Nursing Practice Standards and Policies: How They Impact Care Quality, Safety, and Costs

Nursing Practice Standards and Policies: How They Impact Care Quality, Safety, and Costs

The Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) in California has set detailed standards that greatly affect how care is provided, ensuring patient safety and managing healthcare costs. According to BRN, registered nurses play an active role in preventing and managing diseases in collaboration with other healthcare teams. Specifically related to obesity, BRN recommends that nurses continuously educate themselves on nutrition and weight management. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of competent detection of obesity-related complications like diabetes or cardiac issues (Backstrom, 2019). These standards aim to enhance the quality of care for obese patients, ensuring safety by preventing or managing potential complications and avoiding costly procedures resulting from unmanaged issues.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has significantly lessened the financial burdens tied to diseases related to obesity by prioritizing preventive care and managing chronic conditions. It mandates that insurance covers preventive services, easing the financial load on patients. ACA also encourages healthy living, preventing the development of severe conditions linked to obesity. Prioritizing preventive care directly reduces costs by avoiding expensive treatments and hospitalizations later on (Rdesinski et al., 2023). Research supports the effectiveness of these policies; Mylona et al. (2020) noted a decline in healthcare costs related to obesity after the implementation of ACA, emphasizing the benefits of focusing on prevention.

This shift in policy has influenced nursing practice by providing a foundation for a more comprehensive, cost-effective patient care strategy. For a patient like John, this might involve regular health monitoring, mental health support, patient education on self-management, and preventive measures to enhance care quality, safety, and reduce costs. These standards and policies guide nursing practice by shaping patient relationships, enforcing competency standards, and regulating clinical decision-making. The Nurse’s Practice Act standards dictate the scope of practice, while federal laws like ACA influence the delivery of preventive care, reimbursement rates, and respect for patient rights. Together, these influences provide nurses with direction to offer patients efficient, preventive, and sustainable healthcare.