Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health
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GLOWRIE ANSWER
Opportunities for RNs and APRNs to participate in policymaking actively
Health policy is defined as decisions, plans, and a set of actions to be undertaken to promote public welfare (Hajizadeh et al., 2020). It is a vital tool that nurses must utilize to enhance health care quality. Nurses play a crucial role in influencing the nursing profession through their clinical expertise. According to Lewinski et al. (2018), despite nurses occupying the most substantial number of the health workforce, few are engaged in health policy advocacy. This is attributed to limited exposure to health policy education and a lack of support from political sectors, government officials, and professional organizations (Hajizadeh et al.,2020). I have identified two opportunities for RN/ APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) to participate actively in policymaking. The first opportunity is to join a coalition. Nursing organizations increase nurses' engagement in policy advocacy by influencing legislation and developing regulations to improve nursing practice and patient care. The second opportunity is to be an advocate for change through education. Limited exposure to formal health policy education contributes to a lack of interest in policymaking. Emphasizing the importance of health policy in the Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctoral education curriculum can bridge the knowledge gap in the health advocacy process. Health Policy Advocacy Continuing education is one way to obtain up-to-date information following the completion of clinical degrees (Lewinski et al., 2018).
Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges
The insufficient knowledge of health policymaking is the number one reason for nurses' non-involvement. Health policy must be based on research findings and evidence-based practices to affect the change we want to see. Lawmakers are unfamiliar with the issues affecting nursing practice. Engagement in practice and research committee of one's organization will bring awareness of policymaking. This will add further knowledge and opportunities to gain skills in the policy design process to persuade our legislators.
Another challenge is the lack of support from the nursing leadership. According to Hajizadeh et al., (2020), lack of mentoring by nursing leaders will negatively affect the involvement in health policy development. Professional Nursing organizations such as ANA and AACN provide members with ways to meet with leaders to engage in policy development and decision making through seminars, web-based CE's. In addition, educational resources should be patterned according to members' interests, educational level, and role to decrease the hesitancies in engaging in health policy advocacy activities.
Finally, recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate these opportunities to participate in policymaking. Be specific and provide examples.
Nurses can obtain membership in a Professional Nurses Association such as the American Nurses Association (ANA). ANA is a crucial voice in the ongoing effort to improve public health. They can bring the united voice of its members to the highest level to influence health policy. An example is when ANA spoke out against the American Health Care Act (AHCA) in May 2017. The AHCA would put the health of Americans at risk by eliminating the prevention and public health funds that could have suffered the health care quality (American Nurses Association, n.d.).
Nurses can also participate in one of their organizations' shared governance committees and be actively involved in policymaking within their organization. Practice and Research is a good committee in an organization to be involved. The practice and research committee's approach to improving the clinical nursing practice based on current research will contribute to the nurses' skills and knowledge in the policy design process.
References
Hajizadeh, A., Zamandeh, V., Kakeman, E., Bahreini, R., Khodayari- Zarnaq, R. (2020). Factors influencing nurses participation in the health policy-making process: a systematic review. https://www.proquest.com/nahs/docview/2553250278/fulltextPDF/D278D879149B4FF5PQ/1?accountid=14872
Health policy - American nurses association (ana). (n.d.). ANA. Retrieved January 16, 2022, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/health-policy/
Lewinski, A., Simmons, L.,. (2018, September). Nurse Knowledge and Engagement in Health Policymaking: Findings From a Pilot Study. The Journal of Continuous Education in Nursing. https://www.proquest.com/nahs/docview/2093234456/F755B2D205444897PQ/2?accountid=14872
JASAR ANSWER
Nurses are the foundation of the healthcare system. It plays an essential role in the health sector. It is hard to run hospitals, clinics, and
home care without nurses. Today nurses are more empowered and make a significant impact on health policy. Registered nurses are often asked to serve as
panel members or consultants or on committees that provide input to policymakers. Nurse leaders also are increasingly playing leadership roles in the critical
policy stage (Milstead & Short, 2019). Nurses feel more valuable when they know their decisions are beneficial in the organization and create a change that
can lead to good quality of care. In addition to "nurses can protect patient safety, increase the quality of care, facilitate their access to the required resources,
and promote quality health care (NCBI, 2014)."
Opportunities for RNs and APRNs to participate in policymaking actively
The first opportunity is RNs and APRNs to participate actively in policymaking y attend professional meetings. For example, I am working as a
A registered nurse in the hospital. At the end of the year, our hospital director comes to the unit for a meeting and asks nurses to discuss unit issues,
equipment issues, and any changes within the organization. So, this is the initial and small step towards policymaking by collaborating with the healthcare
team and advocating for patients. Nurses feel more valuable when they know their decisions are beneficial in the organization and create a change that can
lead to good quality of care. The second opportunity is by joining a professional union organization, Ontario Nurses Association, which is a very helpful
nurse and voice for the nurses. Nurses can convey their message to ONA, and they fight for the rights of nurses and help in policymaking, for example,
shortage of nurses and workload issues (Ontario Nurses Association, 2016).
Highlights some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges
These types of opportunities also come with some challenging situations, like being busy and unable to attend the meetings. Sometimes nurses
thoughts these meetings are not essential to participate. Sometimes nurses do not even do unit voting for the nurse leaders, lacking political education. This
course is helping me as an RN know the importance of nurses' role in policymaking.
I overcame that kind of situation where I wanted to attend the meeting, but nobody was available to cover my patients in the unit; due to a staff shortage,
I could not make it to the forum where I wanted to discuss some issues regarding the team. I worked in the unit and later discussed those issues with my unit
manager.
Recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate these opportunities to participate in policymaking. Be specific and provide examples
Furthermore, one strategy of policymaking is nurses should join any professional nurse association. I joined a professional Nurses Association called the
"Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)." RNAO includes registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students, and it has 48000 members
still growing (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, 2022). RNAO is fighting for the shortage of Registered Nurses during this pandemic. Nurses are
appealing government to hire more nurses. Nurses should speak up for their rights. The second strategy is by Advocating the patient, organization, and
influences stakeholders. Advocacy is essential for nurses' day-to-day nurses face challenging situations where they advocate for the patients and their
families. According to ANA, "legislative and political advocacy is no less important to advancing the profession and patient care (American Nurses
Association, n.d.)." Nurses can also use available resources to ensure effective communication and interactions with stakeholders (Milstead & Short, 2019).
References
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Advocacy. ANA. Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse's guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
NCBI. (2014). Nurses’ policy influence: A concept analysis. PubMed Central (PMC). Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061635/
Ontario Nurses Association. (2016, June 10). Ona – ontario nurses association. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.ona.org/
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. (2022). About rnao. RNAO.ca. Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://rnao.ca/about?_ga=2.244040581.140712134.1641669807-518378551.1636469497
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