NURS 6050 Walden University The Roles of RNs and APRNs in Policy Making Description
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.
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.
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Sample Answer Guide:
An opportunity for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-making is through advocacy and lobbying efforts. RNs and APRNs can join professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), which actively lobby for healthcare policies that promote patient safety, access to care, and nursing practice autonomy. These organizations also provide education and resources for nurses to advocate for policies at the local, state, and federal levels.
However, one potential challenge in this opportunity is the lack of time and resources for nurses to become involved in advocacy and lobbying efforts. Many nurses work long hours and may not have the time or energy to become involved in these activities. To overcome this challenge, nurses can utilize the resources provided by professional organizations and find ways to integrate advocacy into their daily work. For example, nurses can participate in virtual lobbying efforts and use social media platforms to advocate for policies.
Another opportunity for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-making is through serving on boards and committees. RNs and APRNs can serve on boards and committees at the local, state, and federal levels that shape healthcare policies. These boards and committees provide an opportunity for nurses to have a direct impact on healthcare policies that affect their patients and practice.
A potential challenge in this opportunity is the lack of knowledge and understanding of the policy-making process. RNs and APRNs may not have the background or knowledge needed to effectively participate in these boards and committees. To overcome this challenge, nurses can seek out education and training opportunities to learn more about the policy-making process. Additionally, nurses can seek out mentorship from experienced nurses who have served on boards and committees.
To better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities to participate in policy-making, nurses can utilize social media platforms to share information about the opportunities. Additionally, nurses can participate in continuing education opportunities that focus on policy-making and advocacy. By staying informed and educated about policy-making, nurses can effectively advocate for policies that improve patient outcomes and the nursing profession.
