Opportunity for Policy Review
Nursing is a profession where employees must provide hands-on care while obeying ever-changing healthcare policies. Nurses are built to adapt to anything thrown their way. Each hospital system has a unique set of healthcare policies that work in conjunction with national and state policies. Registered nurses (RN) work within these set healthcare policies each day with their patients. Due to the hands-on utilization of each policy, they are the perfect candidate for the review of old and new policies Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation.
A second opportunity for registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to participate in policy review is by actively joining nursing organizations. These organizations often have members who are solely dedicated to healthcare legislation and lobbying. “Groups such as the Association of Public Health Nurses encourage RNs to advocate for health care policies and provide resources on how to do so. The APHN breaks advocacy into three components: ‘creating policies where they are needed when none exist, reforming harmful or ineffective policies, [and] ensuring good policies are implemented and enforced’” (Regis College, n.d.).
Challenges and Overcoming Challenges
Challenges that arise for registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses when participating in policy review include a lack of understanding of the specifics of policy writing. It can become an intimidating task to review or challenge an enacted policy when nurses or APRNs do not feel they have a full grasp of the policy making process (Safari et al., 2020) Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation.
A second challenge nurses and APRNs face when participating in health care policy review is a sense of lack of influence over policy change (Jurnes, 2019). When part of a large hospital system, it can be easy to feel as if one voice is not heard. This can deter RNs and APRNs from voicing their thoughts of necessary change to policy.
Strategies for Advocacy and Opportunities
An easy and effective strategy for advocating for nurses in the healthcare policy review arena is by increasing the amount of nurses or advanced practice registered nurses in the spotlight of change. “Although nurses do receive public accolades as the “most trusted” profession, they tend to be less visible than physicians in media coverage, public policy, and political communities” (Florida Center for Nursing, 2014). Increasing the awareness to the public that nurses play a vital role in policy making and policy review can encourage other nurses to become active participants in change Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation.
A second strategy to communicate the opportunity for RNs and APRNs to participate in healthcare policy review is by holding seminars within each hospital system. These educational seminars can provide information to nurses regarding their options for involvement. Members from local, regional and national nursing organizations active in policy review may also be present at these seminars to discuss opportunities and get nurses active Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation.
References
Florida Center for Nurses. (2014). Addressing barriers in leadership for nurses. Florida Center for Nursing. https://campaignforaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Addressing-Barriers-in-Leadership-for-Nurses-FL.pdf
Jurnes, C. (2019, September 6). Policy advocacy motivators and barriers: Research results and applications. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-24-2019/No3-Sept-2019/Articles-Previous-Topics/Policy-Advocacy-Motivators-Barriers.html
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