Bill Identification and Summary
The Legislature has created a task force known as the United States National COVID-19 Pandemic Response Task Force. The Task Force Objectives are to study, evaluate, and report on the United States’ preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Force aims to avoid unnecessary duplication by reviewing other relevant Task Forces’ findings, conclusions, and recommendations (Prevent Pandemics Act, 2022). In addition, the Force aims to identify gaps in public health preparedness and medical response policies, processes, and activities, including differences in rates of COVID-19 infection (Prevent Pandemics Act, 2022). The Task Force’s roles include conducting a review that examines the initial outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in China (Prevent Pandemics Act, 2022). The Force will examine the United States preparations for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force aims to study communication between public health and scientific information related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of Bill on Nursing Practice Standard
Nursing is mentioned in the bill under the section on maintaining the public health workforce. At this stage in the existence of the law, it will not affect the established standard for nurses. The law correlates with the existing standard for professional nurses. Standard 5A on Coordination of Care describes the nurse’s role in the medical team and the specific responsibility for communicating with the patient (ANA, 2021). The proposed law considers the peculiarities of communication in the scope of the healthcare organization and insists on the importance of establishing these pathways. However, given the breadth and scope of the proposed project, new standards may be set in the future. Since the law aims not only to combat COVID-19 but also to minimize such a scenario, it may put forward requirements for professional nurses (Prevent Pandemics Act, 2022). The requirements may aim to establish the most effective and prompt response measures to prevent outbreaks of diseases that can develop into pandemics. If the law does not pass, it can lead to stagnation in changes in standards that need to be adjusted to the new post-pandemic realities.
Impact of Bill on Nursing Practice
The bill will significantly affect the daily work of nurses, and I am no exception. On the one hand, it is aimed at facilitating work; on the other hand, the requirements may become more authoritarian. By analyzing the inefficiencies of previous policies, the law may save me from additional paperwork associated with case registration. The pandemic has shown how important the ability of the health system to respond to complex changing conditions quickly is. As an integral part of the system, I must work to the limit in critical situations. However, the law can force me to work harder with an existing team. The bill proposes introducing a system of incentives for medical workers and providing them access to fundamental worker rights. To support employees in the healthcare sector, it is proposed to introduce special awards for practical work. With the new reward system, I will be more motivated to do my job as a nurse. In addition, state support is needed for education in the medical field. If the law is not passed, nursing practice will not be adapted to work with patients during a pandemic.
Communication Strategies
The necessity and importance of the law should be conveyed to both the general public and the medical professionals who will be directly affected by the initiative. To address the organization’s employees, a general meeting with a designated subject of discussion is best suited. It will not be difficult to convince employees of the benefits of the plan for them in the first place. The workload will be significantly reduced by implementing a plan to stop the spread of the disease. My colleagues will be convinced of the necessity of the law, as it will positively affect patient care. Also important is the need to adapt the nursing standard, which my colleagues understand. The bill is not controversial, so it will be easy to convey its essence. Communication strategies for addressing employees can involve verbal and non-verbal means. The best communication strategy will be verbal communication, conducive to a trusting environment.
Proving the Necessity of the Bill
To justify the correctness of the proposed law, it is necessary to convey to the medical staff the need for the proposed changes. First, the law suggests the need to review existing measures designed to combat epidemics such as COVID-19. Modern humanity has not yet had precedents in solving such global problems. Therefore, most of the laws, regulations, and vaccine development took place under conditions of maximum labor mobilization. That is why it is necessary to review the actions taken and draw conclusions for the future. In addition, the adoption of this law in the long term will help fight against epidemics, improve the quality of medical care, and facilitate the work of nursing staff.
Improved Nursing Practice
During the pandemic, junior medical staff has taken on increased responsibility. In addition to the essential duties and dangerous work with covid-positive patients, nurses had to deal with paperwork, reporting, registering patients, and tracing disease chains. The proposed law will significantly reduce the increased workload by simplifying the new responsibilities (Prevent Pandemics Act, 2022). First, the law involves determining the need for certain practices. Secondly, the law provides for creating an initiative team, which, among other things, could take on part of the work. When the workload on medical staff has eased for the first time since the start of the pandemic, nurses can return to their usual duties. This will improve the quality of care provided and reduce the fatigue of junior medical staff.
Community Impact of the Bill
Another indication of the need for legislation is the potential for improved patient care, which is the primary responsibility of all healthcare professionals. First, an analysis of existing laws and regulations will be able to identify valid and invalid regulatory practices. Their revision will allow for providing care to patients at a higher level. Secondly, after revising unnecessary acts, the medical staff will have much more time to devote themselves to work. In addition, the law provides for an analysis of effective measures in the fight against COVID-19, which may allow the implementation of these measures in the daily care of patients.
Once nurses can return to their regular duties, the other impact of the new law on the quality of care provided needs to be considered. The proposed law insists that the assistance provided during the pandemic needs to be reviewed and improved. Indeed, unprepared for a pandemic, the medical community could make wrong decisions in the face of the minimal time to resolve any case. The argument for this statement is the lack of research on the existing treatment and the insufficient effectiveness of the developed vaccines. As the tensions of the first year of the pandemic eased, the time has come for research into not only COVID-19 but other potentially dangerous diseases. The research will contribute to public health in my community by discovering effective treatments for dangerous diseases.
Improvements
Preventing Subsequent Epidemics
The main goal of the bill is to further fight against possible pandemics. It is necessary to review existing control measures and evaluate their effectiveness and new measures aimed at combating emerging threats. Eliminating inequalities and improving the public health emergency response have been cited as practical responses to the pandemic. Upgrading biosurveillance and infectious disease data collection capabilities will also significantly contribute to preventing the spread of infections (Prevent Pandemics Act, 2022). Government promotion of research and development and improved coordination will be significant pushes into the future of emergency prevention. Improved control and surveillance of selected biological agents and toxins as a safety measure is designed to prevent the leakage of potentially dangerous infections.
Increasing the Quality of Public Health
In addition to measures to prevent pandemics, the bill aims to maintain public health outside of emergencies. Strengthening public health communication aims to improve coordination between sectors and regulators with the sole goal of caring for the public. Improving state and local public health security is the primary goal of implementing this project (Prevent Pandemics Act, 2022). An essential aspect of increasing access to psychological assistance during emergencies is mentioned. The modernization and strengthening of the supply chain of vital medical commodities are designed to provide affordable medicines to the entire population. The fight against counterfeit medicines and the strengthening of drug control measures will be another initiative to strengthen public health.
References
ANA. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice. United States: American Nurses Association.
Prevent Pandemics Act, Publ. L. No. S. 3799 (117th). (2022). BILLS-117s3799is.pdf (govinfo.gov)