Introduction
The role that nurses play is critical in determining the quality of treatment that people receive in healthcare centers. While other medical practitioners in a facility may frequently check on the progress of patients, nurses spent most of their time with them. In fact, they act as caregivers and companions of people in medical facilities. The United States developed policies that control healthcare operations to ensure that its citizens enjoy the services offered by nurses in its hospitals. Furthermore, the United States empowered the private sector to increase the scope of healthcare for its citizens. The higher power given to the private sector over the public entity limits the number of people using public insurance policies for the elderly, the disabled, and the vulnerable. The critical role of nurses in medical facilities and the uniqueness of the health care policy in the United States inform an intensive examination of my values, beliefs, and inconsistencies.
My Personal Values and Beliefs in Nursing
I have high regard towards the nursing profession and the nurses’ position in the medical sector. The positive view stems from the role that the medical practitioners play in therapeutic centers. Remarkably, my values and beliefs resonate well with those exhibited by practitioners in hospitals around the United States. André, Frigstad, Nøst, and Sjøvold (2016) elucidate that effective communication, problem-solving, and appreciation of personal diversity are among vital aspects in the nursing profession. These components dictate my satisfaction rate whenever I visit medical facilities. I believe that employees in hospitals should possess these values because it enables them to relate well to the patients, their colleagues, and their leaders. The high number of people visiting health care centers compels nurses to exercise interpersonal skills and tackle challenges that occur during service delivery (Galanti, 2014). The essence of applying these skills occurs because people have varying personalities, religious affiliations, and lifestyles.
Differentiating My Beliefs and Opinions about Health Care Policy Using the Elements of Cost, Quality, and Social Issues
In the United States, the cost of healthcare is higher as compared to several developed countries around the world. According to Branning and Vater (2016), healthcare spending accounts for 17.8% of the budget in the United States. The indication depicts the high cost incurred by citizens in the country whenever they visit medical facilities. Although the cost of treatment in the country is high, the quality of service accorded by healthcare professionals is not proportional. Scholars such as Dieleman et al. (2016) and McDonough (2014) argue that people in the United States do not receive high-end medical attention in relation to the amount of money that they spend on medical insurances. The observation and the difference between cost and quality create a distinction between my opinions and the type of service. From my standpoint, I believe that medical services accorded to patients should reflect the cost. Besides, I have the opinion that patients should receive equal attention regardless of their financial abilities. Therefore, when the cost, quality, and social issues do not reflect the quality of medical care in the United States, a significant difference emerges.
Effect of My Upbringing, Religious Beliefs/Doctrine, Personal and Professional Experiences, and Political Ideology on Healthcare Policy
Fundamentally, upbringing, religion, and experience affects the attitude held by a community towards a particular aspect of the society. The opinion stems from virtues that the people believe are ethical. Importantly, these virtues are a composition of religious doctrines, political orientations, and those inculcated by families during the process of growth. Having lived in the United States, I have learned to be liberal in my thinking because it is among the components instilled in me. I believe that the government should regulate the level of attention received by patients.
Basing on my upbringing, religion, and experience, I believe that limited regulation on the current healthcare policy is unbalanced. I think that the government has given the private sector powers to influence the nature of services received by patients in medical facilities around the country, a factor that does not favor the underprivileged. Chinitz and Rodwin (2014) assert that unlike in other societies that emphasize on elements such as religious inclinations, communities that have liberal and advanced policies like the United States focus on fair delivery of services to its citizens. Therefore, upbringing, political ideologies, religion, and experience dictate my perception towards the healthcare policy.
Inconsistencies Discovered Relative to the Alignment of My Personal Values and Beliefs with Those Concerning Health Policy
An analysis of my values alongside the strategic plan of healthcare in the United States gives insights into a few contradictions. Some of the inconsistencies include the desire for empowerment of public insurance plans and that cost should mirror the quality of service. Notably, services should not hinge on the amount of money that a person spends. By focusing on people’s financial abilities, the underprivileged may not receive the necessary treatment (McDonough, 2014). Therefore, price and quality of attention comprise the incongruities exhibited by my beliefs in relation to the policy. Another contradiction demonstrated by my beliefs is on the empowerment of public insurance policy. Essentially, it is significant to ensure that private entities get the leeway to provide medical cover. By widening the scope of policies advanced by the service providers, the quality of attention enjoyed by citizens of the United States augments.
Conclusion
Healthcare policy of the United States is unique as compared to others around the world. One of the factors that make the strategy exclusive is its two-fold nature, which incorporates public and private sectors. While most of my values, religious doctrines, lifestyles, and views on healthcare are in harmony with the provisions enshrined in the code of the policy, some are inconsistent. Over the course of the study, I observed that my emphasis on cost and quality is misguided. Furthermore, my notion that the private sector needs limitation is not correct because a broad spectrum of service provision improves the quality of attention received by patients in the United States.
References
André, B., Frigstad, S., Nøst, T., & Sjøvold, E. (2016). Exploring nursing staffs communication in stressful and non‐stressful situations. Journal of Nursing Management, 24(2), 175-182.
Branning, G., & Vater, M. (2016). Healthcare spending: Plenty of blame to go around. Am Health Drug Benefits, 9(8), 445-447.
Chinitz, D., & Rodwin, V. (2014). What passes and fails as health policy and management. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 39(5), 1113-1126.
Dieleman, J., Baral, R., Birger, M., Bui, A., Bulchis, A., Chapin, A.,… Lavado, R. (2016). US spending on personal health care and public health, 1996-2013. Jama, 316(24), 2627-2646.
Galanti, G. (2014). Caring for Patients from Different Cultures. Pennsylvania, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.
McDonough, J. (2014). Health system reform in the United States. International Journal of Health Policy Management, 2(1), 5–8.