Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges.

 

The most common challenge that policymakers face is their budget. However, nurses can bring social issues to the forefront of the policy discussion when considering a policy change. It is essential to consider the cost of the change (Barzegar et al., 2020). How much is the new policy going to cost? How will the policy change impact the way the hospitals function or spend their funds? Governments need to know how their new policy will impact the healthcare system and the citizens they serve (Barzegar et al., 2020). Health research is an integral part of determining the cost of the policy change and looking for the most cost-effective way to implement it (Milstead & Short, 2019) NURS 6050 week 8 Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making .

Finally, recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate these opportunities to participate in policymaking. Be specific and provide examples.

Nurses have the option to obtain membership in a professional nursing organization. As a member of a professional organization, nurses have the opportunity to assist with lobbying efforts for legislation. An example of a topic that has been at the forefront of nursing issues is the Nurse and Healthcare Worker Protection Act that was introduced to the 114th Congress (2015-2017) (Milstead & Short, 2019). This act was the result of lobbying completed by the American Nurses Association (ANA).  This legislation requires employers to purchase and maintain equipment to assist in lifting and transferring patients to protect nurses and nursing support staff from injury (Milstead & Short, 2019). Nurses should communicate to their colleagues who are members of their specific organization to get involved with lobbying efforts to assist with policy formation.

Nurses can also get involved in their own organization’s committees to help influence policy-making within their facility. Many committees exist within a hospital to help shape policy and review evidence-based practices (Lavenberg et al., 2019). One example would be joining the facility’s safety committee. This committee looks at the safety issues in the hospital. It works to determine ways to prevent the safety issue from re-occurring and advocate for policy changes based on evidence-based practices (Lavenberg et al., 2019) NURS 6050 week 8 Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making.

 

References

Barzegar Safari, M., Bahadori, M., & Alimohammadzadeh, K. (2020). The Related Factors of Nurses’ Participation and Perceived Benefits and Barriers in Health Policy Making. The Journal of Nursing Research : JNR, 28(4), e103. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000385

Lavenberg, J. G., Cacchione, P. Z., Jayakumar, K. L., Leas, B. F., Mitchell, M. D.