NUR 552: Dynamics of Professional Nursing I – Advocacy and Ethical Leadership Assessment

This assignment focuses on the transition into advanced professional nursing, emphasizing the ethical frameworks and advocacy roles essential for modern practice. It addresses the core competencies required to navigate complex healthcare systems while maintaining a patient-centered approach.

Assessment 2: Ethical Advocacy and Policy Analysis Paper

Assignment Overview

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the student’s ability to integrate ethical principles with professional advocacy. You will identify a current healthcare policy or clinical issue and analyze it through the lens of nursing ethics, professional standards, and the impact on patient outcomes. This task encourages the synthesis of leadership dynamics and the legislative processes that shape the nursing profession.

Instructions and Guidelines

To successfully complete this assignment, students must adhere to the following structure and content requirements:

• Topic Selection: Choose a contemporary issue in nursing (e.g., mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios, ethical implications of AI in diagnostics, or health equity in underserved populations).
• Ethical Framework: Apply at least two ethical theories (e.g., Utilitarianism, Deontology, or Virtue Ethics) to your chosen issue.
• Professional Standards: Reference the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses and the Scope and Standards of Practice.
• Advocacy Plan: Propose a specific action plan for how a nurse leader can influence policy change at the institutional or legislative level.

Detailed Criteria and Formatting

1. Introduction: Define the nursing issue and its relevance to the “Dynamics of Professional Nursing.”
2. Analysis: Critically examine the barriers to resolving this issue within current healthcare delivery systems.
3. Evidence Integration: Support all claims with current peer-reviewed literature and high-level evidence.
4. Conclusion: Summarize the impact of professional advocacy on the future of the nursing workforce.
5. Format: APA 7th Edition styling, 1500–2000 words, double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman.

Learning Materials and Peer-Reviewed References

The following sources provide a foundation for understanding the evolving role of the professional nurse in policy and ethics:

• Fowler, M.D. (2021) Guide to the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements: Development, Interpretation, and Application. 3rd edn. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association.
• Haddad, L.M. and Geiger, R.A. (2023) ‘Nursing Ethical Considerations’, StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/ (Accessed: 19 December 2025).
• Raso, R., Fitzpatrick, J.J. and Masick, K. (2020) ‘Nurses’ Perspectives on Healthy Work Environments’, Nursing Administration Quarterly, 44(3), pp. 247-256. doi:10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000421.
• Trautman, D.E., Idzik, S., Walker, P.H. and Meghi, K. (2022) ‘Advancing Health Equity Through Nursing Education, Practice, and Leadership’, Journal of Professional Nursing, 42, pp. A1-A5. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.07.012.