Governmental and State Policies and COVID-19 Problem

Governmental and State Policies Impact on the Quality of Care, Patient Safety, and Costs to the System

One should note that government policies can affect the patient’s problem in the following way. For example, the policy guides that patients who test positive should be subjected to immediate treatment. Depending on the treatment setting, the patient should isolate. The authorities obliged citizens to use personal protective equipment in public places. Special measures have been taken in each state and region of the USA, following local norms, rules, and standards. At the moment, masks and gloves are required in some places in America. Finally, transportation has been limited for a long period to reduce the spread of disease (Kamga & Eickemeyer, 2021). Research demonstrates that these measures have been justified since they enhanced the patients’ safety, yet the cost of this system is too high (Kamga & Eickemeyer, 2021). Hence, the quarantine measures are effective in terms of public health but are economically disadvantageous.

Nursing for COVID-19 also requires proper recruitment of safety measures when dealing with COVID-19 patients. In efforts to mitigate the risks nurses face, the Florida Board of Nursing approves amendments to rule 217.24 relating to Telemedicine Medical prescriptions (Florida Board of Nurses, 2020). The amendment altered the requirements for patients to be physically present at a particular location for a drug. Telemedicine allows remote administration of nursing services using digital technology such as videos. Using Telemedicine, patients can receive medicine and isolation prescriptions. Leite et al. (2020) have evaluated the approach and concluded that it positively impacts the quality and cost of care since the nurses are under lesser pressure, and the hospital expenditures for Telemedicine are also lower compared to physical and in-patient treatment. Moreover, this policy enhances the patients’ safety due to the fact that the quality of care is improved. Yet, Ortega et al. (2020) argue that Telemedicine leads to health disparities, reducing the safety of marginalized patients. Therefore, the remote treatment policy might be effective in removing high costs and enhancing the quality and safety of care, but it is still an issue for minorities.

Policies Guiding My Actions in Addressing Care Quality, Patient Safety, and Costs to the System and Individual

The mentioned governmental and state policy inform my considerations for the treatment of the old lady. Namely, I recognize that a positive coronavirus test signifies that the patient should receive immediate medical help to guarantee care quality and patient safety. Yet, to reduce the costs of care, I can suggest the use of Telemedicine to the woman, providing detailed instructions about its work and the treatment that awaits her at home. During this proposition, I should ensure that the patient has access to the technology and understands its use. In the unfortunate case when the woman cannot employ Telemedicine, hospitalization is necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care.

The Effects of State and Federal Policies on My Nursing Scope of Practice

The state policies in Florida have played a significant role in my nursing scope of practice. Namely, the programs during pandemics have primarily been against mandate vaccination and severe lockdown to keep people’s liberties (Luscombe, 2021). However, the absence of these actions has disrupted the patients’ safety, leading to multiple deaths (Luscombe, 2021). Moreover, the care of quality worsened due to the number of unvaccinated and deceased individuals. Finally, the costs of treatment are increased because of the inability to serve ill patients properly and nurses’ mental breakdowns. The patient I discuss might not be safe if technologies like Telemedicine are not available. Hence, state policies disrupt the nursing practice if their measures are not aimed at public care.

References

Florida Board of Nurses. (2020). Florida Board of Nursing Approves 60-day Extension Emergency Amendments to Rule 217.24 relating to Telemedicine Medical Prescriptions-7/6/20. Covid-19. Web.

Kamga, C., & Eickemeyer, P. (2021). Slowing the spread of COVID-19: Review of “Social distancing” interventions deployed by public transit in the United States and Canada. Transport Policy, 106, 25–36.

Leite, H., Hodgkinson, I. R., & Gruber, T. (2020). New development: ‘Healing at a distance’—telemedicine and COVID-19. Public Money & Management, 40(6), 483–485.

Luscombe, R. (2021). Florida’s governor celebrated his anti-mandate Covid laws. Now Omicron is here. The Guardian.

Ortega, G., Rodriguez, J. A., Maurer, L. R., Witt, E. E., Perez, N., Reich, A., & Bates, D. W. (2020). Telemedicine, COVID-19, and disparities: Policy implications. Health Policy and Technology, 9(3), 368–371.