Introduction
Everybody desires to live a long and healthy life without visiting a health institution to treat ailments and undergo surgeries. However, good health is a matter of chance since nobody knows when they will fall sick or be injured and need medical attention. Whether healthcare is a right and social good or a market-based commodity has evoked numerous debates between economists and human rights activists.
Economists argue that getting quality healthcare requires scarce resources, making it an economic problem. On the other hand, sociologists and human rights personnel claim that healthcare should be a human right since every person has a right to treatment and life, regardless of economic condition. Based on the contents of this course, this essay argues that healthcare is a right and a social good that should be available to all.
Nursing’s Expanding Role in Healthcare as a Social Good
Healthcare is critical for maintaining the quality of life and society’s well-being worldwide. The choice of whether the service is a human right for social good or a market commodity depends on the concerned parties in the healthcare system. This course has met its objectives by creating awareness of the role of nurses in ensuring healthcare is a right and a social good.
Although nursing involves caring for the bedridden, their skills and abilities are not limited to bedside tasks. Nurses can perform other functions through innovation and creativity, enhancing and changing numerous health system sectors, including economic problems. Nurses can aid financial issues in the healthcare system through innovation and creativity in administration, research, and advocacy (Berwick, 2020). Nursing organization policies have ensured that nurses receive management and leadership courses that deal with budgeting and healthcare costs.
Applying Nursing Education to Cost Management and Budgeting
Potential applications of this week’s course concepts include using nursing education to influence cost management and budgeting—potential applications of the course week’s course concepts. Changes made in high leadership positions must be controlled by feedback from those on the front lines who have information from patients, the public, and other staff (Berwick, 2020). For instance, nurses know the necessary and unnecessary supplies, the stock that has stayed long, and the most demanded stock, which enhances decision-making on store supplies. Therefore, nurses use their knowledge to reduce healthcare costs, improving it as a human right and social good.
Challenges in Linking Legislative Policies, External Funding, and Healthcare Costs
Although the course content met its objective, I had challenges linking legislative policies of external funding and healthcare costs. Most healthcare providers receive funds indirectly from external sources, establishing patient coverage and service regulations. Despite being able to reduce medication costs through nursing practices, creativity, and innovation, external sources such as insurance companies play a significant role in determining whether they can be a commodity or a right. Therefore, besides nurses and healthcare providers ensuring reduced medication costs, the government should regulate external sources to ensure patients are not overcharged for affordable or free services.
Conclusion
In conclusion, healthcare is a fundamental entitlement and societal benefit that ought to be accessible to everyone. From the objectives of this course, nurses have a significant role in ensuring that all healthcare services are available by being on the system’s frontline. There are many approaches that nurses can take to provide available and equal healthcare services to society. Through legislative policies and the Nursing Organization Act, nurses can participate in budgeting, management of medical costs, and research to reduce the cost of medication, enhancing individuals’ rights to healthcare and social good. Although the service involves exchanging money for a service, it should be a fundamental right that nursing practices, administration, and management can improve.
Reference
Berwick, D. M. (2020). The moral determinants of health. JAMA, 324(3), 225. Web.