LaDonna D. Henderson
1
E-FOLIO SUBMISSION FOR ESSENTIAL V 2
Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (2008) is Health Care Policy,
Finance, and Regulatory Environments. In their professional practice, nurses will encounter
opportunities to impact the policies and practices of the field in which they work. It is important
for nurses to understand how healthcare issues are identified, how healthcare policy is both
developed and changed, and how that process can be influenced through the efforts or nurses
(AACN, 2008).
Exemplar
issues directly and indirectly influence(s) nursing practice as well as the nature and functioning
of the healthcare system (AACN, 2008). As a baccalaureate graduate, I will need to be mindful
of the ways in which healthcare is influenced and impacted by policymaking and the legislative
process.
Reflection
nursing practice. The Congressional Letter assignment consisted of choosing a health issue and
identifying a congressional leader to address concerning the issue. I chose to write my district
representative regarding H.R. bill 2392: Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and
Quality Care Act of 2017. This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to establish
registered nurse staffing requirements in hospital settings. Nursing today has become more
complex as nurses take on greater responsibilities in caring for a more complicated patient
E-FOLIO SUBMISSION FOR ESSENTIAL V 3
population. Ensuring safe nurse-patient ratios, as I believe are outlined in this bill, allows nurses
to provide the quality care we envision for our patients, as well as decreases hospital admissions
and adverse sentinel events. I asked my congressman to support nurse and patient safety by co-
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington, & Dc. (2008). The essentials of
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/BaccEssentials08.pdf
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017, H.R.2392, 115th
bill/2392