Nurses’ access to policy-making processes is limited

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According to Anders (2021), nurses are professionals who are directly involved in patient care. Engagement front line nurses have with patients, and other healthcare professionals, make them ideal healthcare policy advocates. They have appropriate academic education and clinical expertise to serve as experts in sharing their knowledge with policymakers and others. Any other profession cannot replicate the situational knowledge of the healthcare needs of patients that this large workforce offers.

However, nurses’ access to policy-making processes is limited. The author supports the concept of barrier by explaining that despite nursing’s intrinsic involvement in the advocacy of the individual patient, the nursing voice is often not heard at a public level. Since nurses represent approximately 50% of the global health workforce, they should be actively involved in policy-making processes. However, nursing representation at the government and boardroom level is still slim (Anders, 2021).

The author suggests how nurses can participate in policy development. Meaningful policy change can occur at the institutional level, where nurses are accustomed to functioning. Nurses’ involvement in self‐governance within hospitals presents opportunities for staff nurses to participate in the clinical governance at a local level. Nurses can also begin as a member contributing to online discussions, blogs, or social media interest groups sponsored by the association, then progress to active participation in any number of subcommittees, and finally run for office.

Sample Solution

Nurses are well-positioned to be healthcare policy advocates. They have direct experience with patients and the healthcare system, which gives them a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities for improvement. Nurses also have the knowledge and expertise to inform policymakers about the impact of proposed policies on patients and healthcare professionals.

Despite their unique qualifications, nurses are often underrepresented in the policy-making process. This is due to a number of factors, including:

  • Lack of awareness of policy-making opportunities. Many nurses are not aware of the opportunities to participate in policy development.
  • Time constraints. Nurses often have heavy workloads and may not have time to participate in policy-making activities.
  • Lack of support from employers. Some employers may not be supportive of nurses participating in policy-making activities.
  • Lack of confidence. Some nurses may lack the confidence to participate in policy-making activities, especially if they have no prior experience.

Despite these challenges, there are a number of ways that nurses can participate in policy development. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Get involved in your professional association. Professional nursing associations, such as the American Nurses Association, play an important role in advocating for nurses and patients. Nurses can get involved in their professional association by attending meetings, joining committees, and writing letters to policymakers.
  • Contact your elected officials. Nurses can contact their elected officials to share their concerns about healthcare policy and to advocate for policies that support patients and nurses.
  • Participate in public hearings and comment on proposed policies. Nurses can participate in public hearings and comment on proposed policies to share their insights and perspectives.
  • Write blog posts and articles about healthcare policy. Nurses can write blog posts and articles about healthcare policy to educate the public and to advocate for positive change.
  • Use social media to raise awareness of healthcare policy issues. Nurses can use social media to raise awareness of healthcare policy issues and to mobilize others to take action.

Here are some specific examples of how nurses can participate in policy development at the institutional level:

  • Serve on hospital committees. Nurses can serve on hospital committees, such as the quality improvement committee or the patient safety committee, to participate in the development and implementation of policies that affect patient care.
  • Participate in shared governance. Shared governance is a model of healthcare delivery in which nurses have a say in the decision-making process. Nurses can participate in shared governance by serving on councils or committees that make decisions about patient care, staffing, and other issues.
  • Conduct research. Nurses can conduct research on healthcare policy issues and share their findings with policymakers.
  • Develop educational programs for policymakers and other stakeholders. Nurses can develop educational programs to teach policymakers and other stakeholders about healthcare policy issues.

Nurses are vital members of the healthcare team. They have a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities for improvement in the healthcare system. Nurses can play an important role in shaping healthcare policy by advocating for policies that support patients and nurses.

 

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