Respond to each discussion below with a response of a paragraph or more. Respond to the following discussions in the following ways:
• Ask a probing question.
• Expand on the colleague’s posting.
• Offer polite disagreement or critique, supported with evidence.
In addition to, but not in place of the above, you may:
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Make a suggestion or comment which guides or facilitates the Discussion.
Discussion 1: Lisa
According to our text,” Components of community infrastructure include such elements as clean water, air and food;
adequate housing, employment, childcare, health and education, police and fire services, labor groups and a strong health care service
safety net. In communities that have these resources, a sense of cohesion can bring about distribution of these resources to achieve
sustainable health for the people who are a part of those communities” (Mason, 2016). The community of Detroit, Michigan, which is
where I am employed, is in a terrible state financially and economically. Recently, the city and community is under even more scrutiny
regarding the teacher “sick-outs” and the conditions in the Detroit Public Schools. In early January of this year, DPS teachers held a
“sickout” in protest of the conditions of the schools in Detroit. Detroit schools have been experiencing the effects of budgets cuts
and financial ruins leaving them without necessary supplies, overcrowding, and not to mention the less than desirable conditions of the
buildings which are full of black mold, crumbling architecture and ceilings, water damage, which are just to name a few of the concerns
of the community.
These “sickouts” created enough controversy for their voices to be heard all the way to State Legislative level. This is
where the nurses of the community and state stepped in to be a part of those voices. John Armelagos, RN and President of the Michigan
Nurses Association stated, ” as a nurse, the evidence coming out of DP regarding mold, vermin and the structural hazards is alarming.
It is reasonable for parents to doubt the assurance of school administrators and demand third party inspectors to assess these
situations. How are children supposed to learn, if we are not even protecting them from illness or injury?” (www.minurses.org).
Nursing is in a key position to affect future health related policies and we have the opportunity now to advocate for
policy changes that will promote and protect health in multiple ways (Mason, 2016). The Children’s Hospital of Michigan, where I am
employed, is in Detroit Michigan. We see the struggles these children of the community face every day. The nurses of the hospital do
their part to help these children grow and promote healthier lifestyles. One example is a Cereal Drive that becomes a competition
between the units of the hospital but the ultimate goal is to supply enough servings of cereal to feed every child during the summer
months when not in school. Another way the nurses assist the community and promote change is by collecting school supplies and
backpacks full of necessary tools for these children to learn that they have been deprived of for so long. Nurses are taking action on
a state level to change policies in how the budget is being dispersed among the DPS. If we all unite and stand up for our communities,
we can make a difference.
Discussion 2: Coleen
Nurses have been patient advocates since the days of Florence Nightingale. (Oestbury, 2012). An important issue that I have seen is
unsafe nurse staffing ratios. Many times we work short, causing nursing fatigue, burnout and low job satisfaction. As a result, this
leads to an increase in adverse patient events, such as medication errors, falls, and hospital acquired infections. Numerous studies
directly link poor nurse staffing to poor patient outcomes and higher mortality. Why then are healthcare providers so opposed to
providing safe nurse staffing? COST! With decreased reimbursements, especially for preventable hospital errors, hospitals have been
forced to make deep budgetary cuts. Since nurses compromise the largest group within the hospital, it would seem to be the obvious
area to begin making cuts from. Due to these deep cuts in nursing staff, there have been a marked increase in adverse patient
outcomes, costing the hospitals more money in the long run.
Nurses and special interest groups, particularly the American Nurse Association, (ANA), are advocating for The Safe Nurse Staffing Act.
While this has been a decade long battle at the federal level, the battle has made progress in some states, at a state level. While
California remains the only state to enact a mandatory safe nurse staffing law, 14 other states have enacted some form of policy &/or
regulations addressing the issue. Nurses continue to rally on state levels, as well as at a federal level, to ensure safe nurse
staffing, in an attempt to provide safe, quality patient care.
Karen Daley took a personal experience and turned it into a career in nursing advocacy. As a result of a needle stick, while practicing
as a nurse, she contracted HIV and Hepatitis C. She then took that issue and began advocating for safe needle regulations. Through
research and advocacy, within a year, she was successful in having safe needle regulations enacted into law. (Laureate Education,
2009). As nurses, we can no longer sit by idly and remain silent. As the largest group of healthcare workers, it is important for
nurses to remain aware of the issues, and advocate for legislation that will impact how we deliver care in our goal to provide safe,
quality patient care. (Fuchs, 2014). Karen Daley believes that nurses “bring to bear a powerful influence in terms of policy”
(Laureate Education, 2009). Nursing organizations are often very important in the development of healthcare policy. Nurses can become
involved in policy advocacy by joining nursing organizations and adding their voices to the cause. The reality is, that nurses bring
credibility, knowledge, and expertise, in addition to providing the human touch through our stories and experiences, to the debate.
(Laureate Education, 2009). Without nurses, policy advocacy for safe, quality healthcare for our patients, will not get done.
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