Week 9 Discussion The Role of the RN/APRN

Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making. A critical component of any policy design is evaluation of the results. How comfortable are you with the thought of becoming involved with such matters? Some nurses may be hesitant to get involved with policy evaluation. The preference may be to focus on the care and well-being of their patients; some nurses may feel ill-equipped to enter the realm of policy and political activities. However, as you have examined previously, who better to advocate for patients and effective programs and polices than nurses? Already patient advocates in interactions with doctors and leadership, why not with government and regulatory agencies? In this Discussion, you will reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation. To Prepare: In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making. Review the Resources and reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation. By Day 3 of Week 9 Post an explanation of at least two opportunities that currently exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy review. 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. Be specific and provide examples. By Day 6 of Week 9 Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days by suggesting additional opportunities or recommendations for overcoming the challenges described by your colleagues. *Note: Throughout this program, your fellow students are referred to as colleagues. Week 9 Discussion The Role of the RN/APRN

Opportunities that currently exist for RNS and APRNs to actively participate in policy review

Policy evaluation is the last stage of the policy-making process. Policy review examines the impact of policy following its implementation. evaluation enables policymakers to understand the utility, merit or worth of a policy. RNs and APRNs can actively participate in policy evaluation through evaluation research. According to Ellenbecker and Edward (2017), through evaluation research, RNs and APRNs can rigorously examine the long-term and current impact of the policy on the populations the policy was designed for, the impact of the policy on the society or any other inadvertent outcomes. Evaluation studies might, in addition, include a reflection of what the outcomes would have been in the policy was not implemented. The things that are included in the evaluation of the policy are the investigation of the long- and short-term consequences of the policy on quality, access, costs and the society.

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Monitoring of data is another opportunity that exists for nurses to take an active role to participate in the policy review.  Nurses can c participate in policy evaluation by monitoring data at the community as well as organizational level. Ivanov and Blue (2014) assert that nurses act as an important connection between the community and the data. Thus, nurses can engage partners in the community in developing policy evaluation measures and also in gathering, analyzing and interpreting data.

Challenges that these opportunities may present and how I might overcome these challenges

several factors influence the ability of nurses to actively take part in health policy evaluation, such as inadequate resources and time and lack of awareness and education on how policy evaluation affect the profession of nursing and health care. As indicated by Shariff (2014), nurses are involved in policy development, but their degree of participating in politics is limited. Nurses are often involved in the policy implementation phase but excluded from the policy formulation and evaluation stages.  Another limitation is that nurses are not offered adequate support for generating the evidence required to influence policy through evaluation.

I might overcome these challenges by utilizing my education and experience that can put me in a unique position to take part in policy evaluation.  In can be involved in policy evaluation by learning how policy evaluation occurs and learning the people participating in policy evaluation along. Additionally, visiting nursing organizations websites to obtain information on partaking in activities of policymaking. I can apply my research-based knowhow to take part in research studies that impact social, organizational and health policies concerning care and outcomes for patients. Week 9 Discussion The Role of the RN/APRN

Strategies I might use to better communicate the existence of the opportunities

I might use social media to better communicate the existence of opportunities for nurses to participate in policy evaluation. Social media including interactive websites, social networking sites and blogs can enable me to reach and communicate with legislators, policymakers and fellow nurses on the policymaking process.  For instance, through media campaigns, I can advocate for nurses to be provided with the chance to evaluate health policy after it has been implemented so as to understand the effectiveness of the policy.

SBAR is another strategy I might use to advocate for opportunities for policy evaluation. Nurse’s apparent lack of adequate time is the major hindrance to nursing advocacy. Jurns (2019) claims that SBAR is effective in that the templates guide communicators and reduce the communication burden while optimizing user time. The use of SBAR offers the models for nurse to succinctly and effectively describe matters and offer policymakers with the relevant information needed to make knowledge health policy decisions.

References

Ellenbecker, C., & Edward, J. (2017). Conducting Nursing Research to Advance and Inform Health Policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 17(4): 208-217.

Jurns. C. (2019). Using SBAR to Communicate with Policymakers. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24:1.

Ivanov, L., & Blue C. (2014).  Public Health Nursing: Policy, Politics & Practice. New York: Cengage Learning.

Shariff, N. (2014). Factors that act as facilitators and barriers to nurse leaders’ participation in health policy development. BMC Nursing 13:20.Week 9 Discussion The Role of the RN/APRN