness requirements to implement change. The clinic organization would be ready to address the factors involved in obesity and hypertension. NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness .

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PICOT Question

For adult patients diagnosed with obesity in a primary care setting, does a 90-day patient education program utilizing the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and Cognitive Behavioral counseling compared to standard of care reduce weight loss by 10% and decrease Blood Pressure (BP) over a twelve-month Quality Initiative (QI) project?

Readiness Level

The quality improvement proposal is about how the DASH diet and cognitive behavioral counseling can reduce weight loss and decrease blood pressure.  This quality improvement proposal can benefit nurses working with dialysis patients who are dealing with obesity and hypertension. The organization’s mission is “provide world class care so patients can live long and well on dialysis”. The organization’s value is “placing the needs and wishes of patients at the center of our activity by caring and comforting them”. The organization would definitely start a project to help patients get a handle on their weight and hypertension. The answer to the survey questions was yes to all 12 questions. Therefore, it makes it very likely for the organization to implement TeamSTEPPS (Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt, 2019). NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness

The organization’s staff are dedicated employees who look for ways to improve patients’ lives. The staff has successfully implemented knowledge obtained from training into their practice to improve patients care. The staff communicates well with each other and has shown a willingness to implement change. The staff has shown that they work well with each other to perform their task. There is a good number of staff members for the quality improvement proposal to be successful. The staff would be helpful advocates to fight against barriers for quality improvement.

The organization has tools and resources available for quality improvement. The organization has access to online training tools available to train staff about new policies and procedures. The organization publishes information monthly about ways patients can improve their health. It would not be difficult for the organization to provide information on how to reduce weight and lower blood pressure. This information can be one of the monthly information handouts given to patients.

Project Barriers

There are several barriers to organization readiness of evidence-based practice. One barrier is the staff. The staff has to buy into the change and be ready. If the staff is ready and willing then it would make the transition easy to accept implementing evidence-based practice. Another barrier to organization readiness to evidence-based practice is management support.  The management has to provide adequate resources so that the change will be successful. Management has to successfully communicate and give concrete evidence that the plan has worked before (Golden-Biddie, 2020).

Project Facilitators

Facilitators are the ones who ensure the organization is ready for change. Facilitators are the educators, management, staff, and the leaders of the organization. Facilitators are the ones who accept change first in the organization. They help usher in change and help staff accept change NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness . There are several dialysis technicians at the organization, but the nurses are the ones who take the lead. Nurses have to accept the role of change makers (Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt, 2019).

NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness  Details and Examples

There is a strong commitment to change in the organization. The organization is quick to provide information on training that has shown to improve quality care for patients. The organization provides seminars and in-service training to staff. Recently, the management conducted an in-service training to improve on medication distribution. In January, information regarding balanced, nutritional diets were given to patients at the organization. The organization’s commitment to ongoing education and training to staff and patients indicates they are ready and willing to accept and implement change.

Strategies for Integrating Clinical Inquiry

The strategy that would be used to implement the quality improvement proposal would be to use the intra-service training and videos from the organization. The organization has access to an intra-website that provides a resource database to look up the DASH diet and cognitive behavior counseling. This information can be downloaded and given out to patients. Another strategy to use is video training resources that could be used to show how the DASH diet and cognitive behavior counseling can help reduce weight and lower blood pressure. The patients could watch a short video on the DASH diet and get information about cognitive behavior counseling as a in-service announcement. The organization would be able to promote the DASH diet along with cognitive behavior counseling to help reduce weight and lower blood pressure NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness . The organization would see the need and benefit of improving patient’s lives by reducing weight and lowering blood pressure.

Conclusion

The organization is ready to improve the lives of its patients. The need for obese patients to lose weight and reduce their blood pressure is apparent to healthcare professionals NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness . The DASH diet and cognitive behavior counseling has been successful to many patients. Therefore, implementing the DASH diet and cognitive behavior counseling to the patients will help them reduce their weight and lower blood pressure.

 

NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness  References

Adelson, P., Yates, R., Fleet, J.-A., & McKellar, L. (2021). Measuring organizational readiness for

implementing change (ORIC) in a new midwifery model of care in rural South Australia.
BMC Health Services Research
,
21
(1), 1–6. https://doi-org.arbor.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06373-9

Golden-Biddie, K. (2020). Discovery of an abductive mechanism for reorienting habits within

organizational change.
Academy of Management Journal. 63
(6). Doi: 10.5465/amj.2017.1411.

Melnyk, B.M. & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019).
Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare: A guide to best practice (4
th
ed.)
. Wolters Kluwer.

Patterson, A., Mason, T. M., & Duncan, P. (2017).  Enhancing a culture of inquiry the role of a

clinical nurse specialist in supporting the adoption of evidence.
The Journal of Nursing Administration. 47
(3). Doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000458 NUR 681 Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness

PSYC 6717 Module 1 Test: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis

Photo Credit: Alexey Novikov / Adobe Stock

Each module in this course provides fundamental information in a critical area of applied behavior analysis. At the end of each module, you will take a test to demonstrate your understanding of the topics covered.

This week’s Test assesses your knowledge of the assigned course readings and material introducing you to applied behavior analysis. PSYC 6717 Module 1 Test: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis

To Prepare

Review the Learning Resources and consider how these resources will guide your understanding of applied behavior analysis as you prepare for your Module 1 Test.

Test Instructions

This Test consists of 10 multiple-choice or true/false questions.

Each question is worth one point.

Questions are presented in a random order.

This Test allows you to go back to check or change your answers at any point during your allotted Test time.

You may use your course readings and other resources to help you. This Test is open book.

You will have unlimited time to finish this Test by the end of the week.

You must pass the Test at 90% for competency.

Once the Test has been submitted, the correct answer will be indicated when you have given an incorrect answer.

If you need to retake the Test, a new Test will be generated.

 

Module 1 Test: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis

Each module in this course provides fundamental information in a critical area of applied behavior analysis. At the end of each module, you will take a test to demonstrate your understanding of the topics covered.

This week’s Test assesses your knowledge of the assigned course readings and material introducing you to applied behavior analysis.

To Prepare

Review the Learning Resources and consider how these resources will guide your understanding of applied behavior analysis as you prepare for your Module 1 Test. PSYC 6717 Module 1 Test: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis

Test Instructions

This Test consists of 10 multiple-choice or true/false questions.

Each question is worth one point.

Questions are presented in a random order.

This Test allows you to go back to check or change your answers at any point during your allotted Test time.

You may use your course readings and other resources to help you. This Test is open book.

You will have unlimited time to finish this Test by the end of the week.

You must pass the Test at 90% for competency. PSYC 6717 Module 1 Test: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis

Once the Test has been submitted, the correct answer will be indicated when you have given an incorrect answer.

If you need to retake the Test, a new Test will be generated.

QUESTION 1

There are ______________ (fill in a number) levels of evaluation/management visits.

three

four

five

six

1 points   

QUESTION 2

If a patient is dismissed from a practice, it is important that certain rules are followed. A patient should be sent a dismissal letter by First Class mail with return receipt requested. What elements need to be included in the letter?

The last day the practitioner will be available to render medical care, which should be at least 30 days; indication that med refills will be provided during this period; alternative sources of medical care; how to obtain medical records

The last day the practitioner will be available to render medical care, which can be immediately;  referral information to another provider,  and how to obtain medical records NRNP 6568 Week 2 Knowledge Check

 

Notice of immediate discharge from the practitioners care,  prescriptions for 30 days of their medications, and  how to obtain medical records

The last day the practitioner will be available to render medical care, which should be at least 60 days; indication that med refills will not be provided during this period; referral to new provider;  how to obtain medical records

1 points   

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QUESTION 3

AMA stands for against medical advice.

True

False

1 points   

QUESTION 4

The review of systems (ROS) is documented in the Physical Exam section of the visit.

True

False

1 points   

QUESTION 5

Federal law supports NPs full hospital privileges without physician supervision.

True

False

1 points   

QUESTION 6

A provider may be terribly negligent, but if there is no injury, there is no malpractice. True or False?

True

False

1 points   

QUESTION 7

Name four of the seven vital signs that can be included when documenting the constitutional part of the general multisystem examination

Sitting or standing BP, supine BP, pulse rate and regularity, respiration, temperature, height, weight

Sitting, lounging, lifting, and moving

Heart rate, walking straight line, squatting, and arm raise

Blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, BMI

1 points   

QUESTION 8

If an NP is sued, it is important that the NP not call the insurance company immediately so as to prevent the rates from increasing. True or false?

True

False

1 points   

QUESTION 9

What is the name of the organization that collects information disclosed by state boards against NP licensure and certification? NRNP 6568 Week 2 Knowledge Check

American Association of Nurse Practitioners

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty

Federal Medical Care Database

National Practitioner Data Bank

1 points   

QUESTION 10

What is reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB)?

Malpractice insurer who pays any amount to a plaintiff on behalf of an NP in a malpractice case

State licensing boards  report adverse licensure actions

Professional societies are required to report adverse professional society membership actions

All of the above

1 points   

Click Save and Submit to save and submit. Click Save All Answers to save all answers.

Week 1 Assignment – PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment

Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet

Instructions:
Identify in each of the following scenarios the behavioral consequence that is being used (positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment, extinction). Define the principle you identified using the information provided in the scenario to illustrate how your answer represents that principle.

 

Benny does not like to do homework, but he does like to eat pizza. His parents promise to give him pizza on the weekend if he does all of his homework for that week. Benny finishes all of his homework and gets a pizza on the weekend.

 

This would be positive reinforcement, The Pizza is added in regards to Benny finishing all of his assignments.

 

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Melissa is a 10th-grade student. At the beginning of the year, she raises her hand to answer a question, and the teacher calls on her. Melissa gives a wrong answer, and the teacher makes a comment about Melissa not being very smart. Melissa does not raise her hand the rest of the year.

 

Negative punishment, something is being taken out to diminish a specific conduct. Melissa’s certainty is taken out and she no longer needs to take an interest in class. PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment

 

 

 

Jose is a student in the same class as Melissa. When he raises his hand to answer a question, the teacher ignores him. He continues to raise his hand a number of times during the first week of class, and his teacher never calls on him. He gives up and does not raise his hand again the rest of the year.

 

Negative Punishment,  not recognizing Jose is being removed where it passes on Jose to not have any desire to partake in class any more.

 

 

Rosa is in the same class as Melissa and Jose. The first day of class, she raises her hand to answer a question. The teacher calls on her, and she answers correctly. The teacher compliments her on getting the answer correct. Rosa raises her hand many more times during the year and is frequently called on by the teacher.

Positive Reinforcement, the delight of addressing the inquiry effectively and getting applauded by the instructor just makes Rosa need to keep responding to inquiries in class.

 

 

 

 

Lyle tells her son Ryan to turn off the TV and do his homework. Ryan starts to complain, so his mother tells him to forget it. Ryan continues to watch TV. Mrs. Lyle continues to let Ryan watch TV whenever he complains. What consequence is influencing Mrs. Lyle’s behavior? PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment

 

Negative reinforcement, Mrs. Lyle not having the option to lay down the law and permitting her child to proceed with not paying attention to her solicitations to wind down the television just causes her child to pull off everything. Making him not pay attention to anything she needs to say.

 

 

 

Josh doesn’t care if he gets into trouble and has to stay after school. However, none of his classmates share his fondness for detention. When Josh tries to make his peers laugh by making rude noises and silly faces during class, his teacher starts to write the names of those students who are laughing and encouraging Josh on the blackboard under the word “detention.” Josh’s peers quickly stop attending to him. After several futile attempts to get their attention, Josh gives up this behavior. What might have weakened Josh’s disruptive behavior? What might have weakened Josh’s peers’ behavior of attending to him?

 

Negative punishment, Josh’s hankering for consideration is being removed by the instructor on the grounds that those understudies who are empowering kid’s conduct’s will be in a difficult situation too, lead to those understudies to stop their activities. Likewise causing kid to presently don’t act the manner in which he was.

 

 

When Maya answers a question in class, her classmates often laugh at her speech impediment. When this happens, Maya usually puts her head down and sobs, to the delight of her peers. After a while, Maya stops speaking altogether. What might have strengthened Maya’s peers’ teasing behavior? What might have weakened Maya’s speaking behavior?

 

Positive Punishment, what helped Mayas friends would be the realizing that they are causing her inconvenience by crying. Maya as of now not wished to talk before class since she would not like to get chuckled at. PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment. The understudies chuckling at Maya have driven her to quit talking before the class.

 

 

Assignment: Application of Behavioral Theory

Photo Credit: magele-picture – stock.adobe.com

To effectively determine best methods for behavior change, the professional behavior analyst needs to develop a strong understanding of how to analyze the situation, including the target behavior, antecedent conditions, and consequences for the behavior. Understanding the terms and phrases used in applied behavior analysis is critical to appropriately evaluate a situation and determine effective methods for behavior change PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment.

One of the most frequently misused terms in psychology is “negative reinforcement.” Many people use this term to describe punishment because it “sounds better.” In behavioral psychology, terms are sometimes used differently than they are in everyday language. For example, the term “reinforcement” means that the rate of a behavior is increased. The term “punishment” means the rate of a behavior is decreased. The term “positive” means a stimulus is presented, and the term “negative” means a stimulus is removed. Therefore, negative reinforcement occurs when an aversive stimulus is removed, which results in an increase in probability of the behavior it followed.

For this Assignment, you will explore the application of behavioral theory. You will review a set of scenarios, analyze and identify the applied behavioral characteristic involved in the scenario, and explain how the scenario meets the definition of the characteristic you identified.

To Prepare

Review the Learning Resources for this week, including the required weekly media programs.

Review the “Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet” found in the Learning Resources. You will use this worksheet to complete the Assignment.

Assignment 
(1–2 pages)

Complete the Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet. To complete the worksheet, do the following for each scenario:

Identify and define the following consequences used in applied behavior analysis in each scenario (i.e., positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment) PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment.

Explain how each scenario meets the definition of the applied behavior analysis characteristic you identified. Within your explanation, identify each of the components of the definition within the scenario.

Be sure to support your Assignment with specific references to behavior-analytic theory and research. In addition to the Learning Resources, search the Walden Library and/or the internet for peer-reviewed articles to support your Assignment. Use proper APA format and citations, including those in the Learning Resources. 

By Day 7 of Week 1

Submit 
the Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK1Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.

Click on the 
Week 1 Assignment Rubric 
to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

Click on the 
Week 1 Assignment 
link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.

Next, from the Attach File area, click on the 
Browse My Computer
 button. Find the document you saved as “WK1Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click on 
Open
.

If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for 
I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database
.

Click on the 
Submit
 button to complete your submission.

 

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 PSYC_6717_Week1_Assignment_Rubric

Grid View

List View

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Content

10.5 
(70%)
 – 12 
(80%)

Assignment demonstrates an 
excellent 
understanding of 
all 
of the concepts and key points presented in the text/s and Learning Resources. Assignment provides significant detail including multiple relevant examples, discerning ideas, and evidence from scholarly sources (i.e., Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet).

8.5 
(56.67%)
 – 10.25 
(68.33%)

Assignment demonstrates a 
good 
understanding of 
most 
of the concepts and key points presented in the text/s and Learning Resources. Assignment includes moderate detail, discerning ideas, and sufficient evidence from scholarly sources (i.e., Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet). PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment

5 
(33.33%)
 – 8.25 
(55%)

Assignment demonstrates a 
fair 
understanding of the concepts and key points as presented in the text/s and Learning Resources. Assignment may be 
lacking 
in detail and specificity and/or may not include sufficient pertinent examples, discerning ideas, evidence from scholarly sources (i.e., Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet).

0 
(0%)
 – 4.5 
(30%)

Assignment demonstrates 
poor understanding
 of the concepts and key points of the text/s and Learning Resources. Assignment is missing detail and specificity and/or does not include any pertinent examples discerning ideas, or sufficient evidence from scholarly sources (i.e., Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet).

Writing

3 
(20%)
 – 3 
(20%)

Assignment is 
well 
organized, uses scholarly tone, follows APA style, uses original writing and proper paraphrasing, contains very few or no writing and/or spelling errors, and is 
fully 
consistent with graduate-level writing style. Assignment contains 
multiple
, appropriate and exemplary sources expected/required for the assignment (i.e., Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet).

2 
(13.33%)
 – 2 
(13.33%)

Assignment is 
mostly
 consistent with graduate-level writing style. Assignment may have some small or infrequent organization, scholarly tone, or APA style issues, and/or may contain a few writing and spelling errors, and/or somewhat less than the expected number of or type of sources (i.e., scholarly sources from the Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet).

1 
(6.67%)
 – 1 
(6.67%)

Assignment is 
somewhat below
 graduate-level writing style, with multiple smaller or a few major problems. Assignment may be lacking in organization, scholarly tone, APA style, and/or contain many writing and/or spelling errors, or shows moderate reliance on quoting versus original writing and paraphrasing. Assignment may contain inferior sources (number or quality of scholarly sources from the Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet).

0 
(0%)
 – 0 
(0%)

Assignment is 
well below
graduate-level writing style expectations for organization, scholarly tone, APA style, and writing, or relies excessively on quoting. Assignment may contain few or no quality sources (i.e., scholarly sources from the Learning Resources, Walden Library, and/or internet). PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment

Total Points: 15

Name: PSYC_6717_Week1_Assignment_Rubric PSYC 6717 Behavioral Consequences Scenario Worksheet Assignment

Week 1: Basic Pharmacotherapeutic Concepts/Ethical and Legal Aspects of Prescribing

How do beta-blockers work? What exactly do antibiotics do to the bacteria they target? What effects does an anti-depressant have on blood flow?

Questions like these are related to the underlying pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes of pharmacotherapeutics. As an advanced practice nurse, understanding these fundamental pharmacotherapeutic concepts is important to ensure that the prescription drugs you recommend for your patients will be safe and effective to treat and/or manage their symptoms. Additionally, as the advanced practice nurse, it is your responsibility to ensure that when prescribing prescription drugs, you adhere to the ethical and legal principles set forth for prescribing drugs as an added layer of protection and safety for the patients you will treat.

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This week, you will analyze factors that may influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics processes of a patient and assess the details of a personalized plan of care that you develop based on influencing factors and patient history. You will also evaluate and analyze ethical and legal implications and practices related to prescribing drugs, including disclosure and nondisclosure, and analyze the process of writing prescriptions to avoid medication errors.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Analyze factors that influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in patients

Assess patient factors and history to develop personalized plans of care

Evaluate ethical and legal implications related to prescribing drugs

Analyze ethical and legal practices of prescribing drugs

Analyze strategies to address disclosure and nondisclosure

Justify advanced practice nurse strategies to guide prescription drug decision-making

Analyze the process of writing prescriptions to avoid medication errors

Learning Resources

Required Readings
 (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media
 (click to expand/reduce)

Discussion: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

As an advanced practice nurse assisting physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders, it is important to not only understand the impact of disorders on the body, but also the impact of drug treatments on the body. The relationships between drugs and the body can be described by pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to the drug through absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, whereas pharmacodynamics describes what the drug does to the body.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Ingram Publishing

When selecting drugs and determining dosages for patients, it is essential to consider individual patient factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes. These patient factors include genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, behavior (i.e., diet, nutrition, smoking, alcohol, illicit drug abuse), and/or pathophysiological changes due to disease.

For this Discussion, you reflect on a case from your past clinical experiences and consider how a patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes may alter his or her response to a drug.

To Prepare

Review the Resources for this module and consider the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Reflect on your experiences, observations, and/or clinical practices from the last 5 years and think about how pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors altered his or her anticipated response to a drug.

Consider factors that might have influenced the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes, such as genetics (including pharmacogenetics), gender, ethnicity, age, behavior, and/or possible pathophysiological changes due to disease.

Think about a personalized plan of care based on these influencing factors and patient history in your case study.

By Day 3 of Week 1

Post
 a description of the patient case from your experiences, observations, and/or clinical practice from the last 5 years. Then, describe factors that might have influenced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes of the patient you identified. Finally, explain details of the personalized plan of care that you would develop based on influencing factors and patient history in your case. Be specific and provide examples.

By Day 6 of Week 1

Read
 a selection of your colleagues’ responses and 
respond
 to 
at least two
 of your colleagues on 
two different days
 by suggesting additional patient factors that might have interfered with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes of the patients they described. In addition, suggest how the personalized plan of care might change if the age of the patient were different and/or if the patient had a comorbid condition, such as renal failure, heart failure, or liver failure.

Note:
 For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link, and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on 
Submit!

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 1 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 of Week 1 and Respond by Day 6 of Week 1

To Participate in this Discussion:

Week 1 Discussion

Assignment: Ethical and Legal Implications of Prescribing Drugs

What type of drug should you prescribe based on your patient’s diagnosis? How much of the drug should the patient receive? How often should the drug be administered? When should the drug not be prescribed? Are there individual patient factors that could create complications when taking the drug? Should 
you
 be prescribing drugs to 
this 
patient? How might different state regulations affect the prescribing of this drug to this patient?

These are some of the questions you might consider when selecting a treatment plan for a patient.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Caiaimage

As an advanced practice nurse prescribing drugs, you are held accountable for people’s lives every day. Patients and their families will often place trust in you because of your position. With this trust comes power and responsibility, as well as an ethical and legal obligation to “do no harm.” It is important that you are aware of current professional, legal, and ethical standards for advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the treatment plans and administration/prescribing of drugs is in accordance with the regulations of the state in which you practice. Understanding how these regulations may affect the prescribing of certain drugs in different states may have a significant impact on your patient’s treatment plan. In this Assignment, you explore ethical and legal implications of scenarios and consider how to appropriately respond.

To Prepare

Review the Resources for this module and consider the legal and ethical implications of prescribing prescription drugs, disclosure, and nondisclosure.

Review the scenario assigned by your Instructor for this Assignment.

Search specific laws and standards for prescribing prescription drugs and for addressing medication errors for your state or region, and reflect on these as you review the scenario assigned by your Instructor.

Consider the ethical and legal implications of the scenario for all stakeholders involved, such as the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and patient’s family.

Think about two strategies that you, as an advanced practice nurse, would use to guide your ethically and legally responsible decision-making in this scenario, including whether you would disclose any medication errors.

By Day 7 of Week 1

Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

Explain the ethical and legal implications of the scenario you selected on all stakeholders involved, such as the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and patient’s family.

Describe strategies to address disclosure and nondisclosure as identified in the scenario you selected. Be sure to reference laws specific to your state.

Explain two strategies that you, as an advanced practice nurse, would use to guide your decision making in this scenario, including whether you would disclose your error. Be sure to justify your explanation.

Explain the process of writing prescriptions, including strategies to minimize medication errors.

Reminder:
 The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The College of Nursing Writing Template with Instructions provided at the Walden Writing Center offers an example of those required elements (available at 
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632
). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK1Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.

Click the 
Week 1 Assignment Rubric 
to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

Click the 
Week 1 Assignment 
link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.

Next, from the Attach File area, click on the 
Browse My Computer
 button. Find the document you saved as “WK1Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click 
Open
.

If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for 
I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database
.

Click on the 
Submit
 button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 1 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 1 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 1

To participate in this Assignment:

Week 1 Assignment

What’s Coming Up in Module 2?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

In the next module,
 you will examine the impact of changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapy for cardiovascular disorders and the types of drugs prescribed to patients with respiratory disorders.

Looking Ahead: Week 2 Assignment

In Week 2, your Instructor will assign you a case study related to Assignment 1 by Day 1 of the week. Please make sure to review the “Course Announcements” area of the course to verify your assigned case study. Please plan ahead to ensure you have time to review your case study and Learning Resources in order to complete your Assignment on time.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Practicum – Upcoming Deadline

In the Nurse Practitioner programs of study (FNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP, and PMHNP) you are required to take several practicum courses. If you plan on taking a practicum course within the next two terms, 
you will need to submit your application via 
Meditrek
 .

For information on the practicum application process and deadlines, please visit the 
Field Experience: College of Nursing: Application Process – Graduate
 web page.

Please take the time to review the 
Appropriate Preceptors and Field Sites
 for your courses.

Please take the time to review the practicum manuals, FAQs, Webinars and any required forms on the 
Field Experience: College of Nursing: Student Resources and Manuals
 web page.

Field Experience: College of Nursing Quick Answers

Field Experience: MSN Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual

Student Practicum Resources: NP Student Orientation

Next Week

To go to the next week:

Module 2

Week 2: Cardiovascular System

Alterations of the cardiovascular system can cause serious adverse events and may lead to death when not treated in a timely and safe manner. Unfortunately, many patients with cardiovascular disorders are unaware until complications appear. In clinical settings, patients often present with symptoms of several cardiovascular disorders, making it essential for you, as the advanced practice nurse, to be able to recognize these symptoms and recommend appropriate drug treatment options.

This week, you examine the impact of patient factors that may lead to changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapy for cardiovascular disorders. You also explore ways to improve drug therapy plans for cardiovascular disorders based on patient factors and overall health needs.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Analyze the influence of patient factors on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes

Analyze the impact of changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapies

Evaluate drug therapy plans for cardiovascular disorders

Learning Resources

Required Readings
 (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media
 (click to expand/reduce)

Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders

…heart disease remains the No. 1 killer in America; nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoke—some of the leading risk factors for heart disease…

—Murphy et al., 2018

Despite the high mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disorders, improved treatment options do exist that can help address those risk factors that afflict the majority of the population today.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF

As an advanced practice nurse, it is your responsibility to recommend appropriate treatment options for patients with cardiovascular disorders. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of drug therapy, advanced practice nurses must consider aspects that might influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes such as medical history, other drugs currently prescribed, and individual patient factors.

Reference: Murphy, S. L., Xu, J., Kochanek, K. D., & Arias, E. (2018). Mortality in the United States, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db328.htm

To Prepare

Review the Resources for this module and consider the impact of potential pharmacotherapeutics for cardiovascular disorders introduced in the media piece.

Review the case study assigned by your Instructor for this Assignment.

Select one the following factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior factors.

Reflect on how the factor you selected might influence the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.

Consider how changes in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes might impact the patient’s recommended drug therapy.

Think about how you might improve the patient’s drug therapy plan based on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes. Reflect on whether you would modify the current drug treatment or provide an alternative treatment option for the patient.

By Day 7 of Week 2

Write
 a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

Explain how the factor you selected might influence the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in the patient from the case study you were assigned.

Describe how changes in the processes might impact the patient’s recommended drug therapy. Be specific and provide examples.

Explain how you might improve the patient’s drug therapy plan and explain why you would make these recommended improvements.

Reminder:
 The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The College of Nursing Writing Template with Instructions provided at the Walden Writing Center offers an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.

Click the 
Week 2 Assignment Rubric 
to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

Click the 
Week 2 Assignment 
link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.

Next, from the Attach File area, click on the 
Browse My Computer
 button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click 
Open
.

If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for 
I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database
.

Click on the 
Submit
 button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 2 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 2 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 2

To participate in this Assignment:

Week 2 Assignment

What’s Coming Up in Week 3?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

Next week,
 you will examine strategies for the treatment and management of respiratory disorders, including asthma. You will analyze asthma and stepwise management and consider the impact of this approach for patient health.

Next Week

To go to the next week:

Week 3

 

Week 3: Respiratory System

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are significant public health burdens. Currently, more than 25 million people in the United States have asthma (HealthyPeople.gov, 2019). As an advanced practice nurse, you will likely encounter patients who will present with respiratory disorders, including asthma or COPD. Understanding specific treatment protocols as well as the types of pharmacotherapeutics used to treat respiratory disorders is important to ensure the effective and safe delivery of advanced nursing practice.

This week, you will evaluate drug therapy plans for patients who present with asthma and analyze the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management from a patient in your professional practice.

Reference: HealthyPeople.gov. (2019). Respiratory diseases. Retrieved from 
https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/respiratory-diseases

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Evaluate drug therapy plans for asthma

Assess the impact of asthma treatments on patients

Analyze the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management

Learning Resources

Required Readings
 (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media
 (click to expand/reduce)

Optional Resources
 (click to expand/reduce)

Assignment: Asthma and Stepwise Management

Asthma is a respiratory disorder that affects children and adults. Advanced practice nurses often provide treatment to patients with these disorders. Sometimes patients require immediate treatment, making it essential that you recognize and distinguish minor asthma symptoms from serious, life-threatening ones. Since symptoms and attacks are often induced by a trigger, advanced practice nurses must also help patients identify their triggers and recommend appropriate management options. Like many other disorders, there are various approaches to treating and managing care for asthmatic patients depending on individual patient factors.

Photo Credit: Photo Library / Getty Images

One method that supports the clinical decision making of drug therapy plans for asthmatic patients is the stepwise approach, which you explore in this Assignment.

To Prepare

Reflect on drugs used to treat asthmatic patients, including long-term control and quick relief treatment options for patients. Think about the impact these drugs might have on patients, including adults and children.

Consider how you might apply the stepwise approach to address the health needs of a patient in your practice.

Reflect on how stepwise management assists health care providers and patients in gaining and maintaining control of the disease.

By Day 7 of Week 3

Create
 a 5- to 6-slide PowerPoint presentation that can be used in a staff development meeting on presenting different approaches for implementing the stepwise approach for asthma treatment. Be sure to address the following:

Describe long-term control and quick relief treatment options for the asthma patient from your practice as well as the impact these drugs might have on your patient.

Explain the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management for your patient.

Explain how stepwise management assists health care providers and patients in gaining and maintaining control of the disease. Be specific.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK3Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.

Click the 
Week 3 Assignment Rubric 
to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

Click the 
Week 3 Assignment 
link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.

Next, from the Attach File area, click on the 
Browse My Computer
 button. Find the document you saved as “WK3Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click 
Open
.

If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for 
I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database
.

Click on the 
Submit
 button to complete your submission.

NOTE:
 SafeAssign does not accept files over 10MB in size. Please attempt to keep your files under 10MB.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 3 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 3 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 3

To participate in this Assignment:

Week 3 Assignment

What’s Coming Up in Module 3?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

In the next module, 
you will examine diagnoses for patients with potential GI and hepatobiliary disorders. You will also develop a drug therapy plan based on patient history and diagnosis.

Next Week

To go to the next week:

Week 4: Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders

As an advanced practice nurse, you will likely encounter patients who will present with symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Of special note, is the consideration that most symptoms concerning the GI tract are non-specific and therefore, diagnosing diagnoses of the GI tract require thoughtful and careful investigation. Similarly, hepatobiliary disorders may also mirror many of the signs and symptoms that patients present when suffering from GI disorders.

How might you tease out the specific signs and symptoms between these potential disorders and body systems? What drug therapy plans will best address these disorders for your patients?

This week, you examine GI and hepatobiliary disorders. You will review a patient case study and consider those factors in recommending and prescribing a drug therapy plan fo your patient.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Evaluate diagnoses for patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders

Justify drug therapy plans based on patient history and diagnosis

Learning Resources

Required Readings
 (click to expand/reduce)

Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary disorders affect the structure and function of the GI tract. Many of these disorders often have similar symptoms, such as abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, nausea, bloating, and fatigue. Since multiple disorders can be tied to the same symptoms, it is important for advanced practice nurses to carefully evaluate patients and prescribe a treatment that targets the cause rather than the symptom.

Once the underlying cause is identified, an appropriate drug therapy plan can be recommended based on medical history and individual patient factors. In this Assignment, you examine a case study of a patient who presents with symptoms of a possible GI/hepatobiliary disorder, and you design an appropriate drug therapy plan.

To Prepare

Review the case study assigned by your Instructor for this Assignment

Reflect on the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and drugs currently prescribed.

Think about a possible diagnosis for the patient. Consider whether the patient has a disorder related to the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary system or whether the symptoms are the result of a disorder from another system or other factors, such as pregnancy, drugs, or a psychological disorder.

Consider an appropriate drug therapy plan based on the patient’s history, diagnosis, and drugs currently prescribed.

By Day 7 of Week 4

Write
 a 1-page paper that addresses the following:

Explain your diagnosis for the patient, including your rationale for the diagnosis.

Describe an appropriate drug therapy plan based on the patient’s history, diagnosis, and drugs currently prescribed.

Justify why you would recommend this drug therapy plan for this patient. Be specific and provide examples.

Reminder:
 The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center offers an example of those required elements (available at 
http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm
). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK4Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.

Click the 
Week 4 Assignment Rubric 
to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

Click the 
Week 4 Assignment 
link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.

Next, from the Attach File area, click on the 
Browse My Computer
 button. Find the document you saved as “WK4Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click 
Open
.

If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for 
I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database
.

Click on the 
Submit
 button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 4 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 4 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 4

To participate in this Assignment:

Week 4 Assignment

What’s Coming Up in Module 4?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

In the next module, 
you will examine types of drugs prescribed to patients with endocrine disorders, such as diabetes, and you will consider the impact of patient factors on the effects of these drugs.

Next Week

To go to the next week:

Module 4

Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example

 

Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.

Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.

To Prepare:

Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
The Assignment: (2–3 pages) Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example.

Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:

Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation? Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example
What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.

Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example

 

[Student name]

[Department, College/ Institution]

[Course Name]

[Instructor’s Name]

Date

 

Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA 2010)

 

 

 

 

 

Description

This is a piece of healthcare policy that revolutionized access to quality healthcare as a social determinant of health for the poor and marginalized in the US. It introduced the concept of individual mandate whereby every person is expected as a matter of course to take the health cover. For those employed, the employer is obligated to pay for them. A total of another twenty million Americans of little or no means have since been brought into the healthcare coverage bracket because of ACA 2010 (HealthCare.gov, n.d; Manchikanti et al., 2017) Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example.

How was the success of the program or policy measured?

 

The success of the program was measure by the number of those previously uninsured who were able to be brought into the coverage fold. This figure has been estimated at 20 million Americans. The other measure of success was the fact that now individuals with pre-existing conditions would be able to receive coverage through monetary incentives given to the payers that cover them. To demonstrate how powerful this measure was, opponents such as former President Trump attempted to repeal and replace this provision because it allegedly hurt private business (Thompson, 2018; AAFP, n.d.).

How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?

 

The number of persons reached by this policy was approximately 20 million persons. Most of these are from marginalized minority communities such as African Americans. They have limited means due to unfavorable social determinants of health such as low socioeconomic status. Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example The impact of the program was immense. For instance, persons with pre-existing conditions who normally have to regularly visit the hospital and take medications are now covered (Thompson, 2018; Manchikanti et al., 2017).

What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?

 

The data used for evaluation came from the US Department of Human Services as well as Medicare.

What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?

 

The specific information on unintended consequences was that relating to the individual mandate provision in the policy. It has now become clear that even though this was well-intended, many poor Americans with no employment still cannot pay even those reduced premiums and end up having to pay a penalty as stipulated by the law. This appears to be double punishment (Sweeney, 2018).

What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.

The stakeholders identified in the evaluation of the policy include the federal government, Medicare and Medicaid, state governments, private payers, providers, and the American citizens. Those who stand to benefit most from the reporting or policy evaluation are payers including Medicare and Medicaid; as well as the federal government. Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example The latter uses this evaluation and reporting to assess the success or failure of the healthcare policy that is ACA 2010.

Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?

 

The policy indeed met the original intent as it enabled another 20 million Americans to access healthcare. However, there is a downside to the success in that the individual mandate has proven to be a punishment rather than a helping move. Many poor citizens with no jobs are finding themselves required to pay penalties just for being unable to pay the ACA 2010 premiums.

Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?

 

I would definitely recommend the implementation of this healthcare policy at my place of work. This is because despite the few drawbacks such as the provision on individual mandate, persons with pre-existing conditions are catered for in more ways than one.

Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after one year of implementation.

 

As a nurse advocate, I would become involved in evaluating the policy after one year of implementation by conducting a survey on patient satisfaction. Secondly, I would want to know the true extent of the negative impact of the individual mandate provision in the ACA 2010. For this, I will do a scientific research coming out with valid and reliable results to inform policy makers’ actions.  Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example

 

General Notes/Comments

The ACA 201 healthcare policy is the closest the United States has come to universal healthcare coverage (UHC). Despite the challenges that still exist; the impact of the policy especially on access to healthcare by the poor has been immense. In particular, covering pre-existing conditions has been a big plus for the poor Americans suffering from type II diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease amongst other chronic conditions Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example.

 

References

American Academy of Family Physicians [AAFP] (n.d.).
ACA Repeal/ Replace
.
https://www.aafp.org/media-center/kits/aca-repeal-replace.html

HealthCare.gov (n.d.).
Affordable Care Act (ACA).
https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/

Manchikanti, L., Ii, S.H., Benyamin, R.M., & Hirsch, J.A. (2017). A critical analysis of Obamacare: Affordable care or insurance for many and coverage for few?
Pain Physician, 20
(3), 111-138.
https://doi.org/10.36076/ppj.2017.138

Sweeney, E. (October 24, 2018).
ACA repeal would impact 102M people with pre-existing conditions
.
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/aca-repeal-would-impact-102-million-people-pre-existing-conditions

Thompson, D. (January 22, 2018).
Obamacare helping poor families the most
.
https://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/affordable-care-act-obamacare-955/obamacare-helping-poor-families-the-most-730401.html 
Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example