Word cloud generators have become popular tools for meetings and team-building events. Groups or teams are asked to use these applications to input words they feel best describe their team or their role. A “word cloud” is generated by the application that makes prominent the most-used terms, offering an image of the common thinking among participants of that role.

What types of words would you use to build a nursing word cloud? Empathetic, organized, hard-working, or advocate would all certainly apply. Would you add policy-maker to your list? Do you think it would be a very prominent component of the word cloud?

Nursing has become one of the largest professions in the world, and as such, nurses have the potential to influence policy and politics on a global scale. When nurses influence the politics that improve the delivery of healthcare, they are ultimately advocating for their patients. Hence, policy-making has become an increasingly popular term among nurses as they recognize a moral and professional obligation to be engaged in healthcare legislation. The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making

To Prepare:

• Revisit the Congress.gov website provided in the Resources and consider the role of RNs and APRNs in policy-making.
• Reflect on potential opportunities that may exist for RNs and APRNs to participate in the policy-making process.

Post an explanation of at least two opportunities that exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-making. Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges. Finally, recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities to participate in policy-making. Be specific and provide examples. The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making

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

The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making

As advanced practice registered nurses we have an obligation to our patient care community and to our nursing community to actively participate in healthcare policy development. There are several opportunities to achieve this, so it is important to recognize the avenues that will produce the greatest success. According to the American Nurses Association (n.d.) there are three active representatives in congress that are registered nurses, and all three have been active in healthcare policies that have been presented in recent years. Representative Eddie Johnson was a cosponsor to H.R. 1195 – Workplace violence prevention for health care and social service workers act, and she also introduced the National Nurse Act of 2019 that would designate the Chief Nurse Officer of the United States public health services as the National Nurse for Public Health (Congress, 2021). Although this is one direct way to be active in policy-making, it starts at the ground level with constituents, like nurses, identifying a problem and working to create a solution.

Two opportunities that exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-making 

Being involved on committees, or boards or acquiring a nursing membership is a fundamental way to actively participate in policy-making. An example would be obtaining a membership to the American Nurses Association. There is a wealth of information and resources on how to connect and get involved in policy-making at different levels. Johnson and Johnson (n.d.) has created a resource pool for nurses interested in health policy and it provides vital information like advocacy organizations and how to support nursing innovation. “Professional experts such as registered nurses are often asked to serve as panel members or consultants or to serve on committees that provide input to policymakers” (Milstead & Short, 2019). The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making

Another important opportunity is reaching out to an elected official that would be most receptive to an idea and working with them to create a policy. When presenting information to the elected official address important issues like what level of government is it most appropriate for, what issues opponents might have, and figuring out how to get it passed (Laureate, 2018). State legislators have a huge influence on what happens on the healthcare system, so it is important to act as an expert and educate them on current issues. It is key to understand the issue being presented and to personalize it so the elected official can better understand their impact (Laureate, 2018).

Challenges that these opportunities may present and how to overcome them

There are several factors that influence what gets puts on an agenda, how it moves through the process, and whether it survives to the end of the policy-making process (Laureate, 2018). Poor policy design is often the reason for policy failure- by shifting focus of study to policy design, more reliable and explicit answers can be found, leading to greater chances of policy success (Milstead & Short, 2019). Managing oppositions could help with policy design by asking them what suggestions they may have, what do they believe is missing from the policy, and ways they consider might help to pass it (Laureate, 2018). “Policy tools are important resources for the professional nurse because experience using them can enlighten policymakers and persuade them to support or oppose a policy” (Milstead & Short, 2019). The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making

Two strategies to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities to participate in policy-making

Talking to local communities and building relationships with the media will help to inform the public on current issues being addressed and it will aide in getting those outside of the nursing community involved. The video “Health policy and politics” provides the example of nurses working with teachers on managing of proper vaccination of kids. Often times the public isn’t informed of their ability to participate in change and as nurses we forget sometimes that policies reflect public opinion as well as evidence-based date (Milstead & Short, 2019).

Providing information within facilities is another strategy to communicate the existence of opportunities to participate in policy-making. There are several committees within my hospital that nurses can be involved in to influence internal policies, but there are no incentives or information provided to nurses on the opportunities to illicit change on a larger scale. This could be something as simple as having the lock-screen on the computers advertise joining the American Nurses Association or providing an employee discount to a membership of any professional nursing association.

References

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Federal issues. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/federal/

Congress. (2021). H.R.1195 – Workplace violence prevention for health care and social service workers act. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1195/cosponsors?searchResultViewType=expanded

Johnson and Johnson. (n.d.). Health policy nurse at a glance. Retrieved from https://nursing.jnj.com/specialty/health-policy-nurse The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Getting your Program Designed and Implemented [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Health policy and politics [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making