Walden University Nursing Professions Potential Impact on Policy and Politics Paper

I’m working on a nursing discussion question and need a sample draft to help me learn.

Please answer to this discussion in 100 words and 2 references

The term policymakers refer to a collection of stakeholders tasked with finding solutions to problems that nongovernmental or philanthropic organizations have failed to resolve. Milstead (2019) mentions that most of the time, RNs and APRNs are asked to serve as panel members or consultants or to serve on the committee that provides input to policymakers (Milstead 2019). This is because nurses usually have a good idea of the problem and the potential solutions to those problems. As such, RNs and APRNs have vital roles in health care to inform the decisions of policymaking. Note that nurses who influence health care policies aid in shaping health care and impact the allocation of resources to support healthcare delivery.

Nowadays, nurses are considered the heart of a health care facility, and as such, numerous opportunities exist for RNs and APRNs to influence health care policies. One such option is for them to become members of the American Nurses Association (ANA). ANA offers policy products such as a “policy activist toolkit” (Catallo et al., 2014). As part of the toolkit, RNs are provided with other resources, including how to get involved in a political campaign, engage politicians, and conduct lobbying activities.

Another opportunity is through advocacy. Regis College (2020) suggests that nurses are provided with a chance of serving as advocates for patients, families, communities, and health care organizations (Regis college, 2020). Advocating for patients is the duty of nurse practitioners, and there is no better way to achieve this than through the creation of policies or changing the existing ones. Note that it is through advocacy that nurses can influence health care policies.

Nurses’ challenges regarding policymaking include opposition from legislators and finding the evidence-based practice to support the ideas they bring to the table. Nurses should come together and fight for what they believe is suitable for patients. Multiple people sharing the same opinions will aid reduce opposition. Therefore, by becoming active members of a nursing organization, nurses can influence new policies or change the old ones. In terms of finding the evidence-based practice to support their ideas, nurses should put in work to find or create research that will eventually help patients with new or modified policies.

The best strategy that will advocate for nurse involvement in policymaking is nursing education. Short (2008) suggests that the base for a professional understanding of health care policies should be appropriately laid in formal education and synthesized with practice and work environments (Short, 2008). Exposing nursing students to health care policies and their influence on policymaking during their nursing education will go a long way in increasing nursing involvement in policy. Another strategy is the active involvement in nursing associations. With the nursing associations, the nurses get educated and are actively involved in politics that influence the welfare of patients.

References

Regis College. “How Does Nursing Influence Health Care Policy?” Regis College Online, 15 May 2020, online.regiscollege.edu/blog/how-does-nursing-influence-health-care-policy/.

Short N.M. (2008). Influencing health policy: strategies for nursing education to partner with nursing practice. Journal of professional nursing: official journal of the American Association Colleges of Nursing. 24(5), 264-269.s

Catallo, C., Spalding, K., & Haghiri-Vijeh, R. (2014). Nursing professional organizations: What are they doing to engage nurses in health policy?. Sage Open, 4(4), 2158244014560534.

Milstead, J.A., & Short, N.M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6^th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.