Deck 23: Health Policy and Politics: Get Involved

Question 1

A nurse who is interested in graduate school wants to learn about recently passed legislation regarding changes in Medicare reimbursement for care provided by clinical nurse specialists.The best source for information on changes in federal programs is the ________________.

Answer 1

Federal Register

Question 2

It is important for nurses to know the functions of the branches of the federal government.At a local meeting of the state nurses' association,an officer reminds members that the branch that can originate major policy initiatives is the _____ branch.

A) executive
B) legislative
C) judicial
D) administrative

Answer 2

legislative

Question 3

When the policy process is compared with the nursing process,identifying the issue is consistent with which step of the nursing process?

A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation

Answer 3

Diagnosis

Question 4

A group of nurses meet with a state representative to explain the importance of allowing registered nurses the right to sign death certificates for patients who were under their care.As constituents and nurses,they requested that the senator vote against the bill restricting this practice.These nurses are serving in what role?

A) Lobbyists
B) Policymakers
C) Officials with regulatory power
D) Advocates for the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act

Question 5

A nurse would like to advocate for increased protective services and reporting mechanisms for elder abuse and attends the "meet the candidate" session at the town hall meeting.This is an important time for the nurse to implement what action?

A) Educating the public about the nurse's political platform
B) Being spontaneous and not deliver a rehearsed speech
C) Addressing the person as "candidate" rather than using a first name that implies a working relationship
D) Learning what the key issues are in the candidate's platform

Question 6

A nurse would like to obtain background information and learn the political platform of a candidate who is running for national office.The nurse should contact what organization?

A) National Registry for Candidates
B) American Nurses Association Nurses
C) National League of Nurses
D) National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Question 7

A bill is pending in the state legislature that will mandate teaching health promotion related to smoking cessation.Which action by the nurse should have the greatest impact on passage of the bill?

A) Explain the rationale for the bill to the school board.
B) Contact the elected representative's office by telephone to request support for the bill.
C) Support a health advocate to run for election as state representative.
D) Tell all students about the bill.

Question 8

Soon,the largest segment of the population will be those over age 65 years.To advocate for this vulnerable population,a nurse was a strong supporter for the Medicare Modernization Act (Medicare Part D),which focuses on what?

A) Providing vision care benefits to elderly persons who were diagnosed as legally blind
B) Removing limits to access to mental health/substance abuse services which are the most commonly used service in this population
C) Providing coverage for medications for Medicare enrollees that constituted a huge expense for the elderly
D) Expanded the practice opportunities for advanced practice registered nurses (APRN)who provide the majority of care for this population

Question 9

A person who is covered by Medicaid moves from one state to another and asks the nurse at the health department why the benefits changed.What is the nurse's correct response?

A) "Local government controls which benefits each county can provide to Medicaid recipients."
B) "The federal government does not fund any part of Medicaid,so each state must find ways to pay for benefits."
C) "Each state determines benefits on the basis of the present economy."
D) "Medicaid is funded by both state and federal governments,but benefits vary from state to state."

Question 10

A nurse is interested in learning more about health policy and how it might impact nursing practice.She is especially interested in The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)and how it will travel through the three branches of the federal government.When researching the roles of the legislative branch of the federal government what does the nurse learns about this branch? (Select all that apply. )

A) It determines which laws are constitutional,such as recently deciding the PPACA is constitutional because it is a form of taxation.
B) It has the exclusive power to determine where federal dollars will be spent,such as supporting the PPACA.
C) It consists of the Office of the President and 15 executive departments that supported the PPACA.
D) It has the power to veto laws found constitutional by the Supreme Court and therefore could veto the PPACA.
E) It can override a Presidential veto,making it possible to amend the PPACA even without approval of the President.

Question 11

A nurse is concerned about older persons living alone at home without telephone service to contact emergency services.The nurse is advised to take part in grassroots efforts to address the situation.The nurse would take what action to increase effectiveness of the effort? (Select all that apply. )

A) Posting signs to support the county's political candidates whose platform support services for poor and underserved person such as older adults
B) Visiting with local politicians running for office and ask specific questions such as,"Would you support providing free emergency telephone service for older adults living alone?"
C) Limiting voting to only presidential elections in which a candidate promises to initiate health care reform related to Medicare for older adults
D) Joining the American Nurses Association and constituent member association
E) Contacting representatives from surrounding states to garner support for free medical alert systems for older adults

Question 12

Another name for an eligible voter is a _________.

Question 13

Throughout the history of health care in our nation,one particular piece of federal legislation provided funds for hospital construction.As the number of hospitals rapidly increased,the need for nurses to staff hospitals also increased,and the shift from community-based nursing care to hospital-based nursing care began.What fundamental piece of legislation was the basis of this action?

A) Sheppard-Towner Act
B) Hill-Burton Act
C) Veterans Bill
D) Access to Health Care Bill

Question 14

A concerned nursing student calls the office of an elected official to voice support for the bill to ban smoking in all public places.The secretary asks,"Are you a constituent?" What does the term constituent mean?

A) A member of a professional organization who supports the organization's political issue
B) A citizen who is registered and is eligible to vote for a representative
C) An elected official who proposes legislation to be considered as a potential law
D) A member of the House of Representatives who is seeking support for a particular bill

Question 15

Political action committees (PACs)are established for what purpose?

A) Financially supporting candidates
B) Persuading policymakers to support certain policies
C) Lobbying legislators
D) Recommending health care policy

Question 16

Time is becoming crucial for the nurse to address issues related to sponsoring programs to include hearing aid costs as part of Medicare coverage.The nurse involved in grassroots political actions realizes that the least timely method of reaching elected officials would be via what route?

A) Letter
B) Telephone
C) e-mail
D) Facsimile (fax)

Question 17

If a nurse practicing in a mental health agency could only belong to one professional organization,what criteria could be used to select the organization with the biggest impact?

A) The American Nurses Association has a strong voice representing the nation's entire RN population.
B) Specialty organizations such as the American Psychiatric Nurses Association lobby for higher education requirements for nurses.
C) State nursing associations have limited power because they can lobby only state representatives.
D) Professional organizations such as The American Association for the History of Nursing (AAHN)record the history of mental health nursing.

Question 18

The greatest barrier to access to health care for a poor Hispanic person living in downtown Chicago is lack of health ____________________.

Question 19

Members of a state's constituent member association meet at a local restaurant to plan a Nurse Walk to support the local food bank.When entering the restaurant,the nurses note the environmental inspection report shows deficiencies because food handlers were not wearing hairnets and rodents were spotted,resulting in a score of 60 out of 100.This certificate of inspection is health policy enforced at which level of government?

A) Local
B) State
C) Federal
D) International