DQ 2 Research legislation that has occurred within the last 5 years at the state or federal level as a result of nurse advocacy. Describe the legislation and what was accomplished. What additional steps need to be taken to continue advocacy for this issue? Legislation As a Result of Nursing Advocacy Health Policy: H.R. 1667: Dr Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
One of the legislations that has occurred due to nurse advocacy is the H.R.1667 – Dr Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. Presented by Dr Lora Breen, the Act ensured that nurses get enough mental support when carrying out their daily activities (Library of the Congress 2021). There will be activities and grants given to nurses through the Act to prevent burnout amongst healthcare practitioners. Additionally, focusing on COVID-19, the Act ensures that all nurses experiencing mental health issues have a chance to take a break and seek help.
ANA has been advocating for the issue, explaining that many nurses are at the frontline of fighting the pandemic, and they are constantly experiencing burnout because of a lack of proper care for the nurses (ANA 2022). As a result, some of them prefer to quit, which has further affected staffing. Through advocacy, there has been extensive research on how nurses can be helped and the closest bill there is to covering their issues is the Act. As a result of the Act, nurses and other medical practitioners will enjoy quality work life as they can take care of their mental health.
Moreover, the Act recognizes the importance of good health among nurses to patients. When nurses are experiencing burnout, they are at higher risk of committing medical errors that can be fatal to the patients. Additionally, they are likely to offer little attention to the patients, even refusing to attend to their needs (Prasad et al. 2021). However, through advocacy, it is possible to understand nurse issues and ensure that they do not get in the way of their practice.
References
ANA. (2022). ANA Applauds Signing of Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act by President Biden https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2022-news-releases/ana-applauds-signing-of-lorna-breen-health-care-provider-protection-act-by-president-biden/
Library of the Congress (2021). Summary of H.R. 1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act – GovTrack.us. Retrieved 11 January 2022, from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr1667/summary