Nursing Discussion question 1= 300 words due. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was passed into legislation in March of 2010. Identify the impact of this legislation on your nursing practice by choosing two key nursing provisions outlined in the American Nurses Association “Key Provisions Related to Nursing” summary at . Discuss how these two provisions have impacted, or will impact, your current practice of nursing.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare, was enacted in March 2010 with the goal of increasing access to affordable healthcare for all Americans. This legislation has had a significant impact on various aspects of the healthcare system, including the nursing profession. In this discussion, we will focus on two key nursing provisions outlined in the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) “Key Provisions Related to Nursing” summary and examine their impact on nursing practice.
The first provision we will consider is the expansion of Medicaid. Under the PPACA, states now have the option to expand eligibility for Medicaid to individuals with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This provision has opened up healthcare coverage to millions of low-income individuals who were previously uninsured or underinsured. From a nursing perspective, the expansion of Medicaid has resulted in an increase in the number of patients seeking healthcare services, especially in underserved communities. This influx of patients has placed additional demands on nurses in terms of workload and patient management.
Nurses are now facing the challenge of providing quality care to a larger patient population with limited resources. The increased demand for healthcare services has led to longer waiting times for patients, overcrowding in emergency departments, and a strain on healthcare facilities. Nurses must adapt to this changing landscape by finding innovative ways to manage patient flow, provide timely care, and prioritize patients based on their acuity levels. Additionally, nurses are increasingly involved in care coordination and case management to ensure that patients receive the appropriate level of care and resources. Overall, the expansion of Medicaid has significantly affected nursing practice by increasing patient volume and requiring nurses to become more resourceful and efficient in their care delivery.
The second provision we will explore is the emphasis on preventive care and wellness. The PPACA places a strong emphasis on prevention and wellness by requiring insurers to cover certain preventive services without cost-sharing for patients. These services include vaccinations, screenings, and counseling for various health conditions. This provision aims to shift the focus of healthcare from a reactive approach to a proactive one, with the goal of preventing diseases and promoting healthy lifestyles.
From a nursing perspective, this provision has expanded the role of nurses in preventive care and health promotion. Nurses are now actively involved in providing education, counseling, and screenings to individuals to help them prevent or manage chronic conditions. Nurses play a vital role in implementing evidence-based preventive interventions and advocating for patients’ access to preventive services. This shift in focus has also prompted nurses to incorporate health promotion strategies into their practice, such as encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, promoting exercise and nutrition, and addressing social determinants of health.
As a result of this provision, nurses have witnessed a change in their role from primarily providing acute care to playing a larger role in population health and disease prevention. Nurses are now involved in community outreach programs, health education campaigns, and policy initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities. This provision has broadened the scope of nursing practice and highlighted the importance of nurses in promoting and maintaining health at both individual and population levels.
In conclusion, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has had a profound impact on the nursing profession through various provisions. The expansion of Medicaid has increased the number of patients seeking healthcare services, placing additional demands on nurses. The emphasis on preventive care and wellness has expanded the role of nurses in health promotion and disease prevention. These provisions have resulted in changes in nursing practice, including the need for more efficient patient management and a shift towards preventive care. Nurses must continue to adapt and find innovative ways to provide quality care in this evolving healthcare landscape.