Nurses spend a lot of time with patients and their opinions are an important when it comes to decision
making in healthcare policy. We, as nurses need to understand policy making so that we can become
active advocates for our patients.
Participation in Policy Making
To actively participate in policy making, the nurse can join professional organizations or run for an
elected position in the local, state or federal level. There are various professional organizations for the
RNs and APRNs to be actively involved in, for example: the American Nurses Association, Emergency
Nurses Association, and the American Academy of Nursing. Professional organizations ensure that any
policy that is implemented is effective and favors the nurses and the patients. (DeLeskey, 2003).
Another opportunity to participate in policy making is through the workplace. The RNs and APRNs are
professionals who are in a position and have the capacity to influence the existing and future healthcare
delivery programs. The nurses can promote the policies that promote quality care and decline the
policies that do not promote quality health in their places of work (Law, 2016).
Another way to be involved in policy review is to run for an office position. The nurse can hold office in
the local, state, or federal level. Currently, three nurses are serving in Congress, Congresswoman Eddie
Bernice Johnson, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, and Congresswoman Cori Bush who can serve as
examples to other nurses (American Nurses Association).
Challenges
The membership process including fees charged by professional organizations can be a challenge and
may hinder many nurses from joining organizations. This can be solved by explaining the steps needed
and how the membership funds are utilized. Sometimes the organizations hold live meetings that can
limit the nurses due to location and limited ability to attend. Another challenge is that nurses view
nursing advocacy as too complicated and intimidating. This can be overcome by getting involved in
smaller ways for example alerting the public and informing them of the policies that will impact their
healthcare (Law, 2016).
Communication
Strategies that lead to better communication of the existence of these opportunities include training the
nurses to better understand their roles and the effect they have on public health policy. Good leadership
will also give the nurses a chance to review policies and give their feedback on certain health policies. In
order to communicate these opportunities, nurses could form or join social media groups on Facebook,
twitter, and Instagram m where they can spread the information on why it’s essential to be involved in
policy making and review and how to become an advocate. Also, nurses who are not yet members of
their State Nurses Association, could be notified of the additional benefits and how their participation is
important in affecting the making of health policies. Another strategy is to involve the media and use
them to advertise and bring the information to the public. This will allow the public to become aware of
the current healthcare issues, and impact what issues are put on the political agenda (Law, 2016).
Resources.
American Nurses Association. (n.d). Nurses Serving in Congress. Retrieved July 21, 2021, from Nurses
Serving in the U.S. Congress | ANA Enterprise (nursingworld.org)
American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.). Advocacy. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/
DeLeskey, K. (2003). Factors affecting nurses’ decisions to join and maintain membership in professional
associations. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 18(1), 8–17. https://doiorg.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1053/jpan.2003.18030008
Law, M. (2016). Making Your Voice Heard. How Nurses Can Advocate for Improved Care--at Any Level.
ONS Connect, 31(3), 10–14.
Lewinski, A. A., & Simmons, L. A. (2018). Nurse Knowledge and Engagement in Health Policy Making:
Findings from a Pilot Study. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 49(9), 407–415. https://doiorg.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3928/00220124-20180813-06
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington,
MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.