ANACA The Nursing Voice Fall 2019

10  . The Nursing Voice . Fall 2019 Nursing Advocating Through Public Policy Nurses have unlimited opportunities to advocate through the policymaking process for the communities they serve, profession, and care delivery. They are uniquely positioned by virtue of their knowledge, presence and influence at the point of care and as leaders at the systems level. Still, nursing is disproportionately underrepresented in the policy agenda, probably from lack of confidence and knowledge about the process. Nurses must avail themselves of the knowledge and exposure necessary to understand policy as an entity, a process and effective advocacy tool for change. Engaging in policymaking, nurses exert influence on the protection of the health and welfare of healthcare professionals and the communities served. Right for the Job Nurses are among the right professionals to influence healthcare policy based on their broad understanding of needs across the care continuum and practice settings as direct care providers, leaders, and decision-makers. As insiders, nurses have firsthand knowledge to educate policymakers on the stories, nuanced details and anecdotal findings to complement objective data that inform the crafting of rational policies to address the real concerns of individuals, popula- tions, and systems. This creates a comprehensive picture of the issues impacting care delivery, recipients and providers. Without nursing’s voice, a full understanding of these issues cannot be realized. Consequently, policies may be imbalanced and less reflective and direct in their approach, with negative implications for access, outcomes, and costs. Nursing Social Contract The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (ANA, 2015), animates nurses’ responsibility to social justice. This is supported by the IOM (2010) Future of Nursing report recommending interprofessional collabora- tion in health care redesign. This will be realized in diverse ways including active participation in the public policy agenda. As imple- menters of policy, patient advocates and consumers of healthcare, nurses are essential at all levels of the policymaking process. Unity of Purpose: Strength in Numbers A united and organized voice is crucial for impactful healthcare advocacy. Nurses comprise the largest segment of the healthcare workforce in the U.S., with over four million registered nurses (NCSBN, 2019). As Gallup’s most trusted professionals for the 17th consecutive year (Brenan, 2019), nurses must leverage this widespread credibility to accomplish policy goals. Get Involved: Practical Approaches Advocacy extends beyond the practice setting to politics, legislation and policymaking to include defining the issue/concern, informing Informing Public Policy: An important role in nursing advocacy. Careen C. Campbell, MSN-Ed., BSN, RN, RNC-OB Nursing Project Coordinator the legislative process and participation in policy design, implementa- tion, and evaluation. Membership and volunteerism in professional nursing organizations are organized effective approaches to influenc- ing healthcare policy. Resources are used to gain access and get the attention and response of policymakers and influencers to advance the concerns of the body (Milstead & Short, 2019). Nurses can engage in targeted and intentional activism in political and community groups that share their goals. For better understanding of the policymaking process, nurses must be educated on legislation and its impact on the policies that regulate healthcare delivery and providers. This can be a source of empowerment for advocacy for the profession and the public by informing legislators and consumers on issues of shared concern. Be informed on the priority issues/concerns to the community, policymakers, influencers, and the profession. Understand the legislative and policymaking processes and impact of public policy on healthcare. Understand your State’s Nurse Practice Act. Collaborate to gain broad perspectives and support. Contact legislators/staff. > Visit/Email/Call Attend legislative sessions; provide testimony. Participate in public comment sessions; write Op-Eds. Engage with organizations/thought leaders with influence on health/public policy. Advocacy through policymaking is integral to the future of healthcare and the nursing profession. Individually and collectively, nurses must be knowledgeable of the opportunities to determine where to exert the most influence. References American Nurses Association (ANA). (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses. Washington, DC: ANA. Brenan, M. (2019). Nurses Again Outpace Other Professions for Honesty, Ethics. Retrieved from: news.gallup.com/poll/245597/nurses-again-outpace-professions-honesty-ethics.aspx Institute of Medicine. (2010). Future of nursing report: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Milstead, J. A. & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics a nurse’s guide. (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) (2019). Active RN License. A Profile of Nursing Licensure in the U.S. Retrieved from: www.ncsbn.org/6161.html. Contact Careen — trista42@hotmail.com (714) 457-0956 Political Corner