American Association of Nurse Practitioners - Essay Example

Interest Group: American Association of Nurse Practitioner al Affiliation The current dis hereby aims to provide a description of the issue and its relevance to AANP, as well as the perceived rationale for advocating support for the position. The issue that was advocated by the AANP is to “Provide Stable, Sufficient Funding for Nurse Education Programs” (AANP, 2015, p. 2). As such, evidence in support to the position was ascertained, including any additional possible reasons for AANP’s support. Finally, the support to the position was evaluated in terms of its relation to the interests of the groups’ members; prior to determining whether other interest groups have taken similar or contradictory positions in the issue. Interest Group: American Association of Nurse Practitioner The American Association of Nurse Practitioner The American Association of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) is an organization officially formed on January 1, 2013 with the merger of two (2) nursing organizations, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (founded in 1985) and the American College of Nurse Practitioners (founded in 1995) (AANP, 2015a). Its mission is explicitly stated as follows: “to lead NPs in transforming patient-centered health care” (AANP, 2015b, p. 1). As the assigned interest group, one of AANP’s priority health policy issues which is actually listed in the issue briefs portal and among the federal priorities summaries is to “Provide Stable, Sufficient Funding for Nurse Education Programs” (AANP, 2015c, p. 2). The current discourse hereby aims to provide a description of the issue and its relevance to AANP; as well as the perceived rationale for advocating support for the position. Moreover, any evidence in support to the position would be ascertained, including any additional possible reasons for AANP’s support. Finally, the support to the position would be evaluated in terms of its relation to the interests of the groups’ members; prior to determining whether other interest groups have taken similar or contradictory positions in the issue. Description of the Issue and its Relevance to the Organization The issue was expounded by AANP through an explicit stipulation calling for support as the action needed from its members. As revealed, AANP advocated for “Support (on) Title VIII education program funding in FYs 2015 and 2016. Recognizing the need to reduce federal spending, it is essential that Congress preserve funding through the Division of Nursing in the Bureau of Health Professions of the Department of Health and Human Services for nurse practitioners educational programs, traineeships, and Nurse Managed Clinics” (AANP, 2015d, p. 1). The AANP emphasized the importance and urgency of the issue given that the expanded health insurance coverage reported to be enforced in 2014 have significantly increased the demand for health care practitioners as a result of potential increase in clientele. Moreover, a shortage in nurses was still reported to persist in contemporary situation which exacerbates the urgency of providing and sustaining financial support for nurse education programs (Crain Communications, Inc., 2015). What rationale does the organization give for its position? The overview of the issue provided the rationale for AANP’s support for its position through asserting that the shortage of nurses necessitates application of motivational strategies, specifically offering financial support for nursing education programs (AANP, 2015). Likewise, it was emphasized that “Nurse education programs are facing extreme pressure as Congress wrestles with reducing the federal deficit…(The nursing education) programs now face the uncertainty of sequestration, which could eliminate 645 training opportunities for advanced practice registered nurses and limit scholarships and training for more than 4,100 nursing students” (AANP, 2015d, p. 1). Does it provide any evidence in support of its position? The AANP clearly provided evidence in support of its position through its request, to wit: ANP urges members of Congress to stand by their commitment to meet the nation’s health workforce needs by maintaining adequate funding for Title VIII programs and funding the Nurse Managed Health Clinics program authorized under Title III (AANP, 2015d, p. 1). Are there any additional possible reasons for the organizations position? The AANP, by virtue of its organization’s mission and vision statements, has been organized to serve the best interests of nurse practitioners, including provision of crucial information (updates, policy issues, and evidence based practices) that would assist in the professional growth of nurses. As such, support to the issue is relevant to ensure that nurses would continue to grow in number and in expertise and be an instrumental contributor to the enhanced delivery of high quality health care. Likewise, with continued supply of nurses, the AANP’s sustained existence would be ensured through invitation of new members and renewal of current members. How does the position relate to the interests of the groups’ members or constituents? The position of the AANP definitely coincides with the interests of the groups’ members or constituents. Sustaining funding for the education of nurses would be beneficial since it would ensure that the demand for nurses would be appropriately addressed. Thus, problems such as burn-out, or supporting supply of nurses who are about to retire, would be effectively addressed (Villanova University, 2015). As emphasized, one of the measures noted to address the shortage of nurses is to focus on “scholarships, grants and awareness programs aimed at increasing the number of nurse educators. By encouraging current RNs to return to school for advanced degrees, they hope to reduce the educator shortage and enroll more applicants in nursing schools” (Villanova University, 2015, p. 1). Are there other interest groups that have taken similar positions? Or contrary positions? From one’s research on the position, it was evident that continued funding for educational programs for nurses were acknowledged to be needed, as supported by legislators, health organizations, and other nursing organizations (Villanova University, 2015; Redhead, Colello, Heisler, Lister, & Sarata, 2014). Due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), funding was noted to be allocated to include expanding “the nursing workforce development programs authorized under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) Title VIII” (Redhead, Colello, Heisler, Lister, & Sarata, 2014, p. 2). However, from the disclosed figures of allocations, it was evident that the legislators reduced the allocation for nursing educational programs from the $40 million in 2010 to only $38 million in 2014 and 2015, as shown in the table below. Source: Redhead, Colello, Heisler, Lister, & Sarata, 2014, p. 14 Conclusion In retrospect, although the issue was acknowledged to be relevant and crucial in ensuring the sustained high quality of supply of nurses to meet increased demand of health care services in contemporary times, the budget or funding allocations were noted to be reduced by as much as $2 million from the peak of $40 in 2010. The reduction would be tantamount to similar lessening of nurses who could supposedly benefit from scholarships and grants earmarked for nursing education. As such, the position to provide and sustain funding for nursing education by the AANP is deemed to be significantly relevant. References AANP. (2015a). About AANP. Retrieved from aanp.org: http://www.aanp.org/about-aanp AANP. (2015c). Federal Policy Priorities. Retrieved from aanp.org: http://www.aanp.org/images/documents/federal-legislation/issuebriefs/issue%20brief%20-%20federalprioritiessummary.pdf AANP. (2015b). Mission, Vision, and Values. Retrieved from aanp.org: http://www.aanp.org/about-aanp/mission-vision-and-values AANP. (2015d). Provide Sufficient Funding for Nurse Practitioner Education Programs. Retrieved from aanp.org: http://www.aanp.org/images/documents/federal-legislation/issuebriefs/Issue%20Brief%20-%20Provide%20Sufficient%20Funding.pdf Crain Communications, Inc. (2015, January 7). No more nurse shortage? Surplus projected for 2025. Retrieved from Staffing Industry Analysts: http://www.staffingindustry.com/Research-Publications/Publications/Healthcare-Staffing-Report/Jan.-8-2015/No-more-nurse-shortage-Surplus-projected-for-2025 Redhead, C., Colello, K., Heisler, E., Lister, S., & Sarata, A. (2014, October 28). Discretionary Spending Under the Affordable. Retrieved from Congressional Research Service: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41390.pdf Villanova University. (2015). Shortage of Qualified Nurses Expected. Retrieved from villanovau.com: http://www.villanovau.com/resources/nursing/qualified-nurses-shortage/#.VRjsK7uJjIU Note: No peer reviewed journals are available. Read More