NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

nr 504 week 7 assignment - professional coalition project

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

The healthcare system is highly sensitive and that is why presidents have to make critical decisions and ensure the safety of their citizens. I agree with you that the opioid epidemic is one of the healthcare issues that rose to the presidential level. Opioid misuse presents various health risks and that is why it was necessary to engage the presidential intervention. President Bush’s administration approached the issue in three ways. First, the administration provided efforts to stop the kids from using the drug. Secondly, the treatment for those already using the drug was expanded and finally, the flow of the drug into America was controlled. The measure would be undertaken for infectious diseases that arise, Breaking the infection cycle is important in managing health crises and emergencies (Hedberg, et al., 2019).

The Obama administration approached the issue more comprehensively and approved the CAR bill to fight the epidemic. Similarly, President Donald Trump declared the epidemic a national state of emergency and this was appropriate. I agree that health issues require urgent intervention to curb the causative factors and prevent the issue from spreading further and this is what the three presidential administrations did.

The presidents must be sensitive to identify the impacts of given health issues and develop appropriate policies that will minimize the harmful effects the citizens suffer (Smith, 2020). In this case, the use of opioid drugs was on the rise and the level could have been very disastrous if the relevant measures developed were not adopted. It is important that government systems set aside funds to handle medical emergencies whenever they rise because they cannot be postponed (Katz, Attal-Juncqua & Fischer, 2017).

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NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE References

Hedberg, K., Bui, L. T., Livingston, C., Shields, L. M., & Van Otterloo, J. (2019). Integrating public health and health care strategies to address the opioid epidemic: the Oregon Health Authority’s Opioid Initiative. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice25(3), 214-220. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000849.

Katz, R., Attal-Juncqua, A., & Fischer, J. E. (2017). Funding public health emergency preparedness in the United States. American journal of public health107(S2), S148-S152. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303956

Smith, H. J. (2020). Ethics, Public Health, and Addressing the Opioid Crisis. AMA Journal of Ethics22(8), 647-650. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2020.647.

When being presented with the topic of discussion for this week, my mind, as I’m sure most of ours, immediately wandered to the subject of debate related to the pandemic and the vaccine mandate that seems to be the black cloud, in not only the healthcare setting but now intruding into all employers’ policies as well.

The enforcement of this mandate has been a matter of contention our current president has prioritized in his agenda. This pandemic just so happened to take over during an election year, so we were fortunate to see how two separate presidents prioritized the specifics of their agendas related to the same pandemic.

According to Keith Kellogg in his book War By Other Means: A General In The Trump White House, he discusses some of the accomplishments of our former president during his time in office. “On March 13,2020, President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency…Vice President Pence worked with companies like 3M to dramatically increase production of N-95 medical masks.

He worked with diagnostic lab companies to ramp up testing.” (Kellogg, 2021) Kellogg (2021) tells us about President Trump working with FedEx and UPS air assets in order to ensure the American healthcare workers had the appropriate personal protective equipment and ensuring there wouldn’t be a delay in receiving sed equipment due to the travel ban that was implemented as well. He sent in reinforcements to New York and California by sending the U.S. Navy hospital ships to assist with patient care.

He developed Operation Warp Speed by gathering teams of experts to manufacture a vaccine that could be developed and distributed. President Trump’s goal was to “make the system work better and faster than it had ever worked before.” (Kellogg, 2021) Kellogg (2021), being the former National Security Advisor under the Trump and Pence Administration, ensures his audience that President Trump stretched all resources in order to fulfill his directive to do everything possible to protect the American people from harm.

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

Our current President, Joe Biden, is approaching the pandemic in a different view. As soon has Biden took office he worked actively to open America’s southern border, which has resulted in over 1.4 million illegal border crossings. (GOP Staff, 2021) With each illegal crossing, there has not been a since effort to mandate the vaccine for those individuals. Biden’s speech in September 2021 discusses this being a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” (Biden, 2021)

He states there being a “25% minority that is not vaccinated” (Biden, 2021) and emphasizes that they are the cause of the losing battle against COVID-19 and his duty is to “protect the vaccinated.” (Biden, 2021) Which then leads him to discuss his next step in plan of action, being that all employers with more than 100 employees must require the vaccine. He states he is aware that this mandate will affect about two thirds of all workers, and he has no regard to that fact.

Biden expects the American people to “trust the science” but still refuses to be transparent about not mandating the vaccine for certain groups, the possible long term affects and the devastating adverse reactions we are now being inundated with in the hospital setting. Biden discusses the pandemic issues by using scare tactics and totalitarianism approaches, hence why OSHA has now placed a hold on Biden’s mandate due to it being unconstitutional.

According to Health Policy and Politics, the definition of “policy is a consciously chosen course of action: a law, regulation, rule, procedure, administrative action, incentive, or voluntary practice of governments and other institutions.” (Milstead & Short, 2019) As nurses, we can make a difference at this level by “identifying a problem and being part of the solution.” (Milstead & Short, 2019) We, as healthcare workers, practice autonomy by allowing our patients to have and to practice their patient’s rights.

We must accept our patient’s choices for what they feel is right for their body, regardless of what the popular opinion may be. In the same, the U.S. congressional members and senators must respect and accept the choices of those who decide the vaccine may not be the best choice for their body or their children’s body. I do not feel the mandate is an appropriate way to handle this pandemic. There has been evidence showing Florida reaching the lowest case rate in the nation as a result of Governor DeSantis’ leadership and our data-driven approach free of mandates or lockdowns (Florida Executive Office Staff, 2021).

State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo (2021) also discusses the success in Governor DeSantis’ innovative approach and states, “moving forward, we must continue focusing on data and evidence to make public health decisions and not allow such decisions to be politicized.” I believe in natural immunity and personal choice. Therefore, I would not allow a government overreach and enforce a vaccine mandate to all, especially before long-term studies have been published. I would allow resources to be available, such as DeSantis’ approach, and focus on the data and evidence that has proved it’s efficacy.

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas References

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas 

RE: Discussion – Week 1

Mental illness is a health issuewhoseattack is not on the body but the mind, in recent years mental illness has become an acceptable topic to discuss while in the past, having a mental illness meant suffering aloneand in silence. Thenumber of people screening with moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety has continued to increase throughout 2020 and remains higher than rates prior to COVID-19 (Mental Health America , 2021).

People are suffering and they are finally speaking out about it and I will say that is a testament to how our Presidents have highlighted the importance of speaking out about your mental illness and getting the help that you need and providing that help. In 2013 President Obama announced that $50 million of the funding will support nearly 200 community health centers in expanding the availability of services to individuals living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders (Ingoglia, 2013).

The Biden administration followed that same initiative when he took office and allocated 2.5 Billion dollars in funding for the mental illness and addiction crisis the country now faces; $1.65 billion will go toward the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, which gives the receiving states and territories money to improve already-existing treatment, and $825 million will be used by the states to deal specifically with mental health treatment services (Allen, 2021).

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This nurse is an advocate for mental well-being, and believes that in order to heal the body you have to start with the mind. We learned early on in nursing school that the brain is the control station for every part of our body and in order for our different systems to complete their distinct tasks the brain must function properly.

Our thought processes affect how our brain works, neuroscience has begun to uncover some of the intricate and less obvious relations between the mind and the brain, as investigative approaches from biochemistry, psychology, and genetics converge on an understanding of the physiology of mental illness (S., 1992). As a psych nurse I believe that they did the same thing that I would have done because the issue is that there are not enough mental health providers and so you have people suffering that are unable to get the help they need because providers are booked to capacity.

The one thing that I would do differently is ensure that each state send yearly summaries of exactly how they are putting that money to use, and the effectiveness of the changes they made using that money. This is purely to hold each state accountable and ensure the money is being distributed to bringing a firm foundation for the treatment of mental illness.

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NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas

RE: Discussion – Week 1

COVID-19

A novel coronavirus hit the U.S. in January 2020, and WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic (Sheposh, 2021). A new strain called Delta surfaced, and the death toll is once again increasing. When the pandemic began, there was a lot of confusion about how to handle the pandemic. Former President Trump first put the responsibility on states to deal with covid-19. As the case number increased, The White House created federal social distancing guidelines.

At the same time, the COVID task force was formed with people of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). President Trump declared a national emergency and ordered expanded supplies and test kits to be distributed in the U.S. The president was eager to reopen the company and return to normalcy. He signed the bill to help people for relief and put an emphasis on developing covid vaccines. He also decided not to fund the WHO and criticized the covid task force for their recommendations (Hart, 2021).

President Biden put the primary responsibility on the federal government and called for states to put more strict mask mandates in place. He signed the bills for more stimulus checks and called for swift distributions on vaccines. He decided to rejoin the WHO and promised the funding. He also called for a controversial vaccine mandate for federal workers.

No one predicted that this pandemic could happen in their lifetime. However, I feel the government has done a great job against this pandemic. Covid-19 is still ongoing, and new strains are being discovered. However, things are settling down, and I feel that life is returning to normal. During this pandemic, the federal government set a goal to innoculate people as much as possible and set an agenda to do so.

I cannot entirely agree with the mandate of vaccines because I think that it is a violation of our rights. I’m afraid I also have to disagree with funding the WHO. I feel that Johns Hopkins University and CDC give us better statistics and accurate numbers, and also they function way better than WHO.

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE References

RE: Discussion – Week 1

In my opinion, the Federal Government of the United States, ably led by President Joe Biden, made the right decision by ensuring that the majority of its population receives the covid -19 vaccine, based on the CDC recommendations. The science behind this approach is based on the age long principle of Herd immunity.

Herd immunity(population immunity) , is the direct/indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when about 75 to 80% of a population is immunized either through vaccination as in the case of Covid -19 or by immunity developed through previous infection (WHO, 2021). As we may have known, vaccines stimulate specific antibodies in our bodies that help with fighting specific infections whenever we come in contact with them.

Usually, these vaccines are made to protect us against infections or organisms with very high pathogenicity or virulence, sufficient to overwhelm ones natural immunity upon first exposure , thus leading to very severe illness or even death. The fortified immune system is able to attack such organisms whenever that vaccinated individual becomes exposed to the organism.

However, for the unvaccinated individual, a highly virulent pathogen like the novel coronavirus is able to attack and cause severe debilitating illness or even death, because the natural immune system is too weak to fight back. As a consequence, vaccines have become inextricably connected to our survival as humans.

As regards human rights, I believe the President has a constitutional obligation to protect the lives and property of all inhabitants of the United States. This, he is doing, by taking relevant steps at encouraging people to take the vaccines.

Consequently, whatever he has to do to keep the people safe and in good health should not be regarded or seen as against peoples’ rights, as he can only be president over the living and not the dead. Interestingly too, our rights are not absolute under the law, if not, you could kill somebody and walk away without retribution.

In the aspect of the US withdrawal from the WHO, the United States remains the leader of all developed nations of the world, and arguably the largest financial contributor to the WHO. As such, it has a responsibility to keep all other nations safe from disease or infirmity even as it takes care of itself. The WHO serves as a reference point in the area of Healthcare for every nation of the world.

All countries make monthly contributions to this agency, for the purpose of having a collective and formidable front against diseases that affect humanity as well as drawing up universally acceptable management guidelines, which are usually sourced from medical experts all over the world. An epidemic, in any part of the world is not likely to completely isolate the US, so long as movement of humans continue to take place, just as was the case with covid -19. Even though Johns Hopkins has been doing a great job, its scope is largely limited to the US, while the WHO is global .

In conclusion, President Joe Biden, has so far shown impeccable leadership in his approach to managing the affairs of the US, especially rejoining the WHO and his strategies on vaccination.

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NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas

How Current and Previous Presidents Handled Mental Health Problems

Population health is crucial in determining a group of individual’s health status and health outcomes. Public health practitioners must improve population health to optimize the health of a large area (New York State Department of Health, n.d.). Presidents have reformed to expand population health and influence health outcomes through population-wide policies and interventions.

For example, President Joe Biden’s government works with nations to address mental health. The federal government plays a role in mental health to regulate systems, protect consumers’ rights, provide funding for services, and support research. Also, his government establishes and enforces minimum standards that states can expand on.

This differs from what happened during President Donald Trump’s era, when the government focused more on protecting individual rights in schools and workplaces (Beeber, 2019). Federal protection policies were set in privacy to prohibit abuse and fight discrimination to promote inclusivity. Currently, the government provides reasonable accommodation and supports people in need to deal with deeply rooted mental problems.

What should be done Differently

Governments should adopt mental health policies and integrate them into public health to reduce society’s burden. Government support hinders the development of factors that contribute to poverty and reduce the intrinsic value of physical fitness. Also, it is essential to consider stigma concerning mental health illnesses when developing policies.

This will help to do away with the stigma that results from lack of attention among ministers, which causes poor leadership and inadequacy of legislation in the health sector (Nochaiwong et al., 2021). Besides, stigma is detrimental not only to people with mental illnesses but also to society. The government should improve policy-making programs and focus more on interventions that will promote the prevalence of mental disorders.

Governments should ensure that all relevant agencies recognize the importance of mental health and are aware of the influence of their activities on mental health. Therefore, there should be proper coordination between the government and relevant agencies to reduce the burden of mental health problems across populations.

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE References

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

I agree with you that most people living the US and the world have had mental illness at one stage of their lives. It is absolutely true that most communities have neglected mental illness such as emotional distress, depression, and stress. Unexpected and sudden death is common among mental health patients. Persons with mental illness are known to have poor health status and considerable premature mortality.

I concur with my colleague that the previous presidents, George W Bush, Barrack Obama, and Donald Trump, have made fundamental reforms to reduce the number of mental health patients in America. Bush created a commission that come up with 19 impressive recommendations to reduce mental illness. His successor, Obama, signed ACA that added mental health patients to Medicaid. Lastly, Trump supported a group of health clinics for mentally ill patients with US$700 million.

Mental health disorders affect a person’s feeling, thinking, mood, or behavior, such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder, prevalence, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder (Valentine, & Shipherd, 2018). These conditions may either be chronic (long-lasting) or occasional, affecting the person’s ability to perform their daily activities. In 2019, nearly 21% of Americans had a mental illness. The number signifies that 1 in 5 Americans experienced mental health disorders in 2019 (Czeisler et al., 2020).

Mental health disorder does not discriminate, and it can affect all people regardless of their social status, income, geography, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity/race, or spirituality/religion. Unfortunately, people who are mentally ill do not want to talk about it. There is nothing to be ashamed of about this condition; it is a medical condition like diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular diseases. Most mental disorders disorders are treatable.

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE References

  • Czeisler, M. É., Lane, R. I., Petrosky, E., Wiley, J. F., Christensen, A., Njai, R., … & Rajaratnam, S. M. (2020). Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, June 24–30, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report69(32), 1049. Doi: doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1
  • Valentine, S. E., & Shipherd, J. C. (2018). A systematic review of social stress and mental health among transgender and gender non-conforming people in the United States. Clinical Psychology Review66, 24-38. Doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2018.03.003
Consider a population health topic that rises to the presidential agenda level. Which social determinant most affects this health issue? How did two recent presidents handle the problem? What would you do differently?

Various health issues come to mind when deciding on a topic for discussion. I choose mental health, which has got the plan on the presidential level several times and continues to grow. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased mental health needs in the population. President Obama made progress in mental health by expanding health care coverage with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The ACA restricted insurance companies from discriminating care for pre-existing diagnoses and gave coverage for substance use and mental health-related services. President Obama extended services with a hundred million US dollars through the ACA by building behavioral health centers. Obama indicated the nation’s responsibility by helping those in uniform with mental health and their families requiring support, and he announced May 2016 as a Mental health awareness month (The White House, 2016).

President Trump had positive and negative progress in the field of mental health. He focused on ruining the ACA and lowering Medicaid; many low-income people who relied on substance abuse and mental health treatment coverage would not have coverage. President Trump executed the first American health care by signing an administrative order on October 5, 2020. It was positive due to improved access to mental health for people who suffered from mental health conditions aggravated by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

President Trump said that his government is committed to controlling the disaster of suicide, stopping the crisis of opioids, and enhancing behavioral and mental health (DeVylder, 2017). The COVID-19 pandemic also worsened behavioral and mental health because of anxiety and stress from social isolation, lost unemployment, and extended lockdown (Sim, 2012). It demonstrated the clear focus the Trump government executed.

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

I praise our presidents for creating recent modifications and concentrating on mental and behavioral health because it was overdue. I would execute additional mental and psychological training for health care staff because they need good mental health. I noticed people in need waiting for specialized facilities for their needs and spending hours and days waiting to see the doctor.

For example, most of these patients go to the emergency department, and options for specialized treatment are unavailable at some locations. With increasing need, providers cannot accept many patients, and these patients do not get help on time and raised trauma occurs because of the wrong approach in areas that cannot deliver specialized care. I will also raise the mental health research budget because of the need for effective treatments.

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NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

Each year in the U.S., millions of people are affected by mental illness. The CDC reports that 50% of Americans will at one time in their life be diagnosed with a mental disorder (CDC, 2019). As nurses, we must understand the physical, social and financial impact mental health has on our nation. We must raise awareness, reduce the negative stigma, and advocate for better health care.

I focused my post on mental health care because it is my nursing specialty. After reviewing what the last three presidents have accomplished, I was surprised and pleased with president Bush’s and Obama’s attempts to address mental health; however, I was disappointed in President Trump’s apparent lack of support.

In 2002 President Bush created the New Freedom Commission Act, which would improve mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults by coordinating treatments and services to promote their successful integration into the community (President`s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2019). His support for mental health didn’t stop there. Throughout his presidency, he continued to make positive changes for those living with mental illness. In his final year as president, he signed an act establishing health insurance coverage for people with mental health disorders, seeing it as just as important as physical health (Hart, 2016).

Two years later, under the Obama administration, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, much like Bush, demonstrating that mental health is as important as physical health. In 2016, the president proposed a budget that included a new $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care (Hart, 2016). As stated above, both Presidents acknowledged mental health and the importance of treating it as equal to physical health. Conversely, during his time in office, President Trump advocated for the reduction in Medicaid funding to each state, which directly impacted the mental health services to the aged and disabled who qualified under this program (The Trump Administration and Mental Health, 2018).

If I were to do anything different, I would have built on the legacy of Bush and Obama to increase awareness, policies, and funds to address mental health. Mental health issues are not going away, and decreasing funding for programs that meet the needs of the mentally ill is a step in the wrong direction.

The population health topic I am choosing is the opioid epidemic. I chose this because it affects such a large population in today’s world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022), drug overdose deaths have increased by nearly 5% from 2018 to 2019 and quadrupled since 1999. Over 70% of the 70,630 deaths in 2019 involved an opioid. In 2020, 91,799 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. The number continues to rise, and drugs seem to be more accessible.

Regarding social determinants, people from low socio-economic classes have poorer health. They are more likely to use tobacco, drink alcohol at high risk, and use illicit drugs. Drug-dependent people are particularly likely to be unemployed and to experience marginalization, both of which can exacerbate their problems and prevent seeking or benefiting from treatment (Spooner,2017). Drug abuse is not shy when it comes to whom it affects. People in low socioeconomic classes happen to get slammed with drug abuse as we have not provided the right accessibility for them.

One of President Trump’s solutions was to build a wall. Theoretically, the wall would stop illegal drugs from coming in, and this wall was supposed to be built on the Mexican border. He also said he would enhance access to addiction services, end Medicaid policies that obstruct inpatient treatment, and expand incentives for state and local governments to use drug courts and mandated treatment to respond to the addiction crisis (Kaiser Family Foundation,2017). Although some think the wall may help, it is not the solution to the epidemic. In some cases, working from the outside inward works, but in this case, I think this epidemic needs to be approached from the inside out.

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE

In this case, I would have started the solution on the inside. I would have targeted what we can control right now. Stopping Illegal drugs from coming in will help in the long run, but you must focus on what illegal drugs are happening in the US. Building a wall doesn’t stop the use, trading, selling, or buying we are currently dealing with. I would work to eliminate those issues, do more research on who this affects the most, and start there.

We know people from low socio-economic classes struggle the most, so I start there and work my way out. Maybe we start focusing on getting these people out of this low-income rut. We provide schooling, daycare, and opportunities some people will never receive. Even starting there seems small, but I would further it with Trump’s plan to enhance access to drug addiction services like counselors. I would hold more doctors accountable and pharmaceutical companies pushing these opioids for money.

According to the Democrat National Committee (2020), President Biden’s solution includes holding people accountable such as big pharmaceutical companies, executives, and others, responsible for their role in triggering the opioid crisis. Biden will create effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services available to all through a $125 billion federal investment. Most importantly, we will stop overprescribing pain medication to citizens. I think Biden’s solutions to this epidemic were much better; these solutions start inward and target the people in the US struggling. I believe the solutions listed will help the country see a decline in opioid deaths, but they won’t solve the issue altogether.

As much as I agree with this approach, I don’t think the primary producers of these drugs are being held accountable enough. I would figure out a way other than fines to serve these companies. Possibly suspending their production may be a helping solution. The problem is these companies are laced with money, so half the time, they don’t even blink at the request to hand over money due to fines. I wouldn’t change much to Biden’s policy otherwise. I think his approach gives people accessibility, and that’s truly what we need to end this epidemic.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022). Death Rate Maps & Graphs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/index.html

Democrat National Committee. (2020). The Biden plan to end the opioid crisis. Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://joebiden.com/opioidcrisis/

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2017, January 9). President-elect Donald Trump stands on six health care issues – election 2016: The issues. KFF. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.kff.org/report-section/where-president-elect-donald-trump-stands-on-six-health-care-issues/#opioid

Spooner, C.  (2017). SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF DRUG USE. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC). Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/

NURS 6050 Discussion: Presidential Agendas

The identified healthcare issue that has often been a high-profile component of presidential agendas is opioid crisis. The opioid abuse and addiction has been a continuing challenge for many years. The most commonly misused and addictive opioids include heroin, prescription opioids, and synthetic opiods like Fentanyl. Opioid misuse and addiction has caused serious negative outcomes including deaths and disabilities (Park & Otte, 2019). Moreover, the problem does not only affect the health but also the social and economic wellbeing of Americans. This paper seeks to explore how Presidents Trump, Obama, and Bush administrations addressed this issue and what could be done differently to address the issue. 

Presidential Agendas

President Trump

The initiative by Trump to address opioid abuse was to create awareness to the public regarding the dangers of opioid abuse through public education.  He also intended to control the nature of drug importation in the US. As such, President Trump was committed to change immigration to ensure better control of drug importation in the US (White House, 2018). Therefore, he proposed policies to ensure deportation and prevention of illegal immigrants from entering the US. Trump believed that most of these illegal immigrants promoted illegal drug trafficking. He also opted to build wall on the border of US and Mexico, which is believed to be biggest supplier. Trump also provided financial resources to help in addressing continuing challenges of opioid crises (U.S. UNVIE, 2019)

President Obama

In effort to address opioid abuse, President Obama signed into law the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to curb opioid epidemic. This legislation provided an all-round federal response to the prescription heroin and opioid epidemic that continues to damage many neighborhoods across the US (Murphy et al., 2018). This Act seeks not only to curb the misuse of opioids but also ensure access to proper treatment for the victims. The Act also entails effective surveillance plans by the Medicare prescription drug to ensure safe prescription.  

President Bush 

According to The White House (2002), President Bush aimed at fighting the drug menace by stopping drug use before it begins, healing America’s drug users, and disrupting the market. Therefore, his strategy was to use the security agencies to fight drug use and deal with drug dealers. Consequently, Bush directed coast guards to enhance boarder security to reduce drugs being imported into the country. He also urged the Homeland Security to enhance boarder management system. All these efforts were intended to limit drug supply, reduce demand, and ensure the affected get the best treatment. Bush also made a clarion call to Americans to avoid drug abuse and misuse and also urged parents to create awareness on their children on the essence of avoiding drugs. 

What could be done Differently

The incidences of opioid misuse, abuse, and addictions continue to range American communities at an alarming rate. As such, the focus should be shifted on this issue beyond being considered only as an addiction to being a condition that warrants proper medical management and treatment. Moreover, since nurses are the healthcare providers who interact with patients and community members more than any other healthcare providers, it is necessary to equip nurses to proper education to lead the fight against opioids through nurse-led opioid education (Montgomery & McNamara, 2016). This initiative is critical in creating awareness to patients to make informed choices. The government should also establish many treatment facilities in the country, especially in areas that are most affected. 

NURS 6050 Discussion Presidential Agendas SAMPLE References

Montgomery, R., & McNamara, S. A. (2016). Multimodal pain management for enhanced recovery: reinforcing the shift from traditional pathways through nurse-led interventions. AORN journal, 104(6), S9-S16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2016.10.012

Murphy, J., Goodman, D., Johnson, M. C., & Terplan, M. (2018). The comprehensive addiction and recovery act: opioid use disorder and midwifery practice. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 131(3), 542-544. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002493

Park, K., & Otte, A. (2019). Prevention of opioid abuse and treatment of opioid addiction: current status and future possibilities. Annual review of biomedical engineering, 21, 61-84. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-bioeng-060418-052155

The White House. (2002). The President’s National Drug Control Strategy. Retrieved 28 February 2021, from https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020212-2.html\

U.S. UNVIE. (2019). President Trump is Fighting to End the Opioid Crisis | USUNVIE. Retrieved 28 February 2021, from https://vienna.usmission.gov/president-donald-j-trump-is-fighting-to-end-the-opioid-crisis/

 White House. (2018). President Donald J. Trump’s initiative to stop opioid abuse and reduce drug supply and demand.

Mental health continues to be a topic that rises to the presidential level due to the severity of the issue surrounding affordable care and access. Our current president, Joe Biden, declared in a proclamation his plan to improve the disparities within mental health during National Mental Health Awareness Month this year. President Joe Biden (2021) stated in this proclamation that his administration was dedicated to improving the mental health needs across the lifespan and that he would implement the American Rescue Plan as well as continuing to build on the 21st Century Cures Act. According to Joe Biden, “the American Rescue Plan includes substantial investments to promote mental health among the health care workforce” and the 21st Century Cares Act would be built upon by “integrating mental health and addiction treatment into primary care settings, schools, and homes” (Joseph Biden, 2021). President Biden requested a significant amount of funding to be dedicated to addressing the health care disparities in America among adults and children, including services from prevention to recovery and every step in between.

President Donald Trump’s administration also focused heavily on mental health intervention, especially during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump (2020) discussed accessing federal funds to provide crisis intervention, increase availability and accessibility to quality care, increase availability of telehealth and online services for mental health, and encourage n-person mentorship programs. One of President Trump’s primary concerns was the increasing rate of suicides in the nation, and he planned to implement the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS). President Trump was also concerned about mental health not only among veterans but in minorities, domestic violence victims, the disabled, and other at-risk populations.

Both presidents addressed the increasing need for intervention among populations struggling with mental health issues, however President Biden appeared to have a more planned out and direct approach with definitive funds mentioned in his proclamation. The increasing rates of mental health struggles during the pandemic warrant concern for the statistics of suicides, but President Biden had a broader view of mental health and a more thought-out plan on how to address these issues. However, President Trump’s administration appeared to have an unprepared plan with no dedicated funds to any specific action. I would have focused on how the government can provide more preventative treatments, as treating mental health issues before they become severe and unmanageable will serve a better purpose than treating problems after they arise.

Population Health Topic That Rises to the Presidential Agenda Level

The population health topic that rises to the presidential agenda is the decline of mental and behavioral health related to COVID-19. The pandemic started out as a physical health crisis, then quickly evolved into a mental and behavior health crisis. This happened quickly after during the first week of lockdown. According to Presidents Trumps Executive Order, and the evidence base research done by Brooks et al, “Mental illness can develop in as little as 9 days of quarantine and these disorders can last for years” (2020).  This mental crisis continues to have a significant negative impact on the well-being of many people.

The social determinant related to COVID-10 mental health crisis was that it had a greater negative effected on Hispanics, Blacks and Asian adults. There was an increase in depression, anxiety and these groups had less access to mental health services. Moreover, they experienced a higher rate of unemployment and income loss. (Thomeer et al, 2022)

The two recent presidents to handle the mental crisis problem was President Trump and now President Biden. President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to improve the mental and behavior health crisis.  His order was to build a “System of Strengths” which addressed prevention, being prepared, and offering crisis services. (Trump, 2022) President Biden strategy is to address the mental health crisis by offering grants to communities to create mobile crisis response teams. Which will help communities have access to rapidly responsive and culturally competent care . These mobile crisis response teams will be trained in evidence-based practices as first responders. (HHS Awards Funding to Build out the Biden-Harris Administration’s Crisis Care 988 Lifeline, 2023)

Mental health needs to be taken as serious as physical health. Both presidents address the mental health crisis which was accelerated by COVID-19, and both made good plans. What COVID-19 has shown us is that we are social beings, and that isolating people will cause great harm. We as a nation we are making great change concerning mental health care and I have chosen the right field to continue in advance nursing.

Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3532534 

HHS Awards Funding to Build Out the Biden-Harris Administration’s Crisis Care 988 Lifeline. (2023, May 24). Www.samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20230525/hhs-awards-funding-build-out-biden-harris-crisis-care-988-lifeline

Trump, R. (2020). Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental and Behavioral Health Needs. SAMSA. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-saving-lives-increased-support-mental-behavioral-health-needs/ 

Thomeer, M. B., Moody, M. D., & Yahirun, J. (2022). Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health and mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities10(2), 961–976. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01284-9 

During the stress of the current pandemic, it has become increasingly obvious that mental health resources are an often-unmet need in our community. The PMHNP program will afford me the opportunity to be a larger part of the solution as a direct care provider and give evidenced-based care for patients of all ages.

During the pandemic we saw an influx of patients experiencing a mental health crisis. This was related to several factors such as lockdowns, decreased in person visits, and lack of mental health providers in general. With such an increase of patients in need of psychiatric care, there became a challenge of trying to facilitate outpatient follow up. I have witnessed first-hand how my community is underserved when it comes to receiving mental health care. It is because of this experience I have decided to pursue advancing my education and become a PMHNP. This will allow me to expand my knowledge, skills, interventions, and improve access to mental health treatment for this vulnerable population.

One of the main factors driving my decision is that psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are known for providing holistic, patient-centered care. They assess, diagnose, counsel their patients regarding their illness, and prescribe medication. This aligns with my current and past philosophy of nursing.

Nurses should be a part of an organization and seek membership to achieve ones’ professional and personal goals (Echevarria, 2018). I plan on joining the American Psychiatric Nurse Association upon completion of this program. I will use the resources developed by this organization to connect with other members to network, gain resources, attend educational programs, and gain peer support.

Main Question Post

The population health topic that I will discuss that has risen to the presidential agenda level is Mental health care; Mental health care aims to treat mental illnesses and enhance the mental well-being of those with mental issues or disorders. Mental health disorders have impacted many people worldwide, especially in the USA. The risk of morbidity and premature death increases in people with mental diseases. The current mental health epidemic is to blame for lacking access to services and healthcare. Mental health issues also lead to dysfunction, high-stress levels, and emotional instability. Past and present Presidents of the United States have launched initiatives to enhance the mental health care system. They sought to address the issue of mental illnesses and facilitate patient’s access to care.

According to Goldman, H. H., President George W. Bush created the ‘new freedom’ commission in 2002 after a report of the Surgeon General in 1999 and 2001 supplement on race, culture, and ethnicity in mental health. The Surgeon General’s report served as the scientific foundation for a presidential mental health commission created by President George W. Bush in that year. After the report’s publication, the administration paid little heed to the report’s policy suggestions, which were primarily inclusive and apolitical. President Bush recognized the obstacles that made it challenging for persons with mental illness to receive adequate care. The obstacles the New Freedom Commission faced had an impact on its performance. Barriers include the cost of private health insurance for treating mental disorders, how people see mental illness, and the need for adequate and effective mental health initiatives.

“Advocacy organizations formed a Campaign for Mental Health Reform (Campaign, 2008) to push forward the recommendations of the commission. Advocate focused on ‘‘parity,’’ gaining improved insurance coverage for mental and addictive disorders in Medicare and private insurance, and they succeeded late in 2008” (Goldman, 2019)

“This chain of events sets the stage for the Obama administration, as it considers its domestic policy, with healthcare reform heading the list.” (Goldman, 2019). President Obama enacted the Affordable Care Act (ACA) when he was in charge. He aimed to make healthcare affordable and accessible for all, especially the uninsured. The ACA helped the mental health community by expanding Medicaid and private insurance coverage at a cost that made it affordable for people with mental diseases. This program helped to provide coverage even with a preexisting condition or mental health issues. “The ACA allowed mental health coverage to align with their medical and surgical coverage, thus providing early identification and treatment measures for mental health issues” (The White House, 2016).

“A good place to start would be the 2003 recommendations of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Nineteen recommendations were organized around six goals or themes. Most of the means for achieving the promise of these goals are broad and general, including addressing mental health with the same urgency as physical health or ‘‘promote the mental health of young children“(Goldman, 2019). As a nurse who has worked with various people, if I am in charge, I will put into action and promote a national initiative to lessen the stigma associated with seeking medical help regardless of the illness, as well as a national strategy to prevent suicide and provide good benefits to aid healthcare providers in the treatment of individuals with mental health issues. I will build on the recommendations of the past administrators and move forward instead of abolishing their plans or policies. Like other past administrators, I will support evidenced-based practices, encourage more research, and advance the use of electronic medical records. I will also “call for improved financing for mental health services, mainly supporting ‘‘the President’s call for Federal legislation to provide full parity between insurance coverage for mental health care and for physical health care’’ (Goldman, 2019). I will continue providing coverage for mental health illnesses rather than reducing or eliminating the coverage and increasing the funding for governmental agencies that promote mental health wellbeing, like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

References

Campaign for Mental Health Reform. ‘‘Inclusion of Mental Healthcare in Overall Healthcare

Reform.’’ September 10, 2008 (mimeo, contact William Emmet, Director at

[email protected].

Goldman, H. H. (2009). President Obama and mental health policy—The audacity to hope.

Journal of Mental Health18(3), 193–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638230902976392Links to an external site..

The White House. (2016). Making healthcare better. Addressing mental health: Progress in

research, prevention, coverage, recovery and quality.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/images/Documents/MentalHealthLinks to an external site.

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