Question

Successful nurse leaders maintain knowledge of major trends in health care. Create a list of 2 major focus areas for improvement in U.S. healthcare. Using each of the trends listed, evaluate the leader role in promoting transformation of health care systems. Include discussion of possible nurse leader actions to,promote transformation of U.S. health care.

Answer 1

the focus area for improvement in U.S. health care

1.Population Health Metrics and Information Technology — Improve methods and analytical capacity to collect, evaluate, and disseminate data.

its strategy to improve population health, eliminate health inequities, and bridge gaps between health care and public health.

2.Evidence-Based Practices, Research, and Evaluation — bridge research and practice and institutionalize evidence-based approaches to achieve results-based accountability

3'Systems Thinking — Advance systems thinking in public health. Foster systems integration strategies by analyzing problems using systems science methodologies (i.e., network analysis) while taking into account the complex adaptive nature of the public health system.

4. Sustainability and Stewardship— Strengthen system sustainability and stewardship through valid measures and reporting of performance and quality.

5.Workforce and Education— Develop and sustain a competent workforce by ensuring that educational and skills content are appropriately aligned with core and discipline

so, focus areas for health care quality improvement:

• Care coordination

• Self-management/health literacy

• Asthma—appropriate treatment for persons with mild/moderate persistent asthma

• Cancer screening that is evidence-based—focus on colorectal and cervical cancer.

• Children with special health care needs1

• Diabetes—focus on appropriate management of early disease

• End of life with advanced organ system failure—focus on congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Frailty associated with old age—preventing falls and pressure ulcers, maximizing function, and developing advanced care plans

• Hypertension—focus on appropriate management of early disease

• Major depression—screening and treatment

• Medication management—preventing medication errors and overuse of antibiotics

• Nosocomial infections—prevention and surveillance

• Pain control in advanced cancer

• Pregnancy and childbirth—appropriate prenatal and intrapartum care

• Severe and persistent mental illness—focus on treatment in the public sector

• Stroke—early intervention and rehabilitation

• Tobacco dependence treatment in adults

• Obesity

• Immunization—children and adults

• Ischemic heart disease—prevention, reduction of recurring events, and optimization of functional capacity

ROLE of nurses in promoting the

transformation of health care

1.SAFETY AND QUALITY.

. Nurses do far more, and the work entails both substantial intellectual and organizational competence. Among the critical tasks carried out by nurses are

(a) ongoing monitoring and assessment of their patients and, as necessary, initiating interventions to address complications or reduce risk;

(b) coordinating care delivered by other providers;

(c) educating patients and family members for discharge, which can reduce the risk of posthospital complications and readmission.

2.COST

the biggest cost savings of increased staffing results from reduced lengths-of-stay. Shorter stays reflect not just reductions in complications that extend stays, but the ability of nurses to do their work and coordinate the work of others in a timely and effective manner.

3. TAPPING NURSES' KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM.

Nurses develop substantial knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of hospital systems and how they fail. Their ability to create workarounds to broken or dysfunctional systems is legendary in health care. As hospitals focus on increasing safety and reliability, patient-centeredness, and efficiency, nurses' knowledge and commitment to their patients and institutions need to be effectively mobilized.

4.INCREASING THE VISIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION OF NURSING LEADERSHIP WITHIN HOSPITALS: MAGNET ACCREDITATION.

The framework for the Magnet appraisal process consists of fourteen characteristics, including (1) strong nursing representation in the organizational committee structure; (2) nurse leadership that is part of the hospital's executive leadership; (3) a functioning system of shared governance in nursing; (4) empowerment of nurses at all levels of the hospital, with nurses able to effectively influence system processes; and (5) collegial working relationships among disciplines

5. ENGAGING FRONT-LINE STAFF IN IMPROVING HOSPITAL PERFORMANCE

Its goal was to engage front-line staff and hospital leadership to make improvement in four domains: improving the quality and safety of care; ensuring a high-quality work environment to attract and retain nurses; improving the experience of care for patients and their families;