Aug 17, 2025  
2025-2026 SJC Online Catalog 
    
2025-2026 SJC Online Catalog
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NU 508 - Policy, Quality & Safety


Explores how nursing influences and is influenced by policy setting and political action, and how its sphere of influence in the political arena has had, and continues to have, a major impact upon the health of people, health care in general, and the development of nursing as a professional discipline. Past and current trends in public, social, health, institutional, and organizational policies will be examined. The impact of values, including those traditionally tied to nursing, on the development and ongoing modification of policy will be analyzed. Students will be guided in the analysis of current policies and the exploration of political strategies available to them as individuals, and as members of groups or organizations.

Assignment Overview
  • Assignments: Varied throughout the term
  • Interactivity: Discussion Boards
  • Final Assessment: None


Course Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to do the following:

  • Interpret research, bringing the nursing perspective, for policy makers and stakeholders.
  • Analyze information about quality initiatives recognizing the contributions of individuals and inter-professional healthcare teams to improve health outcomes across the continuum of care.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of institutional, local, and state and federal policy.
  • Advocate for policies that improve the health of the public and the profession of nursing.
  • Analyze how policies influence the structure and financing of health care, practice, and health outcomes.
  • Contribute to the integration of healthcare services within systems to affect safety and quality of care to improve patient outcomes and reduce fragmentation of care.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of institutional, local, and state and federal policy.
  • Examine the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice, healthcare delivery, and outcomes.
  • Promote a professional environment that includes accountability and high-level communication skills when involved in peer review, advocacy for patients and families, reporting of errors, and professional writing.


Credits: 3



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