Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

        INSTRUCTIONS TO WEEK  8  RESPONSE TO DISCUSSION POST

      TOPIC: THE ROLE OF THE RN/APRN IN POLICY-MAKING

My POST  is my own discussion Post that should be a guide to respond to POST 1 and POST 2 below.

                                        MY POST

The healthcare system depends heavily on nurses, notably registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who also have the power to influence global policy (Groenwald & Eldridge, 2020). Nurses may speak up for their patients, enhance healthcare service, and tackle pressing healthcare concerns by taking part in policymaking. In this article, I will examine two opportunities for RNs and APRNs to participate in policymaking, talk about the difficulties involved, and offer suggestions for advocacy and communication tactics for their intended audience. Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

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Through their professional associations, such as the American Nurses Association, RNs and APRNs have a chance to engage in the creation of policies (ANA). Professional organizations frequently engage in advocacy activities that support the goals of their members and enable them to participate more actively in the formulation of public policy. For instance, the ANA has a department dedicated to government affairs that seeks to affect federal and state legislation and encourages its members to participate in grassroots advocacy initiatives. The fact that nurses might not be aware of the advocacy campaigns given by their professional organizations or might not have the time or resources to engage in these initiatives is a difficulty with this potential. Professional organizations might improve their communication strategies to let their members know about advocacy possibilities, offer resources and training to encourage engagement, and overcome these obstacles.

Serving on advisory committees or task groups that help formulate policy is another way for RNs and APRNs to get involved in policy-making. For instance, nurses can apply to serve on advisory panels at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that are dedicated to topics including immunization, HIV/AIDS, and injury prevention. A drawback to this potential is that nurses might not have the expertise or abilities needed to successfully contribute to these committees, or they could have to compete with other healthcare professionals for these positions. Nurses could network with other healthcare professionals to form connections and collaborations, seek out training and professional development opportunities to advance their knowledge and abilities, and showcase their distinct perspectives and contributions as nurses. Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

Two tactics could be applied to better promote and communicate these opportunities. Using social media and other online platforms to spread the word about advocacy efforts and advisory committee openings is the first tactic. Professional groups may, for instance, use LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to inform their members about policy initiatives and encourage participation. Also, nurses could promote advocacy initiatives on their personal social media accounts and push their co-workers to join them. The second tactic is to work together with other healthcare professionals and interested parties to raise the voices of nurses in the formulation of policy. In order to achieve common policy objectives, nurses could collaborate with doctors, public health specialists, patient advocates, and lawmakers. Nurses may bolster their advocacy efforts and make their voices heard by forming coalitions and alliances.

In conclusion, RNs and APRNs have the chance to influence legislation and represent their patients internationally. Nurses can influence policy formulation and the way healthcare is delivered by participating in advocacy campaigns and sitting on advisory groups. Even though there are difficulties, nurses can get through them by looking for professional growth opportunities, connecting with other healthcare workers, and showcasing their distinctive viewpoints and contributions. Nurses can make use of social media and work with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders to better advocate for these possibilities. By doing so, nurses may significantly influence policy decisions and guarantee that the healthcare system is responsive to patients’

References

Groenwald, S. L., & Eldridge, C. (2020, January). Politics, power, and predictability of nursing care. In Nursing Forum (Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 16-32).

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/nuf.12377?casa_token=9h7TolLT38oAAAAA:VEQASoaTfegZC3I50hOH814ZraYHhZAm6j6MkYWr9sedElLl4AIiXkhRFnEHHcY8MG2Tw9Sx5Bd446kE

H.R.2948 – National Nurse Act of 2021. (2021, May 19). 117th Congress. Retrieved April 9, 2023 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2948 Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

H.R.2256 – Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2021. (2021, April 20). 117th Congress. Retrieved April 9, 2023 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2256

INSTRUCTIONS

Please respond to the two posts below separately.

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’* posts by suggesting additional opportunities or recommendations for overcoming the challenges described by your colleagues.

                                                           POST 1

Opportunity 1: Engaging in Professional Nursing Associations

Joining and participating in professional nursing associations is one way for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to actively participate in policymaking. These organizations give nurses a place to collaborate with their peers, develop leadership skills, and influence healthcare policies (American Nurses Association, 2021). RNs and APRNs can advocate for policies that improve patient care, address health disparities, and promote the nursing profession by joining these organizations (Smolowitz et al., 2015). Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

Opportunity 2: Participating in Health Policy Internships and Fellowships

Pursuing health policy internships and fellowships is another way for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policymaking. These programs give nurses hands-on experience in policy development, implementation, and evaluation, as well as legislative exposure (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Participation in such programs provides RNs and APRNs with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively advocate for policies that improve healthcare outcomes and population health (Rushton et al., 2018).

Challenges:

Time constraints and competing priorities are two challenges that RNs and APRNs may face when participating in policymaking through professional nursing associations or internships and fellowships. Trying to balance work, family, and other responsibilities can make it difficult for nurses to devote time to these opportunities (Smolowitz et al., 2015) Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

Overcoming this challenge: To address this issue, nurses can seek assistance from their employers in obtaining flexible work schedules or professional development time dedicated to policy engagement. Furthermore, nurses can prioritize their participation in policy-making activities by setting attainable goals and collaborating with peers to share responsibilities (American Nurses Association, 2021).

Lack of confidence and expertise in policymaking: A lack of confidence and expertise in policymaking is another challenge that RNs and APRNs may face. Many nurses may feel unready to participate in policy debates or navigate the legislative process (Rushton et al., 2018).

Overcoming this challenge: Nurses can gain confidence and expertise by participating in educational programs, workshops, or seminars on health policy, legislative processes, and advocacy. Working with experienced nurse advocates and mentors can also help you navigate the policy-making process (Institute of Medicine, 2011).

Recommendations for better advocacy and communication of opportunities:

Utilize social media and online platforms: RNs and APRNs can use social media and online platforms to raise awareness about policy-making opportunities. They can share information about upcoming events, internships, and fellowships, as well as interact with colleagues via online forums or discussion groups. By utilizing these platforms, nurses can reach a larger audience and encourage more of their peers to participate in policymaking (American Nurses Association, 2021). Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

Example: A nurse could start a LinkedIn group dedicated to discussing health policy issues and promoting available opportunities. They could share resources, events, and experiences to encourage and support their colleagues’ participation in policymaking.

Create and promote opportunities for policy engagement through collaborative partnerships with academic institutions and healthcare organizations: Nurses can create and promote opportunities for policy engagement through collaborative partnerships with academic institutions and healthcare organizations. These collaborations can provide nurses with resources, expertise, and support to ensure that they are well-prepared to participate in policymaking (Institute of Medicine, 2011).

An APRN, for example, could collaborate with a local university to create a health policy course or workshop for nurses that could be promoted within healthcare organizations and through professional nursing associations. This collaboration would not only raise awareness about policymaking opportunities but would also provide nurses with the necessary education and training to effectively participate in these opportunities. Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

References:

American Nurses Association. (2021). Policy & advocacy. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/policy-advocacy/Links to an external site.

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. National Academies Press.

Rushton, C., Williams, C., Paparella, S., & Kelley, S. (2018). Health policy leadership for nurses. Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(7-8), 365-367.

Smolowitz, J., Speakman, E., Wojnar, D., Whelan, E. M., Ulrich, S., Hayes, C., & Wood, L. (2015). Role of the registered nurse in primary health care: Meeting health care needs in the 21st century. Nursing Outlook, 63(2), 130-140.

                                                                           POST 2

Policy Making and Nursing Participation

There are many opportunities for RNs and APRNs to participate in the policy-making process. Recognizing the importance of the nurse’s knowledge and experience to influence policy making is essential in order to make positive health care changes. One of the ways nurses can participate in policy-making is by joining organizations that are active in legislation. One of those organizations specifically is the American Nurses Association (ANA). The ANA has a specific department that lobbies in Congress to advocate for the wellbeing of nurses (American Nurses Association, n.d.). The nurse can get involved in that process as a member by submitting regulatory comments and letters on decisions made by the agency. Another way to influence policy making is by electing more nurses into Congress. Currently there are only three nurses serving in Congress. However it is important to recognize the value nurses can have in congress to positively impact health care when votes are being made on policy changes. Lastly, nurses can get involved in congress on a more local level by scheduling meetings with state legislators or staff members, or writing letters to legislators. One of the current nurses in Congress, representative Lauren Underwood, stated one of the best ways to get involved in change is by offering yourself as a expert resource to legislators (Columbia School of Nursing, 2021).  Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

Doing all of these things may not come easy initially as there are some challenges, one of which may be lack of knowledge about the policy making process. I do not believe it is a normal part of nursing curriculum to discuss the nursing influence on policy making, and therefore if you do not understand how the legislative process works, getting involved can be tricky. Doing further research on the process can help you overcome that challenge, but I also think it may be something important to add to nursing curriculums as the healthcare world is constantly changing. Curriculum could include education on writing testimonies, as we have for this course, so that nurses are better prepared if and when meeting with legislators. It is important to recognize that in order to be influential, nurses must learn how to talk to and engage with lawmakers (Fauteux, 2020). As we are advocates for our patients in the clinical setting, we need to also advocate for policies that may affect them. Another challenge may be difficulty determining what organizations to join. This may also be overcome by  research. Most organizations require membership fees, so making sure you are a part of an organization that aligns with your specialty or values is important.

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One of the easiest ways to communicate these opportunities is through social networking. Many nurses are a part of nursing Facebook groups and can make announcements or posts to those communities informing them of current nursing or healthcare topics in legislation. These posts can include ways that members of the group can get involved to initiate change. Another strategy to inform nurses of these opportunities is by getting involved at a more local level. Visiting local colleges and speaking with professors to either offer an informational session for their nursing students or encourage them to discuss these opportunities with their students is an option to get younger nurses involved. Regardless, lack of representation of nurses in Congress shows that there is likely not much understanding on how nurses can impact legislation, so creating further awareness is necessary to implement positive change. Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment

References

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Federal Advocacy Library. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/federal/ana-advises-federal-agencies/

Columbia School of Nursing. (2021, February 23). Why nurses should be guiding, making health policy: Rep. Underwood offers view from the Hill. https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/news/why-nurses-should-be-guiding-making-health-policy-rep-underwood-offers-view-hill

Fauteux, N. (2020, August 14). Nurses: How to advocate for federal policy change. Campaign for Action. https://campaignforaction.org/nurses-how-to-advocate-for-federal-policy-change/ Predictability of Nursing Care Essay Assignment