Voting, Political Parties, and Political Campaigns
“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Did you know that the U.S. Government has an official website? USA.gov is a comprehensive resource for U.S. citizens. This vast resource includes how one cares for the American flag, demographic and economic data about the United States, an overview of federal laws, how the U.S. government operates, federal regulations, government agencies, the U.S. budget, and perhaps the most important link: how to vote. The Voting and Elections webpage includes a primer on congressional, state, and local elections, including a How to Find Your State Election (this is important because each state handles voting registration and elections). In addition, The U.S. Vote Foundation webpage provides information regarding each state’s election dates and deadlines (all federal elections are on the same day).
Let’s say you have not registered to vote yet. That’s ok. You can learn more about registering to vote via the U.S. government’s Voter Registration webpage. In fact, registering to vote has recently gotten easier in some states: 38 states and the District of Columbia allow you to register online via the National Conference of State Legislatures webpage. If you wish to register to vote in person you have a number of options. You can register to vote at your state or local election office, the department of motor vehicles, and at armed forces recruitment centers.
Now, let us put your vote to good use. During an election you can vote on the following:
Local ballot measures. Ballotpedia, a non-profit website that provides a location based search engine that locates your local ballots. (Ballotpedia, n.d.)
Candidates and officeholders running for local, state, and federal positions. USA.gov provides a link to each state’s official website that includes content about the state’s candidates and upcoming elections.
Now that you know about the upcoming ballot measures and the candidates running for office, it is time to conduct some election campaign research. Most, if not all, candidates advocate certain public policy positions regarding economic, educational, environmental, foreign, healthcare, and welfare concerns, among other issues.
Public policy is how government, at the federal, state, and local levels addresses public concerns. Public policy can be understood through the following characteristics:
Public policy responds to a perceived concern. The concerns could be political, social, economic, environmental, etc.
Public policy solutions are mostly addressed through legislation or regulation.
Public policy is made at the behest of the people.
Public policy is typically an ongoing process.
As it must be in a democracy, public policy has been and continues to be strongly influenced by citizens, either as individuals or as groups, who are able to affect public policy through many outlets. They can:
Vote for individuals who advocate a particular public policy concern.
Mobilize, petition, attend town halls, and request attention from their representatives via phone calls, emails, social media, and visits to local, state, and federal assemblies.
Join or fund interest groups who advocate a particular policy concerns.
In this discussion, you will analyze a politician as well as policies she or he endorses. The following resources can help you in this endeavor:
Ballotpedia’s website on political parties, candidates, ballots, and elections.
A candidate’s official website, which you can find by Googling the candidate’s name + official website
On the Issues’ website about candidates and elected officials’ political positions.
Pew Research Center’s website on public opinion polling and data-driven political research.
Vote Smart’s website database on candidates and elected officials.
As you prepare for this discussion, consider this important quote by President Dwight D. Eisenhower: “The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.”
Directions: Using the required, academic readings, and supplemental academic research, please address the following while adhering to the Discussion Board Rubric:
Select a recent candidate or officeholder at the federal level that you considered supporting with your vote. Please analyze this person based on the following criteria:
The Individual
Does this person’s moral and professional capacity make this individual capable of serving “we the people” ethically and well?
Political Party
How does this person’s gender, race, ethnicity, age, education, and professed religion align with their political party?
How does the person’s gender, race, ethnicity, age, education, and religion align with the electorate (those U.S. citizens within the district and or state who will either vote for or against this person)?
How do you understand this person’s political ideology?
Is this person politically polarizing? Why or why not?
Does this person have an advantage over his or her political adversaries?
Public Policy
Select two specific examples of public policy that your person advocates from the following fields:
Economic policy – for example, U.S. budget deficit spending.
Education policy – for example, the implementation of charter schools.
Environmental policy – for example, the Clean Air Act.
Foreign policy – for example, the interplay between civil liberties and the Patriot Act.
Healthcare policy – for example, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Welfare policy – for example, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Why are these public policies important to this person and the potential voters?
Not Required/Optional: Based on the above research, why did you consider voting for this person?
References:
About Pew Research Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/about/.
Ballotpedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page.
Official Guide to Government Information and Services: USAGov. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.usa.gov/.
OnTheIssues.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm.
The Voter’s Self Defense System. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://votesmart.org/.
 

• Consider your goals for academic accomplishments while a student of the MSN program. 
• Reflect on the strategies presented in the Resources for this week. 

The Assignment:

• Identify and describe at least three academic resources or strategies that can be applied to the MSN program
• Identify and describe at least three professional resources that can be applied to success in the nursing practice in general or your specialty in particular
• Explain how you intend to use these resources, and how they might benefit you academically and professionally.

  Rubric Detail  

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Content

Name: NURS_6002_Week_2_Assignment_Rubric

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     Excellent   Good   Fair   Poor       Continue developing your Academic Success and Professional Development  Plan by appending the original document you began in Week 1 to develop  the second component: academic resources and strategies. To do this:

·   Identify and describe at least three academic resources or strategies that can be applied to the MSN program.          Points Range:     23 (23%) – 25 (25%)   The response clearly identifies and  accurately describes in detail at least three academic resources or  strategies that can be applied to the MSN program.        Points Range:     20 (20%) – 22 (22%)   The response partially identifies  and partially describes at least three academic resources or strategies  that can be applied to the MSN program.        Points Range:     18 (18%) – 19 (19%)   The response vaguely identifies and  vaguely describes at least two academic resources or strategies that  can be applied to the MSN program.        Points Range:     0 (0%) – 17 (17%)   The response only vaguely and  inaccurately identifies one academic resource or strategy or the three  academic resources or strategies that can be applied to the MSN program  are vague and inaccurate, or is missing.     ·   Identify and describe at least three professional resources that  can be applied to success in the nursing practice in general or your  specialty in particular.          Points Range:     23 (23%) – 25 (25%)   The response clearly identifies and  accurately describes in detail at least three professional resources  that can be applied to success in nursing practice in general or in a  specialty.        Points Range:     20 (20%) – 22 (22%)   The response partially identifies  and partially describes at least three professional resources that can  be applied to success in nursing practice in general or in a specialty.        Points Range:     18 (18%) – 19 (19%)   The response vaguely identifies and  vaguely describes at least two professional resources that can be  applied to success in nursing practice in general or in a specialty.        Points Range:     0 (0%) – 17 (17%)   The response only vaguely and  inaccurately identifies and vaguely describes one professional resource  or the three professional resources that can be applied to success in  nursing practice in general or in a specialty are vague and inaccurate,  or is missing.     ·   Explain how you intend to use these resources, and how they might benefit you academically and professionally.          Points Range:     32 (32%) – 35 (35%)   Response clearly and thoroughly  explains in detail the intended use of these resources, including a  detailed explanation of how they might be beneficial academically and  professionally.        Points Range:     28 (28%) – 31 (31%)   Response explains the intended use  of these resources, including an explanation of how they might be  beneficial academically and professionally.        Points Range:     25 (25%) – 27 (27%)   Explanation of the intended use of  these resources, including an explanation of how they might be  beneficial academically and professionally is vague or inaccurate.        Points Range:     0 (0%) – 24 (24%)   Explanation of the intended use of  these resources, including an explanation of how they might be  beneficial academically and professionally is vague and inaccurate, or  is missing.     Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph and Sentence Structure:

Paragraphs  make clear points that support well developed ideas, flow logically,  and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully  focused–neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance.  A  clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided  which delineates all required criteria.          Points Range:     5 (5%) – 5 (5%)   Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.

A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.        Points Range:     4 (4%) – 4 (4%)   Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.     

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.        Points Range:     3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)   Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time.      

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.        Points Range:     0 (0%) – 3 (3%)   Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time.

No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion was provided.   Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:
Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation          Points Range:     5 (5%) – 5 (5%)   Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.        Points Range:     4 (4%) – 4 (4%)   Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.        Points Range:     3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)   Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.        Points Range:     0 (0%) – 3 (3%)   Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.   Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows  correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins,  indentations, page numbers, running head, parenthetical/in-text  citations, and reference list.          Points Range:     5 (5%) – 5 (5%)   Uses correct APA format with no errors.        Points Range:     4 (4%) – 4 (4%)   Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors.        Points Range:     3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)   Contains several (3-4) APA format errors.        Points Range:     0 (0%) – 3 (3%)   Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.          Total Points: 100         

Name: NURS_6002_Week_2_Assignment_Rubric

Week 4
This week discussion is about a 65-year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He is seen in a medical facility related to symptoms of fever and a cough lasting for 2 weeks. The patient denies chest pain and night sweats. With his age, I would ask the patient does he have any other chronic conditions. If so, what medications is he currently prescribed. With COPD, it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Tobacco smoke is a key factor in the development and progression of COPD; with exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace, genetic factors, and respiratory infections also play a major role (CDC, 2019).
The objective findings I would assess is the patient’s lungs sounds which would display wheezing, a productive cough and shortness of breath with movement. Some may experience fatigue, edema to bilateral lower extremities, chest tightening and loss of appetite due to inability to breath. Increased respiratory rate will be observed with a decreased oxygen saturation level.
The diagnostic test used to diagnose COPD is a Lung (pulmonary) function tests. These tests measure the amount of air you can inhale and exhale, and whether your lungs deliver enough oxygen to your blood. During the most common test, called spirometry, you blow into a large tube connected to a small machine to measure how much air your lungs can hold and how fast you can blow the air out of your lungs. Other tests include measurement of lung volumes and diffusing capacity, six-minute walk test, and pulse oximetry. A chest X-ray can show emphysema, one of the main causes of COPD.
An X-ray can also rule out other lung problems or heart failure. A CT scan of your lungs can help detect emphysema and help determine if you might benefit from surgery for COPD. CT scans can also be used to screen for lung cancer. Arterial blood gas analysis measures how well your lungs are bringing oxygen into your blood and removing carbon dioxide (CDC, 2019). There are many chronic conditions that can affect the airway that has similar symptoms such as Upper Respiratory infections.
URI is a common viral infection that affects the nose, throat, and airways. The symptoms may include fever, fatigue, cough, headache and difficulty breathing. Adult onset-Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing and Shortness of breath. This condition will not occur until you are an adult. Symptoms include Coughing, especially at night, during exercise or when laughing, Difficulty breathing, Chest tightness, Shortness of breath and Wheezing.
Moreover, another chronic condition that can have similar symptoms is pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.  The symptoms an individual may experience with pneumonia are fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. The symptoms typically get worse within one or 2 days, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain (Jarvis, 2016). A chest X-ray will be used to diagnose this disorder and based on your lab test, antibiotic therapy will be initiated.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Vital Statistics System detailed mortality data at Wonder Database website. http://wonder.cdc.gov. Accessed July 3, 2019.
Jarvis, C. (2016). Physical Examination & Health Assessment (7th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. ISBN: 9781455728107