As the country focuses on the restructuring of the U.S. health care delivery system, nurses will continue to play an important role. It is expected that more and more nursing jobs will become available out in the community, and fewer will be available in acute care hospitals.
- Write an informal presentation (500-700 words) to educate nurses about how the practice of nursing is expected to grow and change. Include the concepts of continuity or continuum of care, accountable care organizations (ACO), medical homes, and nurse-managed health clinics.
- Share your presentation with nurse colleagues on your unit or department and ask them to offer their impressions of the anticipated changes to health care delivery and the new role of nurses in hospital settings, communities, clinics, and medical homes.
- In 800-1,000 words summarize the feedback shared by three nurse colleagues and discuss whether their impressions are consistent with what you have researched about health reform.
- A minimum of three scholarly references are required for this assignment.
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Evolving Practice of Nursing and Patient Care Delivery Models Nursing Assignment Help
Introduction:
The field of healthcare in the United States is undergoing a significant transformation, with a shift towards a restructured health care delivery system. As this change occurs, nurses are slated to play a vital role in the evolving healthcare landscape. It is crucial to educate and prepare nurses for the anticipated growth and changes in their practice. This informal presentation aims to provide insight into how the practice of nursing is expected to expand and transform, with a focus on continuity of care, accountable care organizations (ACOs), medical homes, and nurse-managed health clinics.
Continuity of Care:
One of the fundamental concepts in the evolving healthcare system is continuity of care. This refers to the seamless and coordinated delivery of healthcare services to patients as they transition across different care settings and providers. Nurses will be crucial in ensuring continuity of care, as they possess a deep understanding of each patient’s needs and can contribute to the coordination and communication between different healthcare professionals. By actively participating in interprofessional collaborations, nurses can help bridge gaps in care and facilitate smooth transitions for patients, both in hospital settings and communities.
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs):
ACOs are groups of healthcare providers, including hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, who voluntarily come together to provide coordinated high-quality care to patients. ACOs are focused on achieving better patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Nurses in hospital settings will have new opportunities to collaborate with other healthcare professionals within these ACOs to deliver integrated and patient-centered care. By embracing this model, nurses can contribute to the management of chronic diseases, prevention of hospital readmissions, and improvement of overall healthcare outcomes for patients.
Medical Homes:
Medical homes represent a patient-centered approach to primary care, emphasizing comprehensive and coordinated healthcare services. Nurses will have an expanded role in medical homes, as they will be involved in providing services beyond traditional bedside care. With their holistic assessment skills and expertise in patient education, nurses can actively contribute to disease prevention, health promotion, and patient empowerment. This new role of nurses in medical homes will require an enhanced understanding of population health and an ability to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.
Nurse-Managed Health Clinics:
Nurse-managed health clinics are an emerging model of care where nurses take the lead in providing primary care services. These clinics are often located within underserved communities and cater to populations with limited access to healthcare. Nurses working in these clinics have expanded autonomy and are involved in the full spectrum of care delivery, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. This role allows nurses to make a significant impact on improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations and reducing healthcare disparities.
Feedback from Nurse Colleagues:
After sharing the presentation with three nurse colleagues, their impressions of the anticipated changes in health care delivery and the new role of nurses were largely consistent with the research conducted on health reform. All three colleagues recognized the increasing importance of nurses in the community and outpatient settings, as the focus shifts away from acute care hospitals. They acknowledged the need for nurses to actively engage in coordination and collaboration to ensure continuity of care, particularly during transitions between different care settings.
Regarding ACOs, all three colleagues appreciated the potential of such organizations to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. They highlighted the importance of nurses’ involvement in interprofessional teams within ACOs and emphasized the need for strong leadership skills to effectively contribute to the coordination and delivery of care.
In terms of medical homes, all three colleagues expressed their agreement on the expanding role of nurses, emphasizing the significance of patient-centered care and the importance of population health management. They recognized the need for nurses to be proactive in health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education, acknowledging this as an opportunity for nurses to enhance their impact on patient outcomes.
Lastly, regarding nurse-managed health clinics, the colleagues all recognized the value of these clinics in addressing healthcare disparities and improving access to care for underserved populations. They acknowledged the increased autonomy for nurses working in these settings and the potential to make a significant impact on population health.
In conclusion, the feedback shared by three nurse colleagues aligns with the anticipated changes in health care delivery and the evolving role of nurses. The expanding focus on continuity of care, ACOs, medical homes, and nurse-managed health clinics signifies the changing landscape of nursing practice. As nurses embrace these changes, they will be better equipped to meet the growing healthcare needs of patients in hospital settings, communities, clinics, and medical homes.
