Introduction
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is one of the leading organizations that take numerous actions and initiatives to transform the quality of health services available to different patients. The agency’s current policy agenda focuses on legislation at the federal level. This paper identifies and discusses the strategies undertaken by this organization to fight the current budgetary cuts to various Nursing Workforce Development programs.
Key Points
The AACN has identified two key issues on the above policy agenda. The first one is to advocate for better laws to support various nursing education programs in the country. According to this organization, the proposed cuts are in accordance with the Public Health Service Act (Title VIII). However, such measures are capable of hindering or affecting the quality of education available to different learners. Secondly, the agency is keen to ensure that more nursing students are equipped with appropriate competencies, ideas, and tools (“AACN legislation,” n.d.). Such issues are, therefore, capable of improving the health conditions of many American citizens and making it easier for them to achieve their goals.
Policy Agenda and Nursing Practice
The above policy agenda is expected to affect the field of nursing practice positively. To begin with, the targeted initiative will compel the government to allocate adequate funds in an attempt to support every program aimed at meeting the needs of both nursing students and healthcare practitioners (“AACN legislation,” n.d.). When more nurse practitioners (NPs) are equipped with adequate resources, it will be easier for them to offer evidence-based, quality, and timely medical services to their respective patients. The second impact is that the current policy agenda being pursued by this organization is capable of improving America’s healthcare sector.
This is agreeable because increased funds will encourage many learning institutions and professionals in the field of nursing to undertake numerous research studies. Such projects will offer evidence-based ideas and concepts that can result in improved health services. The proposed cuts will, therefore, create the best environment for training, empowering, and guiding more healthcare practitioners. This move will empower them to meet the changing needs of many American citizens.
Actions Undertaken by the AACN
In order to support the passage of the above law, the AACN has undertaken several actions at the federal level. The first one is partnering with the Nursing Community (NC) in order to achieve its objectives much faster. The NC is an association of over 60 professional nursing organizations that advocate for various challenges facing American nurses. Consequently, this organization has managed to sensitize many individuals about its policy agenda.
The ultimate goal is to fight the outlined cuts in the 2018 Fiscal Year Budget (“AACN legislation,” n.d.). The second action plan has been to submit its testimonies to different committees, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources. Members use similar platforms to identify and communicate with senators who are capable of supporting the passage of the intended policy agenda.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is evident that different agencies such as the AACN undertake numerous strategies in an attempt to promote appropriate policies in healthcare. The AACN’s decision to challenge the presented budgetary cuts is expected to empower nursing students and ensure that more citizens have access to quality medical services. In conclusion, NPs should support the initiatives undertaken by different organizations in order to transform America’s health care sector.
Reference
AACN legislation/regulatory action. (n.d.). Web.