NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Sample Answer for NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden Included After Question

When politics and medical science intersect, there can be much debate. Sometimes anecdotes or hearsay are misused as evidence to support a particular point. Despite these and other challenges, however, evidence-based approaches are increasingly used to inform health policy decision-making regarding causes of disease, intervention strategies, and issues impacting society. One example is the introduction of childhood vaccinations and the use of evidence-based arguments surrounding their safety.

In this Discussion, you will identify a recently proposed health policy and share your analysis of the evidence in support of this policy.

To Prepare:

NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden
NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Review the Congress website provided in the Resources and identify one recent (within the past 5 years) proposed health policy.

Review the health policy you identified and reflect on the background and development of this health policy.

By Day 3 of Week 7

Post a description of the health policy you selected and a brief background for the problem or issue being addressed. Explain whether you believe there is an evidence base to support the proposed policy and explain why. Be specific and provide examples.

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Title: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022

One of the recent proposed health policies is tackling the controversial abortion issue and ensuring women’s right to reproductive health. “Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022” is a bill that was sponsored by Lizzie Fletcher, a Democrat representative of Texas (117th Congress, 2021-2022). The proposed legislation was passed recently on the floor on 15th of July this year (117th Congress, 2021-2022). As far as this policy is concerned, anyone acting under state statute is prohibited from interfering with a woman’s ability to seek out-of-state abortion services. In essence, the bill would offer protection to those in need of abortion help, healthcare providers offering such services to patients from other states, and individuals assisting others in the matter of abortion.

Legislative efforts contribute to the development of the current proposed policy. In light of this abortion issue in the United States, the background and development of the current health policy comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling to upend Roe v. Wade that has led various states to establish their own abortion laws (Doud, 2022). The decision by the Supreme Court has made millions of Americans struggle to access abortion care, allowing females who can travel thousands of miles access it and forcing those who are not able to do it to carry a pregnancy against will (Davis, 2022). The current policy is projected to safeguard the right to travel while seeking access to abortion, prohibiting to hinder one’s ability to cross state borders for abortion services.

Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS on NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

The social determinant affecting this policy is the woman’s right to reproductive health and freedom. I suppose there is an evidence base to support the proposed policy as states with enacted restrictive abortion legislation far outnumber those with abortion-supportive laws (Doud, 2022). According to Davis (2022), it has been illegal in some states to seek abortion care in another state, hence limiting access to abortion services. Since the current policy removes the barriers on the movement within the country to terminate pregnancy, it seeks to expand the woman’s access to abortion and reproductive care. At the same time, the policy will include obligations to ensure women and girls do not undergo unsafe abortion (Cappiello et al., 2017). The ratification of the policy will alleviate the related health risks of insecure abortion elevated through inter-state travel restrictions.

A Sample Answer 2 For the Assignment: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Title: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

I agree with your statement. The Biden-Harris administration released a Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Proposed Rule for the year of 2024 to advance the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expand the access to health care services, simplifying choice and enhancing the plan selection process, easy enrollment in coverage. Increasing the access to healthcare has two major Essential Community Provider (ECP) that are to deliver critical care for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers and Mental Health Facilities.

President Biden released a strategy to address mental health crisis as part of the agenda by strengthening the capacity of the system with aim of providing psychiatrist, psychologist, and peers to paraprofessionals. According to The White House, they are planning the following below:

  • Invest in behavioral health programs for medical providers.
  • Inquire about new strategies to train a diverse group of paraprofessionals.
  • Create a national certification program for peer specialists.
  • Promote mental health for frontline health workers.
  • Launch “988” crisis response line and strengthen the community-based crisis response.
  • Expand the availability of evidence-based community mental health services.
  • Invest in research on new practice models.

Expand the access to mental health care through their insurance coverage. It’s often the cost that is the reason why people stop accessing mental health care. Also providing support to people by creating safety environments. Addressing the determinants of mental and behavioral health, investing in community services, and fostering a culture and environment that promotes the well-being of mental and behavioral health including the recovery phase. Enhancement of the programs regarding prevention and ways to improve is needed as well as the implementation of the programs, especially to those who are at risk.

Reference

Affairs (ASPA), A. S. for P. (2022, December 12). HHS Releases Policies to Make Coverage More Accessible and Expand Behavioral Health Care Access for Millions of Americans in 2024. HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/12/12/hhs-releases-policies-to-make-coverage-more-accessible-and-expand-behavioral-health-care-access.html

Links to an external site.

‌The White House. (2022, March 1). FACT SHEET: President Biden to Announce Strategy to Address Our National Mental Health Crisis, As Part of Unity Agenda in his First State of the Union. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/01/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-announce-strategy-to-address-our-national-mental-health-crisis-as-part-of-unity-agenda-in-his-first-state-of-the-union/

A Sample Answer 3 For the Assignment: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Title: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Almost 50% of Americans will experience a behavioral health concern at some point in their lives, ranging from mood disorders to substance use issues. The shortage of behavioral health professionals is hindering individuals’ access to timely care. Certain populations bear a disproportionate burden due to workforce shortages, including but not limited to rural regions, economically distressed urban areas, Medicaid beneficiaries, individuals from diverse racial backgrounds, and LGBTQ communities. The impact of these shortages is particularly pronounced within these groups, exacerbating existing healthcare disparities (Commonwealth Fund, 2023).

Behavioral health integration (BHI) stands out as a highly effective approach to address and bridge the gaps in prevention and treatment within the realms of mental health and substance abuse (Hartnett et al., 2023). Addressing the mental health crisis and workforce shortage may benefit from increased funding for mental health programs, expanded education and training opportunities for mental health professionals, and destigmatizing mental health to encourage more individuals to pursue careers in the field. Additionally, integrating mental health services into primary care and promoting telehealth solutions can improve accessibility.

 

 Reference

Commonwealth Fund, (2023, May). Understanding the U.S. behavioral Health Workforce Shortage. Retrieved from https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publication/explainer/2023/may/understanding-us-behavioral-health-workforce-shortage

Links to an external site.

Hartnett, T., Loud, G., Harris, J., Curtis, M., Hoagland, G.W., & Werber Serafini, M. (2023, December 4). Strengthening the integrated Care Workforce. Retrieved From https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/strengthening-the-integrated-care-workforce/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwkCAiA44OtBh-AOEiwAj4gpOcvAZQmYESmy-Lj5rt1C0M_ECAvhRngLVX5Om0DWLqH-VatAATVv4CeBoC3QsQAvD_BwE

A Sample Answer 4 For the Assignment: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Title: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

The United States is an outlier in maternal medicine. We are one of the wealthiest countries and yet we have one of the worst maternal mortality rates, and it keeps rising. One of the reasons for this high statistic is the lack in maternal medicine equality in the U.S. “Differences in health insurance coverage and access to care play a role in driving worse maternal and infant health outcomes for people of color” (Hill et al., 2022). We as a nation do not provide adequate maternal care to all citizens. Impoverished and minority groups often have the worst maternal outcomes. “Pregnancy-related mortality rates among Black and ASIAN women are over three and two times higher, respectively, compared to the rate for White women” (Hill et al., 2022). This comes back to the lack of health insurance and access to care. Minorities in AMerica tend to seek less pregnancy care and when sought it is usually toward the end of a pregnancy. Fetal Maternal medicine is a topic that is talked about often, but the disparities are often left behind.

Many states look to change this by instituting review committees however their review process for causes is not consistent as seen in the fact that “49 states have formal maternal mortality review committees (MMRC) to investigate pregnancy-associated deaths, only nine states, Washington, D.C., and New York City consider racial disparities and equity in their assessments” (Tu, 2023). This is an issue as majority of maternal deaths are in the minority communities. Also, there are no regulations on these committees having to report their finding as noted that, “reviews are not consistently delivered by all committees. For instance, MMRCs in only 36 states reported their findings to the CDC between 2017 and 2019” (Tu, 2023). The means that 13 committees chose to not report their findings. This is a concern of great magnitude. How can we seek to fix the issue if we cannot see the disparities or the reviews of cases from committees who look into them across the United States.

This is where H.R. 4605 Healthy Moms and Babies Act proposal comes in. This act seeks to narrow the gap in healthcare disparities and provide new ways of access and guidance in the maternal health arena. They seek to establish programs and require maternal health services to those on Medicaid and enrolled in the CHIP program. They seek to expand access to telehealth services for prenatal and postpartum women on Medicaid. The act will establish an advisement group on the birthing process for healthcare professionals, requiring study on Medicaid coverage of doula services as well.  In addition, one of the biggest things they are seeking through this Act is to require the Conters for Medicare and Medicaid services to develop guidance on ways to address social determinants of health for pregnancy and postpartum women to reduce maternal mortality for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries.

The Healthy Moms and Babies Act seeks to address one of the biggest reasons for the high rate of maternal fetal deaths in this Country. Medicaid deals with some of the most impoverished communities and if we can, through legislation, guarantee that we are providing access to care and narrowing the gap of inequality in healthcare then we as a nation must work to do so. It is a travesty that we as a country can be one of the wealthiest in the world, but we cannot protect our mothers and babies because we have not made the cause of mortality rate a priority.

 

References

Congress.gov | library of Congress. (2023). Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/

Hill, L., Artiga, S., & Ranji, U. (2022, November 1). Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/racial-disparities-in-maternal-and-infant-health-current-status-and-efforts-to-address-them/

Tu, L. (2023, July 25). Why Maternal Mortality Rates Are Getting Worse Across the U.S. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-maternal-mortality-rates-are-getting-worse-across-the-u-s/

A Sample Answer 5 For the Assignment: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Title: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

There are many health care issues present today that needs to be addressed in congress. One issue that has gone silent for a long time is mental health issues in the young and old. The bill I will be discussing addresses mental health in children. Bill S.1668-Defending Access to Mental Health Care Act introduced May 23, 2019 by Sen. Jon Tester is being amended by inserting pediatric inpatient mental health facilities and states an “adequate supply of mental health professionals at pediatric inpatient mental health facilities that are certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services” (Congress.gov, n.d.). This bill has only been introduced to Senate and was read twice. The background on this bill is serving our youngest population with adequate mental health care as well as the adult population.

Mental health “disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day” (CDC.gov, 2020). When these children are not giving the basic service of pediatric inpatient mental health, many disorders are either misdiagnosed or medically treated wrong. These children are left to adapt to their surroundings and daily needs on their own which can lead to increased violence and drug addiction. By incorporating this amended act, it will ensure that children are evaluated by mental health professionals. Pediatric needs for inpatient care is growing at an alarming rate while inpatient facilities are shrinking.

The evidence for supporting this bill is valid as “child and adolescent mental health is becoming an increasingly salient concern for pediatric hospitalists and the pediatric health system: mental health issues are the most frequent  reason for hospitalization among children 10 to 14 and second most frequent for children 15 to 17” (Gallagher, et. al., 2017). In my own recent experience with pediatric mental health needs, having an available mental health professional at hand ensures that a thorough evaluation is completed which can therefore expedite further inpatient care. Mental health has only recently became less of a stigma and more readily recognized as a real health concern. With the events of the recent pandemic, more children have committed suicide than before. While we may not know the exact data of children suicides due to the pandemic for at least 2 more years, in my home town alone there has been an increase in attempted suicides as well as completed suicides in children due to isolation and having school being taken away from them. Having readily available inpatient mental health professionals for our youngest of populations could not only save lives, but also give these children a fighting chance at a brighter successful future.

References:

CDC.gov. (2020). Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html.

Congress.gov. (n.d.). S.1668. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1668/text?

q=%7B”search”%3A%5B%”health+care%5D%7D&r=72&s=1

Gallagher, et. al. (2017). Psychiatric Boarding in the Pediatric Inpatient Medical Setting: A Retrospective Analysis. Hospital

Pediatrics (8) 444-450. DOI: https://hosppeds.aappublications.org/content/7/8/444

A Sample Answer 6 For the Assignment: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Title: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

The Democrats in America’s House of Representatives tabled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act (HR 1425) on June 22, 2020. The bill aims to expand and strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA), improve the Medicaid program, and reduce prescription drug prices. The policy is crucial as it influences the affordability and accessibility of quality healthcare (Keith, 2020). The bill would incorporate several changes, such as the availability of ACA subsidies to specific income earners, improve the generosity of premium tax credits (PTCs), improve public education, and offer financial assistance to state-based subsidy reinsurance programs, family planning, and healthcare. Some of the facets included in the policy exist as single bills in the Senate and the House. Most of the changes are also evident in Joe Biden’s presidential campaign policies. 

Initially, the plan was to release the policy before April to commemorate the policy’s tenth anniversary. However, the Covid-19 pandemic led to its delay. However, a section of the legislators opposes the bill. Some say that ascending the policy would significantly disturb the healthcare system. These lawmakers suggest that the policy has been in existence for the last ten years and addresses several aspects of the healthcare systems such as the Food and Drug Administration, Medicaid, and Medicare. Dressing down the bill’s powers would disadvantage several people, as many would lose healthcare coverage, and most would lose the cover offered by early policies (Keith, 2020). The policy would enhance subsidy by improving the accessibility of PTCs to eligible persons who receive an income of 400 percent above the federal poverty level (FPL). The policy also improves the cost of PTCs by lowering the amount of money that an individual pays for their health insurance programs. Further, this bill will expand access PTCs to enhance family planning. Currently, individuals who earn between 100 and 400 percent of FPL are only allowed to access PTCs.

PTCs apply according to a sliding scale basis, indicating that subsidies are more favorable towards the lower-income earners (Keith, 2020). The decision to lock out individuals whose FPL exceeds 400 percent locks out individuals whose income exceeds this level. The absence of subsidies makes it difficult for most middle-income earners to access quality care and medical covers. A section of this population is consists of the elderly population dwelling in the rural areas who pay high premiums. The HR 1425 would eradicate the ACA’s hindrance by allowing individuals with over 400 FPL to access health services and medical covers. This move would remove the upper limit on PTCs, implying that both upper and middle-level income earners who buy their medical covers can access PTCs.

Ascending the bill would help to lower the premium rates at every level. For instance individuals earning between 100 and 150 percent of FPL qualify for coverage without premium, (they do not have to pay anything for their cover). The contribution of premium increases as the income level increases, but for individuals earning more than 400, the premium contribution rate stands at 8.5% of the total income. The policy also establishes the standard amount of price that employers should pay to their employees to be termed as affordable (Keith, 2020). This aspect requires employers to stipulate whether the cover includes the employee and their family members, solving a “family glitch.” The bill would establish that family members entitled to PTCs depend on the family coverage charge instead of only covering for an individual.

The policy also proposes setting aside around 100 million dollars for promoting public health education. These funds would help plan for long- and short-term healthcare plans by incorporating linguistic and cultural aspects, especially in high health disparities, such as colored communities, LGBTQ, and individuals with limited English literacy. Some portion of the funding will also go to training healthcare experts and improving consumer education, which would improve the popularity of ACA among Americans (Keith, 2020).

Moreover, the HR1425 policy would help offer funds to enhance state service delivery. The funds will enable more states to transition from government healthcare delivery to state healthcare delivery systems, enabling states to address the health needs of their locals through cost-savings and decision making, among other aspects. Another fraction of the funds would also go to the insurance sector to enhance the reinsurance program. The expectations include reduced costs of out-of-pocket medical expenses and premium rates. Funding such programs allow for verified and state-approved techniques. Thus, HR1425 will increase the number of individuals subscribing to premium covers. Additionally, states can use the funds to invest in technology that improves the sharing and collection of data (Keith, 2020).

References

Keith, K. (2020, June 24). House Democrats Introduce New Coverage Bill: Health Affairs Blog. Retrieved from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200624.197845/full/

A Sample Answer 7 For the Assignment: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

Title: NURS 6050 Discussion 1 Evidence Base in Design Walden

The prevalence of burnout and stress among are healthcare professionals date way before the COVID-19 pandemic. The reality of the US health care environment before the arrival of COVID-19 was already concerning due to shortages of nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare workers (Ross, 2020). Most healthcare providers are working very long hours with less staffing. The media focus at the beginning of the pandemic was mainly on the number of ventilators and hospital beds, and completely lacking in those discussions was the question of available qualified, healthy healthcare professionals to care for the rest of the population (Ross, 2020). According to Shah et al. (2021), the covid 19 pandemic worsened burnout by worsening the already existing healthcare worker shortages in facilities and hospitals. The lack of nurses and other healthcare providers put so much pressure on the remaining few professionals to shoulder all the responsibility of providing care. The Covid 19 pandemic exacerbated the burnout rates in the healthcare workforce to the extent of suicide for some (Kaine, 2021). This discussion will review a policy that can affect all of us directly or indirectly as healthcare providers, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act addresses behavioral health and well-being among health care professionals (congrsss.gov, 2021). Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout have been studied throughout the nation, especially with the pandemic exacerbating the problem. (Kaine 2021).

Description of the health policy

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act was introduced in 2020 by Senator Kaine, who has been leading the talks on the mental health impact of the pandemic on health care workers (congesss.gov, 2021). This policy aims to provide the resources for healthcare providers to get the needed care now during the pandemic and in the future (Kaine 2021). The policy calls for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to hospitals, medical professional associations, and other healthcare facilities for programs to promote mental health and resiliency among health care professionals (congesss.gov, 2021). It is also calling for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to launch a campaign encouraging health care workers to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns without consequence (Congress. Gov, 2021).

As Kaine (2021) stated, the trauma that most healthcare workers are subjected to through the pandemic will leave lifelong emotional and physical damage. Thus, the need for setting this resource for the healthcare workers who risked their lives daily to save others. The grants from HHS are to provide relevant mental and behavioral health training of health care students, residents, or professionals with evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders (Kaine, 2021). In summary, the policy will focus on removing barriers to accessing care and treatment and identifying strategies to promote resiliency, thereby improving mental and behavioral health amongst healthcare providers (Congress.gov, 2021).

Evidence bases to support the proposed policy

The U.S. Senate Passage of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act has been praised by many organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Nurses Association (ANA), and The Physicians Foundation (THE LEGISLATION, n.d.). American Nurses Association (ANA) (2021) applauded the timely and unanimous passage of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act by the United States Senate on August 6th, 2021. ANA (2021) states that this critical legislation will help reduce and prevent mental and behavioral health conditions, suicide, and burnout among health care professionals who continue to be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. The bipartisan sponsorship of this policy is evidence base to support its proposal. Given the information above, this bill is a national plea for all healthcare workers to get the resources needed to manage mental health and burnout.

References

ANA Enterprise. (2021, August 11). ANA Applauds U.S. Senate Passage of the Dr. Lorna Breen

Health Care Provider Protection Act. https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2021/ana-applauds-u.s.-senate-passage-of-the-dr.-lorna-breen-health-care-provider-protection-act/

Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, S.610, 117th Cong. (2021-2022)

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/610

Kaine, T. (2021, March 4). Kaine Leads Colleagues in Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to

Support Health Care Workers’ Mental Health amid COVID-19. United States Senator from Virginia. https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-leads-colleagues-in-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-support-health-care-workers-mental-health-amid-covid-19

Ross, J. (2020). The Exacerbation of Burnout During COVID-19: A Major Concern for

Nurse Safety. Journal of Peri Anesthesia Nursing.

https://www.jopan.org/article/S1089-9472(20)30111-8/pdf

Shah, M.K., Gandrakota, N., Cimiotti, J.P., Ghose, N., Moore, M. & Ali, M.K. (2021, February 4).

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Nurse Burnout in the US. JAMA.

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.36469.

THE LEGISLATION. (n.d.). The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act.

Grading Rubric Guidelines

Performance Category 10 9 8 4 0
Scholarliness

Demonstrates achievement of scholarly inquiry for professional and academic decisions.
  • Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry clearly stating how the evidence informed or changed professional or academic decisions
  • Evaluates literature resources to develop a comprehensive analysis or synthesis.
  • Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion
  • Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry but does not clearly state how the evidence informed or changed professional or academic decisions.
  • Evaluates information from source(s) to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis.
  • Uses some valid, relevant, reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.
  • Discusses using scholarly inquiry but does not state how scholarly inquiry informed or changed professional or academic decisions.
  • Information is taken from source(s) with some interpretation/evaluation, but not enough to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis.
  • Little valid, relevant, or reliable outside sources are used to contribute to the threaded discussion.
  • Demonstrates little or no understanding of the topic.
  • Discusses using scholarly inquiry but does not state how scholarly inquiry informed or changed professional or academic decisions.
  • Information is taken from source(s) without any interpretation/evaluation.
  • The posting uses information that is not valid, relevant, or reliable
  • No evidence of the use of scholarly inquiry to inform or change professional or academic decisions.
  • Information is not valid, relevant, or reliable
Performance Category  10 9 8 4 0
Application of Course Knowledge –

Demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and/or apply principles and concepts learned in the course lesson and outside readings and relate them to real-life professional situations
  • Posts make direct reference to concepts discussed in the lesson or drawn from relevant outside sources;
  • Applies concepts to personal experience in the professional setting and or relevant application to real life.
  • Posts make direct reference to concepts discussed in the lesson or drawn from relevant outside sources.
  • Applies concepts to personal experience in their professional setting and or relevant application to real life
  • Interactions with classmates are relevant to the discussion topic but do not make direct reference to lesson content
  • Posts are generally on topic but do not build knowledge by incorporating concepts and principles from the lesson.
  • Does not attempt to apply lesson concepts to personal experience in their professional setting and or relevant application to real life
  • Does not demonstrate a solid understanding of the principles and concepts presented in the lesson
  • Posts do not adequately address the question posed either by the discussion prompt or the instructor’s launch post.
  • Posts are superficial and do not reflect an understanding of the lesson content
  • Does not attempt to apply lesson concepts to personal experience in their professional setting and or relevant application to real life
  • Posts are not related to the topics provided by the discussion prompt or by the instructor; attempts by the instructor to redirect the student are ignored
  • No discussion of lesson concepts to personal experience in the professional setting and or relevant application to real life
Performance Category  5 4 3 2 0
Interactive Dialogue

Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts a minimum of two times in each graded thread, on separate days.

(5 points possible per graded thread)
  • Exceeds minimum post requirements
  • Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts three or more times in each graded thread, over three separate days.
  • Replies to a post posed by faculty and to a peer
  • Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week.
  • Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts a minimum of two times in each graded thread, on separate days
  • Replies to a question posed by a peer

Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week.
  • Meets expectations of 2 posts on 2 different days.
  • The main post is not made by the Wednesday deadline
  • Does not reply to a question posed by a peer or faculty
  • Has only one post for the week
  • Discussion posts contain few, if any, new ideas or applications; often are a rehashing or summary of other students’ comments
  • Does not post to the thread
  • No connections are made to the topic
  Minus 1 Point Minus 2 Point Minus 3 Point Minus 4 Point Minus 5 Point
Grammar, Syntax, APA

Note: if there are only a few errors in these criteria, please note this for the student in as an area for improvement. If the student does not make the needed corrections in upcoming weeks, then points should be deducted.

Points deducted for improper grammar, syntax and APA style of writing.

The source of information is the APA Manual 6th Edition
  • 2-3 errors in APA format.
  • Written responses have 2-3 grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.
  • Writing style is generally clear, focused, and facilitates communication.
  • 4-5 errors in APA format.
  • Writing responses have 4-5 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors.
  • Writing style is somewhat focused.
  • 6-7 errors in APA format.
  • Writing responses have 6-7 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors.
  • Writing style is slightly focused making discussion difficult to understand.
  • 8-10 errors in APA format.
  • Writing responses have 8-10 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors.
  • Writing style is not focused, making discussion difficult to understand.
  • Post contains greater than 10 errors in APA format.
  • Written responses have more than 10 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors.
  • Writing style does not facilitate communication.
  • The student continues to make repeated mistakes in any of the above areas after written correction by the instructor
0 points lost       -5 points lost
Total Participation Requirements

per discussion thread

 The student answers the threaded discussion question or topic on one day and posts a second response on another day. The student does not meet the minimum requirement of two postings on two different days
Early Participation Requirement

per discussion thread

 The student must provide a substantive answer to the graded discussion question(s) or topic(s), posted by the course instructor (not a response to a peer), by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT of each week. The student does not meet the requirement of a substantive response to the stated question or topic by Wednesday at 11:59 pm MT.