Creating positive changes that will impact patient’s care or the nursing work places.
STUDENT 1(INCLUDE 2 REFERENCES)
Nurses makes a difference in the lives of patients they care for. Creating positive changes that will impact patient’s care or the nursing work places. The best chance for RN/APRN in policy making is through advocacy in improving quality, access or values of healthcare. Nurses advocates for change in patient care, evaluating and teaching. Nurses are vital in leading way in policy from bedside to the boardroom. Nurses must be fully engaged in the policy process, the level of involvement (local, state, national, international, organizational) depends on education, skill, practice, and mentoring. Through policy work, Nurses can and should influence practice standards and processes to assure quality of care. Nurses who influence policy help shape the care that will be provided today and tomorrow. Policies also impact resource allocation to support delivery of healthcare (Burke, 2016).Secondly, APRNs and RNs can be involved in policy making through leadership. APRNs and RNs has a leadership role which demands participation in policy making (Congress.gov. 2019). There are number of challenges that are bound to face the advocacy opportunity for the APRN and RNs. There is the challenge of communication as some organizations may not have the rightCommunication channels where the APRNs and RNs can air their concerns regarding a given policy (Congress. gov, 2019). Another challenge of competition for resources when it comes to the advocacy opportunity. According to ANA, 2018, Offer a range of resources to demystify the process and enable nurses to analyze and then share their opinion on legislation by developing Nurses into stronger political leaders and motivate change from the grassroots of nursing.There are strategies that can be used to advocate better or communicate the existence of the opportunities for APRNs and RNs in policy making, through a number of initiatives to bring attention to nurse’s essential role in care coordination and to demand payment for these essential services as s distinct component of patient care (ANA, 2018). However, it is imperative for nurses to be trained and better equipped with education when it comes with policymaking. Nurses taking in advocacy role and promote good leadership that would lead to voicing their opinions and agendas when it comes to policy making.Evidence-based practice is the gold standard for what we do. Evidence is also needed for nursing advocacy. Through research, gather a good base of evidence to present to decision makers about the changes you want to see. Be aware of limitations in studies you are presenting because other interest groups may try to find flaws in the evidence (Oestberg, 2013). Associate dean of clinical Affairs at Columbia Nursing, offered a real life example of how nurses can directly shape policy. Many years of work and compromise that went into ultimately winning passage last year of the state’s NP Mordenization Act (Stone, 2015).In conclusion, Nurses have individual views on health care issues and influence health care policies in different ways. With a common understanding of nurses’ policy influence as a concept, nurses will recognize the importance of policy making in the health sector and their influence on this process and on patients’ outcomes (Arabi. A et al 2014).
STUDENT 2 (INCLUDE 2 REFERENCES EACH)
Nurses are in a better position now to influence change in the policymaking process. An opportunity can arise when the nurse or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), during the practice of the profession, recognizes a problem and brings that problem to the attention of either their local, state, or federal policymakers. Nurses, especially nurse practitioners because of their clinical experience and educational background make credible witnesses and can provide expert opinion on the issue at hand (Chilton, 2015, para. 1). They can present the problem into the agenda of these politicians, complete with suggestions on how to solve the problem. Another opportunity could be in the making when in a crisis situation, nurses act as leaders. Nurses can collaborate with other healthcare professionals like physicians, respiratory therapists, and other employees in the hospital to bring about change in the healthcare system. The combined voices of the team can prompt policymakers to include in their policy the solutions suggested.
These opportunities are not without challenges that nurses must overcome. Policymakers could have different interests and their priorities might be contrary to that of the nurses (Laureate Education, 2018, 02:38). To overcome this challenge, nurses should present clear evidence that the issue they are proposing together with its solution is cost-effective and can ultimately improve care for the patient. Another challenge that must be overcome by nurse leaders is the fear of talking to legislators (Laureate Education, 2018, 19:52). They should not allow themselves to be intimidated by the policymakers. They should focus their efforts on the desired outcome and overcome their fears with meticulous preparation and proper training on how to deal with these legislators so they can build an advocacy relationship with them.
Two strategies that nurses could further employ to effectively communicate their concerns to policymakers are to make use of organizations to lead them in their quest for change and to have other stakeholders like the media and other non-medical professionals get into the fray of letting the policymakers know about the issues. For example, organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) can represent the multitude of nurses at the national level. The said professional organization also “amplifies the voice of nurses, by advocating directly with decision-makers” (ANA, n.d.). Another example is getting the media involved by having them report on the issue. This will let constituents know if their legislators are receptive to their needs. The legislator’s goal is to be reelected and they usually align their policy with the voters in mind.
Image preview for creating positive changes that will impact patient’s care or the nursing work places.
APA
396 words