Identify regulatory agencies that regulate health and the health care system within the US, create a table listing your 5 regulatory agencies and address the following:
Describe the agency, level of regulatory authority (local, state, federal), scope of regulatory authority, and role within the US healthcare system.
Address relevance of the organization or the organization’s authority to the APRN/DNP graduate.
Describe relevance to specialty area, area of practice, or setting of practice. For an example, mental health.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Regulatory Agencies in the US Healthcare System
In the United States, several regulatory agencies play a crucial role in overseeing and maintaining the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the healthcare system. These agencies operate at different levels – local, state, and federal – and have specific roles that impact various aspects of healthcare delivery. For Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates, understanding the functions and authority of these agencies is vital for navigating the complex healthcare landscape. This essay will outline five key regulatory agencies in the US healthcare system, highlighting their descriptions, levels of regulatory authority, scopes of authority, and roles within the healthcare system.
Regulatory Agency Level of Authority Scope of Authority Role within Healthcare System
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Federal Regulates food safety, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, and tobacco products. Ensures the efficacy, safety, and security of various healthcare products through pre-market approval, post-market surveillance, and enforcement of regulations. Ensures that healthcare products meet high standards of safety and efficacy before they reach the market, protecting public health and promoting innovation in healthcare delivery.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Federal Oversees Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health coverage to millions of Americans. Sets standards for provider participation, quality measures, reimbursement rates, and program integrity. Shapes healthcare policy, payment models, and quality standards, influencing how healthcare services are delivered and reimbursed across different care settings.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Federal Ensures workplace safety by establishing and enforcing standards to protect workers from occupational hazards. Monitors compliance with regulations, conducts inspections, and provides training and resources for safe work environments. Safeguards the health and well-being of healthcare workers by setting guidelines for infection control, hazardous material handling, and workplace safety practices within healthcare facilities.
State Boards of Nursing State Regulates nursing practice within each state, including licensure, education requirements, scope of practice, and disciplinary actions. Ensures that nurses meet professional standards and adhere to state-specific regulations. Defines the scope of practice for APRNs and DNP graduates within each state, outlining the responsibilities, limitations, and requirements for advanced nursing roles in diverse specialty areas such as mental health, primary care, or acute care settings.
The Joint Commission Independent Accredits healthcare organizations based on established quality and safety standards. Conducts surveys and assessments to evaluate compliance with accreditation requirements and promotes continuous quality improvement in healthcare delivery. Sets benchmarks for quality care delivery in various healthcare settings, guiding APRNs and DNP graduates in maintaining high standards of practice, patient safety, and organizational performance within accredited healthcare facilities.
For APRNs and DNP graduates specializing in mental health practice, these regulatory agencies hold significant relevance in shaping their roles and responsibilities within the healthcare system. State Boards of Nursing play a critical role in defining the scope of practice for psychiatric-mental health APRNs, outlining the specific competencies, educational requirements, and practice guidelines for providing mental health services. The FDA’s oversight of psychiatric medications ensures that mental health practitioners have access to safe and effective pharmacological treatments for their patients. OSHA’s regulations on workplace safety are particularly important for mental health professionals working in psychiatric hospitals or behavioral health settings to mitigate risks associated with patient aggression or environmental hazards.
In conclusion, a comprehensive understanding of regulatory agencies in the US healthcare system is essential for APRNs and DNP graduates to navigate their roles effectively, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and deliver high-quality care to patients. By recognizing the authority and impact of these agencies within their specialty areas or practice settings, advanced practice nurses can uphold professional standards, promote patient safety, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare quality across diverse care environments.
