• Describe the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) and      explain how the QIO improves policies and healthcare for Medicare      beneficiaries.  
• Briefly define the qualifications for Medicare and      Medicaid benefits. How can qualifications be modified to serve more people      who are considered a vulnerable population?
• Discuss the impact (including      at least two positive and two negative aspects) that the ACA has had on      benefits and coverage for Medicare and Medicaid recipients. 
• Describe your role(s) as a      healthcare leader as it applies to the practice of advocating for cost      effective care for vulnerable populations.

 Nurse scholars have claimed that nursing is both a discipline and a profession. In order to understand these claims, we must first know what it means for nursing to have a “unique body of knowledge.” If we assume that nursing does, indeed, possess a unique body of knowledge, we can claim that nursing is a “basic science” rather than an “applied science.” Despite these claims, debate continues about nursing as discipline, profession, and science. Is nursing a discipline? A profession? Is nursing a basic science and/or applied science? In your initial post, state what you think about nursing as discipline, profession, and science. Explore the literature beyond that assigned to you for this week’s readings to help you formulate your position. You should include the following:

• What is a discipline? What is a profession? What’s the difference? What are examples of each?
• Does nursing fit the criteria for a “discipline” and “profession”?
• What is a “basic science”? What is an “applied science”? What’s the difference?
• Is nursing a “basic” or “applied” science?
• Support your statements with scholarly references. You may use those from the assigned readings for this module, but you must also select and use (via your literature search) a minimum of one scholarly reference outside of assigned readings in your initial post.
• Present your posts and replies in a professional, scholarly manner. Use the APA publication manual to format citations and references.
• Use at least 2 scholarly articles within the past 5 years