UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
COLLEGE OF NURSING
COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING 2013
COURSE NUMBER
NUR 4837
COURSE TITLE
Healthcare Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments
CREDITS
2
PLACEMENT
BSN Program: 3rd Semester Upper Division
PREREQUISITE
NUR 3638 Population Focused Care
COREQUISITE
NUR 3826 Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing
FACULTY
Donna Neff, PhD, RN, FNAP
dneff@ufl.edu HPNP 3229 (352) 273-634
Office Hours: Monday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Martha Snider, EdD, RN
snidemj@ufl.edu HPNP 4221 (352) 273-6359
Office Hours: By appointment only
JACKSONVILLE CAMPUS DIRECTOR
Andrea Gregg, DSN, RN
greggac@ufl.edu
Jacksonville (904) 244-5172
Office hours: By appointment only
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this course is to examine the foundations of healthcare policy, the financial
structure of healthcare systems, and the regulatory environments that have impact on nursing
practice and client care. Emphasis is on selected issues affecting healthcare policy. Focus is on
the influence of the nursing profession on policy and regulation.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
1. Demonstrate basic knowledge of healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environments,
including local, state, national, and global healthcare trends.
2. Examine legislative and regulatory processes relevant to the provision of healthcare.
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3. Examine the roles and responsibilities of regulatory agencies and their effect on care
quality, workplace safety, and the scope of nursing and other health professionals’
practice.
4. Discuss the implications of healthcare policy on issues of access, equity, affordability,
and social justice in healthcare delivery.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Section
0122
Day
Mondays
Time
Room
12:50 pm – 2:45 pm HPNP G114
E-Learning (Sakai) is the course management system that you will use for this course. ELearning is accessed by using your Gatorlink account name and password at http://lss.at.ufl.edu.
There are several tutorials and student help links on the E-Learning login site. If you have
technical questions call the UF Computer Help Desk at 352-392-HELP or send email to
helpdesk@ufl.edu.
It is important that you regularly check your Gatorlink account email for College and University
wide information and the course E-Learning site for announcements and notifications.
Course websites are generally made available on the Friday before the first day of classes.
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to be present for all scheduled classes, other learning experiences, and
examinations. Students who have extraordinary circumstances preventing attendance should
explain these circumstances to the course instructor prior to the scheduled class or as soon as
possible thereafter. Instructors will then make an effort to accommodate reasonable requests. A
grade penalty may be assigned for late assignments, including tests. Students are responsible for
responding to online assignments as part of their attendance. Make-up for exams (not quizzes)
will be given only under extenuating circumstances that could not have been predicted ahead of
time and may be in a different format then the test given at the scheduled time.
ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO DISABILITY
Each semester, students are responsible for requesting a memorandum from the Disability
Resource Center to notify faculty of their requested individual accommodations. This should be
done at the start of the semester.
COUNSELING AND STUDENT HEALTH
Students may occasionally have personal issues that arise on the course of pursuing higher
education or that may interfere with their academic performance. If you find yourself facing
problems affecting your coursework, you are encouraged to talk with an instructor and to seek
confidential assistance at the University of Florida Counseling Center, 352-392-1575, or Student
Mental Health Services, 352-392-1171. Visit their web sites for more information:
http://www.counsel.ufl.edu/ or http://www.health.ufl.edu/shcc/smhs/index.htm#urgent
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STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are to refer to the College of Nursing Student Handbook for information about College
of Nursing policies, honor code, and professional behavior.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
The University of Florida Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Policy may be found at
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/honorcode.php
TOPICAL OUTLINE
1. The organization of healthcare systems
2. Economics of healthcare delivery
3. Regulations that affect workplace safety, healthcare outcomes, and the scope of nursing
and other health professionals’ practice.
4. Legislative and regulatory processes
5. State, national, and global healthcare trends, related policies and regulations.
6. Political activism and the role of professional organizations in healthcare policy, finance,
and regulatory environments
7. Access to and fair distribution of healthcare
TEACHING METHODS:
Lecture, web-based activities, small group discussion, assigned readings
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
Participation in classroom activities, web-based projects, discussions, written assignments, and
projects
EVALUATION METHODS/COURSE GRADE CALCULATION
Policy Brief
Test
Participation
Team Presentation
20% (in class activity)
30%
20% (class attendance and weekly discussion group participation)
30%
100%
Assignments/Papers will be returned within 2 weeks.
GRADING SCALE/QUALITY POINTS
A
95-100 (4.0)
A93-94 (3.67)
B+
91- 92 (3.33)
B
84-90 (3.0)
B82-83 (2.67)
C+
80-81 (2.33)
* 74 is the minimal passing grade
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C
CD+
D
DE
74-79* (2.0)
72-73 (1.67)
70-71 (1.33)
64-69 (1.0)
62-63 (0.67)
61 or below (0.0)
For more information on grades and grading policies, please refer to the University’s grading
policies: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx
REQUIRED TEXTS
Mason, D.J., Leavitt, J.K., & Chaffee, M.W. (Eds). (2012). Policy & politics in nursing and
health care. (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
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WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE
DATE
TOPIC
ASSIGNMENTS/READINGS
1/7/13
Introduction to healthcare policy
Chapter 1, 2
US healthcare system
Chapter 13
1/14
ONLINE READING PREP for
Small Group Discussion in
Classroom - 1/28
Discussion Questions on Sakai
Chapters 14, 16, 17, 18, 19
1/21
Holiday
1/28
Economics of health care:
Lecture and Class Discussion
2/4
2/11
ONLINE READING PREP for
Small Group Discussions on 2/11
Discussion Questions on Sakai
Issues of access to care, equity,
affordability, and social justice:
Lecture and class discussion
2/18
Legislative and regulatory process
Due Jan 28th –5 pm: Topic for
Team Presentation and
members names (5 – 6 per
group)
One person of the group please
Email Dr. Neff on Sakai
Chapters 15, 21, 22, 31
Due February 11th – 5 pm.
Outline for Team Presentation
One person of the group please
email to Dr. Neff on Sakai
Chapters 2, 3, 64, 65, 66
Lecture and Class Discussion
2/25
3/4-3/8
3/11
ONLINE READING PREP for
Small Group Discussions on 3/11
Discussion Questions on Sakai
Spring Break!
Policy making, Political activism and
the role of the nurse and professional
organizations
Lecture and class Discussion
3/18
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Student Presentations
Groups 1-4
Chapters 8,11, 46, 68, 76, 81
3/25
Student Presentations
Groups 5-8
4/1
Student Presentations
Groups 9-?
4/8
Health policy brief activity
4/15
Issues and trends in health care
Lecture and Discussion
4/22
Test 1
Approved:
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Academic Affairs Committee:
General Faculty:
UF Curriculum Committee:
Read page 55 and skim chapters
47-50, 53, 56, 57
Group Assignment Policy Brief
(<5 per group)
Due at end of class
Chapters 39, 59, 63, 82, 91
09/09
09/09
10/09