Peer 1 

Nurses influence through engaging in activism act as a drive to health care policy changes enhancing improvement of the quality of care by increasing accessibility of the necessary resources as well as opportunities. Political activism skills are considered essential for the nurses as it enables them to protect the nursing profession as well as their practice (Buck-McFadyen & MacDonnell, 2017). Nurses can serve in elected positions within the state or the national levels to present the broad healthcare aspects of concern and ensure they are integrated within the healthcare policies.  

         Unionization of nurses is considered to be pertinent as the union offers the nurses the strength and power to bargain on the enforceable contracts such as the acceptable ratio of nurse to patient, their specific roles in maintaining quality of care as well as nurses overtime working hours and pay scale. Besides, joining nursing union provides an opportunity for the nurses to engage in political activism by lobbying private bodies and the government to advocate for policy changes that enhance improved patient care as well as participating in campaigns to create awareness on the importance of nurses thereby improving patient outcome (Ulrich & Kear, 2014). Nursing unions incorporate strategies that not only increase the nurse’s voice in advocating for improved care practices but also encourages nurses’ effective involvement in patient care through making informed decisions thereby creating a workforce culture of safety. One of the Masters of Science in nursing essential is the ability of the nurses to positively influence health policy and advocacy. The masters nursing program ensures that the nurses can effectively integrate nursing concepts at the system level to not only participate in the policy development process but also utilize advocacy strategies to impact change in health care policies.   

Peer 2 

Unionized nurses refer to nurses who belong in labor organizations that are meant to protect the nurses’ welfare and advocate for the improvement of the healthcare system. Nurses should be provided with the opportunity to join work environment unions at will. Work environment unions range from large national unions to smaller organizations created to address specific issues in specific healthcare facilities (Dube, Kaplan, & Thompson, 2014). 

Nurses’ organizations come with the benefits of coming together to address matters relating to healthcare and welfare of nurses such as proper wages, job security, benefits, staffing ratios, and patient rights (Dube, Kaplan, & Thompson, 2014). Nurses account for a significant proportion of any health facility’s budget, which makes them an easy target especially during the economic restructuring. Large budget for nurses often creates workforce shortages and unconventional staffing ratios. Unions can also advocate for motivational benefits such as medical and dental insurance, educational leave, sick pay and vacation. We can, therefore, argue that unions are an essential tool in enhancing the safety of nurses through negotiating for better wages, worker protection benefits, against unfair laying offs and terminations and proper amount of workload for the nurses (Higgins, 2016).  

Similar to the nurses’ welfare, unions can be instrumental in advocating for a proper health system that enhances patient care (Giovanetto, 2017).  Advocating for proper staffing ratios, for example, advances the interest of patients. Proper staffing ratio is key improving patient outcome because nurses can make proper follow up on patients even after discharge. Benefits such as educational leave also facilitate lifelong learning which is key in strengthening the skills possessed by nurses and hence the quality of healthcare and safety of patients. Nurses’ unions can also engage in advocacy relating patient safety by seeking change in management practices that relate to health care equipment, patient diet, hygiene, and patient rights such as privacy and informed consent (Higgins, 2016).  In conclusion, unions provide nurses with enhanced strength in numbers that can be used to advocate for nurses and patient safety. 

Response must be minimum 150 words each, doble space, APA(6th) no more than 5 years.

Bellow is the original activity if you needed: 

As an advanced practice nurse, one can engage in activism in order to achieve desired policy change at various levels including their own organization. Examine the following questions, should nurses be unionized and how does being unionized impact a workforce culture of safety? Be sure to include one MSN Essential in your discussion that relates to this topic. 

Nicole Hoffman    5 posts   Re: Topic 2 DQ 1  Healthcare workers and the public are aware that nurses did not directly impact the opioid crisis, however, studies show that nurses will have a direct impact on reversing the impact America is currently facing with opioid abuse and death. As many major medical companies and pharmacies face lawsuits and even bankruptcy in light of recent lawsuits, it is likely that nursing practice and evidence-based practices will change in an attempt to save lives and reduce opioid-related deaths. Working in a surgical center provides a unique nursing opportunity to address and change the opioid crisis, as many patients that begin abusing opioids begin their prescriptions either for chronic pain, or after injury or surgery (Demsey, Carr, Clarke, & Vipler, 2017).  Two ways that we can expect nursing practice to be impacted by the change in addressing our nation’s opioid crisis include patient teaching, and tracking medication use and pain levels (American Journal of Nursing [AJN], 2015). Patient education regarding opioid medications include educating the patient on the risks of opioid diversion, and the proper storage and disposal of opioid medication prescriptions (AJN, 2015). Studies show that approximately one-quarter of medications are diverted from legal prescriptions, while 71% of those diverted opioids were obtained either from friends or family, either for free or by theft (AJN, 2015). Educating patients about these facts as well as the importance of proper safe-keeping of medications and how or where to safely dispose of opioid medications is an important first step in correcting the opioid crisis.  Monitoring patient and tracking usage of opioids include patient teachings that focus on the correct usage, as well as appropriate indication and expectations (AJN, 2015). For example, patients after surgery should be educated that they will not be pain-free immediately following their procedure and that opioid prescription medications should not be used for any other indication other than pain, which includes induction of relaxation or sleep (AJN, 2015). It is also important to teach the patient about keeping a pain medication journal which includes the type of pain the patient is experiencing, the pain scale rating associated with the pain, as well as time and dosage of the medications taken, reviewing these journals with the patient can help the healthcare providers notice usage or patterns that could indicate a current or potential problem (AJN, 2015). Helping to identify issues before they become an actual problem are other interventions that the nurse provides to the patient that will aid in addressing and correcting the opioid crisis in the United States.  References  American Journal of Nursing. (2015, August). Nurses’ role in preventing prescription opioid diversion. Lippincott Nursing Center, 115(8), 34-40. Retrieved from https://www.nursingcenter.com/cearticle?an=00000446-201508000-00021&Journal_ID=54030&Issue_ID=3152763  Demsey, D., Carr, N. J., Clarke, H., & Vipler, S. (2017, October 1). Managing Opioid Addiction Risk in Plastic Surgery During the Perioperative Period. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000003742

Introduction

Energy Alternatives Fracking

Energy Alternatives Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process used to extract natural gas from once unreachable shale rock layers deep in the earth. To release the natural gas, highly pressurized fracking fluids (water mixed with various chemicals and sand) are injected, via steel pipe, into the ground to create cracks or fractures. This releases gas that flows to the surface to be collected in wells. Environmental concerns associated with fracking include water use, toxic chemicals, health concerns, surface and ground water contamination, soil contamination, air quality, and waste disposal. One of the most important aspects of any energy policy is energy conservation. As consumer demand for oil drops, prices decline; the time the oil can be relied on is extended. To help reduce oil use, government regulations, NHTSA (2014), have required greater fuel efficiency in cars through the creation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Congress has also required the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Like many new technologies, the upside of the compact fluorescent’s energy saving capacity is countered by the downside that compact fluorescents require the toxic chemical, mercury, for their production. There are many alternatives to using petroleum and coal for energy, but each comes with a unique set of problems. Most new technologies, like solar and wind power, are very costly to start up. Nuclear energy has its own unique drawbacks.

Using nuclear energy is attractive to many because the technology is already in place, and it can generate large amounts of electricity from one plant. But the risks associated with nuclear energy are high. For example, there is no current solution as to how to deal with nuclear waste. No matter how carefully a nuclear plant is built and maintained, there is always the risk of an accident. Further, nuclear plants can also be a target for terrorist activity, and the nuclear waste can be used to power nuclear weapons.

It is certain that we will see the emergence of new energy technology, but it seems unlikely at this point that there will be one simple answer. Wind, solar, and geothermal energy are useful in certain geographic areas, but it will take many different solutions to fulfill the energy demands of the worldwide population.

References

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2014). Energy in brief. Retrieved from http://www.eia.gov/ energy_in_brief/article/major_energy_sources_and_users.cfm

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2014). CAFE – Fuel economy. Retrieved from http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy

Demonstration of Proficiency

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

• Competency 1: Assess basic environmental health principles, theories, and issues.
  • Assess the economic issues associated with renewable energy technology.
• Competency 2: Analyze the impact of contaminants in the environment to human health.
  • Analyze the risks to human health associated with renewable energy technology.
• Competency 3: Apply personal and professional decisions based upon an understanding of environmental risks.
  • Illustrate the positives associated with renewable energy technology.
  • Illustrate the negatives associated with renewable energy technology.
• Competency 4: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
  • Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Preparation

Research a specific renewable source of energy.

Instructions

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate alternative energy sources and to understand that there are positives and negatives to the alternatives.

To begin this assessment, research a specific renewable source of energy. Then, in a 3–4-page report, outline the pros and cons of this method of energy production. To build your argument and support your evaluation, address the following:

• Identify and analyze the economic considerations (such as the cost per kilowatt for large-scale renewable energy source, costs of construction, and so forth) of using this method of energy production.
• What are the environmental benefits of this energy source?
• What are the environmental downsides, if any, to this renewable energy technology?
• Analyze the risks to human health associated with this technology.
• What conclusions have you reached with regards to this topic, and why?

Additional Requirements

Use the APA Paper Template (linked in Resources: Energy Sources) to format your report.

• Written Communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Length: This report should be 3–4 pages in content length. Include a separate title page and a separate references page.
• Font and Font Size: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced. Use Microsoft Word.
• APA Formatting: Resources and in-text citations should be formatted according to the current APA style and formatting.
• Number of Resources: You are required to cite a minimum of two scholarly resources. You may conduct independent research for resources and references to support your report. Provide a reference list and in-text citations for all your resources, using APA format. You may cite texts and authors from the Resources.

Assignment:

Create an APA essay with 1200-1500 words, complete the following questions using 4 scholarly sources to support your perspective.

1. How would you describe the role of the Organizational Development( OD) professional? What skills are necessary for an OD practitioner?
2. Identify and explain the various interventions used in the OD process.
3. What is Appreciative Inquiry and how is it used in the OD process?
4. Identify and explain the various barriers to change.