PPACA and its Impact on Medical Surgical Nursing Assignment

PPACA and its Impact on Medical Surgical Nursing - Assignment Example It has empowered the average US citizen, annulled some longstanding lawsuits, socialized medicine and changed the way that health insurance companies operate, preventing the USA from being dragged into further debt. It also has a number of repercussions for the medical and surgical profession in the USA. Key Elements of the Article The article specifically comments on five aspects that affect the medical and surgical area of the nursing profession: 1. Reauthorization of Title VIII Workforce Development Programs: The funding will be reduced for grants that were previously available for racial and ethnic minorities in the workforce, as part of workforce diversity for those having associate diplomas or degrees to enter bridge or degree completion programs. It will also reduce provision for grants to train nurses in primary care in nurse managed health clinics, federally qualified health centers and grants for State partnerships to reduce healthcare workforce issues. These have been redu ced to the levels available in 2004 or 2008. 2. Increased Funding for Nurse Managed Clinics: A significant part of the Law concerns itself with community care. This is usually administered in an acute setting. The new emphasis is on prevention and management of chronic disease. Funding is being debated. In this case, there will be a higher demand for advance practice nurses and many even induce some nurses to enter private practice, contingent on the AMA enhancing NP privileges. The AMA presently feels that extending NP privileges to staff will invade physician turf and 28 State legislatures are contemplating extending this role. It will give the Registered Nurse an excellent opportunity to get the additional education and licensing needed to become an NP. 3. Demonstration Provision for Graduate Nursing Education: This reform also helps graduate nursing students by increasing funding for clinical education. This is in line with the advice of the Institute of Medicine Report 2010 tha t the education, training, roles and responsibilities of nurses should meet the present requirements of increased health care in the USA and the current improvements in the system. Nurses should be engaged with senior professionals to increase their responsibility and role in redesigning healthcare in the USA. In fact it is recommended that nurses undertake a residency program that increases the value of transition from education to practice. Opportunities for additional learning should be sought out by attending annual conferences and participation in free continuing nursing education options such as some programs offered by the American Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) as a benefit of membership with them (Hertel, 2011). 4. Creation of the National Healthcare Workforce Commission: Under the envisaged changes as a result of this legislation, the expansion of healthcare available to individuals will likely result in an expansion of the nursing workforce. Acute inpatient and outpatient care, home care, palliative care, preventive care, transitional and chronic care among other facets will require more nurses giving more nursing care. The National Healthcare Workforce Commission has been created to monitor the need as well as the growth of the base of nursing professionals and to make recommendations on funding. Hopefully the Commission itself will not be made a victim of budget cuts