Transforming Health
Care: Nurses Engaged
in Policy
Nancy Ridenour, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN
American Academy of Nursing
October 13, 2012
RWJ Health Policy Fellowship
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http://www.healthpolicyfellows.org/home.php
 Founded 1973
 12-18 month residency in DC
 4 month orientation
 Work assignments on the Hill traditionally
 Administration /Agencies
 TRANSFORMATIONAL
Twelve Academy Members Who are
RWJ Health Policy Fellows
Mary Mundinger, RN, DrPH
1984-1985
Virginia Trotter Betts, JD, MSN, RN, FAAN
1987-1988
Ellen-Marie Whelan, PhD, NP, RN, FAAN
2003-2004
Nancy Ridenour, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN
2007-2008
Margaret Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN
2008-2009
Margaret Wilmoth, PhD, RN, FAAN
2009-2010
Janice Phillips, PhD, RN, FAAN
2010-2011
Barbara Damron, PhD, RN,FAAN
Current Fellow
Hurdis Griffith, PhD, RN, FAAN
1986-1987
Julie Sochalski, PhD, FAAN
1992-1993
Sister Rosemary Donley, PhD, APRN, BC,
FAAN
1997-1998
Liana Orsolini-Hain, PhD, RN, CCRN
2011-2012
Being Inducted into the Academy This Evening!
Portfolio While at Ways and
Means
– PPACA now ACA
– Hospice
– Hospital acquired
infections; conditions
– Health care associated
conditions
– Health Information
Technology; meaningful
use
– E-prescribing
– Transparency in ownership
of long-term care facilities
– Quality outcomes /Value
Based Purchasing
– Funding for primary care
– International
comparisons in health
outcomes and health
systems
– Chronic Care
Coordination
– Clinical
Outcomes/Quality
– Workforce
Health Reform 2007-2008
Cost
Quality
Access
Health Reform 2009-Now
Cost
Access
Quality
Lessons Learned
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Need more nurses on the
Hill
Nursing professional
groups need to speak in
“one voice”
Nurses need to make
strategic partnerships
We need nurses to get
PhDs in Health
Economics!
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Nursing needs to invest
more in government
relations
Research focus on issues
to inform health policy
Translate profession
specific language to stories
for general public
Need more nurses in
executive, legislative, and
judicial branches
Characteristics of the Reformed
Health System
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Health Equity
Patient/Consumer Centric
Focus on Quality and Safety
Value Based/Pay for Performance
Evidence Based Practice
Comparative Effectiveness
Prevention and Early Intervention
Increased Access
Reformed System
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Demographics: aging population with
increasing chronicity at all age levels
Meaningful use (HIT)
Population based practice
High Functioning Teams
Workforce Issues
Numbers
 Distribution
 Best Mix
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Biggest Impact
High Priority Health Problem/Issue
 High Risk
 High Volume
 High Cost
 Closing the Gap between Research and
Practice
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Increase Policy Relevance
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Gap between clinical practice and research
findings
Need to show public investment in research
leads to benefits for patients
Timing
Policymakers not interested in theory
Cost: usually more short-term than long-term
Know goals of agency, lawmaker, etc
How are data being used? By Whom?
Research Trajectories to Inform Policy
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Design our research to inform and change
policy
Design our research to evaluate current policy
Translate our current research into policy
implications
Posit new policy approaches and test them
Research Agenda for Policy
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Comparative Effectiveness Research ($3 Billion)
Interprofessional: research, education, practice
Team Science
Workforce
Quality; Safety
Innovations in care delivery
Outcomes
Innovations in payment systems
Health Information Technology
Center for Innovation at CMS
Think of Your Research, Practice,
Teaching
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Why would someone be interested in your
work?
How can you humanize and personalize
what you are doing?
How can you help others see themselves as
part of the solution you are proposing?
What “niche” can you fill?
Role of AAN
Each characteristic of the Reformed Health
System suggests a
Major role for The Academy to
Impact Health Policy and
Contribute to the Nation’s
Health!
Be Part of the Solution

Increase involvement, visibility, and influence
in the health policy process

Enhanced advocacy role
Briefings, hearings and testimonies
 Fellowship Opportunities: Robert Wood Johnson
Health Policy Fellowship; AAN/IOM Scholar
 Membership on key boards, committees, task forces
 Collect and provide data showing outcomes and
comparative effectiveness of nurse driven care

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative at UNM
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nursing and Health Policy
Collaborative at University of New Mexico:
• Prepares nurses to become leaders in health policy through
research and advocacy.
• Offers generous financial support for full-time study.
• Offers Web-based course study.
• Targets those from underrepresented populations.
• Provides funds to support student and faculty research.
• Provides resources and support from Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation Center for Health Policy.
For more information about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nursing
and Health Policy Collaborative at University of New Mexico visit our
Web site at www.nursinghealthpolicy.org
or write to us at CON-RWJF@salud.unm.edu.
Things to Do
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Develop and practice a 30 second “elevator”
speech on your project
Develop one page lay audience description of
your research or practice and the impact on
healthcare.
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Outcomes
Quality and Effectiveness
Cost savings or recovery
Safety
AND
Communicate
 Disseminate
 Synthesize Across Disciplines
 Integrate Into Practice
 Accelerate the Pace of Policy Development
 Provide data to inform and evaluate policy
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American Academy of Nursing
transforming health care policy and practice through nursing knowledge
AAN/IOM Scholars in Residence
Nurse Scholars
2012 Marla Salmon ScD, RN, FAAN
Project
Focus on micro-finance, nursing, and women’s development will
impact domestic and global health policy
2010 - Pamela F. Cipriano PhD, RN, FAAN
Project
Impact, implications of Health IT and identify technologies that
reduce errors, waste and promote seamless care coordination
2009 - Julie A. Fairman PhD, RN, FAAN
Project
Initiative on the Future of Nursing
Nurse Scholars
2008 - Mary E. Evans PhD, RN, FAAN
2007 - Carolyn Williams PhD, RN, FAAN
2006 - Ada Sue Hinshaw PhD, RN, FAAN
2005 - Jacquelyn C. Campbell PhD, RN, FAAN
2004 - Veronica D. Feeg PhD, RN, FAAN
2003 - Angela Barron McBride PhD, RN, FAAN
2002 - Bonnie M. Jennings DNSc, RN FAAN
Sampling of Work of Expert Panels
• Aging: Commented on proposed regulations regarding RNs
in LTC; Expressed concern to House leadership regarding
‘observational status”
• Emerging Infectious Diseases:
Published policy
brief Hepatitis C Screening and Testing: A Call for a National
Response; Wide dissemination of policy brief on the need for
routine testing for HIV
• Global Nursing and Health Care:
Policy brief:
Leadership needed to address the Global Nursing and
Midwifery Workforce Shortage
Sampling of Work of Expert Panels
• Quality: Preparing 6 positions papers
– Measuring Episode of Care Outcomes
– Measuring Care Coordination
– Measuring the Economic Value of Nursing
– Measuring Nurses’ Workload
– Measuring Patient Engagement
– Harmonizing Performance Measures—
Implications for Practice, Education, and Research
MedPAC Commissioner:
Mary Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN Transitions of Care
Chair National Health Workforce Commission:
Peter Buerhaus, PhD, RN, FAAN
Initiative on the Future of Nursing
Future of Nursing Report: Sue Hassmiller, Donna
Shalala, Linda Burnes Bolton, Michael Bleich, Jennie
Chin Hansen, Liana Orsolini-Hain
Action Coalitions: Multiple
Fellows
HRSA Administrator:
Mary Wakefield
CMS Innovation Center: Ellen-Marie Whelan
Our Patients, Our
Communities, Our
Health Care System,
Our Nation
Need Nurses to Successfully Inform
Policy Through Practice and Research
Through Engagement of Strategic
Partners
Activate Strategic Partner
Networks
Build Bridges with Common Vision
Soar to New Heights