Mrs. Thomas is a 54, year old African American widow, mother and grandmother, who lives with her daughter and four grandchildren (ages 12, 10, 7 and 5) in a 4 story walk up apartment. She is an active member of her church community and friends, comments that she had so much energy that she exhausted all of them just being around her. At age 51, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Busy with raising her grandchildren, a little more than 3 years went by before she sought attention for her symptoms and was diagnosed. Despite aggressive treatments with chemotherapy and radiation, her diseased progressed and she was considering undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Climbing the stairs to the apartment one afternoon she became very short of breath and collapsed. Her twelve, year old granddaughter called 911. At the hospital she was minimally responsive and in severe respiratory distress. She was intubated and transferred to the ICU. A family meeting with the oncology and ICU team was called to discuss Mrs. Thomas’s advanced condition, the fact that she would probably not survive further treatment for the lymphoma and to develop a plan of care. Fifteen family members arrived, including her daughter, pre-teen granddaughters and grandson, three nieces, four nephews, several friends from her church and the minister. On being asked that only the immediate family participate in the meeting, the family and friends became angry and insisted that all of them be involved in this discussion.

1. The students should focus their thoughts on the dynamics of this family meeting. If you were the nurse in this situation, how would you address meeting? Here are some questions that may help your thinking. What is your impression regarding this scenario? What are some concerns you have with this case? What do you anticipate would happen? How would you handle all the family members and friends wanting to be included in the discussion? There is not right or wrong answer. But remember you need a professional journal to support the discussion. 

2. Now think about you being the patient. How would the situation be handle within your family? Have you thought about what kind of care you would want? Does someone know what you would want if you had a catastrophic event? Would family members support the decision maker’s decision for for you? 

In the Introduction, you should seize the interest of the reader about the significance of your topic to patient care and nursing practice. You support the introduction with data about the significance of the problem. You support the introduction with evidence-based data, including sources, about the significance of the problem. You should identify a gap in nursing or patient knowledge, skills, or attitudes. The purpose should describe how your project filled that gap. This section’s information should be organized, at a minimum, using level headings of Background, Significance, and Purpose. This chapter will be 4 pages in length and should include at least 5 scholarly sources.

Discussion: The Application of Data to Problem-Solving

In the modern era, there are few professions that do not to some extent rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to advise on the purchase and sale of property. In these and other cases, data not only helps solve problems, but adds to the practitioner’s and the discipline’s body of knowledge.

Of course, the nursing profession also relies heavily on data. The field of nursing informatics aims to make sure nurses have access to the appropriate date to solve healthcare problems, make decisions in the interest of patients, and add to knowledge.

In this Discussion, you will consider a scenario that would benefit from access to data and how such access could facilitate both problem-solving and knowledge formation.

To Prepare:

• Reflect on the concepts of informatics and knowledge work as presented in the Resources.
• Consider a hypothetical scenario based on your own healthcare practice or organization that would require or benefit from the access/collection and application of data. Your scenario may involve a patient, staff, or management problem or gap.

Discussion: The Application of Data to Problem-Solving

In the modern era, there are few professions that do not to some extent rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to advise on the purchase and sale of property. In these and other cases, data not only helps solve problems, but adds to the practitioner’s and the discipline’s body of knowledge.

Of course, the nursing profession also relies heavily on data. The field of nursing informatics aims to make sure nurses have access to the appropriate date to solve healthcare problems, make decisions in the interest of patients, and add to knowledge.

In this Discussion, you will consider a scenario that would benefit from access to data and how such access could facilitate both problem-solving and knowledge formation.

To Prepare:

• Reflect on the concepts of informatics and knowledge work as presented in the Resources.
• Consider a hypothetical scenario based on your own healthcare practice or organization that would require or benefit from the access/collection and application of data. Your scenario may involve a patient, staff, or management problem or gap.

First Steps on Becoming a Grassroots Lobbyist/Advocate for Health Care Policy

In a Microsoft Word document of 4-5 pages formatted in APA style, you will imagine you are going to make a visit to your representative in Congress. There are two parts to this assignment.

Address the following topics:

• Develop a one-page document that supports your position on the AHCA that you would leave with your representative or his or her aide when you make your visit.
  • This one-pager, also called a “leave behind,” should state your position clearly in bullet points and give your reasons why your position is preferred.
  • This “leave behind” should have 1 inch margins and utilize 14-point font throughout.
  • If you were making this visit in person, you would present your “leave behind” to the person with whom you speak during your visit.
  • Include a second page that describes your rationale for the position in your “leave behind” page supported by at least two journal articles.
• Write a two-page brief to describe the scenario surrounding your legislative visit. Understanding the political affiliation of your representative, include answers to the following:
  • Was your member in support or in opposition to the AHCA?
  • State three points that you would cover in support or opposition to your representative’s position.
  • How does your nursing experience influence the advocacy position that you take on the AHCA?

You may find it necessary to search for answers to the questions outside of the assigned reading.

On a separate references page, cite all sources using APA format.