Discussion Board 8
In the first module, you created two to three SMART goals. Review these SMART goals
and answer the following questions:
Did you achieve your goals?
How did you improve your knowledge of the nurse in the role of political advocacy
and action?
Rate your comfort with political advocacy on the following Likert scale
1- Uncomfortable advocating in the political arena
2- Somewhat uncomfortable advocating in the political arena
3- Neutral
4- Somewhat comfortable advocating in the political arena
5- Completely comfortable advocating in the political arena
oExplain your rating.
oAction requires continual practice of newly learned skills. What actions will you
now take to continue growing your knowledge of legislation/regulation affecting nursing and
healthcare? What actions will you now take to continue improving your comfort with political
advocacy?
The thread must be at least 500 words and be supported by 2 peer-reviewed journal
articles in addition to the course textbook and the Bible. In addition to the thread, you
are required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Your replies must be at least 250 words
and be supported by 1 scholarly source. Biblical inflection throughout is required.
The initial thread is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday of Module/Week 8, and
replies to 2 students are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of the same
module/week.
To me, this semester was very informative. I was able to learn about different policy and
legislative issues when researching for the different assignments. I am usually not drawn to that aspect
of nursing or even drawn to that side of knowledge in my regular life. I do however think it is imperative
for nurses to stay informed in order to be influential. I was able to achieve a couple of my goals that I set
forth during the first discussion.
In order to be influential and make a difference, the most pivotal way is to stay informed. For
me, I was able to become a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) as well
as the American Nurses Association (ANA). I was able to read articles that address policy advocacy as
well as attend a virtual conference through the AONL and attend a session on nursing advocacy.
The legislative process is a process that shapes health care policy. Health care policy attempts to
achieve specific health care goals within a society (Nickitas et al., 2020). The ANA describes the code of
ethics as something that is nonnegotiable; it is a guide for nurses to use for ethical decision making when
caring for patients and when being patient advocates (ANA, 2015). Nurses can impact healthcare policy
through advocacy. I was able to improve my knowledge of political advocacy by reading multiple articles
about different ways front line staff can be involved and help. I know that front line staff have a feeling
like they don’t need to get involved or that if they attempt to that it won’t make a difference. Front line
staff have a unique opportunity in the fact that they are a part of different day to day situations that
happen with patients and patient’s families. They can then share their experiences to help promote
advocacy and influence healthcare policy and reform (Health Policy, 2020). Because of this up-do-date
knowledge of information that is going on in the every day to day cycle of a bedside nurse, they can play
a huge part in making significant influences when it comes to policy development (Maryland et al.,
2012). They understand the healthcare needs of the patient and this can be helpful when needing new
policies to benefit not only the patient itself, but nursing in general.
Because of this new knowledge about policy advocacy and different legislative issues, I would
rate myself still at (2) somewhat comfortable advocating in the political arena. I think that with anything
new, getting yourself involved takes time. Being fluent in policy lingo and different legislative matters is
uncomfortable at first, but with work and continuing the practice of staying up to date will help. I myself
plan to continue to stay currently by continuing to read policy related articles as well as stay up-to-date
about different policy changes and even possibly write to representatives on matters that I feel
passionate about.
The bible states, “There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the
test. He said If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay
attention to his commands and keep all his decrees” (Exodus 15:26). Nurses who are able to listen to the
Lord and follow their heart will not only be strong patient advocates but also be able to be strong
advocates for any healthcare policy and legislation change.
References
American Nurses Association (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Silver
Spring, MD: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-
ethics-for-nurses/coe-view-only/
Health Policy. (2020). American Nurses Association. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-
policy/health-policy/
The Holy Bible: New international version. (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Maryland, M.A., Gonzales, R.I. (2012). Patient advocacy in the community and legislative arena. The
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 19 (1).
http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Table
ofContents/Vol-17-2012/No1-Jan-2012/Advocacy-in-Community-and-Legislative-Arena.html
Nickitas, D.M., Middaugh, D.J., & Feeg, V.D. (2020). Policy and politics for nurses and other health
professionals (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartless Learning, LLC.
Reply to Luis Gomeztapia:
Luis- Great discussion post. You are very right when you described this semester as
being intimidating and uncomfortable! Anything political is just not my thing, but
taking this course and having to indulge myself in it made me realize that without
getting involved, nothing will change. Front line staff have a unique opportunity in
the fact that they are a part of different day to day situations that happen with
patients and patient’s families. They can then share their experiences to help
promote advocacy and influence healthcare policy and reform (Health Policy, 2020).
But as a nurse, we advocate for our patients all the time, but at times we need to
not only advocate for them, but also ourselves. I think it is great that you now have
the desire to become more active in the political arena. Getting involved may mean
better mandated staffing ratios, better quality regulations, etc.
As one of your action items was to stay educated, I think this is key. As a
professional individual, we always have to want to know what is happening in our
profession. I was able to recently attend a virtual conference and they had a
sessions on patient advocacy and another about the nurses role in politics. I
listened to both and both just reinforced the need to always want to do better.
Better for my patients, the organization I work for, and our profession. Joshua 1:9
states “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Health Policy. (2020). American Nurses Association.
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/health-policy/
The Holy Bible: New international version. (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Responding to Rachel Ellis
Rachel- great discussion post. I agree with you that I myself didn’t hit all of my
goals that I set forth. But gained a lot of knowledge when researching for the
position paper. Applying myself in the form of anything political is and was out of
my comfort zone. But I feel that now that we each have some knowledge it opens
your eyes to new beginnings. Staying educated is key. Staying up to date on
different political healthcare matters is even better. As a professional individual, we
always have to want to know what is happening in our profession. Up-do-date
knowledge of information that is going on in the every day to day cycle of a bedside
nurse, they can play a huge part in making significant influences when it comes to
policy development (Maryland et al., 2012). They understand the healthcare needs
of the patient and this can be helpful when needing new policies to benefit not only
the patient itself, but nursing in general. I was able to recently attend a virtual
conference and they had a sessions on patient advocacy and another about the
nurse’s role in politics. I listened to both and both just reinforced the need to
always want to do better. Better for my patients, the organization I work for, and
our profession.
Continuing to get out of your comfort zone will only help you to grow and but will
also keep you involved. Both will help you get to your end goals. Joshua 1:9 states
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not
be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The Holy Bible: New international version. (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Maryland, M.A., Gonzales, R.I. (2012). Patient advocacy in the community and
legislative arena. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 19 (1).
http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodi
cals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-17-2012/No1-Jan-2012/Advocacy-in-
Community-and-Legislative-Arena.html
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