Explanation of at least two opportunities that exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policymaking

Jerri-Ann Rowell 

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Nurses have a unique place in redesigning the future of healthcare, particularly after experiencing health policy failures with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (Anders, 2021). Nurses consistently outperform other professions to enjoy a decades‐long reputation as the most trusted profession (Anders, 2021). Nevertheless, the nursing voice is missing at a public level; representation in governments and boardrooms negligible (Anders, 2021). While nurses carry out health policy, rarely are they involved informing policy (Anders, 2021). While substantial dialog on health system reform, regulatory changes, care coordination, and health information technology occurs, nursing's presence is absent (Anders, 2021). The barriers are many: a lack of political sophistication, family, and work demands limiting time, and a lack of confidence (Anders, 2021). Political sophistication, family and work demands, and lack of confidence all play a major part into why I as a nurse and I'm sure many others don’t play a part in policy making. Regardless of the multiple factors limiting the nursing profession’s potential impact on politics, the fact remains that nurses are vital to the development and implementation of healthcare policy (Welliver, 2021). As the largest medical profession in the world, nurses should be leading the way in redesigning the healthcare system (Welliver, 2021). But in order to do so, they will need to partner with members of other medical professions such as physicians (Welliver, 2021). For this to happen, nurses must be skilled in patient care as well as in interdisciplinary teamwork, informatics and technology, implementing evidence-based practice, and quality improvement (Welliver, 2021). At the state and federal level, nurses can get involved in policy and politics by joining a professional nursing organization (Welliver, 2021). These organizations often have lobbyists that bring nursing issues to Capitol Hill (Welliver, 2021). Nurses can also write their state representatives regarding healthcare policy (Welliver, 2021). Nurses can undertake internships with elected officials to personally work on matters affecting healthcare (Welliver, 2021). And nurses can even run for state office — there are two nurses currently serving in the Florida State Legislature (Welliver, 2021). Challenges would ensue with becoming an elected official or even working as an intern for an already elected official such as the elected official or elected officials party not agreeing with the nurses standpoint due to the officials not understanding exactly what it takes to be a nurse and the different roles we play int in various settings. Real-time data from other healthcare professionals could help an argument stand. Influencing public policy change can be difficult and complex, particularly for those with limited power and resources (Cullerton et al., 2018).  However, much of the public health advocacy literature and tools available for those wanting to improve their practice is based on research from one specific perspective of an issue. (Cullerton et al., 2018). This approach deprives advocates of potential insight into the most effective levers for this complex and difficult process (Cullerton et al., 2018). To provide a more comprehensive insight into effective levers for influencing public health policy change, a conceptual model for poorly-resourced advocates was developed (Cullerton et al., 2018). No individual strategy will deliver results on its own (Cullerton et al., 2018). Similarly, undertaking all of the documented strategies may not result in policy action, as policymaking is a dynamic and complex process (Cullerton et al., 2018). However, our research and the literature highlight that by undertaking as many of these strategies as resources permit, and the more coordinated the approach, the more likely advocates will be to influence positive policy change (Cullerton et al., 2018). For me, no individual strategy resonated with me the most. When more data, evidence-based practice, and practicing healthcare professionals join together to showcase why their policy should be placed in action, more would take note. For example, when our managers and our doctors at my job were shown how PRN nurses can help us have a more sufficient turnover, them being on staff was more important to them due to turnover times lessening than them not being full-time employees.

Anders, R. L. (2021, January). Engaging nurses in health policy in the era of COVID-19. Nursing forum. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7675349/

Cullerton, K., Donnet, T., Lee, A., & Gallegos, D. (2018, August 31). Effective advocacy strategies for influencing government nutrition policy: A conceptual model. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6119246/

Welliver, M. (2021, March 10). The nursing profession's potential impact on policy and politics. American Nurse. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.myamericannurse.com/nursing-professions-potential-impact-policy-politics/

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