Nursing Issues and Political Action Week 1

Week 1: Introduction to Nursing Issues and Political Action

• Issue Analysis Framework: A framework for analyzing nursing issues includes identifying and articulating the issue, analyzing the issue (historical, ethical, social, cultural, political, critical feminist, economic), identifying barriers to resolution, and developing strategies for resolution.
• Identify and Articulate the Issue: Clearly define the issue and its relevance to nursing, considering who is affected and why it matters.
• Analyzing the Issue: Conduct historical analysis to trace the origin and evolution of the issue, apply ethical principles, examine societal attitudes and cultural influences, identify power structures and stakeholders, assess gender inequalities, and evaluate financial factors and resource allocation.
• Barriers to Resolution: Possible barriers include limited resources, lack of awareness, power imbalances, and resistance to change.
• Resolution Strategies: Employing strategies such as lobbying, advocacy, education, collaboration with stakeholders, and policy development.

Week 2: The Canadian Healthcare System

• Canada Health Act - Five Principles: Public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility are five core principles governing healthcare insurance plans.
• Governance under the British North America Act: Federal and provincial governments share responsibility for delivering healthcare services, with provinces primarily managing healthcare delivery.
• Key Reports: The Lalonde Report introduced the concept of health determinants (biology, lifestyle, environment, healthcare organization), and the Romanow Report examined the sustainability of the Canadian healthcare system, recommending strengthening the public system, enhancing primary care, and increasing federal funding.
• Challenges to Canadian Healthcare: The challenges include an aging population increasing demand and rising costs, a need for improved access and reduced wait times, problems with integrated services and interprofessional collaboration.

Week 3: Race, Racialization, and Indigenous Health

• Concept of Racialization: The process of ascribing racial identities to a group, leading to discrimination and social inequalities, recognizing that race is a social construct, not a biological fact.
• Barriers Experienced by Racialized Students: Microaggressions, cultural alienation, financial hardships, and limited access to resources, impacting academic performance and mental health.
• Healthcare Consequences for Racialized Peoples: Health disparities due to systemic racism, underrepresentation in healthcare professions, and reduced access to culturally competent care.
• Chapter 5 (The Legacy of Colonization): Discusses the historical impacts of the Indian Act on Indigenous peoples, including loss of culture, language, and autonomy. It also highlights Indigenous health inequities, like higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues, and reduced life expectancy.

Week 4: Professional Associations and Regulation

• Concept of Self-Regulation: Nursing's authority to regulate members, ensuring standards of practice, competence, and ethics.
• Mandate for Regulatory Colleges and Professional Associations: Protecting the public by ensuring competent nursing care through establishing and enforcing standards of practice, providing guidance and support.
• Nursing Legislation: Laws defining scope of nursing practice and regulatory framework, varying by province and territory.
• CNO Quality Assurance Program: Continuous learning and competence through self-assessment, practice reflection, and professional development, mandatory for all practicing nurses in Ontario, Canada.

Week 5: Unions and Workplace Safety

• Historical Influences Leading to Unionization: Poor working conditions, long hours, low wages, and lack of professional recognition are key factors.
• Definition of Collective Bargaining: A process where unions negotiate with employers on behalf of members, aiming to secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
• Purpose of Collective Bargaining: Protecting nurses' rights, advocating for safe staffing levels and workplace safety, and enhancing job security and professional development opportunities.

Week 6: Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing

• Definitions of Ethics and Morality: Ethics is the study of moral principles guiding behavior while morality beliefs about right and wrong.
• Moral Distress/Bioethical Dilemmas: Occurs when nurses know the correct action ethically but cannot act due to constraints, complex situations involving conflicting moral principles in healthcare.
• Levels of Moral Responses: Expressive reactions (without reflection), pre-reflective responses using societal norms, and reflective responses considering consequences.
• Ethical Principles: Key ethical principles like beneficence (promoting good), non-maleficence (do no harm), justice, and autonomy.
• Code of Ethics: Framework for ethical nursing practice and decision making, guiding nurses in professional conduct.
• Negligence and Liability: Failure to provide the standard of care, leading to legal responsibility for one's actions.

Week 7: Issues Arising from Nurses' Work and Work Environments

• Nurses' Workload: Increased patient acuity and complexity leading to excessive workloads impacting patient safety and quality of care (staffing shortages) and contributing to horizontal violence.

Week 8: Interpersonal Violence and Abuse

• Impact on Healthcare System: Violence increasing demand for medical and support services emotionally impacting providers leading to financial costs related to treatment and prevention programs.

• Barriers to Resolution: Underrepresentation of abuse, societal norms that minimize or normalize abuse, abuse and neglect of older Canadians, higher rates of violence against Indigenous people, and importance of culturally sensitive approaches and reconciliation efforts.

Week 9: Gendered Nature of Nursing

• Gender as Socially Constructed: Roles and expectations based on societal norms impacting professional identity and opportunities.
• Identifying Barriers: Stereotypes, biases (affecting career advancement), underrepresentation of men in nursing, discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.
• Ethical Responsibilities of Nurses: Advocate for equity, justice, culturally competent and inclusive care, and upholding patients' rights regardless of gender identity.

Week 10: Contemporary Nursing Leadership

• Introduction to Leadership: Leadership is crucial for advancing nursing and improving healthcare outcomes, important in all levels of nursing.

Week 11: Interprofessional Practice

• Nurses' Role with Unregulated Care Providers: Delegation, supervision responsibilities, ensuring competence, and patient care safety.
• Principles and Factors for Successful Collaboration: Effective communication, mutual respect, shared goals, understanding each profession's roles and contributions, recognizing diversity's impact on team dynamics, and addressing cultural barriers to collaboration.
• Critical Feminist Analysis: Examining power imbalances within healthcare teams and advocating for equitable participation and leadership opportunities.

Week 12: Healthcare for an Aging Population

• Functional Age: Focuses on individuals' abilities rather than chronological age, important for personalized care planning.
• Appreciating Diversity in Aging and Health: Recognizing variations in health status, culture, and preferences. Avoiding ageism and stereotypes.

Week 13: Environmental Issues and Career Planning

• Environmental Factors Impacting Health: Environmental factors significantly impacting health, with nurses having a role in advocating for environmental health.
• Climate Change and Global Warming: Health consequences of climate change, including heat-related illnesses, respiratory issues, and the spread of infectious diseases. Importance of sustainability in healthcare.
• Inside Environments: Importance of safe and healthy indoor environments (air quality, hazardous materials, ergonomic hazards).
• Career Planning: Using the Donner-Wheeler model for career planning and development (Scanning, Self-assessment, Visioning, Planning).

Additional Study Tips

• Review Key Terms and Concepts: Use flashcards for important definitions and principles.
• Understand Ethical Scenarios: Practice applying ethical principles to case studies.
• Stay Updated on Current Issues: Read articles on nursing challenges and healthcare trends.
• Engage in Discussions: Participate in study groups to deepen understanding.

This quiz explores the foundational concepts of nursing issues and political action. It covers the issue analysis framework, barriers to resolution, and strategies for addressing critical nursing problems. Assess your understanding of historical, ethical, and social influences on nursing practice.