Advocacy through legislation
Problem
In the health care system, ineffective handoff and poor communication among nurses have increased the burden of poor patient outcomes. According to Shapiro (2017), handoff improves the patient’s continuity of care while in the hospital. Ineffective handoff and poor communication are two identifiable and preventable barriers to providing patients with safe and high-quality healthcare. During handoff, a nurse should consider more than just personal communication between nurses, but rather meaningful communication that touches on all-around information that is useful in enhancing the patient’s treatment and management. A thorough understanding of both emotional and intentional information within the conversation and reporting is required for effective handoff.
Several patients face challenges and problems as a result of medical errors and the negative effects of overdosing, as well as complications related to poor management and missed procedures, such as late surgeries due to poor communication during handoff. Proper reporting and handoff of patient information aids in the reduction of medical errors, the length of hospitalization, patient outcome, and job satisfaction among nurses. As a result, the achievement of improved quality and safe care for patients, as well as the achievement of the organization’s vision and goals, is primarily dependent on the healthcare system.
The Concept of Addressing the Solution
Effective communication and proper handoff aid in the development of a positive nurse-patient relationship, which has a significant impact on the patient’s health outcome. It is critical for hospital nurses to develop a plan and a strategy to help change the current practices that lead to ineffective handoff and poor communication. Advocating for better means of communication and proper handoff through legislation that will allow the hospital and all healthcare providers to have a common mode of communication and the proper handoff is critical in the nursing profession (Cornell et al., 2015). The application and passage of the use of the SBAR communication tool among the nurses throughout the communication process are one of the measures that can be used for giving shift reports and handing off patients among the nurses. SBAR is an acronym that stands for situation, background, argument, and recommendations.
Nurses and other health care providers should advocate for the adoption of a common communication tool to be used during handoff to ensure that all necessary information is conveyed to the incoming nurse in a consistent, concise, and clear manner. Legislation is the most effective form of advocacy because most people value legislation more than regulations. Furthermore, legislation will apply all policies and principles to the entire healthcare system rather than just one health facility or organization, thus improving the quality and safety of patient care throughout the country.
Investigate the problem.
The use of the SBAR communication tool in nurses’ communication during handoff improves the flow of patient information, making it safer and more patient-centered. In addition to improving communication during handoff, SBAR assists nurses in obtaining information about a patient that is easily forgotten and reduces the time spent during handoff. As a result, early identification of a patient’s clinical manifestation and continuity of care promotes early discharge, reduces readmission, and prevents patient situations from worsening and complications from developing. SBAR improves the effectiveness and accuracy of nurse-to-nurse communication during handoff.
The implementation of the SBAR communication tool in various states has had a significant impact on the healthcare system. The legislation has aided in lowering the rates of medical errors, which increase complications and lengths of hospitalization for patients. According to Cornell et al. (2015), medical errors are among the challenges that can be addressed through the implementation of effective communication tools during nurse handoff. Nurses are unaware of the importance of using SBAR to improve communication and handoff. Medical errors caused by ineffective handoff raise the overall cost of the healthcare delivery system.
Support from Stakeholders
Healthcare providers, organizational managers, policymakers, and legislators are among the stakeholders who will support the solution and legislation. The solution of advocating for the use of the SBAR communication tool among nurses during the handoff through legislation. Patients, on the other hand, will be among the frontline stakeholders because they will benefit the most from the legislated solution. It is critical to recognize that, in addition to the support of various stakeholders, the legislation may face a number of challenges as a result of resistance related to a lack of understanding of the legislation during advocacy, formulation, and implementation of the solution. As a result, policymakers should involve nurses at all levels in the formulation process and advocate for changes to the communication and handoff system.
Stakeholder Disagreement
Every change is accompanied by resistance. Some nurses work primarily in areas with nurse shortages and high nursing turnover due to dissatisfaction and resignation. In such a case, nurses will see the new legislation as a tool for wasting their time and increasing fatigue and stress among the hospitals’ limited number of nurses. As a result, nurses’ resistance is to be expected.
Financial Benefits/Costs
For decades, the cost of healthcare services has been rising. According to Stewart and Hand (2017), the cost of healthcare is expected to double in the near future due to the baby boom and an increase in the need for healthcare services among individuals suffering from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As previously stated, ineffective handoff and poor communication increase the incidence of medical errors, which leads to prolonged hospitalization, the use of limited resources, a lot of strain on resources, and poor patient outcomes. In the long run, the patient’s cost of health care services will rise.
Healthcare organizations and institutions, on the other hand, will have expended significant resources in ensuring that patients recover, treating complications, and managing adverse effects related to medical errors. As a result, the cost of providing health care services will continue to rise. Furthermore, insurance companies will pay twice as much for health services among insured patients (Stewart & Hand, 2017). In addition, the patients’ employers will have to pay more to the insurance company, and there will be a waste of time among the employees due to readmission to the hospitals. As a result, the economy and financial state of a country as a whole is being strained.
Information Required and Proposal Process
Data and research are critical in advocating for the proposal’s passage through legislation. The reason for this is that data and research can help make a concrete case to the public, policymakers, and the media about the problem and the efficacy of the proposed solution to the existing problem. Effective communication with the right message and framing with the right stakeholders is a critical step in the legislative process of a proposed solution (Halm, 2013). It raises awareness among stakeholders and those affected by the problem. Engaging and educating legislators and policymakers is important because it creates a direct opportunity to have a direct influence and enhances the development of close relationships that will allow advocacy for the necessary change. Finally, it is developing strong, engaging, and diverse partnerships to ensure that members of the same networks speak with one voice, resulting in enormous benefits.
Nursing Advocacy and Christian Principles
The principles of servant leadership will be used to advocate for change in the patient handoff practice. Jesus is a great example of a servant leader who served everyone without expecting anything in return because he trusted God for his success. During his ministry, Jesus was concerned about the well-being of others, and he healed several people, including a woman who had bled for twelve years. In this case, the advocacy will seek to effect change that will improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery without regard for monetary compensation.
References
Cornell, P., Gervais, T., Yates, M., & Vardaman, L. (2015). Impact of SBAR on Nurse Shift Reports and Staff Rounding. Medsurg Nursing, 23(5), 334-342. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? vid=2&sid=74c48b1e-147e-4eaa-82fc-b202c202b05d%40sessionmgr103
Shapiro, J. (2017). SBAR: A Better Way to Communicate. Podiatry Management, 36(1), 41-42. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/detail/detail? vid=6&sid=74c48b1e-147e-4eaa-82fc-b202c202b05d %40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d %3d#AN=120577396&db=ccm
Stewart, K., & Hand, K. (2017). SBAR, Communication, and Patient Safety: An Integrated Literature Review. MEDSURG Nursing, 26(5), 296-305. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? vid=5&sid=253bb763-d000-4871-b844-17a5472fee9a%40sessionmgr103
Halm, M. A. (2013). Nursing handoffs: ensuring safe passage for patients. American Journal of Critical Care, 22(2), 158-162. Doi: 10.4037/ajcc2013454
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Question 
Nurses often become motivated to change aspects within the larger healthcare system based on their real-world experience. As such, many nurses take on an advocacy role to influence a change in regulations, policies, and laws that govern the larger healthcare system.
Advocacy through legislation
For this assignment, identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity for advocacy through legislation. Research the issue and use the “Advocacy Through Legislation” template, attached, to complete this assignment.
You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.