Why has nursing made policy and political competence such a strong part of the nursing curriculum and role development?
Nurses are in a unique position to identify issues in healthcare that can impact patients’ health and wellness. Due to regular interaction with patients, nurses can use their insight to help reform policies. Nurses need to be aware of their power to be a part of policy making, therefore it is vital to include this information in the nursing curriculum.
Mason et al. (2020) gave the example of a nurse who was motivated to change insurance coverage for those uninsured or with preexisting conditions. This nurse, Lauren Underwood, spread awareness of the necessities of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to the public while sharing her personal and professional experiences of the consequences associated with being uninsured (Mason et al., 2021).
Discuss ways that you have been active as a policymaker or could be active.
Reading the story of a nurse and policymaker Lauren Underwood made me reflect on my lack of involvement in policymaking related to healthcare. While the legislature is not my area of passion, it is important to stand up for patient rights and use our voices whenever possible.
I could be active as a policymaker by being a voice for our homeless mentally ill population by spreading public awareness. Mentally ill homeless people are a vulnerable population.
They are at a disadvantage to remain medication compliant as many cannot afford copays nor do they have transportation to go to follow-up appointments.
Advocacy in this form does not refer to bedside advocacy on behalf of your patient. This item is specific to policy advocacy such as with your professional organization, with a consortium, etc.
Discuss examples of advocacy you see in your practice or in the practice of others.
While I am unsure of legislative advocacy within my direct organization of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Wounded Warrior Project is a government division that advocates for policy changes affecting veterans, their families and their caregivers (Wounded Warrior Project, n.d.).
The Wounded Warrior Project (n.d.) named improving accessibility to care for women veterans as one of their legislative priorities. This organization plans to do so by increasing access to childcare during operational hours at the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and ensuring quality of care for those who experienced military sexual trauma (Wounded Warrior Project, n.d.).
Discuss barriers to effective nursing advocacy. What are ways to mitigate these barriers?
Alhassan et al. (2020) reported that a study of nurse participation in political activity aside from voting was seldom in the United States.
Barriers to nurse participation in political advocacy include time constraints, fear of conflict or confrontation, lack of political content in the nursing curriculum and fear of victimization (Alhassan et al., 2020).
While the lack of policy embedded in nursing curricula serves a barrier, interestingly, many nursing faculty feel unprepared to teach it. Nursing faculty reported that their own lack of experience with health policy advocacy served as a barrier to teaching health policy (Staebler et al., 2017).
Only 35 percent of nursing faculty in this study had experience in policy. Although nursing programs are incorporating policy advocacy into their curricula, they should consider hiring faculty with direct experience in this area.
Discuss the importance of ethics in health care policy.
Healthcare policy advocacy is needed to protect the rights of those who cannot represent themselves. People in this category are generally part of minority groups or vulnerable populations.
Since these groups do not have the power or means, people with power are ethically responsible to act on behalf of their best interest.
Question to peers:
Do you see yourself participating in healthcare policy?
References
Alhassan, A., Siakwa, M., Kumi-Kyereme, A., & Wombeogo, M. (2020). Barriers to and
facilitators of nurses’ political participation in Ghana. Policy, Politics, & Nursing
Practice, 21(1), 29-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154419899602 (Links to an externa site.)
Mason, D. J., Perez, A., Dickson, E. L., & McLemore, M. R. (2021). Policy & politics in nursing
and health care (8th ed.). Saunders.
Staebler, S., Campbell, J., Cornelius, P., Fallin-Bennett, A., Fry-Bowers, E., Kung, Y. M.,
LaFevers, D., & Miller, J. (2017). Policy and political advocacy: Comparison study of
nursing faculty to determine current practices, perceptions, and barriers to teaching health
policy. Journal of Professional Nursing, 33(5), 350-355.
Wounded Warrior Project. (n.d.). A Voice for Warriors in Washington, DC.