Running Head: ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE IN HEALTH POLICY 1

Role of the Professional Nurse in Health Policy

Tania Machin Triguero

St. Thomas University

Health Care Issues

Professor Merlyne Civil

July 30, 2020

ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE IN HEALTH POLICY 2

Abstract

The law-making process is a pivotal process which shapes and organizes health policies

in a country. The US healthcare system requires lobbying and influencing to implement the

required healthcare reforms and policies. Professional nurses are the primary personel that is

needed to push for the changes to occur throughout the community. Nurses play a significant role

regarding forming policies which affect the healthcare sector. The healthcare sector is amongst

the most critical sectors in the US and across the globe which calls for sound decision-making

and follows evidence-based policy formulation. Therefore, nurses are required to participate in

the process of forming the healthcare policies because they are knowledgeable on the problems

encountered within sector. Nurses know what can be done to improve the sector. However, this

can only be achieved if nurses are fully engaged in their profession. The primary focus will be on

the role that professional nurses play in health policy as well as an action plan that can be

implemented to increase nurses' engagement.

Keywords: healthcare policies, regulations, reform

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Role of the Professional Nurse in Health Policy

Professional nurses advocate for the patients' rights that some lawmakers tend to ignore

(Young, 2017). This is usually the case because nurses best understand the healthcare needs of

their patients therefore, this gives them the power to advocate and fight for the best healthcare

reform policies for the patients. This is possible when the nurses develop interests in

understanding the law-making process, which is a major infleucne while creating health care

policies. Some of patients' rights that the nurses advocate for are the right to medical care,

humane treatment, the right to informed consent, the right to confidentiality, and privacy.

Moreover, nurses play a role in understanding the policies. They ought to understand the

policies so that they can know who to influence, how to influence them, and the right to

influence them (Maaitah & AbuAlRub, 2017). Furthermore, nurses need to have a political

background and awareness so that they can stay updated with new and changing issues in the

healthcare field. This is made possible by nursing organizations that inform the nurses about

changing political affairs. They are continually updated on which health policies are changed,

and they can, therefore, give quality security and services to the patients after forming

agreements with the lawmakers.

By engaging in healthcare policy, professional nurses can have a significant impact on

resource allocation to the health care system (Milstead & Short, 2019). Resource allocation

refers to how the funds are divided among different programs or institutions throughout the

country. With appropriate resources available, the nurses can manage to take care of the patients

without restrictions. Healthcare resources include all materials, facilities, personnel, funds, or

anything that can be utilized in delivering high-quality services to patients. The professional
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nurses advocate for the best quality and quantity of resources when they are involved with the

healthcare policy.

Professional nurses also play a significant role in advising the policymakers, especially

on the new trends in the healthcare sector. They attend meetings and share their expertise and

advice regarding the health care sector. They are among the first people to realize that there is a

new disease or an infection, and they ought to inform the policymakers so that they can make

reforms if necessary (Gilmour & Huntington, 2017). Moreover, the nurses receive the patients'

compliments and complaints directly from them. Thus, it is their role to talk to the policymakers

and advise them accordingly. Nurses are also responsible for researching current issues regarding

public health. Policymakers are to follow their directions on how to best solve the problems.

Also, nurses evaluate patients' needs and make recommendations that can be used to

formulate policies in the healthcare sector. Most of the health-related policies stem from

professional nurses providing their input. Politicians and lawmakers cannot independently

develop laws or regulations affecting the healthcare sector without the engagement or

consultation of healthcare providers. With the information gathered from the patients,

professional nurses are able to meet with policymakers to develop relevant and effective policies

that can positevly affect the healthcare sector.

Nurses foster good relationships with different stakeholders to advocate or advance

health policies (Patton, Zalon & Ludwick, 2018). Most of the professionals in America and

across the world are involved in active organizations that bring professionals together to bargain

for common interests. Nursing professionals are involved in different organizations that are used

to advance policies related to their field (healthcare sector). A few nurses cannot make a

tremendous impact on policy reformation as far as the healthcare sector is related but every but
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well organized and registered groups of nurses can negotiate to have a say in the formation of

healthcare policies. Nursing organizations play a vital role in the development of healthcare

policies which initiate influences on governments and lawmakers to change or develop

healthcare policies. Using nursing organizations is one of the best ways in which nurses can

positively influence policymaking regarding the healthcare field as such organizations are

influential and highly respected by authorities.

A significant number of nurses have been appointed to serve in committees or

departments that take part in the formation of healthcare policies (Cherry & Jacob, 2016). Most

of the nurses appointed in such committees or departments have a vast experience in the nursing

field which serves as an added advantage to them when it comes to the formation of policies

affecting the healthcare sector. When appointed, the nurses take the opportunity to recommend

the best healthcare policies. In addition to being appointed in the healthcare committee and

relevant departments, some nurses have been lucky enough to serve in political positions.

Serving in a political position as a nurse provides the best opportunity to influence policies in the

healthcare field. Nurses push for the reforms through their alliances or associations, for example,

the Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA). These nurses are the most influential for the

essential healthcare reforms because of their high numbers, their expertise, and their positions.

Statistical reports show that in every 44 female voters in the US, there is one nurse (Milstead &

Short, 2019). Moreover, in every 100 voters, there is one nurse. Health improves when

professional nurses are involved in policymaking.

Nurses also participate in activities, seminars, and conferences that advance policies

related to the healthcare sector (Maaitah & AbuAlRub, 2017). Like any other sector where

conferences, meetings, and workshops are held to improve it, nursing professionals attend events
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that entail healthcare policies. Regardless if such events are free to attend or not, most nurses

sacrifice their time and resources to attend these events. However, most of these events are

sponsored, which allows many nurses to attend the events free of cost. During these events,

nurses participate and are engaged by presenting the issues affecting patients and the healthcare

sector in general. The recommendations provided by nurses during these events significantly

affects policies in the healthcare sector.

Writing papers, articles, and other types of professional publications is another way for

nurses to participate in policymaking related to healthcare (Young, 2017). Polices are not

developed without prior research because they exist to solve specific issues. Solving a problem

requires a critical examination of the problem to understand how the problem occurs, what

causes it, and how it can be solved. While nurses encounter daily challenges in the healthcare

sector, they publish articles or news journals based on what they have encountered, the nature of

the problem, and how such a problem can be addressed. The recommendations or observations

provided by nurses in their publications regarding a given healthcare issue are taken seriously by

the relevant authorities for further examination. Form the professional publications made by

nurses, healthcare departments, and authorities to develop policies that seek to address the

highlighted challenges in healthcare.

Action Plan to Implement the Role of The Nurse in Health Policy

Issues Strategy /action plan for Expected outcomes Evaluation criteria
affecting nurse involvement
nurse
Involvement
Long Shifts I. Hiring more nurses I. Improved patient I. Number of
to shorten working care patients
shifts. II. Increased admitted
II. Increasing nursing admission of II. Patient
facilities and patients. feedback and
resources recovery rate.
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Feeling I. Appreciating nurses I. Nurses will I. Rate of nurse

undervalued through gifts and become more engagement.
rewards, sponsoring motivated; hence, II. Number of
them to attend they will offer the errors
relevant seminars best patient care. committed
and conferences II. Increased
II. Introducing paid exposure of
leaves for nurses. nurses to new
nursing concepts
and experiences.
III. Motivated and
happy nurses.
Poor I. Ensuring effective I. Decreased rate of I. Patient
communicatio leadership that committing feedback.
n would ensure errors.
effective II. Timely patient
communication care.
between nurses and III. There would be
doctors and patients no more
II. Providing modern confusion among
communication nurses.
technologies.
Lack of I. Supporting I. Improved patient I. Number of
support teamwork by care complaints
encouraging them to II. A high rate of received
offer the best patient patient recovery
care III. A decrease in
II. Providing required complaints from
resources to nurses nurses and
III. Maintaining a good patients
working
environment for
nurses.
Poor I. Compensating I. Improved patient I. Turnover rate
remuneration nurses fairly based care of nurses
on their experience II. Low turnover II. Patient
and performance rates of nursers. recovery rates
III. Recruitment of
experienced
nurses.
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Seeking appointments with those in power and the relevant authorities is another way for

nurses to participate in policymaking which affects the healthcare sector. Most of the senior

nurses usually seek appointments with the relevant authorities to present any issues experienced

in the healthcare field (Maaitah & AbuAlRub, 2017). Although most of the appointments made

by nurses with politicians, lawmakers, and other relevant individuals or authorities are perceived

as political and personal gain, they influence policymaking (Milstead & Short, 2019). Politicians

and those in power are interested in addressing issues that affect public health to gain political

benefits. In other words, being close to politicians, lawmakers, and other people in power makes

it possible for nurses to present problems affecting healthcare, which affects the decision-making

process and policies in healthcare.

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References

Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management.

Elsevier Health Sciences.

Gilmour, J., & Huntington, A. (2017). Power and politics in the practice of nursing. Contexts of

Nursing: An Introduction, 183.

Maaitah, R. A., & AbuAlRub, R. F. (2017). Exploration of priority actions for strengthening the

role of nurses in achieving universal health coverage. Revista Latino-Americana de

Enfermagem, 25.

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Informing Public Policy: An Important Role for

Registered Nurses. Health policy and politics: A nurse's guide, 1-16.

Patton, R. M., Zalon, M. L., & Ludwick, R. (Eds.). (2018). Nurses making policy: From bedside

to boardroom. Springer Publishing Company.

Young, J. A. (2017). Political Advocacy: A Professional Responsibility for Nurses.