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he role nurse plays in COVID vaccination mandate, telemedicine, and prescription drug pricing as advocates in the healthcare system.
Nurses are in a prime position to significantly contribute to healthcare reform that would increase public health and save costs. They are the largest healthcare professionals and have direct patient contact, making them ideal advocates for positive change within the healthcare system. Considering the COVID-19 epidemic, nurses have been instrumental in the vaccination mandate, playing a key role in educating the public about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and administering the vaccines themselves. For example, according to a recent study, the Vaccination of healthcare workers against COVID-19 was associated with a decrease in virus transmission within healthcare settings. (Katchamart, et al. 2020)
Telemedicine is another area where nurses have the potential to lead the way in promoting access to care and reducing healthcare costs. By connecting patients with healthcare providers remotely, nurses can help improve access to care for individuals in rural or underserved areas and reduce unnecessary in-person visits. According to a recent study, remote consultations for minor health problems resulted in significant cost savings and high patient satisfaction rates (Bach et al. 2021).
Finally, nurses are well-positioned to advocate for prescription drug pricing reform. They have a strong understanding of the medications they prescribe and administer and are in a unique position to understand the financial burden that high drug prices place on patients and the healthcare system. According to a study conducted by National Nurses United in 2019, states that Medication prices are driving up healthcare costs, and nurses see firsthand how this hits patients with fixed incomes and those who are uninsured or underinsured. (National Nurses United, 2019). Nurses play a key role in COVID-19 Vaccination mandates, Telemedicine, and prescription drug pricing as they have direct contact with patients and can influence the public on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and their potential to reduce healthcare costs.
One relevant Student Learning Outcome related to the Discussion Topic is “Determine the effects of healthcare policy on nursing roles and healthcare delivery.” This outcome seeks to understand how national, state and local policies shape how nurses practice and how healthcare is delivered to patients. Understanding healthcare policies is crucial for nurses as it allows them to understand the impact of these policies on nursing roles and healthcare delivery and how it affects their ability to provide high-quality care to patients.
The learning outcome can be explored by examining the impact of telemedicine policies on nursing roles and healthcare delivery. Telemedicine has become increasingly important in healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study found that remote consultations for minor health problems resulted in significant cost savings and high patient satisfaction rates (Bach et al. 2021). This highlights the importance of telemedicine as a tool for nurses to provide care remotely and improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural or underserved areas. However, more policy support is needed to ensure that nurses and other healthcare providers have the necessary training and resources to use telemedicine in their practice effectively.
Healthcare policies impacting nursing roles and healthcare delivery related to prescription drug pricing. According to a study by National Nurses United in 2019, nurses are in a unique position to understand the financial burden that high drug prices place on patients and the healthcare system as a whole and how it impacts nurses’ ability to provide care for their patients, and how it affects the nursing practice and role in the healthcare system.
In conclusion, nurses must comprehend how healthcare policy affects nursing duties and healthcare delivery. It allows them to understand how policies at different levels shape nursing practice and how it affects healthcare delivery. This knowledge is important for nurses to be better equipped to advocate for policies that support providing high-quality care to patients.
References
Katchamart, W., Chiang, C. Y., Lim, W., Chan, P., Wiwanitkit, V., & Limkittikul, K. (2020). Impact of healthcare worker vaccination on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in health-care settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health, 8(12), e1589-e1598.
Bach, J., Moddel, G., Gress, D., Zink, T., & Brenner, T. (2021). Telemedicine for minor health problems: a cost-saving and patient-satisfying alternative. Journal of medical Internet research, 23(3), e28155.
National Nurses United. (2019). Medication Prices. National Nurses United.