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Health Policy Brief
NURS 412: Ethics, Policy, Economics
NURS 412: Ethics, Policy, Economics
Purpose of the Assignment: The purpose of this assignment is for the student to develop advocacy skills. The student will explore a health policy topic from a variety of perspectives, using this information as a foundation for policy development and advocacy. This assignment is designed to help you work in a group to prepare a policy brief which will be sent to a legislator. This assignment engages you in learning about an issue and to accurately – and in a non-biased fashion - identify the policy and political issues that are central to that topic.
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Student Approach to Assignment: I chose to focus on veterans’ mental health because it’s something very close to my heart. I have family members who served, and I’ve seen firsthand the emotional toll military life can take. Veterans carry invisible wounds that often go unnoticed, and I wanted to use this assignment to advocate for better support and care. It reminded me that as a nurse, I can help drive meaningful change—not only in clinical settings, but through policy and compassion-driven action.
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Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: This assignment means a lot to me because it allowed me to combine personal passion with professional growth. It shows my commitment to advocacy, evidence-based practice, and caring for vulnerable populations. It reflects who I am becoming—not just a nurse, but someone who listens, stands up, and speaks out for those who’ve given so much.
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Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice
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(35) Describe the impact of healthcare cost and payment models on the delivery, access, and quality of care.
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In my assignment, I talked about how important funding is when it comes to giving veterans the care they need. I learned that when money is put into the right programs—like mental health services that work together with other types of care—veterans have better outcomes and fewer hospital visits. Writing this brief helped me see how costs and payment systems can really change how people get care, and how nurses can speak up to help make sure money goes where it’s needed most.
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Domain 9: Professionalism
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(42) ​Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political processes.
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This assignment helped me realize how powerful nurses can be when we get involved in policy. By learning about the bill and recommending ways to support veterans, I felt like I was doing more than just a school project—I was advocating for something that matters. I used facts, research, and my own voice to support better mental health care. It showed me that even as a student, I can be part of the bigger picture and help push for better standards in nursing and healthcare.​
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Benchmarking Assignment
NURS 417: Informatics
NURS 417: Informatics
Purpose of the Assignment: The purpose of the assignment is to compare the outcome measure of 3 hospitals for outcome measures (heart failure readmission rates, pneumonia, sepsis care, and ED wait times) and compare to state and national benchmarks. Students will develop an evidence-based plan to improve 1 outcome measure where benchmarks are not being achieved.
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Student Approach to Assignment: Even though this topic was assigned, I found myself really interested in it as I started digging into the data. I’ve always cared about patient outcomes, but this assignment helped me understand how important it is to actually measure those outcomes and use that information to make things better. I was especially drawn to the part about sepsis and how fast treatment can truly save lives. It made me think about how nurses play a big role in making sure patients get timely, quality care—and how we can use facts and research to back up what we do every day.
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Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfoli0: I chose to include this in my portfolio because it helped me grow in so many ways. I learned how to look at real hospital data, compare it to national benchmarks, and come up with a plan that could actually improve patient care. It helped me see the bigger picture of nursing—not just taking care of one patient at a time, but looking at systems and how they can be better. This assignment shows that I can use evidence-based practice, understand outcome measures, and think critically about patient safety.
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Domain 2, 3: Person-Centered Care, Population Health
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(12) Establishes and/or utilizes outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of care.
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In this assignment, I looked at real hospital numbers like patient satisfaction and how fast they gave antibiotics for sepsis. Seeing how those numbers compared to national averages helped me figure out which hospitals were doing well and which needed help. It showed me how we can use numbers to make care better and keep patients safe.
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Domain 2, 7:Person-Centered Care, Systems-Based Practice
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(19) Provides teaching to patients and/or professionals about health care procedures and technologies in preparation for and following nursing or medical interventions.
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One of my main ideas was to give hospital staff more training on how to spot sepsis early and treat it fast. I learned that teaching nurses and healthcare workers the right steps really makes a difference. This helped me realize that nurses are also teachers, and what we share can help save lives.
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Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
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(26) Applies research-based knowledge from the arts, humanities, and sciences to complement nursing practice.
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I used articles and research studies to back up my plan. It felt good knowing that my suggestions were based on real facts and science, not just guesses. This showed me how important it is to keep learning and using research to make smart choices in nursing.
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Domain 5, 7: Quality and Safety, Systems-Based Practice
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(29) Interpret benchmark and unit outcome data to inform individual and microsystem practice.
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I looked at how different hospitals performed and what their scores were on important things like readmission rates and wait times. I used those numbers to come up with ideas that could help fix problems in those hospitals. It taught me how nurses can use simple data to make care better where they work.
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Domain 5, 8: Quality and Safety, Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
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(30) Accesses and utilizes data and information from a wide range of sources to evaluate patient safety and care outcomes.
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I gathered info from trusted places like CMS and Leapfrog to compare hospitals. Putting all that together helped me see where patients might not be getting the best care. This showed me how important it is to look at data from different places to make smart decisions for patient safety.
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The Future of Nursing
NURS 480: Leadership
NURS 480: Leadership
Purpose of the Assignment: The purpose of this assignment is to provide the student with the opportunity to create a power point presentation that focuses on the Future of Nursing and the significant role nursing leadership has in improving nursing and creating the best healthcare environments in the future. Personal thoughts and ideas relating to their image of a nurse leader and their role in addressing leadership challenges are depicted in the presentation.
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Student Approach to Assignment: I chose this topic because The Future of Nursing 2020–2030 really connected with me. As a nursing student getting ready to enter the real world, I liked how it talked about nurse residency programs and how important it is to keep learning even after school. I also related to the part about cultural competence since I come from a diverse background and have seen how hard it can be for some people to get good care. Doing this assignment helped me realize how nurses can be leaders in small but meaningful ways—like speaking up for patients, staying informed, and helping teammates. It made me think about the kind of nurse I want to be.
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Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: I included this assignment in my portfolio because I feel like it shows who I am and what I care about. It highlights how I want to support patients from all backgrounds, keep learning, and be a strong team member. It also shows that I understand the role nurses can play in leading change, even if we’re just starting out. I think it’s a good example of me showing growth, leadership, and cultural awareness—things that are important for any nurse to have.
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​Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice
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(2) Demonstrate social responsibility as a global citizen who fosters the attainment of health equity for all.
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In this assignment, I talked about how my background helped me see how people from different cultures can struggle with getting good care. I’ve seen people feel ignored just because of language or cultural barriers. That made me want to be the kind of nurse who speaks up for those patients and makes sure they feel heard. I think this shows I care about fairness and doing my part to make healthcare better for everyone.​
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Domain 2, 3: Person-Centered Care, Population Health
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(8) Applies appropriate knowledge of major health problems to guide nursing practice.​
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​I picked this topic because I’m about to graduate and start working, and honestly, that’s a little scary. The idea of nurse residency programs really made sense to me. Starting off in a tough job would be a lot easier with support. I also talked about how I always want to keep learning even after school because things in healthcare change fast. I want to be the kind of nurse who stays on top of things and gives the best care I can.​
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Domain 3: Population Health
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(22) Demonstrate effective collaboration and mutual accountability with relevant stakeholders.​​
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During clinicals, I saw a nurse who was a safety coach. She would go to meetings, learn about safety stuff, and then come back and teach it to the rest of the team. I thought that was really cool. It showed me how important it is to work with others and help each other out. Everyone on the team has a part to play, and when we work together, we keep patients safer.​
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(23) Prioritize patient-focused and/or community action plans that are safe, effective, and efficient in the context of available resources.
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I learned that being a good nurse isn’t just about doing tasks—it’s about really being there for your patient. Whether it’s explaining something clearly or just listening, the small things matter. In my assignment, I shared how I want to be the kind of nurse who makes sure each patient feels like they matter. That’s how I’ll make sure I give care that’s both smart and personal.​
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Domain 4, 7: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline, Systems-Based Practice
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(37) Considers the impact of research outcomes and the effects of health and social policies on persons from diverse backgrounds. ​
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​This assignment helped me see how big decisions—like national nursing plans—actually affect us and our patients. I talked about how nurse residency and lifelong learning are both super important, especially for new nurses like me. I also connected this to my own life, wanting to stand up for people from different backgrounds. It showed me how policy, research, and real life all come together in nursing.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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OB Case Study
NURS 333: Clinical Management of the Growing Family
NURS 333: Clinical Management of the Growing Family
Purpose of the Assignment: The purpose of this assignment is for the student to conduct an in-depth assessment of a childbearing woman and her family in order to plan nursing care specific to that client, based on nursing research and AWHONN Standards of Care. This assessment will include the appropriate physiological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental influences pertaining to the client and her family as it relates to preconception, conception, antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal care.
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Student Approach to Assignment: I chose to focus on this OB patient because it was my first time seeing someone go through labor with serious complications like preeclampsia and Group B Strep. I really wanted to understand how nurses manage both the mom and baby’s safety during labor. Being in the room while she was being induced gave me the chance to learn about fetal monitoring, magnesium sulfate administration, and how to support a patient who’s at high risk. This experience taught me how to monitor contractions, recognize early signs of complications, and respond as part of the healthcare team. I learned about BUBBLE-EE assessments, how to monitor for seizure risks, and how to keep the patient calm and comfortable. It also helped me understand how much education nurses give—about hydration, fetal heart monitoring, and what to expect during labor. It was a great way to see how all the OB concepts we study are actually used in real time.
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Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: I included this OB case study in my portfolio because it was my first real experience using OB nursing skills in a clinical setting. I got to see and practice things like checking fetal heart tones, learning what accelerations and decelerations mean, and helping monitor a patient with preeclampsia. These were all things I had studied in class, but seeing them in person and actually being part of the care team helped everything make sense. This assignment shows how much I grew during my OB clinical rotation. I learned how to care for a laboring patient, support her emotionally, and respond to potential complications. It helped me build confidence in a fast-paced, high-risk environment and reminded me why I’m excited to keep learning more in the OB field.
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Domain 2, 3: Person-Centered Care, Population Health
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(14) Revises actions and goals based on patient data or responses to interventions.
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During my OB clinical and within this case study, I learned how important it is to keep checking on the patient and change the plan when needed. My patient had preeclampsia and was on magnesium sulfate, so we had to watch her blood pressure and reflexes closely. I saw how the care changed based on how she was doing—like adjusting medications or giving more fluids. This helped me understand that nurses always have to stay alert and ready to switch things up to keep mom and baby safe.​
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Domains 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
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(24)​ Differentiates between descriptive nursing literature and published reports of nursing research.
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While working on this assignment, I learned how to find and use research articles that support what we do as nurses. I used studies that explained how magnesium sulfate helps prevent seizures and how music can help lower stress during pregnancy. Before, I didn’t really think about the difference between regular info and research, but now I know how to tell the difference and use the right kind of evidence to support care.​
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(28) Communicates scholarly findings with colleagues.
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This paper helped me practice using research and explaining it in a way that makes sense. I had to take what I learned from journal articles and apply it to my patient’s care, then write about it clearly like I was sharing it with my team. It showed me how important it is for nurses to not only understand research but also be able to talk about it and use it in real life.​
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Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships
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(32)​ Adheres to the registered nurse scope and standard of practice.
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Through this assignment, I got a better understanding of how nurses are supposed to follow rules and practice safely. The nurses on the floor followed protocols for caring for someone with preeclampsia—like giving meds on time, checking reflexes, and doing frequent assessments. I also made sure to look up the AWHONN guidelines and use them in my paper. It showed me how important it is to follow standards and stay in the nurse’s role to protect our patients.​
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Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice
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(36)​ Understands the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and healthcare delivery. ​
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I realized that a lot of the things we do in nursing aren’t just habits—they’re based on laws and safety rules. In this case, the nurses used PPE, followed hand hygiene, and made sure the patient was on seizure precautions and continuous monitoring. All of this helped me understand how legal rules help us provide safe care. Now I see why it’s so important to follow these standards every day in practice.​
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Public Health & Social Justice Paper
NURS 472: Community Health Nursing II
NURS 472: Community Health Nursing II
Purpose of the Assignment: The purpose of this assignment is to allow the student the opportunity to complete an analysis of a public health issue from a social justice perspective.
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Student Approach to Assignment: I picked this topic because I’ve seen people around me struggle with mental health and not always have the support they need. At first, I didn’t really think of it as a social justice issue—I just thought it was part of healthcare. But while working on this paper, I realized that things like money, race, and where someone lives can make a huge difference in whether or not they get help. That really stuck with me.
This assignment taught me a lot. I learned how unfair the system can be, and how some people just fall through the cracks. I also learned how nurses can be a voice for those people—by advocating for better access to care, supporting community programs, and educating others to reduce stigma. It made me more passionate about making a difference, not just in the hospital, but out in the community too.
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Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: I added this paper to my portfolio because it changed the way I think about nursing. It helped me realize that being a nurse isn’t just about taking care of someone at the bedside—it’s also about speaking up and fighting for people who aren’t being heard. I feel like I grew a lot from doing this assignment, both as a student and as a future nurse.
This paper showed me how to look at the bigger picture and think about how things like healthcare policies, access, and even stigma affect people’s lives. I talked about things like telehealth and community-based care that could help more people get the mental health support they need. I’m proud of this assignment because it reminded me why I chose this career—to care, to advocate, and to stand up for people who need help the most.
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Domain 3: Population Health
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(21) Assess the priorities of the community and/or the affected clinical population.
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In this paper, I talked about how mental health care isn’t easy to get for everyone—especially people who don’t have a lot of money, live in rural areas, or come from minority backgrounds. Before doing this assignment, I didn’t really think of mental health as a big community issue, but now I see how many people struggle to get help just because of where they live or what they can afford. I looked into ways to fix this, like using telehealth and supporting local programs that are easier for people to access. This helped me understand that as a nurse, I won’t just be helping one patient at a time—I’ll also be part of improving health for entire communities.​​​​​​​​​​​
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Telehealth (TH) Teaching Project
NURS 417: Informatics
NURS 417: Informatics
Purpose of the Assignment: The purpose of this assignment is to apply telehealth principles to a patient teaching interaction.
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Student Approach to Assignment: I chose this topic because I wanted to get better at talking with patients about real-life things like diet, exercise, and sleep. In this telehealth visit, my patient had a family history of high blood pressure and cholesterol, which is something a lot of people deal with—including people I know. It felt like a good way to learn how to give advice in a way that’s helpful and not overwhelming.
This activity taught me how to have a conversation that feels natural while still being educational. I learned how to ask the right questions, listen, and offer simple changes that could really help the patient. I also got more comfortable doing it all over video, which felt awkward at first but ended up being a great learning experience.
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Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: I added this to my portfolio because it made me feel like I was actually stepping into the role of a nurse. I got to teach the patient how to lower their risks by making small changes—like using low-sodium sauces, cutting back on alcohol, sleeping more, and staying active. I helped the patient come up with a plan that worked for their life, and it felt good to support them in that way. This assignment showed me how much impact nurses can have just by talking and listening. It helped me build my confidence in patient education and made me realize how important it is to meet patients where they are and work with them, not just tell them what to do.
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Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
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(38) Uses informatics to enhance one’s own knowledge base to provide patient centered care and support teaching.
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In this assignment, I used what I’ve learned in class to help a patient understand how their habits could affect their heart health. I talked with them about simple things like eating less sodium, drinking less alcohol, and getting more sleep. It felt really good to explain things in a way they could understand and actually use in their daily life. This showed me how important it is for nurses to know how to teach patients and make care feel personal—even when it’s not in person.​
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(39) Demonstrates skills in using technology, informatics, and communication devices to deliver care using remote technology.
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Doing this telehealth visit helped me feel more confident using video calls to care for patients. At first, it felt a little awkward, but I got more comfortable as I went on. I asked the patient questions, gave suggestions, and even went over their plan of care at the end. I realized that even through a screen, I can still connect with someone and help them take steps toward better health. It made me excited for how nurses can use technology to reach more people and still give great care.​​​​​​​​​​​
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