Writing Homework Help

Discussion Questions Requirements: Main discussion post should be at least 2-3 paragraphs. Two peer responses should be at least 50 words minimum.

NUR415 Discussion post:

Step 1: Read the following quote by Hubert H. Humphrey, United States politician (1911-1978).

“It was once said that the moral (test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.”

Step 2: Post a response to the discussion board by addressing the following questions:

1. Do you agree or disagree with the Humphrey statement? Why or why not?
2. State your reasons based on your knowledge of the health care system, current research, observations in the clinical area, and personal experience.
3. Justify your responses with appropriate resources.

Step 3: Read other students’ posts and respond to two of them. Cite any sources in 7th ed. APA format

NUR415 Student Posts:

Student#1: Yes, I agree with his statement, because an individual’s health is heavily influenced by social factors, such as education, socioeconomic status, and race. In a 2000 landmark report on the world’s health care systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the United States (U.S.) just 37th out of 191 countries, even though it spent a much higher proportion of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care than any other country. The report went on to address the distribution of health within populations. An effective health care system is accountable for reducing health disparities by reducing barriers to health care access many vulnerable groups face. One key factor is expanding health care coverage (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021).

Access to primary and preventive care is crucial to an effective health care system. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. has the highest rate of uninsured citizens compared to other developed countries (KFF, n.d.; Mason et al., 2020). The U.S. is facing a critical shortage of primary care providers due to fewer physicians choosing to practice primary health over specialty areas. The current health care system is more focused on disease treatment in acute settings, which is much more expensive to manage than in community or outpatient settings. Another reason why the U.S. spends a disproportionately higher amount of money on health care (compared to other countries) is its fee-for-service reimbursement system vs. accountable care model (Mason et al., 2020). As someone who works in an acute care setting, I often care for patients hospitalized for exacerbation of chronic conditions, most often, COPD, diabetes, and heart failure. Most of these costly admissions could’ve been prevented had these patients’ conditions been properly managed in the community, such as taking medications as prescribed, or lifestyle/dietary changes. A lot of these patients are underinsured or uninsured, which is often the reason why they don’t seek routine primary/preventive care in the first place, or can’t afford necessary medications.

Student#2: I agree with Humphrey’s statement that the role of the government is to protect its citizens. Everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, class, ethnicity, and gender, should have the power to access healthcare services. Humphrey’s statement outlives the struggles that the American government tries to make to ensure that every citizen has access to the best healthcare services.

According to personal observations, healthcare in America is not yet universal. Poor people and rural communities are the underserved populations. They need money to access the services. The federal government is the largest single payer of healthcare programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Prescription Assistance (SPAP), Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Military Health System, among others (National Academies Press, 2002). However, the same government has instituted various barriers through policies that prohibit people from universally accessing healthcare services.

Racial barriers have been in-built within the structures of the healthcare institutions. The high number of African American deaths due to Covid-19 showed a strict racial code that must be observed in hospitals (Ray, 2020). Structural conditions cause racial health disparities. Black people lack equitable access to healthcare services. African Americans live in congested “housing projects” with no recreational facilities, safety, lighting, green spaces, and fresh food (National Academies Press, 2002).

Occupational barriers instituted by healthcare policies limit the role of nursing practitioners (National Academies Press. (2002). In most states, nursing practitioners cannot practice without the presence of physicians. It limits the delivery of service to underserving populations. The government has the power to ensure that everyone cans access healthcare services, but they opt to make it impossible through making a costly affair.

NUR425 Discussion Post

Step 1: In your initial post to this discussion forum, respond to the following prompts. Include personal and practice-related experiences or observations as examples that support your response:

1. Do a quick Internet search to locate the government website for the Administration on Aging (AoA). Explore the statistics on aging found on the AoA website. Choose two of the most interesting statistics (in your opinion) regarding the elderly that have implications for population-based nursing.
2. Post two statistics about aging
3. Describe one or more population-based nursing implications for each statistic.

Step 2: Make your initial post 2-3 paragraphs long. In addition to your post, be sure to provide a meaningful response to at least two of your peers’ post. Read other students’ postings and respond to at least two other students’ postings. Are you surprised about the statistics? Why or why not? Comment and/or expand on the implications for population-based nursing. Use a professional tone when interacting with your peers. Cite all references by APA format.

NUR425 Student Posts:

Student#1: This discussion question is near and dear to my heart as my husband and I got the opportunity to care for his 88-year-old father in our home after he lost his wife to a deadly stroke. We were thrown into the role of caregiver and did not know much about where to start in using the benefits allotted to him as an elderly person. Very fortunate for us he was a veteran and had already established those services. I can not say enough how thankful I am that he planned ahead for a situation like this.

The Administration on Aging was a website I used in real life to explore our options for assistance. In 2008, ACL, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began a partnership with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to serve veterans of all ages at risk of nursing home placement through the Veteran Directed Care (VDC) program. Until 2018, this program was known as Veteran-Directed Home and Community-Based Services (VD-HCBS). Currently, 69 VA Medical Centers (VAMC) have made at least one veteran referral to the Veteran Directed Care Program (VDC). The need for caregiving increases with age. In 2018, the percentage of older adults age 85 and older who needed help with personal care (21%) was more than twice the percentage for adults ages 75–84 (8%) and five times the percentage for adults ages 65–74 (4%). ( The Administration on Aging, 2018).

The population based nursing implications would be to help prepare veterans for living in nursing homes. Also, considering the statistic that the need for caregiving will increase, nurses should focus on family education. The education of the family could focus on financial planning, meal prep, med administration, wound care, diabetic care, fall training, proper body mechanics used in lifting and moving the elder when they fall, hygiene and preparing the family for dementia, paranoia, and other mental health possiblilities that may preset them selves when a person ages. Population based nurses could team up with social workers to learn about the benefits available for veterans and teach family members what things they need to know to assist their elderly parents/loved ones.

Student #2:Two statistics about aging I found interesting are as follows; according to 2012 to 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) data, there were 46.2 million older people in the United States, with 10.6 million living in areas designated as rural by the U.S. Census Bureau. Considering that the oldest of the baby boomers, those born between mid-1946 and 1964, began turning 65 years old in 2011, the demographic changes ahead for rural America have only begun. Most older people do not live-in rural areas but this has changed over the decade (“The Older, 2019). Another interesting statistic, in 2017, 32% of older African Americans had both Medicare and supplemental private health insurance, and 13% were covered by both Medicare and Medicaid in comparison to 46% coverage to their counterparts (“Population”, 2018).

The ultimate goal of population-based nursing is to improve health outcomes. Implementing health interventions within the rural community and minorities can decrease health implications and populations at risk. Identifying health disparities and increasing adequate funding can help minorities gain unlimited access to healthcare equivalent to their counterparts. Increasing the elder population in rural areas requires specialized medical and rehabilitation services, as well as innovative housing and public transportation options. An aging population clearly has the potential to shape rural America in new and important ways (“The Older”, 2019).