DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy

The healthcare landscape is deeply influenced by a myriad of economic, financial, and political factors. Navigating this complex environment requires a comprehensive understanding of policy reform, legal regulations, ethical considerations, and organizational contexts. DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to critically assess and influence healthcare policies. Through this course, students will learn to apply emotional intelligence as a strategy to advocate for and create meaningful change in healthcare delivery. The course also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and teamwork in healthcare settings.

DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy Course Overview

Economic, Financial, and Political Factors in Healthcare

One of the primary focuses of the DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy course is to examine the various economic, financial, and political factors that impact the delivery of healthcare. Students will explore how these elements shape healthcare policies and influence the way healthcare services are provided. By understanding these factors, students can better navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and advocate for effective policy reforms.

Policy Reform and Legal, Regulatory, Ethical, Societal, and Organizational Contexts

Policy reform is a critical aspect of healthcare advocacy. In this course, students will critique the policy process and assess the influence of legislative and governmental bodies on healthcare delivery. They will also consider the legal, regulatory, ethical, societal, and organizational contexts that shape healthcare policies. This comprehensive approach ensures that students are well-equipped to understand and influence the policy landscape.

Emotional Intelligence in Advocacy

Emotional intelligence is a crucial skill for effective advocacy. In DNP820, students will learn to apply emotional intelligence to their advocacy efforts, enabling them to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and navigate complex emotional dynamics. This skill set is essential for creating and sustaining change in healthcare delivery.

Developing and Evaluating Policy Processes

Students will develop processes to influence, implement, and evaluate current healthcare policies. This includes understanding the role of government in healthcare delivery and how policies are formulated, enacted, and assessed. By engaging in these activities, students will gain practical experience in shaping healthcare policy.

Collaborative Support and Teamwork

The importance of collaboration and teamwork in healthcare settings cannot be overstated. This course emphasizes the need for collaborative support among healthcare professionals to drive policy change and improve healthcare delivery. Students will learn strategies for fostering teamwork and building coalitions to support their advocacy efforts.

Proctored Assessment and Immersion Hours

DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy includes a proctored assessment requirement, ensuring that students demonstrate their understanding of course concepts in a controlled environment. Additionally, the course requires documentation of at least 80 hours of immersion towards the 1000 hours due during the DNP program. These immersion hours provide students with hands-on experience in applying their knowledge to real-world healthcare settings.

DNP820 Health Policy and Advocacy Course Objectives

By the end of the DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy course, students will be able to:

Critique the Policy Process: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the policy process and the various factors that influence policy development and implementation.
Assess Legislative and Governmental Influence: Analyze the role of legislative and governmental bodies in shaping healthcare policies and delivery.
Apply Emotional Intelligence in Advocacy: Utilize emotional intelligence to advocate for policy change and build effective relationships with stakeholders.
Develop and Evaluate Policy Processes: Create and assess processes for influencing, implementing, and evaluating healthcare policies.
Foster Collaborative Support and Teamwork: Develop strategies for promoting collaboration and teamwork among healthcare professionals to support advocacy efforts.
Fulfill Proctored Assessment and Immersion Requirements: Successfully complete the proctored assessment and document at least 80 hours of immersion towards the DNP program requirements.

DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy Course Assignments and Activities

Policy Critique and Analysis

Students will engage in assignments that require them to critique and analyze existing healthcare policies. This will involve researching current policies, assessing their effectiveness, and identifying areas for improvement. Through these assignments, students will develop a deeper understanding of the policy landscape and the factors that influence policy development.

Legislative and Governmental Influence Assessment

Assignments in this area will focus on assessing the impact of legislative and governmental bodies on healthcare policies. Students will analyze how laws and regulations shape healthcare delivery and explore strategies for influencing policy at the legislative level.

Emotional Intelligence Application

Students will participate in activities designed to enhance their emotional intelligence and apply it to their advocacy efforts. This may include role-playing exercises, reflective journaling, and peer feedback sessions. These activities will help students develop the emotional skills necessary for effective advocacy.

Policy Development and Evaluation

Students will create processes for developing and evaluating healthcare policies. This will involve identifying policy goals, designing implementation strategies, and assessing policy outcomes. Through these activities, students will gain practical experience in policy development and evaluation.

Collaborative Support and Teamwork Projects

Group projects and collaborative activities will emphasize the importance of teamwork in healthcare advocacy. Students will work together to develop advocacy strategies, build coalitions, and support each other’s efforts. These projects will foster a collaborative learning environment and prepare students for real-world advocacy work.

Proctored Assessment and Immersion Hours Documentation

Students will complete a proctored assessment to demonstrate their understanding of course concepts. Additionally, they will document their 80 hours of immersion, detailing the activities they engaged in and the insights they gained. This documentation will be reviewed to ensure that students are meeting the course requirements.

How to Approach the DNP820- Health Policy and Advocacy Course- Step-by-Step Guide

Engage with Course Materials: Begin by thoroughly reading the course materials, including textbooks, research articles, and policy documents. This foundational knowledge will be essential for understanding course concepts.
Participate in Discussions: Actively engage in online discussions with peers and instructors. Sharing insights and experiences will enhance your understanding and provide valuable feedback.
Conduct Policy Critiques and Analyses: Research and critique existing healthcare policies. Analyze their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. This will deepen your understanding of the policy landscape.
Assess Legislative and Governmental Influence: Explore the role of legislative and governmental bodies in shaping healthcare policies. Develop strategies for influencing policy at the legislative level.
Develop Emotional Intelligence Skills: Participate in activities designed to enhance your emotional intelligence. Apply these skills to your advocacy efforts and build strong relationships with stakeholders.
Create and Evaluate Policy Processes: Develop processes for influencing, implementing, and evaluating healthcare policies. Gain practical experience in policy development and assessment.
Foster Collaboration and Teamwork: Engage in group projects and collaborative activities. Develop strategies for promoting teamwork and building coalitions to support your advocacy efforts.
Complete Proctored Assessment and Document Immersion Hours: Successfully complete the proctored assessment and document your 80 hours of immersion. Ensure that you meet all course requirements.

DNP 820 Health Policy and Advocacy Full Course Overview

Module 1 Discussion

DQ1: Patient and Community Advocacy vs. Nursing Profession Advocacy

What are the differences between advocating for health policies that directly affect patients and communities versus those that impact the nursing profession?
Should nurse health policy advocates focus on one area over the other?
How do you think the public and legislators perceive these sets of issues?

DQ2: Understanding Little “p” and Big “P” Policy

Explain the distinction between little “p” (institutional policies) and big “P” (governmental policies).

Module 2 Discussion

DQ1: Historical and Contemporary Nursing Advocacy

Describe the history of the nursing profession as advocates for health policy and the community.
Compare a present-day nursing leader you know who demonstrates these advocacy attributes.

DQ2: Advocacy Approaches

Is there only one predetermined way to advocate, or are there multiple paths depending on the issue and political environment?

Module 3 Discussion

DQ1: Linking Non-Healthcare News to Health Outcomes

Select a news article unrelated to healthcare and connect it to health based on social or economic issues that, if changed, could influence health outcomes.

DQ2: Investigating Health Inequities

Examine a health inequity in your community, state, or nationally.
Investigate if any health policy changes have been proposed to address it.

Module 4 Discussion

DQ1: Nursing Organizations and Legislative Agendas

Choose four nursing organizations and compare and contrast their legislative agendas.
Synthesize the connections between organizational missions and legislative agendas.

DQ2: Legislative Priorities of Nursing Groups

Evaluate the legislative priorities of four nursing groups.
How many focus on the nursing profession? How many focus on community health?
Support your discussion with two peer-reviewed articles evaluating advocacy for the nursing profession versus patient/community health.

Module 5 Discussion

DQ1: The Importance of Relationships in Policy Advancement

Examine the importance of relationships in advancing policy.
Summarize two articles on this issue.

DQ2: Barriers to Health Policy Advocacy

Provide four examples of barriers nurse health policy advocates face when trying to move health policy forward.

Module 6 Discussion

DQ1: Evaluating Online Health Policy Resources

Evaluate the online resources on page 203 of your text.
Which sites are easiest to navigate and provide the most knowledge on state and federal health policy issues?

DQ2: Current Debates in Healthcare

Synthesize the top five issues currently debated in healthcare.
Apply this knowledge to patient care in your healthcare organization or community. Will it change care delivery? How?

Module 7 Discussion

DQ1: Advocacy Actions and Health Policy Issues

Choose five advocacy actions from the text.
Apply them to a health policy issue by describing how you would use these actions to shape the issue.

DQ2: Shaping Health Policy

Reflect on whether health policy is something that happens to you or something you can shape.
If it happens to you, how can you reconceptualize your role to become a health policy shaper?

Module 8 Discussion

DQ1: Real-World Advocacy Strategy

Describe your real-world advocacy strategy to your classmates.
Comment and give suggestions.

DQ2: Importance of Mentors

Evaluate the importance of mentors in carrying out your strategy. Do you have one?

Module 1 Assignment

Write a 1500-word APA essay reflecting on:
1. The current nursing culture and whether the bar for nursing leadership is set at the individual patient-nurse relationship or the community-nurse relationship. Provide examples of each. Use at least three references to support your findings.
2. Review the DNP Essentials and the 2011 Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report for statements on nursing leadership in health policy. Identify how these documents define nursing leadership in relation to health policy and the community. Use at least three references to support your findings.