NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Walden University NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making– Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
How to Write the Body for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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Sample Answer for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
One of the opportunities that exist for the APRNs and RNs to participate actively in policy-making is the shift in demographics of the nursing workforce. The healthcare system in America is expected to experience an acute shortage of nurses by the year 2026 (AACN, n.d.). The shortage will be attributed to factors such as the high number of nurses who will be retiring, changes in patient demographics, and failure of institutions that train nurses to produce adequate numbers to meet the demand. This therefore implies that health organizations will have to struggle to provide care that meets the needs of their populations due to staff shortage (Haddad & Toney-Butler, 2019).. This issue presents a great opportunity for the RNs and APRNs to participate actively in policy making since healthcare sectors are exploring the possible interventions to address the issue. Healthcare stakeholders are increasingly recognizing the need for the incorporation of the inputs from the nurses in the strategies that would be adopted to address the issue of nursing shortage. Therefore, while it might be a challenge, shortage of nurses presents an opportunity for them to play an active role in policy-making.
Findings show that religious engagement among students declines during college, but their spirituality shows substantial growth. “Students become more caring, more tolerant, more connected with others, and more actively engaged in a spiritual quest.” (“Cultivating the Spirit – Spirituality in Higher Education”) The authors also found that spiritual growth enhances other outcomes, such as academic performance, psychological well-being, leadership development, and satisfaction with college. The study also identified a number of college activities that contribute to students’ spiritual growth. Some of these–study abroad, interdisciplinary studies, and service learning–appear to be effective because they expose students to new and diverse people, cultures, and ideas. Spiritual development is also enhanced if students engage in “inner work” through activities such as meditation or self-reflection, or if their professors actively encourage them to explore questions of meaning and purpose. (“Cultivating the Spirit – Spirituality in Higher (Alexander W, 2010)”). By raising public awareness of the key role that spirituality plays in student learning and development, by alerting academic administrators, faculty, and curriculum committees to the importance of spiritual development, and by identifying strategies for enhancing that development, this work encourages institutions to give greater priority to these spiritual aspects of students’ educational and professional development.
The second opportunity that exists for the APRNs and RNs to participate actively in policymaking is the presence of professional bodies. A number of professional bodies that address the needs of the RNs and APRNs exist. Examples include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and American Nurses Association. These organizations provide RNs and APRNs with opportunities to participate in issues influencing their practice. They also provide these nurses with opportunities to present their views on the manner in which nursing policies should be transformed. The membership of the RNs and APRNs in these professional organizations also eliminates challenges such as their victimization due to their involvement or advocacy for policy changes (Masters, 2018). Therefore, besides representing these nurses, professional bodies provide RNs and APRNs to provide their insights into policy changes that are needed to transform their practice.
One of the challenges that the above opportunities present to APRNs and RNs role in policymaking is the lack of time for them to participate in the process. An acute shortage of nurses will imply that the workload for the remaining nurses will rise significantly. It will also increase the risk of burnout and job dissatisfaction among them. As a result, most of them will lack the time to engage in activities contributing to policy transformation. They will also lack the motivation to contribute to policy making on issues that affect their practice (Haddad & Toney-Butler, 2019). Therefore, while shortage of nurses is anticipated to bring opportunities in policymaking, it might also hinder the participation of RNs and APRNs in policymaking due to high workload.
The other challenge that the professional bodies for nurses might present to RNs and APRNs role in policymaking is low level of awareness among them on their role in policymaking. It is evident that participation of RNs and APRNs in activities of their professional organizations is significantly low. This is attributed to factors such as lack of information concerning them and low interest among the members in participating in them. It could also be attributed to the influence of misrepresentation of the members in these organizations (Masters, 2018). Therefore, such instances make professional organizations act as barriers in the active participation of RNs and APRNs in policymaking.
One strategy that I will utilize to advocate the existence of the above opportunities is embracing open communication. Open channels of communication are essential in creating awareness among RNs and APRNs on the existence of these opportunities. There should be sharing of information, opinions, and concerns on the ways in which the participation of the nurses can be enhanced (Masters, 2018). Open communication will ensure that the views of the entire nursing workforce are considered in the policy formulation and implementation processes.
The second strategy is strengthening the creation of organizational culture that promotes change. It is essential that health organizations recognize the role played by the RNs and APRNs in policymaking processes. They should support the adoption of interventions that increase their participation in policymaking activities. They should also ensure that leadership styles used in the organization promote flexibility in embracing change (Masters, 2018). Through this, RNs and APRNs are motivated to play an active role in policymaking activities that contribute to the development of their profession.
References
AACN. (n.d.). Fact Sheet: Nursing Shortage. Retrieved on 20th March, 2020 from https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/Nursing-Shortage-Factsheet.pdf
Haddad, L. M., & Toney-Butler, T. J. (2019). Nursing shortage. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Masters, K. (2018). Role development in professional nursing practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
This is insightful. RNs, and APRNs are always given opportunities to participate in decision-making. For most healthcare institutions, the contribution of registered nurses and advanced registered nurses is significant given the knowledge and experiences they possess in the provision of different healthcare services (Gazza, 2019). Nurses are needed to serve on boards where they can improve health care practices and outcomes. Both RNs and APRNs have different platforms where they can express their ideas and participate in the policy-making processes (Moore et al., 2020). One of these platforms is the professional nursing organization, where they can contribute significantly to improving the healthcare process. Research and education are some other platforms where nurses can participate to ensure improvement in different healthcare processes. Unlike RN nurses, APRN has advanced roles that make them considered in the decision-making processes (Kooienga & Wilkinson, 2017). First, they have advanced knowledge and experiences, which allow them to participate as nurse advocates and in administrative positions. The ANA advocates for nursing have a seat at the table for all healthcare discussions.
References
Gazza, E. A. (2019). Using Twitter to Engage Online RN-to-BSN Students in Health Care Policy. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(2), 107–109. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3928/01484834-20190122-08
Kooienga, S., & Wilkinson, J. (2017, January). RN prescribing: an expanded role for nursing. In Nursing forum (Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 3-11). https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12159
Moore, A., Parks, K., & Mello, I. (2020). Transitioning from RN to APRN. Nursing made Incredibly Easy, 18(2), 51-54. https://journals.lww.com/nursingmadeincrediblyeasy/Citation/2020/03000/Transitioning_from_RN_to_APRN.9.aspx
Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Thank you for the information you shared in your discussion. Through policy making nurses can and should influence practice standards and processes to assure the quality of health care. Nurses who influence policy, also impact resource allocation to support delivery of health care (Phillips, 2003).
Nurses should be provided with resources to get involved in political campaigns, writing letters to editors, engaging with politicians and carrying out lobbying activities.
Reference
Phillips, R. (2003). Health Care Policy: The Nurse’s Crucial Role. American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing. https://www.aaacn.org/volunteer/teams/legislative/health-care-policy-nurses-crucial-role
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Sample Answer 4 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Nurses should be a component of the policy review process to enhance their careers, care delivery, and better their organizations’ ability to offer primary care interventions. Imperatively, the first opportunity for nurse to be part of the policymaking is through participation in meetings to discuss policy matters. Through these fora, RNs and APRNs can influence other stakeholders to understanding healthcare issues better and existing challenges so that they can develop frameworks to address any shortcomings or improve on better practiced for quality care delivery (Joel, 2017). Through the meetings, nurses can offer insights on what should be done to reduce cost of healthcare among other issues. The second opportunity is through being members of professional organizations like the American Nurses Association. These entities collect data and disseminate it through giving information and knowledge to their members to improve policies and patient outcomes (Milstead & Short, 2019). Professional organizations give nurses the opportunity to review policies and apply evidence-based practice research to inform of the best practice interventions to enhance care delivery.
Challenges in these opportunities include the limited time that may constraint nurses from going for professional meetings and conferences to horn new trends and nursing skills. Secondly, joining professional associations like the ANA poses challenges to nurses and one among these is the availability of diverse opinions that one may not agree with and find not compatible to their perspective (Schaeffer & Haebler, 2019). Evaluation of health policies may also encounter limited resource allocation. More fundamentally, lack of knowledge on the use of EBP among nurses may hinder its effectiveness.
Strategies to communicate better and advocate for policy reviews are important. These include deployment of research on health policy to help determine ways to improve care. Nurses can also use available resources to ensure that they are effective in their communication and interactions with other stakeholders (Milstead & Short, 2019). Training and education can also help them understand policies much better and disseminate knowledge to stakeholders.
References
Joel, L. A. (2017). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essentials for Role Development. F.A. Davis.
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.).
Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Schaeffer, R., & Haebler, J. (2019). Nurse Leaders: Extending your policy influence. Nurse
Leader, 17(4), 340-343. doi 10.1016/j.mnl.2019.05.010
Sample Answer 5 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
When talking about the healthcare professionals, the roles of nurses, either the registered nurses (RNs) or the advanced nurse practitioners APRNs) can not be underrated. Nurses offer a unique, expert perspective on every aspect of the health care system and have an important voice in efforts to improve health (American Nurses Association [ANA], n.d.). Based on this, their involvement in the policy-making process is very paramount. The participation of the nurses in policy-making will facilitate patient care delivery. RNs’ and APRNs’ influence in health policies protects patient safety, increases the quality of care, facilitates their access to the required resources, and promotes quality health care (Arabi et al., 2014).
Nursing organizations promote active participation by nurses in policymaking. For instance, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing emphasizes the role of nursing in the policy. For example, many educational programs incorporate policymaking into their curriculum. The National League for Nursing and the American Nurses Association also expect nurses to address policy as part of their professional role (Burke, 2016a).
How Nurses Can Partake in Policy-Making Process
A few of the numerous ways a nurse can partake in policymaking process are reading through pieces of literature and learning how policy is developed. Also, one should seek out policy areas one wants to influence, search the internet, research, and contact nursing organizations that participate in policy development. Nursing organizations and organizations such as AARP have multiple user-friendly internet sites that provide information about participating in policymaking activities (Burke, 2016b). Another way to become actively involved in policymaking is to meet with both local and state legislatures. Also, nurses can become actively involved in policymaking by becoming a nursing organization member such as American Nurses Association (ANA) or any other nursing professional organization (ANA, n.d.).
Challenges in Policy-Making Process
As there are many opportunities to get involved in the policymaking process, so are some challenges. One of those challenges includes difficulty in getting the ideas/agenda to the floor of the house. To overcome this challenge, one must be sure that he/she is knowledgeable with evidence-based facts regarding the issue before presenting to the policymakers. Involving the media is another way to get one’s agenda to the floor of the house and finally passed into law. Disseminating the information through social media brings the issue to the public’s awareness, which in turn pressurizes the law makers. Social media can support nursing campaigns and help the profession build relationships with key stakeholders to influence policy and political processes (O’Connor & Holloway, 2019).
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References
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Health Policy. Retrieved January 17, 2021 from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/health-policy/
Arabi, A., Rafii, F., Cheraghi, M. A., & Ghiyasvandian, S. (2014). Nurses’ policy influence: A concept analysis. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 19(3), 315–322.
Burke S. (2016). Influence through policy: Nurses have a unique role. Retrieved January 17, 2021 from https://nursingcentered.sigmanursing.org/commentary/more-commentary/Vol42_2_nurses-have-a-unique-role
The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Word cloud generators have become popular tools for meetings and team-building events. Groups or teams are asked to use these applications to input words they feel best describe their team or their role. A “word cloud” is generated by the application that makes prominent the most-used terms, offering an image of the common thinking among participants of that role.
What types of words would you use to build a nursing word cloud? Empathetic, organized, hard-working, or advocate would all certainly apply. Would you add policy-maker to your list? Do you think it would be a very prominent component of the word cloud?
Nursing has become one of the largest professions in the world, and as such, nurses have the potential to influence policy and politics on a global scale. When nurses influence the politics that improve the delivery of healthcare, they are ultimately advocating for their patients. Hence, policy-making has become an increasingly popular term among nurses as they recognize a moral and professional obligation to be engaged in healthcare legislation.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
To Prepare:
- Revisit the Congress.gov website provided in the Resources and consider the role of RNs and APRNs in policy-making.
- Reflect on potential opportunities that may exist for RNs and APRNs to participate in the policy-making process.
By Day 3 of Week 8
Post an explanation of at least two opportunities that exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-making. 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 to participate in policy-making. Be specific and provide examples.
Sample Answer 6 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Policymaking
A Registered nurse and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse perspective on healthcare system matters especially if it’s the benefit for the population. There are ways on how a registered nurse can influence policy making by taking opportunities to be involved and be a voice for the community to make a connection with the government and helping them in health-related decisions. As a registered nurse you can always join in State and National Nurses Associations like American Nurses Association which aim to create policies that are related to health and can influence local, state, and federal levels. Another way is to attend legislative sessions to know how the system works and being able to understand how decisions were made.
Challenges
One of the challenges for nurses in policy making is that nurses work on implementing the policies rather than developing it due to lack of knowledge, resources, support are one of the barriers in participating of health policymaking. According to World Health Organization (WHO) health policy is about making decisions, plans, and actions to address an issue within the community to improve public safety and the quality of care. (Hajizadeh et al., 2021) there must be a motivation for nurses to make them involve in health policy making process. As nurses they deal with patients and their families closely so therefore their perspective matters in policymaking. Different health policies have direct effects on nurses and nurses play a significant role in professional development and it can contribute appropriate formation for health policymaking.
Ways to overcome challenges
The International Council for Nurses (ICN) emphasizes and supports efforts in improving nurse’s readiness in developing policies. ICN has been working on how to address the topics such as the process of developing the policymaking, different ways on how make policies, and how nurses and organizations can influence policy making. The Global Nursing Now Campaign is joining forces with ICN and WHO to strengthen the strategic leadership of nurses. There are different factors affecting the ability of nurses to be active in developing policies. It includes gaining knowledge and experience in developing health policies on healthcare systems, policy research and in leadership skills. The fact that nurses are knowledgeable, skilled, well-educated they have limited involvement in developing policies and political decisions. Nurses’ participation in policy making is significant especially in Low-and-Middle Income Countries where nurses comprise larger proportion of health sector workforce. Therefore, enhancing their ability to understand, generating, and utilizing research is beneficial in making a policy (Hajizadeh et al., 2021).
Strategies to advocate
Nurses can advocate for healthcare policymaking changes by gaining more knowledge on legislative process, participating in public forums for healthcare, provide support and nursing or medical testimony during government meetings on healthcare policies, subscribing to local, state or national healthcare advocacy, working with schools to improve healthcare access, connecting with the government officials or agencies, and share your experience as a healthcare professional to the community and to policymakers. These are helpful to be involved in policymaking which will make an impact to the community.
By Day 6 of Week 8
Respond to at least two of your colleagues’* posts by suggesting additional opportunities or recommendations for overcoming the challenges described by your colleagues.
*Note: Throughout this program, your fellow students are referred to as colleagues.
Sample Answer 7 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
You mention that one way to address nurses’ barriers to participating in policymaking is education. While reading about nursing education that includes policy making and advocacy, I found that there exists an entire segment of nursing dedicated to policy- health policy nursing. These nurses are trained to advise government, law makers, public policy professionals, and think tanks! (Morris, 2023). But even for nurses who are not specifically trained for health care policy, there is advocacy and policy education. Increasingly, nursing schools offer healthcare policy classes responding to awareness that four million nurses in the most trusted profession are important to moving health care policy. (Morris, 2023). We are in one such class now! Johns Hopkins School of Nursing offers a two-semester policy program whose outcomes are introducing students early to how they impact the policy process and teaching confidence and skills needed to connect with policy makers. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation offers a Health Policy Research Scholars program to doctoral nursing students with goals similar to the Hopkins program.
Both these programs address the challenges nurses face when engaging in policy making – lack of educational preparedness, lack of confidence to challenge policy makers, difficulty explaining policy positions, and general lack of exposure and experience. (Rashid, et.al., 2020). Morris (2023) notes that increased and appropriate nursing education boosts nurses’ confidence. Disch (2020) notes that education informs the nursing lens – nurses’ widened view of social, economic, and cultural determinants of health due to education and experience. One can assume that once nurses are better prepared to form policy positions and speak to their policy ideas, they will surmount the intra and interpersonal conflicts Rashid et.al. describe and marginalization related to lack of mentorship and male dominated hierarchy in healthcare settings. (2020).
Nurses are uniquely positioned to change healthcare policy from the unit council to international public health, but we must prepare. The research tells us so as does our personal experience…here and now in this class.
Disch J. Nursing leadership in policy formation. Nurs Forum. 2020 Jan;55(1):4-10. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12375. Epub 2019 Aug 19. PMID: 31424565
Morris, G. (2023, March 8). Why policy engagement is the next big nursing trend. Nurse Journal. Retrieved from Why Policy Engagement Is The Next Big Nursing Trend – NurseJournal
Sample Answer 8 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Along with your discussion, policymakers already have the tendency to believe what nurses say because they are frequently regarded as the most trusted profession in America (Walden, n.d.). The American Nurses Association (ANA) is well known, yet someone might be wondering what to do after joining. The ANA has a toolkit that can assist you in starting your own advocacy efforts in addition to taking part in national policy campaigns. Worldwide support for nurses is provided by the ANA. They are aware that nurses serve as the frontline providers of healthcare, and they are our strongest change agents. The greatest contributions and insights on how to alter the health care system in this country come from nurses (ANA, 2017). I believe that nurses need to be better informed about getting involved, their importance, and how their actions affect the healthcare system. The more information nurses are given to demonstrate their influence, the more motivated they will be to effect change.
References:
About ANA: ANA enterprise. ANA (2017, October 14). Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/Links to an external site.
Why-nurses-are-such-good-advocates-for-policy-change. Walden University. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/online-master-of-science-in-nursing/resource/why-nurses-are-such-good-advocates-for-policy-change
Sample Answer 9 for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
You mention that one way to address nurses’ barriers to participating in policymaking is education. While reading about nursing education that includes policy making and advocacy, I found that there exists an entire segment of nursing dedicated to policy- health policy nursing. These nurses are trained to advise government, law makers, public policy professionals, and think tanks! (Morris, 2023). But even for nurses who are not specifically trained for health care policy, there is advocacy and policy education. Increasingly, nursing schools offer healthcare policy classes responding to awareness that four million nurses in the most trusted profession are important to moving health care policy. (Morris, 2023). We are in one such class now! Johns Hopkins School of Nursing offers a two-semester policy program whose outcomes are introducing students early to how they impact the policy process and teaching confidence and skills needed to connect with policy makers. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation offers a Health Policy Research Scholars program to doctoral nursing students with goals similar to the Hopkins program.
Both these programs address the challenges nurses face when engaging in policy making – lack of educational preparedness, lack of confidence to challenge policy makers, difficulty explaining policy positions, and general lack of exposure and experience. (Rashid, et.al., 2020). Morris (2023) notes that increased and appropriate nursing education boosts nurses’ confidence. Disch (2020) notes that education informs the nursing lens – nurses’ widened view of social, economic, and cultural determinants of health due to education and experience. One can assume that once nurses are better prepared to form policy positions and speak to their policy ideas, they will surmount the intra and interpersonal conflicts Rashid et.al. describe and marginalization related to lack of mentorship and male dominated hierarchy in healthcare settings. (2020).
Nurses are uniquely positioned to change healthcare policy from the unit council to international public health, but we must prepare. The research tells us so as does our personal experience…here and now in this class.
Disch J. Nursing leadership in policy formation. Nurs Forum. 2020 Jan;55(1):4-10. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12375. Epub 2019 Aug 19. PMID: 31424565
Morris, G. (2023, March 8). Why policy engagement is the next big nursing trend. Nurse Journal. Retrieved from Why Policy Engagement Is The Next Big Nursing Trend – NurseJournal
Rasheed, Subia Parveen,M.N., R.N., Younas, Ahtisham,M.N., B.S.N., & Mehdi, Fahmida,M.Sc, R.N. (2020). Challenges, extent of involvement, and the impact of nurses’ involvement in politics and policy making in in last two decades: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(4), 446-455. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12567
Sample Answer for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Building a more inclusive, patient-centered, and efficient healthcare system depends on empowering nurses to play active roles in developing healthcare policies. We can shape the future of healthcare by giving nurses the tools, opportunities, and resources they need to participate meaningfully in policy dialogues.
The writer was surprised to read that countries such as Israel allow nurses to actively participate in committee meetings where choices on health care policy are being made, such as through the Ministry of Health, Parliament, and even trade union activities (Gandelman & Moran, 2021). The influence and participation of nurses in developing health policy are almost nonexistent in practice. It is crucial to modify how people in different cultures view the nurse’s job and to show that nurses can participate in developing and implementing healthcare policies (Gandelman & Morna, 2021). Most students do not feel prepared or have the skills to transform change (Gandelman & Moran, 2021). The writer agrees that a great way is through education classes such as this one. The writer liked your suggestion to create a hospital committee where speakers could speak and provide updates on important issues that need our support and input. Some hospitals have a Legislative Action Interest Group (LAIG) that forms partnerships with the nursing department of the hospital and the Office of Government Relations (Waddell et al., 2016) LAIG is a hospital-based health policy forum for nurses to explore clinical implications and inform policymakers about nursing practice and patient care (Waddell et al., 2016). With the growing knowledge gained from this class, the writer is going to investigate whether or not our hospital can offer such opportunities.
Reference
Gandelman, E., & Moran, D. (2021). Attitudes of Nursing Students Regarding Nurses’
Involvement in Health Care Policy: A New Model Predicting Future Involvement. Nursing
Education Perspectives, 42(1), E7–E11.
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000732
Waddell, A., Audette, K., DeLong, A., & Brostoff, M. (2016). A Hospital-Based Interdisciplinary
Model for Increasing Nurses’ Engagement in Legislative Advocacy. Policy, Politics & Nursing
Practice, 17(1), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/152715441663063
Rubric Detail
Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout.
Name: NURS_6003_Module01_
| Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Posting |
45 (45%) – 50 (50%)
Answers all parts of the discussion question(s) expectations with reflective critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. Supported by at least three current, credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
40 (40%) – 44 (44%)
Responds to the discussion question(s) and is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. At least 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with one or no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
35 (35%) – 39 (39%)
Responds to some of the discussion question(s). One or two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Post is cited with two credible sources. Written somewhat concisely; may contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors. |
0 (0%) – 34 (34%)
Does not respond to the discussion question(s) adequately. Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible sources. Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
| Main Post: Timeliness |
10 (10%) – 10 (10%)
Posts main post by day 3.
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not post by day 3.
|
| First Response |
17 (17%) – 18 (18%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
15 (15%) – 16 (16%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
13 (13%) – 14 (14%)
Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited. |
0 (0%) – 12 (12%)
Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. |
| Second Response |
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
12 (12%) – 13 (13%)
Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited. |
0 (0%) – 11 (11%)
Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. |
| Participation |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not meet requirements for participation by posting on 3 different days.
|
| Total Points: 100 |
|---|
Also Read: NURS 6050 Professional Nursing and State-Level Regulations
Sample Answer for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
Opportunity 1: Engaging in Professional Nursing Associations
Joining and participating in professional nursing associations is one way for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to actively participate in policymaking. These organizations give nurses a place to collaborate with their peers, develop leadership skills, and influence healthcare policies (American Nurses Association, 2021). RNs and APRNs can advocate for policies that improve patient care, address health disparities, and promote the nursing profession by joining these organizations (Smolowitz et al., 2015).
Opportunity 2: Participating in Health Policy Internships and Fellowships
Pursuing health policy internships and fellowships is another way for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policymaking. These programs give nurses hands-on experience in policy development, implementation, and evaluation, as well as legislative exposure (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Participation in such programs provides RNs and APRNs with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively advocate for policies that improve healthcare outcomes and population health (Rushton et al., 2018).
Challenges:
Time constraints and competing priorities are two challenges that RNs and APRNs may face when participating in policymaking through professional nursing associations or internships and fellowships. Trying to balance work, family, and other responsibilities can make it difficult for nurses to devote time to these opportunities (Smolowitz et al., 2015)
Overcoming this challenge: To address this issue, nurses can seek assistance from their employers in obtaining flexible work schedules or professional development time dedicated to policy engagement. Furthermore, nurses can prioritize their participation in policy-making activities by setting attainable goals and collaborating with peers to share responsibilities (American Nurses Association, 2021).
Lack of confidence and expertise in policymaking: A lack of confidence and expertise in policymaking is another challenge that RNs and APRNs may face. Many nurses may feel unready to participate in policy debates or navigate the legislative process (Rushton et al., 2018).
Overcoming this challenge: Nurses can gain confidence and expertise by participating in educational programs, workshops, or seminars on health policy, legislative processes, and advocacy. Working with experienced nurse advocates and mentors can also help you navigate the policy-making process (Institute of Medicine, 2011).
Recommendations for better advocacy and communication of opportunities:
Utilize social media and online platforms: RNs and APRNs can use social media and online platforms to raise awareness about policy-making opportunities. They can share information about upcoming events, internships, and fellowships, as well as interact with colleagues via online forums or discussion groups. By utilizing these platforms, nurses can reach a larger audience and encourage more of their peers to participate in policymaking (American Nurses Association, 2021).
Example: A nurse could start a LinkedIn group dedicated to discussing health policy issues and promoting available opportunities. They could share resources, events, and experiences to encourage and support their colleagues’ participation in policymaking.
Create and promote opportunities for policy engagement through collaborative partnerships with academic institutions and healthcare organizations: Nurses can create and promote opportunities for policy engagement through collaborative partnerships with academic institutions and healthcare organizations. These collaborations can provide nurses with resources, expertise, and support to ensure that they are well-prepared to participate in policymaking (Institute of Medicine, 2011).
An APRN, for example, could collaborate with a local university to create a health policy course or workshop for nurses that could be promoted within healthcare organizations and through professional nursing associations. This collaboration would not only raise awareness about policymaking opportunities but would also provide nurses with the necessary education and training to effectively participate in these opportunities.
References:
American Nurses Association. (2021). Policy & advocacy. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/policy-advocacy/Links to an external site.
Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. National Academies Press.
Rushton, C., Williams, C., Paparella, S., & Kelley, S. (2018). Health policy leadership for nurses. Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(7-8), 365-367.
Smolowitz, J., Speakman, E., Wojnar, D., Whelan, E. M., Ulrich, S., Hayes, C., & Wood, L. (2015). Role of the registered nurse in primary health care: Meeting health care needs in the 21st century. Nursing Outlook, 63(2), 130-140.
Sample Answer for NURS 6050 The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making
According to studies RN and APRN participate in policymaking by evaluating the needs of the patient and point up the policy message. They take part in activities that promote health-policy advancement, for instance, by running a campaign about a public health issue. They also create awareness for other policymakers about health needs that should be addressed in the policy. They research on opportunities to help improve health policies within a macro or microenvironment. They also attend meetings related to health policies and contribute to areas they feel should be improved (Thomas et al 2016, p.3).
According to research, nursing is the largest profession in the world. Therefore, being the majority, they have the power to influence political and policy development at the local level and state level. However, they can only succeed in influencing policies by working together with other medical professionals (Norful et al 2017, p.15-23).
Another opportunity for nurses to influence policies is through professional nursing organizations where nurses can address health policy issues to the government through writing. They can also run for elective state positions so that they can take part in health decision making.
Nursing ability to influence policies is limited by various factors which include lack of experience about policymaking since for several years; they have been taking part in the implementation of the policies only. Lack of knowledge since policymaking is not included in nursing education and also nurses have a challenge of limited resources such as workforce which result in limited time to engage in other matters outside nursing practice (Buerhaus et al 2017, p.40-46).
However, the barriers can be overcome by introducing policy development in the curriculum of nursing schools and also by encouraging nurses to run for the official elective position to that they can address health policy matters directly.
I would recommend community and state support for nurses to participate in leadership, for instance, by availing adequate resources such as labour so that they can get time to engage in policymaking activities and meetings. Recruitment of more nurses, for example, new graduate nurses with advanced knowledge can also help improve the effect of nurses in policymaking.
References
Buerhaus, P. I., Skinner, L. E., Auerbach, D. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2017). Four challenges facing the nursing workforce in the United States. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(2), 40-46.
Norful, A., Martsolf, G., de Jacq, K., & Poghosyan, L. (2017). Utilization of registered nurses in primary care teams: A systematic review. International journal of nursing studies, 74, 15-23.
Thomas, T. W., Seifert, P. C., & Joyner, J. C. (2016). Registered nurses leading innovative changes. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 21(3).