Developing a Comprehensive Healthcare Policy Proposal for Labor and Delivery Nursing in Miami, Florida to Enhance Patient Safety and Meet Regulatory Benchmarks

Assessment 1

Use the TEMPLATE ATTACHED to complete this assessment. This template provides a structured framework to ensure all key elements of the policy analysis are addressed thoroughly.

Topic Selection: Choose a topic of interest that you would like to work in your organization or one where you have worked before or are interested in working. ( LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE)

Look at the American Hospital Association, Center for Medicare & Medicaid, the Institute of Health Care Improvement, or the Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals. Recent updates from these organizations emphasize integrating technology for real-time monitoring in high-risk areas like labor and delivery.

If you cannot locate one, look at local, state, or federal issues. ( MIAMI , FLORIDA MY AREA)

2. Policy Application: Find a policy, set of guidelines, or government regulations and apply it to the organization’s work on the chosen topic. You may choose a policy you have access to from your organization. Other sources of policies include those published online from a different healthcare organization.

Describe clearly how the selected policy complies with or diverges from the requirements outlined in a related healthcare law, providing evidence to support your position. In 2024, Florida’s healthcare regulations have incorporated new mandates for maternal health equity, which can be cross-referenced for alignment.

Discuss the potential legal, ethical, or financial implications of non-compliance with the policy and its alignment with healthcare law or professional guidelines.

Consider the consequences for individual practitioners, stakeholders, and the healthcare organization.

3. Benchmark Comparison: Identify a benchmark or strategic goal and compare it to the policy, guideline, or regulation and goal that is not at the desired goal or range. Current benchmarks from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services include specific targets for reducing cesarean section rates in low-risk pregnancies.

A benchmark in healthcare is a standard or point of reference used to measure and compare the performance of healthcare organizations, departments, or individual clinicians.

Benchmarks are used to identify areas for improvement and set goals for quality improvement.

These benchmarks could include national quality indicators, best practices recommended by professional organizations, or performance metrics set by regulatory agencies.

Describe the benchmarks associated with the healthcare law, policy, or guideline, and clearly articulate the connections between benchmarks and policy. There may be more than one benchmark for a topic, but only one is needed. Florida hospitals are increasingly tracking metrics related to postpartum hemorrhage management as part of state-wide initiatives launched in 2023.

The comparison should include the benchmark’s numerical value.

Parkland Health: Preventive Care example: This information is an example of available data that could be used to build a case for what needs improvement based on underperformance and help justify the consequences of not meeting the standards set for the CMS Core Measures. Some hospitals share lots of detail, while others provide limited information.

4. Metric Analysis: Look at the metric or measure that is not being met or in compliance with the policy, guideline, or regulation and analyze what needs to be added, removed, or developed to ensure the benchmark is met. Recent data from Miami-Dade County highlights disparities in neonatal outcomes that require targeted interventions.

Consider how an Interprofessional Education (IPE) team can develop a Quality Improvement (QI) plan to improve these outcomes.

Analyze the consequences of not meeting prescribed benchmarks and the impact this has on healthcare organizations or teams.

Be sure to clearly identify implications and acknowledge assumptions underlying your analysis.

5.Sustainability and Ethics: Describe what is needed to ensure that the project plan will be sustainable, efficient, effective, and evidence-based. Incorporating digital health tools, such as electronic health records with AI-driven alerts, can enhance long-term sustainability in labor and delivery settings.

Consider how adherence to benchmarks can drive positive outcomes in patient care, safety, and overall organizational performance.

Explain how you can ensure the solution is ethical and protects vulnerable and diverse patient populations.

Advocate for ethical and sustainable actions directed toward an appropriate group of stakeholders, arguing effectively for recommended actions with a clear and perceptive explanation of the ethical principles and sustainability goals to guide such actions.

REQUIREMENTS:

3 PAGES
APA FORMAT
Cite 4–6 credible, current, and scholarly references. Include the policy, law, or guidelines.

Assessment 2

The policy proposal requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

Explain the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws. Use your topic from Assessment 1 to complete this. Florida’s 2025 maternal health initiatives underscore the urgency for updated protocols in high-volume delivery units.

What is the current benchmark for the organization and the numeric score for underperformance?

How is the benchmark underperformance affecting the provision of quality care or the organization’s operations?

What are the potential repercussions of not making any changes? Recent studies indicate that persistent underperformance can lead to increased litigation risks in obstetric care.

What evidence supports your conclusions?

Summarize your proposed organizational policy and practice guidelines.

Keep your audience in mind when creating this summary statement. Tailoring the summary to resonate with nursing leaders in Miami can foster greater adoption.

Analyze the potential effects of environmental factors on your recommended practice guidelines.

What regulatory considerations could affect your recommended guidelines?

What resources could affect your recommended guidelines (staffing, financial, and logistical considerations, or support services)?

Explain ethical, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve targeted benchmark performance and the impact the proposed changes will have on the targeted group. Integrating cultural competency training aligns with 2024 guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

What does the evidence-based literature suggest are potential strategies to improve performance for your targeted benchmark?

How would these strategies ensure performance improvement or compliance with applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law?

How can you ensure that these strategies are ethical and culturally inclusive in their application?

What is the direct impact of these changes on the stakeholders’ work setting/job requirements? Enhanced protocols may require additional simulation-based training for staff.

Explain why particular stakeholders and groups must be involved in further development and implementation of your proposed policy and practice guidelines.

Why is it important to engage these stakeholders and groups?

How can their participation produce a stronger policy and facilitate its implementation?

Present strategies for collaborating with the stakeholder group to implement your proposed policy and practice guidelines. Virtual collaboration platforms have proven effective in recent hybrid healthcare environments.

What role will the stakeholder group play in implementing your proposal?

Why is the stakeholder group and their collaboration important for successful implementation?

Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.

Proofread your proposal, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your proposal.

REQUIREMENTS:

4 PAGES
APA FORMAT
CANT HAVE MORE THAN 10% PLAGIARISM OR AI TEXT, WILL BE SUBMITTED VIA TURNITIN.
Cite 3–5 references to current and scholarly research within the past 5 years.

Assessment 3

The strategy summary and annotated training agenda requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

Explain the desired impact of implementing the new policy and practice guidelines on benchmark performance. This implementation aims to reduce maternal morbidity rates in line with Florida’s health objectives for 2026.

How will the change be implemented?

How will the new policy affect the daily work routines and responsibilities of the role for the pilot group?

How will the policy and guidelines help improve the quality of care or outcomes and how will success be measured? Continuous monitoring through dashboards can provide real-time feedback on progress.

Explain the selected pilot group’s role and importance in implementing the new policy and practice guidelines.

Why is the work and buy-in of the role group important for successful implementation?

How could you help the group feel empowered by their involvement during implementation?

Summarize evidence-based strategies to promote stakeholder buy-in and prepare them for the implementation of a new policy based on practice guidelines and regulations. Gamification elements in training have shown promise in recent nursing education research.

Why will these strategies be effective?

What measures might provide early indications of success?

Determine the resources needed to effectively implement a training session for the new policy or practice guidelines.

How will each proposed activity on your agenda support learning and skill development? Interactive workshops can reinforce practical application in labor and delivery scenarios.

Can you complete the training within the allotted two hours?

Deliver a persuasive, coherent, and effective audiovisual presentation.

Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.

Proofread your strategy summary and training agenda, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your strategies.

Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.

Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to source citations and references.

REQUIREMENTS:

5 SLIDES POWERPOINT , ALL SLIDES MUST HAVE SPEAKER NOTES
BE CREATIVE AND DO SLIDES WITH CONDENSED INFORMATION PLEASE
APA formatting to all citations and references.

What to submit:

PowerPoint presentation.
Annotated Training Agenda. ( TEMPLATE ATTACHED)
Cite 2–4 external sources to support your strategies for working with the group you have identified and generating their buy-in, as well as for your approach to the training session, activities, and materials.

Assessment 4

For this assessment you will create an executive summary that succinctly summarizes your findings and work on the first three assessments in this course. The executive summary should also provide the audience with an idea of how they could advocate for action with regard to your findings, as well as some strategies to implement your intervention and health promotion plan.

The bullet points below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your submission addresses all of them. You may also want to read the Executive Summary: Community Health Assessment Scoring Guide to better understand how each grading criterion will be assessed.

In your executive summary, make sure to complete the following: Recent community health reports from Miami emphasize the need for targeted interventions in maternal care for diverse populations.

Integrate a variety of demographics to address the chosen health care need for a diverse community or state.

Summarize relevant community or state demographics connected to the chosen health care need.

Analyze findings from the health care organization interview as to its ability to implement strategies that align to the National CLAS Standards to address the identified health care need within the diverse population of the community or state.

Explain the key components of an intervention and health promotion plan and how the plan will lead to improvements in the quality of care and outcomes related to project’s identified health need for a target population. Stakeholder feedback loops can ensure ongoing refinement of the plan.

Evaluate strategies to foster cross-cultural collaboration between diverse groups to ensure fair treatment of patients and equal access to care.

Identify strategies that stakeholders could use to advocate for and implement the intervention and health promotion plan.

Communicate in a concise and professional way that helps the audience to understand the community health assessment, as well as act as champions for awareness and implementation of the project.

Integrate relevant sources to support assertions, correctly formatting citations and references using current APA style.

REQUIREMENTS:

3 PAGES
Number of references: Cite a minimum of 6–20 sources of scholarly or professional evidence. Resources should be no more than five years old, with the potential exception of the National CLAS Standards.
APA FORMAT

Sample Answer Study Bay

Labor and delivery nurses in Miami face unique challenges due to the diverse population and high-risk pregnancies common in the area. Implementing a policy focused on reducing cesarean rates requires alignment with Joint Commission standards for maternal safety. Nurses can lead interprofessional teams to develop QI plans that incorporate evidence-based bundles for labor management. Stakeholders including hospital administrators and community health workers play a crucial role in advocating for resource allocation. Successful implementation hinges on ethical considerations to protect vulnerable groups such as immigrant mothers. Training sessions should emphasize cultural sensitivity to ensure equitable care. For instance, a study highlights that targeted interventions can lower morbidity rates significantly (Bailit et al., 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2019.03.026).

References

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2021). Levels of maternal care: Obstetric care consensus No. 9. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 137(2), e39-e53. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000004253
Berghella, V. and Saccone, G. (2020). Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(25), 2456-2468. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2024296
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Maternal and infant health care quality. CMS.gov. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/HospitalQualityInits/Maternal-Infant-Health
Florida Department of Health. (2023). Florida maternal mortality review committee report. FLHealth.gov. Available at: https://www.floridahealth.gov/statistics-and-data/maternal-mortality/index.html
Joint Commission. (2024). Perinatal care certification. The Joint Commission. Available at: https://www.jointcommission.org/accreditation-and-certification/certification/certifications-by-setting/hospital-certifications/perinatal-care-certification/

Labor and Delivery Nurse Policy Proposal Assignment

Assessment Description

Labor and delivery nurses in Miami Florida hospitals develop targeted policy and practice guidelines that directly address shortfalls in key perinatal benchmark metrics prescribed by state and federal healthcare laws to improve maternal and neonatal safety outcomes.

The policy proposal requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Recent CMS updates on maternal safety standards make clear how hospitals must strengthen obstetrical services to reduce risks during childbirth. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence. Current emphasis on evidence-based maternal care further guides the depth of analysis needed in proposals.

Explain the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws. Use your topic from Assessment 1 to complete this. Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative data show many Miami area units exceed national targets for nulliparous term singleton vertex cesarean births. What is the current benchmark for the organization and the numeric score for underperformance? How is the benchmark underperformance affecting the provision of quality care or the organization’s operations? What are the potential repercussions of not making any changes? Recent Florida initiatives highlight increased severe maternal morbidity when cesarean rates remain elevated beyond recommended levels. What evidence supports your conclusions? Summarize your proposed organizational policy and practice guidelines.

Identify applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law that prescribes relevant performance benchmarks that your policy proposal addresses (using your Advocacy Issues topic from the AHA). Keep your audience in mind when creating this summary statement. Analyze the potential effects of environmental factors on your recommended practice guidelines. Florida-specific regulations around levels of maternal care add layers to how policies must adapt locally. What regulatory considerations could affect your recommended guidelines? What resources could affect your recommended guidelines (staffing, financial, and logistical considerations, or support services)?

Explain ethical, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve targeted benchmark performance and the impact the proposed changes will have on the targeted group. What does the evidence-based literature suggest are potential strategies to improve performance for your targeted benchmark? How would these strategies ensure performance improvement or compliance with applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law? Updated 2024 CMS requirements for obstetrical units stress standardized training that supports ethical implementation. How can you ensure that these strategies are ethical and culturally inclusive in their application? What is the direct impact of these changes on the stakeholders’ work setting/job requirements?

Explain why particular stakeholders and groups must be involved in further development and implementation of your proposed policy and practice guidelines. Why is it important to engage these stakeholders and groups? How can their participation produce a stronger policy and facilitate its implementation? Present strategies for collaborating with the stakeholder group to implement your proposed policy and practice guidelines. What role will the stakeholder group play in implementing your proposal? Why is the stakeholder group and their collaboration important for successful implementation? Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions. Proofread your proposal, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your proposal.

REQUIREMENTS:
4 PAGES
APA FORMAT
CANT HAVE MORE THAN 10% PLAGIARISM OR AI TEXT, WILL BE SUBMITTED VIA TURNITIN.
Cite 3–5 references to current and scholarly research within the past 5 years.

Sample Policy Proposal Content

Labor and delivery nurses at Baptist Hospital of Miami frequently note higher than desired NTSV cesarean rates around 28 percent compared with the Healthy People 2030 target of 23.6 percent. Proposed guidelines introduce mandatory labor support protocols with peanut ball use and delayed admission criteria to encourage vaginal births. Monthly interdisciplinary reviews of cesarean indications ensure consistent application across shifts. Nurses gain additional training on non-pharmacologic pain management techniques that align with patient preferences and cultural needs. These steps draw from statewide PROVIDE Initiative efforts to lower primary cesareans across Florida delivery hospitals. Administrators and obstetric providers join quality committees to monitor progress and adjust protocols. Evidence confirms such structured approaches safely reduce cesarean rates while improving outcomes (Estrada et al., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1760387).

Learning Materials/Resources

DuBois, M.A. and Gazarian, P., 2026. Policy Analysis of the 2020–2021 Report on Maternal Mortality in Massachusetts Using the Conceptual Model of Nursing and Health Policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544251383895
Estrada, P., Tipton, L., Chong, R., Towner, D. and Yamasato, K., 2023. Associations between the safe prevention of primary cesarean delivery care consensus and maternal/neonatal outcomes. American Journal of Perinatology, 41(S 01), pp.e1084-e1089. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1760387
Morar, A., et al., 2025. Effectiveness and evidence-based practices in maternal care bundles for labour and birth: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12506227/
Reid, J., et al., 2023. Race and Ethnicity Misclassification in Hospital Discharge Data and the Impact on Differences in Severe Maternal Morbidity Rates in Florida. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(9), p.5689. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095689