NR 503 Week 8 Discussion-Health Policy and Ethics

NR 503 Week 8 Discussion-Health Policy and Ethics

I reside in Michigan, and a bill passed in March of 2019 was Bill 0111 (2019). The bill’s sponsor is Peter Lucido. This bill was written to address the opioid epidemic in the United States, especially Michigan. The bill requires all prescribers to run a MAPS, Michigan automated prescription system on any individual who will be prescribed or dispensed a controlled substance. This exception is for hospice patients only. Michigan is doing its part to decrease the opioid crisis that we are in. By decreasing the opioid epidemic, we are advocating. Advocacy is support or recommendation for a particular cause or policy (Weible, Ingold, Nohrstedt, Henry, & Jenkins-Smith, 2019). This bill has drastically cut down on the number of opioids that are prescribed and has decreased the potential misuse of prescribed opioids.

Population health was addressed in this bill. In 2017, opioid abuse was one of the nation’s most consequential and preventable public health threats (Gostin, Hodge, & Noe, 2017). Public health has improved, although limited data is available due to the bill only being one year old. As an emergency registered nurse, I have seen many opioid overdoses come through our doors; ever since this bill was created, I can confirm that there has been a decrease in opioid overdoses. However, people still appear to find other ways to overdose, such as methamphetamine. Emergency rooms were specifically targeted to help combat the opioid crisis and decrease drug diversion (Elder, DePalma, & Pines, 2018).

NR 503 Week 8 Discussion-Health Policy and Ethics

The American Nurse Association Code of Ethics is a basic guideline and ethical standard for nurses and organizations to advocate for protecting human rights and social justice (Epstein & Turner, 2015). One of our main goals as nurses and healthcare professionals is to protect our patients and ensure they have the appropriate care they need. By running a MAPS on patients, we ensure equality and that patients do not receive opioids more than they need to. Adopting this bill has only benefited us. Some people might not be satisfied with the change; however, this was a major step to improve public health and is evidence of advocacy.

Reference

Epstein, B., & Turner, M. (2015). The nursing code of ethics: Its value, its history. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20(2), 1-10.

Gostin, L. O., Hodge, J. G., & Noe, S. A. (2017). Reframing the opioid epidemic as a national emergency. Jama, 318(16), 1539-1540.

Weible, C. M., Ingold, K., Nohrstedt, D., Henry, A. D., & Jenkins‐Smith, H. C. (2019). Sharpening advocacy coalitions. Policy studies journal.

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NR 503 Week 8 Discussion-Health Policy and Ethics

Go to your state government web page. Find one health policy enacted within the last two (2) years at the state level. Write down the bill number and sponsors, and include this information in your initial post.

Write at least a one-page critical analysis summary of the (250 words double spaced, APA). Your summary should integrate the concepts of advocacy, population health, the ANA ethical statements (“The Code”), and course readings to include a minimum of one-course scholarly article (provided within the course). Be sure to speak to the role of advocacy and population health.