NRS 415 Benchmark - Creating Change Through Advocacy

Chamberlain University NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy– Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Chamberlain University NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

How to Research and Prepare for NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Chamberlain University NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

How to Write the Introduction for NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy

The introduction for the Chamberlain University NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

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How to Write the Body for NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy

After the introduction, move into the main part of the NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

How to Write the Conclusion for NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

How to Format the References List for NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Sample Answer for NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy

Nurses are advocates for different healthcare stakeholders, from patients to colleagues and professionals in the medical and health sectors. Nurses create change through advocacy by engaging elected representatives at state and federal levels to develop policies and interventions aimed at addressing public health concerns like access to mental health care services for a majority of Americans. Mental health care, especially access to care services for the affected, is a public health concern that requires change through nurse advocacy efforts. By engaging in advocacy, nurses can influence legislation to improve access to mental healthcare services based on existing federal, and in some regions, state legislative policies. These policies are critical to enhancing access to mental and behavioral health services for close to 21% of Americans suffering from some form of mental health disorder (MHA, 2023). The purpose of this paper is to explore nurses’ advocacy activities and efforts to increase access to mental health care for millions of Americans through legislation.

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Problem In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.
Mental health is a growing public health concern based on evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other entities that work collaboratively with federal and state health agencies across the United States. The CDC (2023) asserts that over 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness. Further, more than 1 in five youth (13-18 years) either currently or at some point in their life, suffer from a seriously debilitating mental problem. The CDC advances that close to 1 in 23 adults in the U.S. has a long-term serious mental health disorder like bipolar disorder, major depression, dementia, and schizophrenia. The Mental Health America (MHA) notes that about 21% or close to 51 million adults in the country have mental illness. The organization also observes that the vast majority of these individuals suffer from comorbidities; including substance use disorder and opioid use disorder. However, close to three-quarters of those suffering from mental health illnesses do not access treatment. For instance, MHA opines that in 2021, over 15% of adults had a substance use disorder, yet 93.5% never received any form of treatment. The current ramifications include increased susceptibility of the affected to comorbidities, reduced productivity, and a rise in the cost of healthcare, especially in treating those with chronic mental health disorders. The ramifications also include increased resource allocation, the need for more access to health services, and expansion of facilities to cater to the growing number. The rising number of people with mental health illnesses has serious consequences on public health, if not addressed (Taylor et al. (2023). The implication is that more people will experience worse mental health outcomes leading to devastating effects like suicide, violence, and a general breakdown in public order.
Idea for Addressing Solution In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy.
Addressing the issue requires improving access to mental health care services across states and through federal and state funding. The Council of State Governments (2023) mental health should be among the top policy priorities for states. The council notes that mental health, including substance use disorder, are critical priority legislative areas for states to reduce the current prevalence of the problem. According to the council, 9 out of 10 adults in the country believe the country is in a mental health crisis with suicide being ranked as the 12^th leading cause of death. In 2020, close to 46,000 deaths were attributed to suicide; an indication of the magnitude of the issue (MHA, 2023). Evidence suggests that expanding access to mental health through resources and expansion of medical health insurance coverage will allow more people to get care services, particularly treatment and recovery. More people are not accessing care due to stigmatization, limited resources like lack of insurance coverage, insufficient mental health personnel, and lack of information. Recent legislative policies and acts demonstrate efforts to increase access to care services. These policies emanate from legislative efforts in Congress; illustrating the core role that legislation plays in advocacy. The COVID-19 pandemic increased and worsened the mental health crisis in the country (MHA, 2023). The current federal administration has enacted three policies to support and educate individuals, groups, families, and communities experiencing mental health problems. These policies raise awareness and lower the stigma related to seeking mental health services. They include the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the STANDUP Act of 2021, and the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. The enactment of these policies demonstrates that legislation is the best course for advocacy to enhance access to mental health care.
Research the Issue Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for addressing the problem (studies, research, and reports). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states.
Evidence 1	In their article, Coombs et al. (2021) identify barriers to mental health care. The authors assert that having effective policies that expand healthcare coverage will ensure that more Americans can access mental health services. The article suggests that reducing the cost of mental health services will incentivize many Americans to seek care services and reduce the stigma associated with the problem.
Evidence 2	The brief by the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership (IHPL) (2022) demonstrates that having legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act among others can enhance access to mental health as they mandate state and federal governments to allocate sufficient resources to mental healthcare services. The brief advances that supporting and educating individuals, groups, and families with mental health issues, and raising awareness require effective policy approaches to reduce the problem.
Evidence 3	The U.S. Census Bureau (2023) advances that federal health systems and facilities should expand access to mental health care due to the increasing number of cases. The Bureau observes that different factors are contributing to these cases, requiring evidence-based interventions. As such, the Census Bureau recommends changes in existing legislation to expand enrollees and beneficiaries through public health emergency initiatives. A core part of this is the expansion of Medicaid Services to help individuals have coverage to access mental health services.
Stakeholder Support Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1	Nurses, especially psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), will support the expansion of access to mental health services. As a core part of health care provision, nurses will work collaboratively with all stakeholders to enhance access and advocate legislation to increase those getting treatment.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 2	Physicians and other healthcare providers will also support the idea since their core role is to offer beneficial patient care. Physicians will also support the idea because it reduces harm to individuals by expanding resources at different levels of government.
Stakeholder (s) Support 3	The individual patients, the community, affected families, and the general public will support the idea because of the expected benefits. For instance, the idea will enhance access to care, raise awareness about mental health, increase support for patients and their families, and reduce associated stigma.
Stakeholder Opposition Discuss the stakeholders who would oppose the proposed idea. Explain why they would be in opposition and how you would prepare to debate or converse about these considerations.
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 1	Health insurance providers may oppose the idea as it will mean reduced profits since more people will be using their cover to access services. These organizations will oppose the idea and probably raise the cost of premiums in the marketplace. However, they should collaborate with all stakeholders to tackle mental health problems affecting the nation as a public health concern.
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 2	Health organizations, especially those mandated to provide mental health emergencies, may oppose the idea because of an expected rise in expenses. Therefore, they should consider the cost of mental care for patients and their families as well as being a public health concern that requires redress.
Financial Incentives/Costs In no more than 250 words, summarize the financial impact of the issue and the idea (added costs, cost savings, increased revenue, etc.). Provide support.
Mental health problem exerts an increased financial burden on state and federal resources. Today, close to 21% of adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of mental health illness. Further, 90% of Americans believe that the mental health problem is a national crisis that requires urgent measures to reduce and prevent its occurrence, especially increased resource allocation. In their study on untreated mental illness in Indiana, Taylor et al. (2023) found that untreated mental illness can have substantial effects on society through direct healthcare costs, reduced productivity and performance, and overall adverse health outcomes like disabilities. For example, the global economy loses close to $1 trillion each year due to lost productivity associated with mental health problems like anxiety and depression. The implication is that the financial impact of the issue is substantial. For example, the White House (2023) asserts that the federal government spent about $280 billion on mental health services in 2020, with 25% of these resources coming from the Medicaid program. Therefore, expanding access to mental health services, especially at early stages through raising awareness and reducing stigmatization, will reduce these costs. The proposed idea will lead to reduced costs of care, and save state and federal governments billions from expending on mental health care services. For example, Taylor et al. (2023) assert that the Indiana State government spent $4.2 billion annually on untreated mental illness, with $3.3 billion in indirect costs. These figures mean that having better access to mental health care services will reduce expenditure by both state and federal governments and increase better outcomes for patients and their families.
Legislature: Information Needed and Process for Proposal Discuss how to advocate for your proposal using legislation. Include the following:
Provide the name and complete contact information for the legislator.
Describe the steps for how you would present this to your legislator.		Presenting the idea to the legislator requires seeking an audience with her through an appointment. The second step is collecting sufficient evidence using facts from authoritative sources on the health problem. Upon getting the engagement, I will make the case by presenting the report and imploring the representative to analyze it. After the analysis, I will ask the legislator to consider the critical aspects of the presented idea for consideration during the state legislative session.
Inter-professional Collaboration in the Legislative Arena In no more than 250 words, discuss the role inter-professional collaboration plays in advocacy through legislation
Inter-professional collaboration implores healthcare providers, from nurses to physicians, to work together based on a shared goal to drive change in their organizations or the public when dealing with healthcare issues like mental health problems. Inter-professional collaboration ensures that nurses and other healthcare providers can present common approaches and interventions based on research evidence to legislators and other stakeholders to advocate policies and legislations aimed at expanding access to mental health care for different health populations and individuals affected by the problem. Advocacy needs sufficient evidence from different sources that allow providers and other stakeholders to dissect and select the most appropriate when dealing with health issues; including mental health problems (Alderwick et al., 2021). Accessibility to mental and behavioral care services is important based on existing and even proposed bills in Congress. Using inter-professional collaboration will help nurses work with all stakeholders and engage elected representatives using a common position. The collaboration will lead to one voice about the issue of limited access to mental health care services. The collaboration with other providers will ensure that all advocate increased resources and legislation to improve the quality of care for mental health patients. The inter-professional collaboration will also ensure that nurses present a unified position backed by or supported by evidence from current research and data from authoritative sources like federal agencies (Gantayet-Mathur et al., 2022). Therefore, inter-professional collaboration will help stakeholders to design better strategies for legislation to address increased access to mental health care provision.
Leadership Competencies and Styles The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) has identified leadership competencies relevant for nurse leaders to guide practice within the health care system. Describe two leadership competencies identified by the AONE that would also be necessary for a nurse to advocate for the legislative solution you have proposed. Discuss how the theory of servant leadership supports these competencies. This section should be addressed in no more than 250 words.
Nurse leaders require and should possess certain competencies to guide their practice and leadership roles in healthcare delivery and systems. The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) advances that these competencies are critical for nurses to make informed decisions and choices when delivering care to diverse patient populations. The two leadership competencies relevant to advocating legislative solutions include communication and relationship building (Hughes et al., 2022). Further, nurse leaders should have explicit knowledge of the health care system and its operations to advocate better access to mental health care. These requirements imply that nurse leaders work with all stakeholders to identify effective policies and interventions to increase access and quality of mental healthcare services for patients. Communication is important as it enables nurse leaders to share information, their vision for change, and the expected benefits from implementing the suggested policies. Communication is also essential for nurse leaders to develop teams and relationships with other professionals in the healthcare sector when making presentations to elected leaders in Congress and even at the state legislature. The servant leadership model supports these competencies since a servant leader develops relationships and works through teams based on knowledge. Servant leaders also possess better communication attributes to convince their followers about suggested or proposed approaches to healthcare delivery or interventions (Luca et al., 2021). As such, the model requires a leader who communicates well, understands their situation and organizations, and works through teams.
Christian Principles and Nursing Advocacy In no more than 250 words, discuss how principles of a Christian worldview lend support to legislative advocacy in health care without bias. Be specific as to how these principles help advocate for inclusiveness and positive health outcomes for all populations, including those more vulnerable, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, religion/belief, etc.
The Christian worldview is based on Christian teachings as contained in the bible and advanced by Jesus and His disciples. Christian healthcare workers should advocate for the suffering and less privileged. Christians should advocate increased access to mental health care services for millions of people suffering from the problem as a demonstration of their love for fellow humans as commanded by God (James 1:26-27; 2:14-26 KJV). Like Christ who suffered on the cross for their sins, Christian healthcare workers should advocate better and expand access to mental health resources through legislation, not just at the state but also federal level, by engaging their elected representatives. They must have and shoulder a sense of responsibility so that they serve and speak up for the poor concerning underlying injustices that cause, maintain, and entrench poverty and suffering. Through these efforts, Christians will show their faith and wisdom through humble giving to the needy, and offering practical help and comfort to those in need. Advocacy will imply that Christians are impartial and have refused to ignore the public health crisis due to the mental health problem engulfing over 50 million adults before even factoring in the minors. Therefore, advocacy for the issue is not about aligning with certain groups, racial backgrounds, or cultural practices but focusing on love as the foundation of the Christian worldview.

Conclusion

Advocacy is an approach to create change in improving access to mental health care is critical. Nurse leaders and nurses should work in collaboration with other health providers to advocate access to better quality mental health care for patients and health populations suffering from this problem. Existing evidence supports the legislation approach as the most appropriate for addressing this problem. Therefore, nurses should consider the financial savings from cost expenditure on mental health, and integrate core competencies in their advocacy and Christian worldview to advance the proposed approach to help individuals suffering from mental health illness.

References

Alderwick, H., Hutchings, A., Briggs, A., & Mays, N. (2021). The impacts of collaboration between local healthcare and non-health

care organizations and factors shaping how they work: a systematic review of reviews. BMC Public Health, 21, 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10630-1

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2023 April 25). About Mental Health.

https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

Census Bureau (2023 June 26). Public Health Emergencies and Mental Health.

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/07/public-health-emergencies-and-mental-health.html

Coombs, N. C., Meriwether, W. E., Caringi, J., & Newcomer, S. R. (2021). Barriers to healthcare access among US adults with mental

health challenges: A population-based study. SSM-population health, 15, 100847. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100847

Gantayet-Mathur, A., Chan, K., & Kalluri, M. (2022). Patient-centered care and inter-professional collaboration in medical resident

education: Where we stand and where we need to go. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1), 1-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01221-5

Hughes, R., Meadows, M. T., & Begley, R. (2022). AONL nurse leader competencies: core competencies for nurse leadership. Nurse

Leader, 20(5), 437-443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2022.08.005

Institute of Health Policy and Leadership (IHPL) (2022 July). Policy at a Glance: Recent Federal Mental Health Policies.

https://ihpl.llu.edu/sites/ihpl.llu.edu/files/docs/Policy-At-A-Glance/July%202022.pdf

Luca, C. E., Cavicchioli, A., & Bianchi, M. (2021). Nurses who assume the role of advocate for older hospitalized patients: A

qualitative study. SAGE Open Nursing, 7, 23779608211030651. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211030651

Mental Health America (MHA) (2023). The State of Mental Health in America.

https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america

Taylor, H. L., Menachemi, N., Gilbert, A., Chaudhary, J., & Blackburn, J. (2023, October). Economic Burden Associated With

Untreated Mental Illness in Indiana. JAMA Health Forum, 4(10): e233535-e233535).

DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.3535

The Council of State Governments (2023 March 8). Mental Health among Top Policy Priorities for the States.

https://www.csg.org/2023/03/08/mental-health-among-top-policy-priorities-for-the-states

The White House (2022). Reducing the Economic Burden of Unmet Mental Health Needs.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2022/05/31/reducing-the-economic-burden-of-unmet-mental-health-needs

Sample Answer 2 for NRS 415 Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy

Creating Change Through Advocacy

As patient advocates in their different specialties, nurses seek changes to the healthcare delivery to improve access and quality of care for different patient populations and health conditions. Nurses engage elected representatives to create changes through advocacy on different healthcare issues including access to mental health and the opioid epidemic among other problems (Hughes et al., 2021). The opioid epidemic remains a critical national health concern that requires change through legislation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss nurses’ focus on creating change using advocacy by engaging elected representatives.

Problem In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.
The United States is battling a serious opioid epidemic that threatens the future of the health system and population. The opioid epidemic is a public health issue affecting the country and causing overdose deaths. According to statistics from federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2023), more than 1 million Americans have died from drug overdoses, with an increasing share of the deaths happening from opioids. For instance, in 2022 over 100,000 individuals died from drug overdose. As such, drug overdose is now the leading cause of injury mortality in the country, and surpasses motor vehicle accidents and gun violence. Additionally, opioids account for over 83,000 deaths from overdose. According to reports fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the leading cause of the rising deaths among Americans aged 18 and 49 years. In their article, Truong et al. (2023) assert that the COVID-19 pandemic and economic insecurity exacerbated the situation with the opioid epidemic rising as more Americans used drugs during these times. The pandemic led to social isolation and prevented many individuals from seeking addiction treatment. The majority of those affected by the opioid epidemic are American citizens, mostly those between 18 and 49 years. Apart from causing devastating loss of life in families and communities, the opioid epidemic accounts for close to $1 trillion in annual costs for the healthcare system and the criminal justice system (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2024). The country also loses productive population because of premature deaths emanating from the crisis. The continuation of this issue will lead to more deaths, a rise in spending on healthcare, and more people getting addicted leading mental health issues.
Idea for Addressing Solution In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy.
The opioid epidemic requires effective measures through a whole-of-government, society-wide approach as proposed by Truong et al. (2023) because of the multifaceted nature of the drug supply market. For instance, Fentanyl, which is responsible for over two-thirds of overdose deaths and drug abuse incidences, is mainly imported as synthetic opioid from abroad. The article notes that as a complex public health crisis and issue, the U.S. can reduce and prevent the increasing prevalence by focusing on the root causes of drug abuse, expanding access to treatment and developing harm reduction strategies. Additionally, the country can develop measures to reduce the supply of illicit opioids entering the United States from other countries. Accordingly, Congress and policymakers at different levels of government should develop measures to expand access to evidence-based community harm reduction, treatment, and recovery options (CBO, 2022). These policies should focus on the social determinants of health, improve access to treatment options, especially in the most affected areas, communities, and populations. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2023) in collaboration with health departments in 47 states, Washington DC, two territories and 16 cities and counties collects data on overdose for effective action through surveillance and prevention activities. Legislation is the best course for advocacy for this issue because of its complex nature. The implication is that having Congressional actions as advanced by many studies will enhance access to health care through strategies aimed at treatment and harm reduction as well as preventing access market to the drugs, especially imported synthetic drugs like fentanyl that is the biggest cause of abuse and the opioid crisis. Existing legislative frameworks like Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, 21^st Centrury Cures Act and SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act have not been effective as expected to reduce the opioid epidemic and offer effective access to treatment and harm reduction for those addicted to the drugs.
Research the Issue Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for addressing the problem (research studies, reports, etc.). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states.
Evidence 1 Legislative actions are necessary to address this issue as demonstrated by an editorial article by Lancet Public Health (Standard-Lancet Commission). According to the article, having legislation that allows the use of medications like Naloxone can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose (Health, 2022). The commission suggests that several countries like the UK, Australia and Canada have introduced naloxone as an over-the-counter medication to combat the adverse effects of opioid overdose. The article suggests that having legislations at state and federal levels which allows naloxone distribution in states where fentanyl is high can reduce the overall rates of overdose deaths.
Evidence 2 The article by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (2022) highlights different legislative interventions through laws and measures to address the opioid epidemic. According to the article, Congress has enacted several acts to address the issue, an indication that legislative action is still the most effective way to address the epidemic since it offers interventions that implore funding and allocation of resources for the fight against opioids.
Evidence 3 In their article, Klobucista and Ferragamo (2023) observe that the opioid epidemic has become one of the biggest killers, and endangers public health, the economy, and even homeland and national security. The article observes that most of the synthetic drugs enter the U.S. market through its borders. As such, legislating on a policy to stop the floodgates on fentanyl is essential since it is a foreign policy issue. Such a sensitive issue can only be addressed through legislative action at the federal level because it is a foreign policy challenge.
Stakeholder Support Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1	Different stakeholders will support the proposed idea. The first group comprise healthcare workers like nurses and physicians, especially those dealing with mental health and drug abuse disorders. These people will support the legislation aimed at reducing the effects of opioid, particularly overdose deaths.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 2	Policymakers and legislators at state and federal level will support the proposed idea to strengthen the nation’s efforts to fight opioids and overdose deaths. These stakeholders are critical in passing effective legislations to reduce harm, increase access to treatment, and improve the quality of care for individuals suffering from the epidemic.
Stakeholders (s) Supporting 3	The opioid epidemic is a public health issue in the U.S. implying that it affects families, communities, and individuals. These effects like loss of life, increased cost of care, and devastating effects imply that the public will support such efforts to enhance interventions.
Stakeholder Opposition Discuss the stakeholders who would oppose the proposed idea. Explain why they would be in opposition and how you would prepare to debate or converse about these considerations.
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 1	Drug companies, especially those in the import business, may oppose the proposed idea because such measures will affect their businesses and profits. They will oppose the proposed idea to keep the status quo. However, they need to consider the negative effects of the opioid epidemic as a public health issue. They should collaborate to prevent misuse of their drugs and ensure that it does not become a source of death and devastation for many families and individuals.
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 2	Users, especially those addicted to opioids, may oppose the proposed idea as it will reduce their uptake of drugs. Users at state level may also object these measures arguing the current actions and legislative efforts are sufficient to address the issue. However, it is essential for them to understand the magnitude of the problem and support the proposed idea.

Financial Incentives/Costs In no more than 250 words, summarize the financial impact of the issue and the idea (added costs, cost savings, increased revenue, etc.). Provide support (may include references from the “Research Your Issue” section).
The opioid epidemic has caused significant financial effects and costs on the healthcare sector, families, and communities. In their article Truong et al. (2022) estimates that the opioid epidemic costs the healthcare sector and the criminal justice system over $1 trillion every year. For instance, the enactment of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016 implies that the federal government spends over $2.7 billion on Medicaid to expand access to recovery and harm reduction efforts for those suffering from the opioid overdose. The current situation means that the federal and state governments will spend more on treating patients with opioid use disorder that in most cases has comorbidities with other conditions (Health, 2022). However, implementing legislative measures that consolidate the current efforts and laws into one and integrates the different programs across the federal health system can improve access to healthcare (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2024). More fundamentally, the country will save billions of dollars through the implementation of effective policies, especially those aimed at prevention like disruption of supply chains of the illicit synthetic drugs. Such legislations will increase the cost, risk and difficulty of producing and trafficking the products to the U.S. market. The proposed idea will reduce these costs, improve access to health care services, and enhance harm reduction efforts at state and local levels. Through this proposed idea, the U.S. will reduce opioid overdose deaths, lower the cost of care, and even get more revenue through arresting the perpetrators and arraigning them in courts.
Legislature: Information Needed and Process for Proposal Discuss how to advocate for your proposal using legislation. Include the following:
Provide the name and complete contact information for the legislator.
Describe the steps needed to present this to your legislator.		The steps will entail seeking an appointment with the legislator through his office secretary. Upon getting an appointment, I will present the proposed idea to introduce a bill in Congress on effective opioid regulation in the country.
Interprofessional Collaboration in the Legislative Arena In no more than 250 words, discuss the role interprofessional collaboration plays in advocacy through legislation.
Inter-professional collaboration allows different healthcare professionals and practitioners to work together based on common and shared goals and treatment plans. At the core of inter-professional collaboration in healthcare is to approach issues from a team-based perspective or viewpoint, leading to improved patient outcomes and better workplace environment. Inter-professional collaboration is a pre-requisite in advocacy through legislation as it allows providers to work together with other stakeholders like policymakers and elected representatives to attain set goals. In this case, addressing the opioid epidemic needs shared approach and expertise, a unified voice from all stakeholders, effective implementation and continuous improvement. A shared approach in handling such issues is important as it allows different professionals bring unique perspectives and expertise to the table, especially in developing evidence-based models to prevent the increased prevalence of opioids (Alderwick et al., 2021). A collaborative approach ensures that stakeholders advance a unified voice, making the advocacy more powerful and this leads to a strong message to the policymaker concerning the significance of the issue. Inter-professional collaboration ensures that once the legislation is enacted, it is effectively implemented with each professional playing their role based on their expertise. Through collaboration, stakeholders will always communicate to understand the overall effect of the legislation and if it requires any adjustments. As such, inter-professional collaboration plays a critical role in enhancing advocacy through legislation as a fundamental part of developing interventions on the opioid epidemic.
Leadership Competencies and Styles The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) has identified leadership competencies relevant for nurse leaders to guide practice within the health care system. Describe two leadership competencies identified by the AONE that would also be necessary for a nurse to advocate for the legislative solution you have proposed. Discuss how the theory of servant leadership supports these competencies. This section should be addressed in no more than 250 words.
The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) implores nurse leaders to develop certain competencies that allows them to function effectively in the health care system. These competencies are necessary for nurses to interact with stakeholders; especially patients and colleagues. Imperatively, the two competencies by the AONE necessary for a nurse advocate on the proposed legislative approach to the identified issue are communication and relationship building and knowledge of the health care environment and clinical principles (Hughes et al., 2022). These competencies are essential since advocacy requires effective communication for stakeholders to embrace the proposed idea or change. Communicating with clarity and integrity builds trust among stakeholders. Again, the nurse advocate should develop relationship with all stakeholders for effective engagement and building strategic partnerships and alliances to attain a common goal (Gonzalez Garcia et al., 2022). Furthermore, the opioid epidemic affects the general public and having knowledge about the healthcare environment and clinical principles ensures that nurse advocate can guide legislators on the most effective policy interventions to tackle the issue. The theory of servant leadership supports the competencies as effective servant leaders should communicate well, build teams, and have sufficient knowledge on the issue under investigation. Servant leaders are empathetic and serve others to ensure that they become the best and attain expected outcomes. Servant leadership theory supports these competencies by ensuring that nurse leaders focus on the greater benefit of the people through advocating for them.
Christian Principles and Nursing Advocacy In no more than 250 words, discuss how principles of a Christian worldview lend support to legislative advocacy in health care without bias. Be specific as to how these principles help advocate for inclusiveness and positive health outcomes for all populations, including those more vulnerable, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, religion/belief, etc.
The principles of the Christian worldview include biblical values of love, compassion, justice, and respect for the dignity of all individuals, irrespective of their diversity in race, age, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. These principles are founded on the concept of Imago Dei or man having been created in God’s image. Therefore, all are equal and deserve inherent dignity and respect. Again, Christians have an obligation to advocate for others, just life Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life because of the love for the world. As such, these principles support legislative advocacy by demonstrating that nurses should show compassion and love, be fair, and respect those suffering from the opioid epidemic and their families (Hathaway et al., 2021). Imperatively, they should advocate for their welfare without any bias and instead be inclusive to attain positive outcomes. These principles ensures that advocacy focuses on the greater benefits of all people, irrespective for their age, gender, and race and other demographics. The implication is that the Christian worldview seeks nurses and other healthcare providers to follow the example of Jesus and love unconditionally while serving them using evidence-based practice for quality and better outcomes. The principles of Christian worldview are categorical that nurses should advocate for patients and this makes the approach to the opioid epidemic relevant to all stakeholders, including the elected representatives.

Conclusion

The opioid epidemic remain a serious public health concern impacting millions of Americans with significant effects on the health system. As such, having legislative action to prevent opioids and ensure that there is limited supply is essential for the country to overcome the problem. Legislative advocacy is a fundamental approach that will allow stakeholders to implement better interventions, especially through primary activities like making manufacturing and distribution of synthetic drugs costly for the producers, including the drugs imported into the United States.

References:

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Truong, T. Q., Gandhi, D, Rosenthal, J., Johns, M., Rashid, M., Restrepo, D., Amaning, A. & Bluthenthal, C. (2023 Sept 20). Tackling the Opioid Crisis Requires a Whole-of-Government, Society-Wide Approach.