Deck 14: Health Policy Issues

Question 1

What is the term for pieces of legislation that have been enacted by legislative bodies and approved by the government?  

A)allocative policies  
B)regulations  
C)judicial decisions  
D)statutes

Answer 1

statutes

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a method that a nurse should use when preparing to engage in political action?  

A)understanding the processes and levels of government  
B)writing many personal letters  
C)bringing personal biases to the issue  
D)enlisting interested and informed allies to the cause

Answer 2

bringing personal biases to the issue  

Question 3

The nurses in the local hospital emergency room are becoming frustrated by the longer and longer  wait times experienced by the patients. They have spoken to the unit manager, who tells them that unfortunately because of budget constraints there can be no movement to increase staffing. The nurses feel defeated and accept the situation. What is one possible contributing factor to the nurses' inability to move this issue forward?  

A)They are overworked and therefore have no time or energy to take this issue further. 
B)They feel powerless to move this issue forward in their institution. 
C)Their education may not have properly provided them with the tools to become politically active. 
D)There is no support higher in the institution willing to help the nurses.

Answer 3

Their education may not have properly provided them with the tools to become politically active. 

Question 4

A nurse becomes concerned because her facility consistently requires mandatory overtime, up to 40 additional hours per week. The nurse brings the issue to the attention of her professional organization, and together they approach their legislator. What are these acts considered?  

A)policy formulation  
B)policy implementation  
C)policy evaluation  
D)policy modification

Question 5

A student nurse speaks to a Member of Parliament about hospitals, saying they need to set unit-by-unit staffing levels based upon patient acuity and individual hospital unit characteristics to promote better patient outcomes. What is this an example of?  

A)lobbying  
B)statutes  
C)policy modification  
D)regulations

Question 6

Why is nursing an important political force in Canada?  

A)As a group, nurses are highly educated. 
B)Nurses are highly representative of the people of Canada. 
C)Nurses tend to be very vocal and outspoken and can speak well to the issues. 
D)Nurses tend to be well-read about political issues.

Question 7

A nursing professor is actively involved in lobbying for health policy issues. The professor tells the class that these activities are moral duties. What is the best explanation for this statement?  

A)The nursing professor likely learned the sense of duty from her upbringing. 
B)The nursing professor has a deontological ethical perspective. 
C)The ICN code of ethics for nurses directs the professor to promote efforts to meet the health needs of society. 
D)The nursing professor is attempting to influence the students' political action or influence the pursuit of health.

Question 8

Which of the following describes the most effective type of letter sent to a policy-maker in a lobbying campaign?  

A)a long emotional plea that is very thorough and explanatory and includes many examples  
B)a form letter with a handwritten salutation and signature  
C)a concise handwritten letter written in your own words, using your own thoughts and logic  
D)a letter that includes a list of all topics of interest to nurses in your area

Question 9

Which of the following is both an ethical and a political issue?  

A)genetic testing and research  
B)urban and rural health priority-setting  
C)safety and workplace legislation  
D)food safety and labelling

Question 10

Which of the following is a health policy issue of concern to the profession of nursing?  

A)setting up quarantine stations  
B)changing the age of consent  
C)availability of gluten-free foods  
D)monitoring entry to practice

Question 11

Which phase of the health policy process occurs when studying the consequences of existing policies indicates that the original problem still exists?  

A)policy implementation  
B)policy modification  
C)policy formulation  
D)policy circumstances

Question 12

What type of policy governs decisions about where to build hospitals, what programs to offer at specific hospitals, and how many physicians to put into place?  

A)institutional policy  
B)judicial policy  
C)allocative policy  
D)regulatory policy

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a federal regulatory Act in Canada?  

A)Assisted Human Reproductive Act  
B)Future of Health Care Act  
C)Canadian Policy Research Act  
D)Canada Health Act

Question 14

A nurses' organization decides to work toward legislation that would allow Registered Nurses to prescribe medications. The group mobilizes large numbers of nurses and community volunteers to write letters and make personal contact with legislators. What is the term for this form of political activism?  

A)en masse lobbying  
B)partisan lobbying  
C)grassroots lobbying  
D)political lobbying

Question 15

What is the term for issues that are created, affected, or regulated by any of the government branches?  

A)political issues  
B)partisan issues  
C)health policy issues  
D)regulatory issues

Question 16

What is the term for plans of action that guide the actions of governments, institutions, corporations, and communities?  

A)common law  
B)policies  
C)legislation  
D)torts