Nursing 492 – Issue and Position Letter to Legislature

 

Purpose of Assignment

To examine a controversial issue, whether political or publicly debated women’s health, obstetric, or neonatal, and present both sides equally. 

 

Approach to Assignment

To approach this assignment I first researched several different bills waiting for review by Virginia legislature. Once I found a bill that I felt passionate about regarding the rights of pregnant women on life support, I did more focused research to gather information to support both the pros and cons of the bill in questions. I then decided that I supported the bill and proceeded to write my letter.  

 

Reason for Inclusion

I included this paper in my portfolio in order to satisfy the position paper portion of this project. It represents by ability to advocate for my patients. In this paper, I advocate for a bill to be passed that protects the rights of pregnant women in the regards to end of life decision in extreme situations. This paper is a reflection of my passion in protecting the rights of many different patient populations.

 

Curricular outcomes

 

Critical thinking

• Uses decision-making skills in making clinical or professional judgments.  

        In this letter, I explain that I have made the professional judgment to support the bill HB 1657 under review. I use my decision-making skills to decide to support this bill and explain that I came to this decision by reviewing the current law, the bill in question and previous cases in which this bill could have made a difference.

 

• Revises actions and goals based on evidence rather than conjecture.

        I use this letter to explain that it is my goal as a healthcare professional is to honor the wishes of all patient populations, no matter the circumstances. I discuss that we need to revise our current end-of-life protocols and actions to accommodate the needs of pregnant women. I explain that this revision has become necessary due to unfortunate cases in which pregnant women were kept on ventilators against their previously written wishes due to the fact that they are pregnant. I believe that we need to keep our goals to honor patient’s wishes the same whether or not a patient is pregnant.

 

Communication

• Expresses oneself and communicates effectively with diverse groups and disciplines using a variety of media in a variety of contexts.

        The form of communication used for this project is a professional letter. I am able to express myself in a professional letter that is meant to advocate for a bill to the Virginia legislature. I use proper letter formatting and am able to express my thoughts in a clear and direct manner.

 

• Produces clear, accurate and relevant writing using correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.

        I received an A on this assignment and did not have any points taken off for spelling, grammar or punctuation. I am able to express my thoughts and concerns in a direct and clear manner. The content of this letter is relevant to current nursing practice and patient’s rights in Virginia.

 

 

• Accesses and utilizes data and information from a wide range of sources to enhance patient and professional communication.

        To complete this assignment I had to access the Virginia legislative website to review all of the current medical bills pending review in our state. I then had to access research articles and nursing journals to find information pertinent to the bill I chose to support my argument in the letter. I was able to use this information to compile a professional letter to legislature to enhance my professional communication skills.

 

Research

• Applies research-based knowledge from nursing as the basis for culturally sensitive practice.

        This bill, if passed, will support the rights of pregnant women everywhere and from every culture. I use this letter to explain how research supports the necessity for this bill. In the past, women from other cultures have been forced to stay on life-support against their wishes while pregnant due to the cultural and religious beliefs of their families or spouses. This bill, if passed, will allow the woman to retain her rights, even if she is incapacitated, regarding end-of-life care despite her pregnancy.  

 

Professionalism

• Understands the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and health care delivery, as well as limits to one’s own scope of practice.

        This project taught me that for new bills to be passed that affect my own personal healthcare practices; they must first be approved by the state legislature. I also learned that it is possible for me to send a letter to our legislature to either support to fight against pending bills. Prior to this assignment, I did not know that my scope of practice allowed me to actually have a voice in bills being reviewed by our government. I can now use this knowledge to become more involved in upcoming bills that will directly affect my healthcare practice.

 

• Applies an ethical decision-making framework and legal guidelines to clinical situations that incorporate moral concepts, processional ethics and advocacy for patient well-being and preferences.

        This entire assignment is centered around me supporting the legal guidelines regarding life-support for pregnant women to be changed to adapt to their personal well-being and preferences. I use this letter to advocate that pregnant women should be able to retain their end-of-life rights despite the fact that they are pregnant. In these terribly sad situations, we need to have a moral compass and legal defense that will support the rights of these women.  

 

• Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political processes.

        I use this letter to advocate for the rights of pregnant women on ventilators through the political process of supporting a bill being reviewed by the legislature.  I advocate that we need to revise our current professional standards of practice which allows doctors and family members to override the wishes of pregnant women on life-support. I explain that an addendum needs to be made to the current advanced directive paperwork which includes a clause for “in the event that I am pregnant ____.”