NURS 6050 WU Policy & Advocacy for Improving Population Health Discussion

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.

The Roles of RNs and APRNs in Policy Making completed Paper 

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Introduction

Nurses fall into different categories depending on the education level and expertise. Similarly, nursing roles are different depending on the type of nurse and their specialization or expertise. Various opportunities also exist for different nurses. The RNs and APRNs have their unique roles that entail and define their careers. Nurses should set up policies to help them in the execution of duties. However, when setting the guidelines, some challenges may arise in hindering nurses from getting current opportunities. The discussion board discusses the opportunities existing for APRNs and RNs when participating in policymaking. Further, the paper entails nurses’ challenges in policymaking participation and the possible strategies to communicate the current opportunities.

Opportunities for APRNs and RNs

APRNs and RNs have many opportunities to participate in policymaking. Firstly, the existence of professional organizations that APRNs and RNs can engage. For instance, the RNs and APRNs can join the Emergency Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and the American Nursing Academy. Nurses can use such professional organizations to learn more about the policies that concern the nurses (Chan et al., 2013, p.2021). Moreover, professional organizations facilitate the effective implementation of policies. The organizations also favor participating nurses by ensuring that the policies promote their welfare during the review process.

Another opportunity exists in the nurses’ workplaces. At the workplace, nurses get a chance to exercise their responsibility. Also, nurses can impact available and prospective programs to enhance healthcare delivery. APRNs and RNs have a primary role in improving health and improving quality healthcare (Chan et al., 2013, p.2025). By engaging in workplace activities, nurses can influence existing policies and development of new policies. Moreover, when existing policies fail to enhance quality care, the nurses can request the policy’s revision or even decline that policy. At the workplace, APRNs and RNs can realize policies that can enhance and promote quality healthcare and the policies that fail to promote quality healthcare.

Challenges and Measures to Overcome

Sometimes the opportunities present several challenges for the nurses. For example, professional organization result in complexity in terms of the joining process. Many nurses attribute the failure to participate and join the organizations due to the complicated procedure when joining. Overcoming the challenge entails establishing an easily understandable and straightforward joining process (Butler & Diaz, 2017, p.18). Nurses will quickly join if the procedure is simple and understandable. Moreover, ineffective leadership in some organizations causes the organizations to be less radical. Therefore, the organizations’ leadership requires frequent reviews to change less performing leaders and enhance successful reforms.

The workplace opportunity also results in several challenges. Sometimes nurses may not get adequate information regarding the policies or need for their review. Similarly, other times the policymakers may not involve all nurses when doing the studies. Nurses should seek information concerning existing policies and possible policy reviews. They should also know their roles during the implementation of policies (Elliott, & Walden, 2015, p.481). Additionally, the workplace poses the challenge of disunity among nurses. It is possible to overcome the challenge by participating in activities that promote unity and focusing on common goals. Another challenge at the workplace entails poor leadership, limiting nurses’ ability to grow and enhance their leadership skills. Non-performing leaders occupy their positions for long, yet they do not perform. Nurses should advocate for equal leadership opportunities and be confident when they occupy such positions.

Possible Strategies to Enhance Communication

Nurses can employ several strategies to communicate existing opportunities. For instance, nurses can engage in training activities. Practical training enhances a better understanding of available options, the job environment and the nurses’ roles (Butler & Diaz, 2017, p.16). Secondly, an effective leadership strategy helps nurses to participate actively in airing their concerns regarding particular policies. Organizational leaders determine whether nurses can participate in policymaking and implementation. Knowledgeable nursing teams should implement the strategies of effective leadership and training.

Conclusion

Nursing policies are essential since they help nurses to execute their roles effectively. However, nurses may not participate in the procedures for various reasons. Overcoming those drawbacks entails joining professional organizations and encouraging unity at the workplace. When challenges such as poor leadership arise, nurses can unite to deal with such challenges. Also, APRNs and RNs should find leadership opportunities to occupy and promote effective policies that favor all nurses. Moreover, the goal is to promote successful patient outcomes, which is possible if only the policies encourage successful execution of nursing roles.

References

Butler, S., & Diaz, C. (2017). Nurses as intermediaries in the promotion of community health: Exploring Their Roles and Challenges. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/es_20170921_nurses_as_intermediaries.pdf

Chan, E. A., Jones, A., & Wong, K. (2013). The relationships between communication, care and time are intertwined: a narrative inquiry exploring the impact of time on registered nurses’ work. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(9), 2020-2029. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12064

Elliott, E. C., & Walden, M. (2015). Development of the transformational advanced professional practice model. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(9), 479-487. https://doi.org/10.1002/2327-6924.12171