Deck 6: Health Policy and Planning and the Nursing Practice Environment

Question 1

A bill has passed both Houses.Before it gets sent to the president, it must be:

A) approved by appropriate party chairs.
B) fully financed with appropriations.
C) registered as a pending law to sign.
D) resolved in conference committee.

Answer 1

resolved in conference committee.

Question 2

Bills that include funding requests are known as __________ bills.

A) authorization
B) finalized
C) funded
D) supplemental

Answer 2

authorization

Question 3

A nurse working for a governmental agency is charged with establishing evaluation plans for the programs the agency oversees.To show the agency is meeting health-related objectives, the nurse would most likely compare the agency's outcomes to:

A) benchmarks for health care at the local level.
B) budget guidelines imposed by Congress.
C) goals established in Healthy People 2020.
D) taxpayer satisfaction with health programs.

Answer 3

goals established in Healthy People 2020.

Question 4

A congresswoman is explaining that she occasionally votes for bills that need, but do not contain, provisions for funding because:

A) appropriations bills are usually considered in specific years.
B) once the bill has passed, it is often easier to find funding for it.
C) she can support the cause without having to find money for it.
D) there isn't enough money left in the budget for some issues.

Question 5

The nurse studying the development of the American health care system understands that before the 1990s, health care funding was primarily:

A) driven by fee-for-service costs.
B) from charitable organizations.
C) paid for by entitlement programs.
D) the responsibility of each state.

Question 6

A nursing dean wishes to establish a center to study the feasibility of creating a curriculum based on community-based nursing.To acquire funding, the dean would most likely apply to the:

A) National Institutes of Health.
B) Pew Charitable Trusts.
C) state board of nursing.
D) Surgeon General's office.

Question 7

A nurse is confused because a federal agency does not seem to be providing services according to the law.Another nurse explains that this can happen because:

A) agencies do not work under any specific federal laws.
B) agency interpretation is needed to implement the law.
C) not all government agencies fall under specific laws.
D) there is considerable infighting among different agencies.

Question 8

A nurse wants to see a bill passed that includes an increase in federal income taxes to fund it.A friend should encourage the nurse to:

A) call the appropriate committee members.
B) provide information to the party secretary.
C) send a petition to the nurse's representative.
D) write a letter to the nurse's senator.

Question 9

A nurse does not understand why the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS)cannot allocate more money for public health efforts.Another nurse explains that money for public health and other expenditures is limited because the majority of the USDHHS budget must fund:

A) any program deemed in need of funding.
B) initiatives according to Healthy People 2020.
C) Medicare and other legislated programs.
D) United Nations health and wellness plans.

Question 10

An undergraduate nursing dean is expecting a site visit from the school's accrediting agency.To ensure that the school meets the agency's objectives for accreditation, it would be most important that the dean would assess whether course work provided opportunities for students in:

A) different types of health care organizations and levels of care.
B) mastering basic science concepts as they apply to nursing care.
C) providing charitable care through nurse-run clinics and offices.
D) working with community-based clients and regional health needs.

Question 11

A politically savvy nurse is explaining to co-workers that a plank in a political party's platform refers to the:

A) documents that will be voted on.
B) financing arm of the convention.
C) party's stand on specific issues.
D) supporters of various programs.

Question 12

An elected member of Congress wishes to arrange discussion of a new bill related to heart disease during February, which has been declared National Heart Month.Which action by the legislator would most likely lead to this happening as desired?

A) Arrange the dates for discussion with the party whip's secretary.
B) Hire a lobbyist to present the proposed bill and timeline for debate.
C) Meet with the appropriate committee chairperson to make the request.
D) Reserve rooms in chambers for public discussion and debate on the issue.

Question 13

A nurse understands that the first major government involvement in health care occurred with passage of the __________ Act.

A) Brady
B) Hill-Burton
C) Nurse Reinvestment
D) Social Security

Question 14

A nursing manager is concerned about staffing levels and their impact on patient safety.What action by the nurse would have the best chance of influencing this issue?

A) Call senators from the state, explaining the need for staffing laws.
B) Donate money to the American Nurses Association for lobbying.
C) Organize a petition drive calling for a city ordinance on staffing.
D) Work with the state nurses association on related state legislation.

Question 15

A nurse wishes to encourage people to vote and energize those who feel strongly about a particular political issue.The nurse would best accomplish this by:

A) donating money to a political action committee (PAC).
B) joining the office staff of an involved lobbyist.
C) serving on a national candidate's platform staff.
D) volunteering for a related 527 political group.

Question 16

A voter is angry that his or her congressman voted for a bill that contained an amendment unrelated to the bill without knowing about the amendment.The congressman explains that this occurs because:

A) aides do not have time to fully read bills and inform congressional members.
B) amendments sometimes are added at the last minute.
C) representatives do not get copies of full bills before they vote on them.
D) there simply is not enough time to understand each bill.

Question 17

A nurse studying the intersection of politics and health care describes the relationship best by saying that:

A) hiring lobbyists is the most effective way to communicate ideas.
B) only national organizations really have a voice in health care.
C) politics provides a means for differing voices to be heard.
D) voting in elections is the primary way to influence policy.

Question 18

A nurse is worried about an upcoming judicial appointment.A co-worker explains that the nurse can voice opinions about such matters best by:

A) calling the majority party's leadership.
B) phoning the nurse's House member.
C) sending a petition to the president.
D) writing to the senator from that state.

Question 19

Today's nurse understands that the mission of political action committees (PACs)has changed over the years to become more:

A) invested in social and corporate agendas.
B) involved at the state rather than the national level.
C) fiscally responsible to the general population.
D) responsive to needs of underserved groups.

Question 20

A nurse wishing to give money to a national political party without designating it for a specific purpose is donating what is called __________ money.

A) hard
B) soft
C) unencumbered
D) unrestricted

Question 21

The nurse researcher explains to a co-worker that the priority in funding for research today is research studies that examine:

A) effectiveness of care as evidenced by specified outcomes.
B) how standards improve the cost effectiveness of therapies.
C) if local standards of care measure up to national standards.
D) ways to determine whether health disparities are being addressed.

Question 22

A chief nursing officer (CNO)wishes to demonstrate to the community that the quality of nursing in his or her particular hospital meets or exceeds professional standards.The best method for demonstrating this would be for the CNO to:

A) advertise nurse-patient ratios.
B) apply for magnet hospital status.
C) hire advanced practice nurses.
D) publish complication rates.

Question 23

A nurse is explaining to a co-worker that the Patient Self-Determination Act, the Ryan White Act, and the McKinney Homelessness Act are all examples of:

A) bills that were passed without matching appropriations bills.
B) health care policies and regulations created in the 1990s.
C) laws that were enacted after involvement of philanthropies.
D) the only times nurses will ever make differences in legislation.

Question 24

A nurse has been investigating how health care policy is made and believes that the system is too complicated and difficult to navigate.Which statement best justifies this position? Health care policy is:

A) created at many governmental levels and affected by multiple variables.
B) enacted mostly by federal law, which requires compromise by both parties.
C) funded by appropriations bills, making additional policies hard to enact.
D) politicized with the current administration's party views taking priority.

Question 25

A nursing school dean is looking for external funding for an innovative program that recruits underemployed sectors of the workforce into nursing.Which action by the dean would most likely result in gaining external funding for this new program?

A) Apply for federal grants through the Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Professions (DHHS BHP).
B) Contact governmental agencies to gain scholarship money for specific students.
C) Negotiate with a local hospital to sponsor, or fund, education for some students.
D) Work with the Alumni Association to find corporate or individual sponsors.

Question 26

A nurse is concerned about an upcoming debate on a proposed state health care policy change.What actions can the nurse take in order to have his or her voice heard on this issue? (Select all that apply.)

A) Contact legislators by phone to express opinions.
B) Encourage nursing experts to testify at hearings.
C) Gather information and speak at the hearings.
D) Run for election to governmental office.
E) Write letters to supportive state representatives.

Question 27

A nurse is able to correlate Medicare regulations with which major trend in health care? Medicare has influenced decisions regarding:

A) creation of policies related to genetic privacy acts.
B) inclusion of women and children in research studies.
C) purchasing prescription drugs from foreign countries.
D) reimbursement through capitated cost agreements.

Question 28

An individual is an ardent supporter of a specific candidate in a federal election.This person wants to contribute $2800 to the candidate's campaign.How can the individual make this kind of contribution? The individual can give: (Select all that apply.)

A) $2600 to the candidate and $200 to the national party.
B) all of it to the candidate of choice without restriction.
C) half to the candidate and the other half to the national party.
D) the entire amount to the national party without restriction.

Question 29

A student nurse understands that state nurse practice acts delineate: (Select all that apply.)

A) eligibility for licensure.
B) national accreditation standards.
C) required educational preparation.
D) rules for members of compacts.
E) scope of practice for nurses.