The Role Of The RN/APRN In Policy-Making Assignment
The Role Of The RN/APRN In Policy-Making Assignment
Revisit the Congress.gov website provided in the Resources and consider the role of RNs and APRNs in policy-making.
Reflect on potential opportunities that may exist for RNs and APRNs to participate in the policy-making process.
The policy-making process is a result of the intentional activity of numerous groups and individuals. Since the policy process is influenced by the actions, attitudes, and knowledge of elected officials, nurses can influence policy by influencing the actions, attitudes, and knowledge of these legislators. Potential opportunities that exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-making include running for public office, making a call, or writing a letter to a legislator about an issue (Savage, 2019)The Role Of The RN/APRN In Policy-Making Assignment.
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Edelman and Kudzma (2021) emphasize nurses can be involved in policy-making by knowing their representatives, enlightening them on health care issues, and giving them advice about the needs of their constituents. Lawmakers are influenced by the information they get as well as the sources of the information. Nurses are highly knowledgeable about health care. Nurses can communicate with legislators by writing a letter/ e-mail; making a phone call, or through personal visits. Nurses can also influence policy-making by giving expert testimony on introduced bills,
Joining a professional nursing organization is another opportunity that exists for RNs and APRNs to influence policy. Nurses can join specialty organizations to utilize their collective powers to influence policy for example Oncology Nurses Association, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, or a national or state nursing organization such as the American Nurses Association (ANA). Professional organizations employ lobbyists who influence lawmakers and also have political action committees whose role is to engage in political fund-raising and advocacy (Savage, 2019)The Role Of The RN/APRN In Policy-Making Assignment.
Challenges that these opportunities may present and how I might overcome these challenges
Lack of time due to work and family demands, a lack of confidence, limited access to policymakers, inadequate understanding of the way to leverage legislators and an absence of knowledge about the political process are challenges to nurses’ involvement in policy-making. When nurses want to become engaged in the political process and advocate for policy, a lack of understanding about legislators along with their respective positions on health care might be a hindrance (Anders, 2020).
I can overcome these challenges by joining and being an active member of a professional nursing organization. That some professional organizations have key-person programs that train members to be effective in the role of grassroots lobbying, match members with their local representatives, and offer information and periodic updates to assist nurses to communicate with elected officials in a timely way (Milstead & Short, 2017). For example, the American Nurses Association’s Nurses Strategic Action Team (N-STAT) network is a nurses’ grassroots effort to assist elect endorsed candidates along with informing lawmakers about policy issues that are of concern to nurses. Nurses who are part of N-STAT receive updates and alerts about particular legislative issues (Edelman & Kudzma, 2021)The Role Of The RN/APRN In Policy-Making Assignment.
Two strategies I might make to better advocate for the existence of these opportunities to participate in policy-making.
I might better advocate for the existence of opportunities for RNS and APRNs to participate in policy-making by educating nurses about policy-making and providing mentorship. Andres (2020) posits that nursing students should be supported in a culture of advocating for changes in health policy. The nursing curriculum at the graduate level, as well as undergraduate level, should include course work and, preferably, practice experiences in the way nurse nurses can impact health policy. Also, nursing faculty must provide mentorship to nursing students by functioning as role models for political activism and policy advocacy. Educating students on the legislative processes will assist offer empowered and well-informed practicing nurses who can confidently engage in policy-making The Role Of The RN/APRN In Policy-Making Assignment.
References
Anders, R. L. (2020). Engaging Nurses in health policy in the ear of COVID-19. Nursing Forum, 56 (1), 89-94. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12514
Edelman, C. L., & Kudzma, E. C. (2021). Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span –E-Book. Elsevier.
Milstead, J. A. & Short, N. M. (2017). Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Savage, C. L. (2019). Public/Community Health and Nursing Practice: Caring for Populations. F. A. Davis The Role Of The RN/APRN In Policy-Making Assignment