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Essay Instructions: I need an analysis of current health care issues in the form of a memorandum. It needs to be a prepared analysis of current health issues which i can use in determining policy priorities. The memorandum needs to include health care hot topics and to identify various health care reform efforts underway in any state in the US. Of those issues, the memo needs to focus on the two most pressing issues (remember to include in your memo why you think these should rise to the top of policy agenda). Issues which can be used are, health care reform, the cost of health care, etc...

Essay Instructions: Please research and discuss:
1. Which health-related apps have you found most useful and informative? How can we distinguish between those apps which have genuine clinical or treatment importance as opposed to others which are simply informational?
2. "Cloud computing" and secure off-site back-up and storage (tetrabytes......) are very hot topics. Can you succinctly explain what such things are and what they are intended to do, with examples?
3. Informal Poll: smart phones and tablets, which features and capabilities have you found most and least desirable?

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Essay Instructions: 5. Hot Topics Position Paper 100 Points/20% of Grade
A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a position paper is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening to. It is important to support your argument with evidence to ensure the validity of your claims as well as address any counterclaims. This position paper will explore a current nursing ?Hot Topic? dealing with a nursing issue and its impact on or importance to professional nursing practice. You will present your ?hot topic? as a debate. Each student will write an individual paper then debate groups will be formed to present opposing sides of the topic. *See scoring rubric.

Learning Outcomes/Goals
? Enhance and practice computer and information literacy
? Provide an opportunity to investigate current national health care issues
? Critique the impact of these issues on nursing and other stakeholders providing input to find solutions satisfactory to all.
? Provide continued opportunity to hone APA writing skills.
Audience
? The audience for this paper is other health care professionals, administrators, and
consumers.
Writing Outcomes
? Prepare a position paper (10 pages (+/- 10%) excluding title page, abstract, and reference pages) that argues in support or rejection of an assigned/selected nursing ?Hot Topic? and contributes to a group debate process.

Guidelines for Writing a Position Paper

1. Determine the Issue Criteria
a. What is the controversy and uncertainty in this issue?
b. There are at least two distinct positions. What are they?
2. Analyze the Issue and Develop an Argument (Focus on three main points to develop. Each topic is developed with a general statement of the position.)
a. Research the topic to ensure that your position is well supported.
b. List the pro and con sides of the topic.
c. Supporting evidence should include the following:
i. Factual knowledge?information that is verifiable and agreed upon by almost everyone.
ii. Statistical Inferences?Interpretation and examples of an accumulation of facts.
iii. Current policy and/or law?local health care organizations, state and/or federal levels.
iv. Informed Opinion?Opinion developed through research and/or expertise of the claim. (Remember you are a health care professional and may have experience and expertise!)
v. Personal Testimony?Personal experience related by a knowledgeable party. (Patients who have had experience or nurses or health care professionals with personal experience on this topic.)
vi. Resources/references must include a minimum of four current (2008 or later) evidence-based professional journal articles.)
d. Once you have made your pro/con lists, compare the information side by side. Determine your stand on the issue then begin to defend your stand.
e. Address the counterargument (acknowledge what your opponents believe and their evidence). Provide a refuting argument of the counterargument.
f. Provide your three strongest points of argument to support your stand (your three talking points). Include supporting evidence for your talking points.
g. Consider your audience and stakeholders, as well as your own viewpoint, to choose how you will present your position:
i. Who is your audience?
ii. What do they believe?
iii. Where do they stand on the issue?
iv. How are their interests involved?
v. What evidence is likely to be effective with this audience?
3. Proposing a Plan/Need?Your plan must include the following categories:
a. An overview of your plan so that it is clear to the reader and relates to the issue and your position
b. Relationship of the plan to Healthy People 2020 goals and professional nursing practice
c. Cost effective use of scarce resources?including financial, medical, technological, and human resources ? discuss how these resources will be used in the plan. (consider both implementation and evaluation phases)
d. Local, state, and/or federal policy, legal and/or political implications
4. Conclusion
a. Summarize, then conclude your argument
b. Refer to the first paragraph/opening statements as well as the main points presented in the paper. Does the conclusion:
i. Restate the main ideas?
ii. Reflect the succession and importance of the arguments
iii. Logically conclude the arguments and main ideas.
5. References
a. Professional, lay, organizational, legal, political and Internet
b. Current (2008 and later). You may use ?older? references to support historical data but limit older references.
c. Use the references from your annotated bibliography and additional references from internet, government, community, healthcare organizations, and news sources to support your position and plan.


Suggested Organization and Sample Outline for Position Paper

I. Introduction
A. Introduce the topic and scope/purpose of your paper
B. Provide background on the topic and include what is currently happening locally, state and nationally
C. Succinctly assert the thesis?your position on the issue
II. Counter Argument
A. Summarize the counterclaims
B. Provide supporting information for counterclaims
C. Refute the counterclaims
D. Give evidence for the refuting argument
III. Your Argument
A. Assert ?Talking Points? #1, #2, and #3
a. Give your opinion
b. Provide supporting evidence
IV. Plan
A. Provide an overview of your plan so that the audience understands what you want plan to do and why
B. Relationship to Healthy People 2020 and professional nursing practice
C. Discuss cost and effective use of scarce resources including human resources.
D. Political, policy and/or legal implications?local, state and Federal levels
E. Describe anticipated impact on audience and stakeholders
V. Conclusion
A. Restate your argument that was presented in the introduction
B. The audience should know where you stand
C. The thesis (your position) is clear and located in the two strongest places, first and last paragraphs.
VI. References
A. Minimum of four current (2008 or later) professional journal references
B. Governmental, health care organizations, political, policy, community, and legal resources. May use internet resources.
C. May use a limited number of older references for historical context
VII. Format of Paper
A. Use APA professional style of writing (2009, Sixth Edition, 2nd printing, or later) ? include an abstract.
B. Remember APA style is more than reference citations and reference list. It is the entire professional appearance, organization, style and mechanics of the paper.
C. Maximum length: 10 pages (+/- 10%) excluding title and reference pages and abstract.

NURS 365 Rubric for ?Hot Topic? Position Paper
Levels of Performance (LOP):
4 =Excellent: very competent and effective; highly professional performance & quality; well organized and good understanding and application of criteria is very evident
3 = Good: satisfactory standard of competence evident; mostly professional performance & quality; good organization; understanding and application of criteria is evident
2 = Fair: somewhat competent; professionalism and quality need attention; requires more organization; understanding and application of criteria is only somewhat evident
?1 = Needs work: minimal to no degree of competence; professionalism and quality lacking in many areas; requires much more organization; understanding and application of criteria is scarcely evident.
Topic: Name:
Criteria Weight LOP Score
1. Introduction of the issue is complete with brief background information, and the controversy is clear with two distinct positions identified. Introduction indicates purpose/scope of paper. Connection between hot topic issue and professional nursing is provided. Your position is clear. Include current policy and law, local, state and federal. 3
2. The counter argument. Counter claims are presented and supporting information for these claims is provided and discussed. Counterclaims are refuted with evidence for argument. 4
3. The argument. Three talking points are presented and supported with evidence, your expert professional opinion, and personal experiences. Argument is persuasive and reflects critical thinking. Thinking is logical and sound. 4
4. Plan is clearly explained; cost implications and effective use of scarce resources, (human, financial & environmental). Local, state and federal policy and political and legal implications are identified. Relationship to Healthy People 2020 and nursing is clear. Anticipated impact on stakeholders is discussed. 4
5. Conclusion of argument is clear and identifies/highlights the main points of the argument. Overview/summation of both positions discussed in paper is provided. Conclusion is logical. Conclusion clearly and effectively communicates your position. 3
6. Quality of the references and resources are effective in supporting and analyzing position. A variety of references and resources are used including professional, organizations, government, lay literature, news paper, Internet, policy, legal. 3
7. Mechanics & APA style: Appropriate use of APA elements throughout ( i.e. abstract, title page accurate, headings and subheadings in the paper lead the reader, page #s, in text citations). Reference page with accurate reference format. Professional language, accurate spelling, sentence structure and grammar, logical flow and organization.
Includes Rubric with submission. 4
Comments:








Rubric Points /100

Essay Instructions: Please answer each question with 150 words with inline citattions and list references.

1.Defined Benefit or Contribution Plans
What protections does ERISA provide to employees in general? How might these protections be inadequate from an employee standpoint as our country faces challenging economic times? Can employees truly "rely" on benefits such as health insurance and retirement?

Congress passed the Employment Retirement Income Security Act to protect employee benefits including pension or retirement benefits. However, ERISA does not specifically address one of the current "hot topics" in employer retirement plans. That "hot topic" is the use of defined benefit or defined contribution retirement plans. Employers that have defined benefit retirement plans are increasingly converting those plans to defined contribution plans while almost all new employee pension plans are defined contribution plans. What protections does ERISA provide to employees in general? How might these protections be inadequate from an employee standpoint as our country faces challenging economic times? Can employees truly "rely" on benefits such as health insurance and retirement?

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2. Ergonomics Requirements
"Ergonomic Requirements" - Please search the web. You may want to look at the AFL-CIO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce sites for information on OSHA and ergonomic requirements.
Ergonomics is the science that deals with the correct design of equipment, including desks, chairs, and workstations for the purpose of minimizing the chances of employee injuries. Why have OSHA's ergonomic requirements been a source of controversy?
What position do you think OSHA should take on ergonomics?
Where do you see the future of ergonomics in the workplace in the context of employment law?

3.Upsides and Downsides
Many people feel that unions and collective bargaining actually have a heavy downside that is sometimes ignored. Do you think there is a downside or disadvantage to having unions or engaging in collective bargaining? Explain your responses and support your positions.

Some other world factors that must be considered in any discussion of this issue are outsourcing and third world labor markets. Explain how outsourcing and third world labor markets enter into the mix when it comes to unionizing and collective bargaining. How has the recent economic downturn impacted your position on these issues?

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4. Express Delivery Systems
Express Delivery Systems, Inc. is a worldwide package delivery company that specializes in fulfilling "just in time" parts and supplies to manufacturers. It provides both "overnight" and "express" deliveries, express referring to the fastest road-based delivery available 24/7. Express Delivery Systems (EDS) drivers and sorters work in 3 overlapping 8-hour shifts, M-F, so that the necessary personnel are always available to make a shipment. Therefore, some employees work 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM (with a half-hour lunch break), some work 10:00 AM-6:30 PM, some work 11:00 PM-7:30 AM, and so on. There are also two part-time "weekend" shifts, with 12-hour days Saturday and Sunday. EDS pays its full-time employees based on a 40-hour work week, M-F. These employees can then earn "overtime" pay on weekends by filling in when needed if delivery demands require supplementing the part-time "weekend" crew.

When full-timers work on the weekend, however, they agree to be "on call" in 4-hour increments. To do this, they "call in" their availability and the 4-hour "clock" begins. During that 4 hours, the employee must be reachable at all times via cell phone, and must be able to take a delivery immediately. The employee may not travel outside his or her "pick up zone" while on call, which limits mobility to approx. a 12-mile radius. If the employee gets a delivery request, he/she makes the delivery and is paid for both the "wait time" and the time taken to make the actual delivery. If the employee gets no call within the 4 hours, he/she is not paid, but can sign up for another 4-hour "on call" status at any time. No regular employee is ever required to be on call weekends; the company relies on "go getters" who want to make some OT on the weekend and are willing to be available for it.

Dennis, a full-time M-F employee, agreed to go "on call" weekends many times last year, and spent a total of 600 "overtime" hours "on call," though he was only called and paid for deliveries for 150 hours. He insists that he is owed overtime pay for the remaining 450 hours.

During school holiday periods, EDS also hires high school students (aged 14 and older) to assist in processing orders at its two national distribution centers. EDS does not allow the students to work more than 6 hours per day or more than 36 hours per week, and they may not work with the mechanical sorting equipment. The students are paid minimum wage, and the job is advertised as a "paid internship." The local high school complains that students who work at EDS over school holidays are returning exhausted, and that no one under age 16 should be permitted to work there.

Renee, a scheduling manager for EDS, worked an average of 50 hours per week last year. She is paid a salary of $50,000 plus full benefits to manage the scheduling of sorters and drivers for incoming orders. She supervises a staff of 8 scheduling assistants, who each coordinate schedules within their geographic regions. She is actively involved in hiring, training and supervising these scheduling assistants, but does not have the sole power to hire or fire them. She is claiming overtime for the excess hours worked, and EDS is claiming she is part of "management" and is exempt from being paid overtime.

What issues do you see raised by this scenario?