Posted: October 2nd, 2022

Competing Needs in Nursing

Explanation of how competing needs, such as the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients, may impact the development of policy. Then, describe any specific competing needs that may impact the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected. What are the impacts, and how might policy address these competing needs? Be specific and provide examples.

Competing Needs in Nursing.

Nurses respond to complex and multiple issues in the workplace and experience the challenge of the rising cost of care. Nurses attending to healthcare issues face the challenge of providing quality care at a reduced cost (Kojima, 2019). Low-income patients have poor access to healthcare services since they have insufficient funds or they are uninsured. The use of expensive treatment methods, tests, and medication contributes to the increase in medical care. The rising cost of care is complicating the healthcare environment and the ability to deliver quality care to patients. The competing needs include the rising number of patients without insurance, the adoption of expensive technologies and evidence-based practice, high salaries for the nurses, and the creation of a friendly work environment (Kojima, 2019). These factors create a delicate balance between providing optimal care and managing limited resources. Nurses often find themselves at the forefront of this struggle, advocating for patient needs while navigating budget constraints and organizational priorities. This situation calls for innovative solutions and policy changes to address the growing disparity in healthcare access and quality.
The overuse of specialists in healthcare presents a significant competing need. Healthcare facilities often deploy specialists to attend to patients, prioritizing comprehensive care (Kim et al., 2017). A patient with a knee injury, for instance, might undergo a full body examination to rule out blood clots. This specialist-focused approach increases care costs and limits access for patients from low-income areas (Kim et al., 2017). During the pandemic, hospitals conducted extensive testing to prevent coronavirus spread and adverse outcomes. Additionally, the use of expensive medical tests and treatments creates further financial strain. Healthcare workers utilize advanced technologies to improve care accuracy, yet this practice poses challenges. The emphasis on specialists and cutting-edge technology, while improving patient outcomes, places a substantial financial burden on the healthcare system. This approach widens the disparity between those able to afford comprehensive care and those who cannot. Healthcare providers and policymakers face the ongoing challenge of balancing specialized care with cost-effective treatment options.
The impact of the competing needs is the rise in the cost of care. The rise denies opportunities for patients from low-income areas to access quality and timely care. For instance, patients with cancer may decline to go to the hospital due to the fear of the high cost of care (Kim et al., 2017). The delay in accessing healthcare services complicates the accuracy and efficiency of the delivery of care. The competing need has a positive impact since it leads to quality and accurate healthcare outcomes. Healthcare workers deploy evidence-based practices to diagnose and provide treatment to patients. For example, during the pandemic, healthcare workers would investigate various procedures to ensure quality. The use of plasma from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus was one of the expensive methods of treating patients. This situation highlights the need for a more equitable healthcare system that balances advanced medical practices with accessibility. Policymakers must consider implementing strategies that reduce financial barriers to care while maintaining high standards of treatment. This could include expanding insurance coverage, developing tiered care options, or investing in preventive healthcare measures to reduce long-term costs.
A policy is one of the solutions to the problem of the rising cost of care. One of the possible solutions is to stabilize the health insurance premiums without undercutting the existing patient protection. It is important to indicate that rising health insurance premiums is one of the major causes of poor access to healthcare services (Finkelstein et al., 2019). The government through Congress should propose a health fund for the people in low-income clusters. The focus is to ensure that despite the amount people earn, they will be guaranteed quality healthcare services. For instance, the government should ensure people contribute to the health insurance fund according to their monthly or annual income. The fund will ensure hospitals can guarantee quality care to all patients (Finkelstein et al., 2019). The policy will help patients with chronic diseases such as cancer or blood pressure can access healthcare services. One of the major causes of adverse outcomes of the two leading causes of death is poor access to healthcare services or early screening and treatment. The fund will eliminate the current inequalities that undermine the quality of care. Additionally, policymakers should consider implementing a sliding scale payment system for healthcare services, where fees are adjusted based on a patient’s income level. This approach would help ensure that low-income individuals can access necessary care without facing financial ruin. Furthermore, investing in community health initiatives and preventive care programs could reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system in the long term.

References
Finkelstein, A., Hendren, N., & Shepard, M. (2019). Subsidizing health insurance for low-income adults: Evidence from Massachusetts. American Economic Review, 109(4), 1530-67.
Kim, S. H., Tanner, A. H., Kim, S. Y., Foster, C., Oh, S. H., & Chang, J. H. (2017). News focuses on individuals for rising health care costs. Newspaper Research Journal, 38(3), 293-305.
Kojima, G. (2019). Increased healthcare costs associated with frailty among community-dwelling older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 84, 103898.
Mafi, J. N., Reid, R. O., Baseman, L. H., Hickey, M. D., Tietschert, M., Li, S. X., Mehrotra, A., & McWilliams, J. M. (2023). Trends in low-value health service use and spending in the US Study Pro Essay Medicare program, 2014-2018. JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2251501.
Wager, E., Orsolini, L., Davis, S., Geiger, M., Hilton, S., Johnson, O., Mackey, T., Mintzes, B., Rizvi, Z., Roder-DeWan, S., & Sharfstein, J. M. (2022). Navigating the global health landscape: A framework for responsible engagement. The Lancet Global Health, 10(10), e1440-e1447