HEALTHCARE POLICY & LEADERSHIP COMPLETED EXAM 20232024, Exams of Nursing

Download HEALTHCARE POLICY & LEADERSHIP COMPLETED EXAM 20232024 and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity! Healthcare Policy & Leadership COMPLETED EXAM 2023/2024 1. What are the main characteristics of a nurse leader? Explain with examples. (5 marks) A nurse leader is someone who can inspire, motivate, and influence others to achieve a common goal in health care. Some of the characteristics of a nurse leader are: - Vision: A nurse leader has a clear and compelling vision of the future and communicates it effectively to others. - Integrity: A nurse leader acts ethically and honestly and upholds the values and standards of the nursing profession. - Collaboration: A nurse leader works well with others, respects diversity, and builds trust and rapport. - Innovation: A nurse leader embraces change, seeks new opportunities, and fosters creativity and learning. - Advocacy: A nurse leader advocates for the rights and needs of patients, staff, and the profession. Examples of nurse leaders are Florence Nightingale, who pioneered modern nursing and improved sanitary conditions in hospitals; Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross and provided humanitarian aid during wars; and Dorothea Dix, who advocated for the reform of mental health care. 2. What are some of the challenges that nurse leaders face in the current health care environment? How can they overcome them? (5 marks) Some of the challenges that nurse leaders face are: - Shortage of nurses: There is a global shortage of nurses due to aging population, increased demand for services, high turnover, and low retention. - Quality and safety: Nurse leaders have to ensure that the quality and safety of care are maintained or improved despite limited resources, complex systems, and changing regulations. - Diversity and equity: Nurse leaders have to promote diversity and equity in the workforce and among patients, especially in the context of cultural, social, and economic disparities. - Technology and innovation: Nurse leaders have to keep up with the rapid advances in technology and innovation and integrate them into practice, education, and research. - Leadership development: Nurse leaders have to develop their own leadership skills and competencies as well as mentor and coach other nurses to become leaders. Some of the strategies that nurse leaders can use to overcome these challenges are: - Recruitment and retention: Nurse leaders can recruit and retain nurses by offering competitive compensation, flexible work arrangements, career development opportunities, recognition, and support. - Quality improvement: Nurse leaders can implement quality improvement initiatives such as evidence- based practice, clinical guidelines, audits, feedback, and accreditation. - Cultural competence: Nurse leaders can enhance cultural competence by providing education, training, resources, and role models for staff and patients from diverse backgrounds. - Technology adoption: Nurse leaders can facilitate technology adoption by providing access, training, support, evaluation, and feedback for staff and patients using new technologies. - Leadership succession: Nurse leaders can prepare leadership succession by identifying potential leaders, providing mentoring, coaching, feedback, and opportunities for leadership development. to collect feedback. They can analyze the feedback to identify themes, patterns, or gaps and plan for improvement. For example, a nurse leader can seek feedback from their staff using a tool such as the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) questionnaire to assess the quality of their relationship and its impact on outcomes such as satisfaction, commitment, or performance. They can use the feedback to improve their relationship and engagement with their staff. - Coaching: Nurse leaders can engage in coaching with a coach who is an experienced or expert leader or professional who can provide guidance, support, and challenge to enhance their leadership performance and development. They can use structured or unstructured sessions such as face-to-face meetings, phone calls, or online platforms to interact with their coach. They can set goals, discuss issues, explore options, and take actions with the help of their coach. For example, a nurse leader can engage in coaching with a senior leader or an external consultant who can help them develop their strategic thinking, decision making, or conflict resolution skills. They can use coaching to increase their confidence, What is the difference between universal health coverage and single-payer health system? Provide an example of a country that has implemented each system. - Universal health coverage (UHC) is a policy goal that aims to ensure that all people have access to essential health services without facing financial hardship. UHC does not necessarily imply that the government is the sole payer or provider of health care, but rather that it ensures adequate financing and regulation of the health sector. Single-payer health system (SPHS) is a specific way of achieving UHC, in which the government collects taxes and pays for all health care services through a single public fund. SPHS eliminates private insurance and reduces administrative costs and fragmentation of care. An example of a country that has implemented UHC is Thailand, which has a mixed system of public and private providers and multiple financing schemes. An example of a country that has implemented SPHS is Canada, which has a national health insurance program that covers all medically necessary services provided by public or private providers. What are some of the main challenges and opportunities for improving health equity in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs)? Give at least three examples of each. - Some of the main challenges for improving health equity in LMICs are: - The high burden of communicable diseases, maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, and neglected tropical diseases, which disproportionately affect the poor and marginalized populations. - The lack of adequate health infrastructure, human resources, medicines, and technologies, which limit the availability, accessibility, quality, and affordability of health services. - The social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, gender, ethnicity, and environmental factors, which influence the exposure and vulnerability to health risks and the ability to seek and utilize health care. - Some of the main opportunities for improving health equity in LMICs are: - The global commitment and solidarity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include universal health coverage, reducing maternal and child mortality, ending epidemics of communicable diseases, and addressing the social determinants of health. - The innovation and adaptation of health technologies, such as digital health, telemedicine, point-of-care diagnostics, and vaccines, which can enhance the reach, efficiency, and effectiveness of health interventions. - The empowerment and participation of civil society, communities, and patients, which can increase the demand for and accountability of health services, as well as the recognition and respect for human rights. What are some of the key principles and components of primary health care (PHC)? How does PHC contribute to achieving universal health coverage and health equity? - Primary health care (PHC) is an approach to health care that is based on the following principles: - Comprehensive: PHC addresses the main health problems in the community, providing promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services. - Integrated: PHC coordinates different levels and types of care, from community to hospital, from public to private, from individual to population. - People-centered: PHC responds to the needs and preferences of people and communities, respecting their values and culture. - Participatory: PHC involves people and communities in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health services. - Equitable: PHC ensures universal access to quality health services without discrimination or financial hardship. - PHC contributes to achieving universal health coverage and health equity by: - Improving access to essential health services at the first level of contact with the health system. - Strengthening the continuity and coordination of care across different levels and sectors. - Enhancing the quality and safety of care through evidence-based guidelines and standards. - Reducing unnecessary costs and inefficiencies through rational use of resources and appropriate referral systems. - Promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles through community engagement and education. - Addressing the social determinants of health through intersectoral collaboration and advocacy. What are some of the main challenges and opportunities for improving health equity in the US? Provide at least three examples of each. - Health equity means that everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential, regardless of social or economic factors. Some of the main challenges for achieving health equity in the US include: racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes and access to care; income inequality and poverty; lack of affordable and quality health insurance; social determinants of health such as education, housing, transportation, and environment; and political polarization and resistance to health reforms. Some of the main opportunities for improving health equity in the US include: expanding Medicaid and subsidizing private insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA); implementing policies and programs that address social determinants of health; increasing funding and support for community-based and preventive health services; promoting cultural competence and diversity in the health workforce; and engaging stakeholders and communities in participatory decision-making 3. What are some of the key features and benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare? How has it affected the health care system and population health in the US? - The ACA is a comprehensive health reform law that was enacted in 2010 with the aim of increasing access to health insurance, improving quality and affordability of health care, and reducing health disparities. Some of the key features and benefits of the ACA include: creating state-based health insurance marketplaces or exchanges where individuals and small businesses can compare and purchase private plans; providing subsidies and tax credits to make insurance more affordable for low- and middle-income people; expanding Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income adults; eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions and other discriminatory practices by insurers; requiring most individuals to have health insurance or pay a penalty; requiring most employers to offer health insurance or pay a fee; establishing essential health benefits that all plans must cover; implementing various measures to improve quality, efficiency, and coordination of care; supporting public health and prevention initiatives; and investing in health workforce development and innovation. The ACA has had significant impacts on the health care system and population health in the US, such as: reducing the number of uninsured people by about 20 million; increasing access to preventive and primary care services; improving affordability and satisfaction with insurance coverage; reducing uncompensated care costs for hospitals and providers; lowering the growth rate of health spending; improving quality and safety of care; reducing hospital readmissions and infections; increasing consumer protection and choice; enhancing patient-centeredness and engagement; improving health outcomes for chronic conditions; reducing mortality rates for some groups; and narrowing some health disparities. 1. What are the main objectives of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the US? How does it affect the access, quality and cost of health care for different populations? Provide examples from the case studies of Massachusetts, Oregon and Kentucky. - The main objectives of the ACA are to expand health insurance coverage, improve health care quality and outcomes, and reduce health care costs. It affects the access, quality and cost of health care for different populations in various ways, depending on the state-level implementation and policy choices. For example,