Category: Nursing

You are a new data analyst at Liberty Hospital. The HIM Director has asked you to put together a quick report for her to use in an upcoming meeting. The report will focus on the conditions of nursing homes in your area (city/state).

Often times in healthcare you may be asked to perform tasks with little or no direction. For this assignment, you will need to use your critical thinking skills to determine which information will be helpful to the HIM director.

In order to develop this report, perform an Internet search for Medicare.gov’s Nursing Home Compare website. In a 1-2 page report, written in APA format complete the following:

Perform a quality analysis on three (3) nursing homes in your community. Note any information that would be helpful to the HIM Director. You can use the Kansas City Area

Rank the nursing homes from highest to lowest based on their quality ratings.

Be sure your report is free of spelling and grammar errors.

 wanted to direct you to the CMS link for Nursing Homes to assist you in completing this week’s assignment. For this assignment you are the data analyst and have been tasked with putting together a report that focuses on the conditions of nursing homes in your area.Often times in healthcare you may be asked to perform tasks with little or no direction. For this assignment, you will need to use your critical thinking skills to determine which information will be helpful to the HIM director.

In order to develop this report, perform an Internet search for Medicare.gov’s Nursing Home Compare website. In a 1-2 page report describing 3 nursing homes in your area and ranking them from first to last.

I have provided the link CMS link below to help you get started.  You will also need to research the local nursing home for your specific area.

Create a visual depiction to explain the process of how ideas become regulations and rules and how rules and regulations become policy and laws on the local, state, and national levels for the nursing home industry. Research the path of how local, state, and national rules, regulations and laws are created and include the knowledge you find from this research into the visual depiction you create. The depiction should be concise and easy to understand.

What process would you use to create professional standards and institutional ethics within your healthcare facility, and what sources of information would you use to set those standards and ethics?

Will the expectation of care vary based on the faith base of the patient involved? How can the practitioner change care practice based on the faith of the patient? Give an example.

Discuss the standard of care of the four areas of negligence. How are these standard useful in healthcare organization.

Nursing Shortage and the Future of the Profession Essay

Theorists and researchers such as Florence Nightingale, Rosemary Rizzo Parse, and Hildegard Peplau have contributed to the advancements in nursing practice by adding to the knowledgebase. Professional nurses are now charged with ensuring the continuation of growth, development, and further advancement in the field. To advance in their career, professional nurses must be able to face the challenges that lie ahead. One of the major challenges faced in healthcare is the nursing shortage. Finkelman and Kenner (2016) highlighted that the shortage of nurses is negatively impacting healthcare outcomes and will require judicious leadership at both governmental and institutional levels to alleviate this gap. One of the areas highlighted by Finkelman and Kenner contributing to the nursing shortage is a negative work environment.

Utilize various strategies (IOM competency, QSEN, and others outlined in your readings) in an attempt to address the problem. Address the ANA’s role in the future of nursing, specifically as it relates to nursing shortage. Address the following key points:

• In one paragraph, summarize the problem of interest identified in your practice in Week One.

• Discuss whether or not the problem in your practice is impacted by the nursing shortage.

• If the problem is unrelated to the nursing shortage, be sure to address why unpleasant work environment is thought to be a catalyst for the shortage.

• Identify two-three strategies/incentives used to eliminate nursing shortage.

• Highlight the impact that nursing shortage have on quality of care.

• Indicate the impact that the IOM’s core competency of quality improvement has on the problem

• Review the QSEN competencies. Choose two QSEN competencies, then highlight and explain how your two chosen competencies could be applied to the problem identified in your practice.

• Highlight the role the American Nurses Association (ANA) plays in securing the future of professional nursing practice.

• Examine the literature on the future of professional nursing.

• Conclude with a summary of the key elements of your research findings and a possible resolution to your identified problem

Your Nursing Shortage and the Future of the Profession Essay paper;

• Must be six to eight double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style.

• Must include a separate title page with the following:

o Title of paper

o Student’s name

o Course name and number

o Instructor’s name

o Date submitted

• Must use at least six scholarly sources in addition to the course text.

• Must document all sources in APA style.

• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style.

Healthcare providers need communication skills to effectively handle situations with patients, family, coworkers, and employer–employee conflicts. How do you propose to train providers to gain these very necessary skills?

In each case, answer the questions at the end of the case and give researched references to support your assertions; also, explain what would be the ethical course of action and the legal requirements for action in the case.

Case One

Mrs. Lewis was head nurse on a medical surgical floor in a community hospital with 250 beds. Over the course of 6months, she noticed that all patients admitted from the Shady Rest Nursing Home had signs of severe injuries other than those connected with the admitting diagnosis. There appeared to be patient abuse in the nursing home. Mrs. Lewis investigated discreetly and found no explanation possible except abuse. In accord with the obligations of the law in her state, she reported the matter to the Department of Welfare Bureau of Inspection.

The Welfare Department investigated immediately, found proof of abuse, and threatened to close down Shady Rest if there were any more recurrences. Mrs. Lewis was overjoyed until her hospital administrator, bypassing the director of nursing, called her in and warned her that she would be fired if she reported any other instances of abuse. Shady Rest sent the hospital a lot of business, and good relations had to be maintained.

Mrs. Lewis was even more shocked when she discovered that the administrator was a golf partner of the owner of Shady Rest and was doing an old buddy a favor. Despite fears of retaliation, Mrs. Lewis consulted a lawyer, who threatened the hospital with exposure and with penalties that would follow if one of its employees failed to follow the reporting provisions of the law on abuse in nursing homes.

Did Mrs. Lewis act correctly? What should she have done if she could not have afforded to consult with a lawyer? In what ways can whistle-blowers protect themselves? Must the art of intimidation be part of the toolbox of healthcare professionals in order to protect their patients? Is power an appropriate consideration in healthcare ethics?

Case Two

On a July weekend, Mrs. Allesfertig, nursing supervisor of the whole hospital, discovered that the intensive care unit was seriously understaffed. She pulled two nurses with previous ICUexperience off other floors to bring the unit up to strength in view of the extreme level of acute care needed. On the following Monday, Dr. Bestknabe, who has overall responsibility for the ICU unit, closed the unit for further admissions until the staffing had been worked out on a permanent basis.

Should the new staffing policy give the nurses authority to refuse to admit patients when the staff is not sufficient to handle them? (In some hospitals, nurses have this authority.) Can any policy take precedence over the professional judgment of trained ICU nurses?

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss cultural competence in professional nursing practice.

2. Evaluate how collaboration and teamwork assist in care delivery.

3. Assess the use of technology in professional nursing practice.

4. Compare and contrast the past and future of professional nursing.

5. Discuss QSEN.

6. Apply the IOM’s core competency of quality improvement.

Introduction

Professional nurses must be culturally competent in order to succeed in a diverse healthcare environment. Future professional nurse leaders understand the need for collaboration, cultural sensitivity/diversity, technology, and quality. The field of nursing has changed significantly over the last few decades, but the goal has always been and will always be to provide quality care that is patient-centered—to obtain quality outcomes driven by practical application of best practices. The means of reaching the goal is currently based on evidence and nursing research. This week you will learn about quality and safety education for nurses (QSEN), cultural competence, and service quality in professional nursing. You will also engage in discussions about collaboration and technology in ensuring quality. Finally, you will demonstrate an understanding of the future of professional nursing based on research.

Cultural Competence & Service Quality.  

Cultural competence enables the professional nurse to provide quality care to all patients, irrespective of socio-cultural differences. Cultural competence and service quality can only be unified if the professional nurse first acknowledges his/her personal biases. Nurses practice in various health settings that require unique skills to provide adequate care to the diverse patient population that they serve.

For this discussion, identify a time in practice when you encountered or experienced a laxity in cultural competence. Avoid using names of person(s) or organization(s). Provide an insight into the lessons learned. Use scholarly resources to support your discussion.

 

Collaboration, Technology Use, & Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Professional Nursing.  

Nursing care requires promptness, precision, and quality to ensure optimal care outcomes. Collaboration and teamwork provides comprehensive and efficient care for the patient. Technology enables prompt and accurate healthcare delivery. Collaboration coupled with technology enables healthcare providers to deliver care that is expeditious and efficacious.

For this discussion, select (a) the impact of technology, (b) collaboration, or (c) CQI in professional nursing care. Then, make an argument in favor of its application in your practice. Be as detailed as possible, so that your classmates can clearly agree or differ in their professional opinions. Use scholarly resources to support your discussion.

When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? This assignment asks you to apply a six-step to problem solving process to a specific problem scenario. You will write a paper that presents a synthesis of your ideas about solving the problem using this systematic approach. As Voltaire said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” Choose one (1) of the problem scenarios as a topic choice for your paper (Note: Your professor must approve your topic choice before you begin work on the assignment.) Scenario 1: You have worked at your company for eleven (11) years. You have returned to college to earn a Bachelor’s degree in order to increase your chances for a promotion. You are nearly finished with your degree, when a supervisor’s position in a competing company becomes available in another state. The start date is in two (2) weeks, during your final exam period for your courses. The position offers a $15,000 per year salary increase, a car allowance, and relocation expenses. Your former supervisor works for the company and is recommending you for the position based on your outstanding job performance; if you want the job, it’s yours. All of the other supervisors at this level in the company have Master’s degrees, so you know that you would be expected to earn your Bachelor’s degree and continue on to a Master’s degree. Your present company offers tuition reimbursement, but the new company does not. Scenario 2: Your child comes home from school with an assignment sheet for a school project. He / she is very excited about the project and begins work immediately, doing research on the Internet and gathering materials. You read over the assignment sheet and notice that your child is not including all of the required items in the project, and you have some ideas for how to improve the quality of the presentation. You recently read an article in a parenting magazine about the importance of a child developing responsibility for his/ her own learning. You recall the many ways in which your parents took over your school projects. You, on the other hand, want to encourage your child’s confidence in his / her ability to complete a project independently. The next day, you are at the grocery store when you see a parent of a student in your child’s class. That parent has spent over $30 in supplies for the science project and is taking a day off of work to put the pieces of the project together. Scenario 3: You have two jobs—one during the week from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and one on Saturday from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. You are taking two classes—one that meets from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, and one class online. You have two kids—one who plays soccer, and one who is in band. You have two elderly parents who no longer drive. You have two siblings—one who lives two (2) miles away, and one who lives in another state. You have two (2) papers due in your classes the same week that one (1) of your children has a soccer tournament, and the other child has a band concert. You are coaching the soccer team, and you are in charge of fundraising for the band. You have a goal to complete your degree in two (2) years. Your doctor tells you that your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your weight are too high and recommends several medications that cost you nearly $200 per month after your insurance co-pay. Scenario 4: You are a sales representative for a company that encourages staff to log time in the field and away from the office. You are expected to begin and end your day at the office. You notice that each day when you arrive and return another co-worker is already there, and you wonder whether this person spends most of his / her time at the office. At your weekly sales meeting, you are informed of your co-workers’ outstanding sales performance. You suspect that this co-worker is spending more time flattering the boss instead of working leads in the field, and as a result is getting the best client referrals. Your own sales numbers have steadily decreased since this other sales representative was hired. Scenario 5: Professor’s Choice – problem scenario presented by your professor. Scenario 6: Student’s Choice – Problem scenario presented by you. Review the six-step problem solving process outlined in the webtext, based on the article “The Problem Solving Process” located at http://www.gdrc.org/decision/problem-solve.html: Step One: Define the problem Step Two: Analyze the problem Step Three: Generate options Step Four: Evaluate options Step Five: Make your decision Step Six: Implement and reflect Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you: 1. Define the problem in the scenario that you have chosen. 2. Analyze the problem in the scenario. 3. Generate options for solving the problem in the scenario. 4. Evaluate the options for solving the problem. 5. Decide on the best option for solving the problem. 6. Explain how you will implement the decision made and reflect on whether this option was the most effective. The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing: Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph. Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences. Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

“Fairness of the Federal Estate Tax and Income and Principal in Fiduciary Accounting” Please respond to the following:

Based on the information contained in the textbook, several arguments exist for the repeal of the estate tax. From the e-Activity, defend the most significant argument advanced in the repeal of the estate tax by its opponents. Justify your response.

The Uniform Principal and Income Act of 2000 (Uniform Act) allows the trustee to make adjustments between the principal and income accounts as necessary under certain requirements. Examine the major reasoning for allowing such transfers by the trustee and recommend alternatives to the allowance of the adjustments. Justify your response.