walden-nurs 6050-response to classmate 2-week 8

Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners are at the front lines when it comes to health care and its future. Many times, problems that occur in health care would not be seen by anyone other than a nurse. This is driving more and more nurses to go above their practice setting and take on the role of advocating for policies and laws. Many state nursing and specialty nursing organizations sponsor annual state legislative days, offer policy internships or fellowships, and conduct policy workshops, all designed to allow nurses to learn more about current health care issues and the legislative process. (Abood, 2017) One of the challenges associated with starting from the ground up is the amount of effort and will power it takes to get a policy enforced or a law to be put in legislation. (Vernon, Chiarella, & Papps, 2015) Sometimes it’s all about who you know; many nurses may not go forward with the plan of action because they may not know where to start or can’t get any support. But there are also ways to help enforce policies that are already underworked. An email to a senator, petitions, the use of social media, and many more can get nurses involved in policymaking. Evidence-based practice is the gold standard for what nurses do and why. Evidence is needed for nursing advocacy. Through research, gathering a good base of evidence to present to decision-makers about the changes that need to be enforced, gives ground to stand on. (Oestberg, 2013)

References:

Abood, S. (January 31, 2017). “Influencing Health Care in the Legislative Arena”. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 12 No. 1, Manuscript 2.

Oestberg, F. (2013). Getting involved in policy and politics. Nursing Critical Care, 8(3), 48. doi:10.1097/01.ccn.0000429392.92546.6f

Vernon, R., Chiarella, M., & Papps, E. (2011). Confidence in competence: legislation and nursing in New Zealand. International Nursing Review, 58(1), 103-108. doi:10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00853.x