NUR 602

Health Care Policy

Models of health care policy will be presented as well as principles for understanding behavior of complex health care, social organizations, community groups and subcultures. Issues related to managed care, program planning, resource allocation, utilization and outcomes, and government and business influences on population health nursing practice are discussed. Students will examine factors driving policy decisions and evaluate the use of systems theory and change theory in relation to Nursing's ability to influence outcomes in population health care practice. Legislative initiatives related to health care services and population health will be explored. Standards of care and nursing's scope of practice, expert practice, and reimbursement for nursing services at the population level will be addressed. Application of ethical dimensions of health care policies to case studies and selected provider guidelines enables students to develop awareness, sensitivity, and values framework to act ethically in policy decisions.

Units: 3.0