Module Two Discussion

Question #1: State Government Legislative Site and Pending Bills of Interest

From Ohio’s legislative website, three noteworthy nursing-related bills currently under consideration demonstrate the state’s focus on nursing practice enhancement and workplace conditions (Ohio Legislature, 2024). These include 1) SB81, which authorizes certain nurses to sign hospital patient documents; 2) HB285, which requires hospitals to establish registered nurse staffing plans; and 3) HB154, which addresses employment conditions for certain registered nurses.

Question #2: Federal Pending Legislation (Library of Congress)

At the federal level, H.R.4328 – National Nursing Shortage Task Force Act of 2023 shows Congress’s recognition of the national nursing shortage crisis, aiming to establish a dedicated task force to address these shortages, particularly in healthcare professional shortage areas (Congress.gov, 2023).

Question #3: Key Points from Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m Just a Bill”

The classic educational video “I’m Just a Bill” (Schoolhouse Rock, 2010) illuminates two key relevant policymaking points. First, the legislative process involves multiple critical steps and diverse stakeholders, from initial idea through committee review, House and Senate votes, to presidential approval. Second, bills can “die” at various stages, including in committee or through presidential veto, highlighting the complexity and challenges of becoming law.

Question #4: Professional Nursing Organization Analysis

Question #4A: The American Nurses Association (ANA)

Question #4B

Key points of ANA’s policy agenda include advocating for workplace safety and appropriate staffing levels alongside promoting full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses (Meacham, 2021).

Question #4C

The ANA’s policy agenda affects nursing practice by supporting legislation that ensures safer nurse-to-patient ratios, directly impacting daily workload and advancing the scope of practice initiatives that expand nursing roles and responsibilities.

Question #4D

ANA’s policy actions demonstrate active engagement in the legislative process. For instance, it testified before Congress regarding the need for federal investment in nursing workforce development. Second, it actively lobbied for the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.

In summary, the intersection of state and federal legislation significantly impacts nursing practice, with professional organizations like ANA playing crucial roles in shaping healthcare policy. Understanding these legislative processes enables nurses to advocate for their profession and patients effectively.

References

Congress.gov. (2023). H.R.4328 – National Nursing Shortage Task Force Act of 2023. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4328#:~:text=%2F23%2F2023)-,National%20Nursing%20Shortage%20Task%20Force%20Act%20of%202023,designated%20health%20professional%20shortage%20areas

Meacham M. R. (2021). Longest’s health policymaking in the United States (7th ed.). Health Administration Press.

Ohio Legislature. (2024). Legislative search results – Nurse bills. https://www.usa.gov/

Schoolhouse Rock. (2010, May 30). How a bill becomes a law [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otbml6WIQPo

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The focus of this Discussion Board is to facilitate your understanding of the different branches of both state and federal government. Also, this assignment will assist you to investigate components of the legislative process including the stakeholders and other interest groups.

1. Use USA.gov website to locate your local State Government website, in particular the legislative site and look for pending legislation. Review the information and list at least three and no more than five bills that are of interest to you as a nurse. Include the actual bill number with a one line description of the bill, i.e. HB245 or SB 141.
2. Go to Library of Congress.gov and look for pending federal legislation. Include the actual bill number and title of the bill.
3. After watching Schoolhouse Rock’s I’m Just a Bill, list two key points from the video related to policymaking in the United States (US).
4. Go to your or a professional nursing organization’s website (Oncology Nursing Society [ONS], National League of Nurses [NLN], American Nurses Association [ANA], American Association of Critical Care Nurses [AACN], and such), locate and review their policy agenda. The policy agenda is related to what bills or legislative issues the professional nursing organization support. As you review the policy agenda, think about your reading (i.e. Setting the policy agenda). There are four (A, B, C, D) responses to this item #4.
   

   Module Two Discussion

4A. Identify the professional nursing organization’s name for which you will answer the following B, C, D.

4B. What are two key points of your selected professional nursing organization’s (identified in 4A.) policy agenda?

4C. What are two examples of how your selected professional nursing organization’s (identified in 4A.) policy agenda can or does affect you and/or your nursing practice.

4D. What two actions have your selected professional nursing organization (identified in 4A.) or you taken related to the selected professional nursing organization policy agenda? The response to this 4D is to be discussion of actions that the professional organization identified in 4A has taken at the federal or state level or you specifically have taken related to policy/legislation.

Readings:

• Read chapters 4, 5, 6 from your textbook: Meacham M. R. (2021). Longest’s Health policymaking in the United States (7th ed.).
• Watch the following video: Schoolhouse Rock: How a Bill Becomes a Law