Government involvement in healthcare was solidified by creating federally funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid (Milstead & Short, 2019). These programs have influenced the delivery and accessibility of health care to the public and are a driving force for creating health care policies. Nurses and APRNs can and should actively participate in the policy-making process.
RNs and APRNs can participate in policy-making through participation in professional nurse associations like the American Nurse Association (ANA). The ANA advocates for the nursing community and public health by participating in politics and legislature that relate to healthcare (American Nurses Association, n.d.-a). Professional nursing organizations are special interest groups that influence the healthcare political arena. The ANA even helps elect nurse representation to congress.
Another way that RNs, specifically APRNs, can be involved in policy-making is by using their autonomy to implement a policy at their own discretion (Tummers & Bekkers, 2014). If implementing a policy will have a meaningful impact on clients/patients, then an APRN can enact the policy as they work autonomously.
A challenge to working with a professional nurse association may be the cost and commitment. The ANA costs between $100 and $200 annually, comparable to most professional nurse associations (American Nurses Association, n.d.-b). The benefits, however, make the expense worthwhile. The organizations give you access to webinars, continuing education opportunities, job opportunities, networking, and organizational voting rights.
Tummers & Bekkars (2014) found that a challenge to implementing policies using discretion was the willingness to implement. The willingness to implement a new policy directly correlates to the discretion (autonomy) of the individual (Tummers & Bekkers, 2014). As long as the practitioner is comfortable in their autonomy, they will be more willing to implement policies that will have meaningful, positive impacts on their patients.
ways to advocate for nurse’s involvement in policymaking involve awareness of their ability and right to be involved. While it has been enlightening learning about politics in this graduate-level program, The importance of political involvement should be taught at the beginning of a nurse’s career. Nursing school already has enough classes and a limited time frame to educate. Instead of an individual course, policy-making can be incorporated as it applies to each class/lesson.
Hospitals and care facilities should also encourage their nurses to participate in policymaking and legislature to self-advocate and represent the community. Workplace newsletters and emails are potential ways to disseminate current political information and encourage participation. Hospitals are directly affected by healthcare policies and are stakeholders in most policy-making endeavors (Mcgonigle & Mastrian, 2019).
Nurses should be involved in the Policymaking process for healthcare issues. Nursing schools and professions should educate and empower RNs to participate in the political process and represent the nursing community. APRNs have the autonomy to implement their policies in practice; however, they should still make an effort to facilitate change for the healthcare community (Tummers & Bekkers, 2014). Nurses as individuals or with the backing of a professional nurse association can advocate for the profession by influencing policy and legislature (American Nurses Association, n.d.-a).
American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.-a). Advocacy.
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/
American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.-b). Membership
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