Discussion 2: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making

The Role of the RN/APRN in Policymaking

Response 2 – Solange

Thank you for your post Solange. The public health officials who form health policies, inform the general public, and influence government policy decision-making mostly comprise of physicians with first-hand experiences. In the same essence, nurses also possess adequate education and first-hand experience to inform healthy public policy. Nurses need to start taking initiative to be more involved in politics to influence positive patient outcomes. As per Barzegar Safari et al. (2020), currently, nurses only participate at a moderate level in policy making activities.

Through the course, we have realized the importance of participating in professional nursing organizations to take an active role in political action. As beginners, nurses can take on small roles at their unit level to explore the policy-making related activities as you mentioned. The only way to know what is involved in policymaking is to actively participate in political action activities and seeking opportunities (Milstead & Short, 2019). For example: nursing school provides us with basic knowledge and skills for a particular area of nursing but with experience we become proficient with the policies, skills, medications, etc. of a certain unit. As novice nurses, hesitancy to start something new is natural, especially politics, but that should not stop one from engaging.

Some of the strategies identified to increase nurses’ participating in politics and policy making include providing information to nurses regarding health policies, increasing nurses’ partnerships at senior levels of management, and changing nurse’s perception regarding their participation in politics is vital (Barzegar Safari et al., 2020). By using the mentioned strategies suggested, it has the potential to change nurses’ perceptions and become more actively involved. Just as nurses have the obligation to act in patients’ best interests at all times, nurses also have an obligation to participate in policymaking as policies affect patient outcomes at a broader level.

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, 28(4), 1-8. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000385

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.).        Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Health systems are developing rapidly as well as changing. As a part of this system, nurses are expected to live up with these changes. Therefore, nurses are expected to influence the formulation of health policies rather than just implementation of them. Then, they need to be active in the development of health policies to be better able to control their practice. Nurse leaders during this process have a very important role. They need to acquire policy-making skills to address professional challenges. Because of their values, professional ethics, advocacy skills, and experiences, nurse leaders have unique and valuable views toward health policies. There has been increasing growth toward nurses’ presence, role, and influence in health policies during recent decades. Nurses are expected to identify the issues deliberately and work with other decision-makers to advance health care policies. They should understand the levels of power, and know who controls the resources of health services in their organizations. Therefore, we can go ahead and say that nurses have to be involved in policies that affect patients, families, themselves, and the whole health care system (Arabi, Rafii, Cheraghi & Ghiyasvandian, 2014).

Reference:

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.

Rubric Detail

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Name: NURS_6050_Module04_Week08_Discussion_Rubric

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Main Posting
Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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
Points Range: 10 (10%) – 10 (10%)
Posts main post by day 3.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not post by day 3.
First Response
Points Range: 17 (17%) – 18 (18%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings.

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.

Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed.

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources.

Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives.

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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
Points Range: 16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings.

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.

Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed.

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources.

Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives.

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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.

Points Range: 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
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)

Points Range: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not meet requirements for participation by posting on 3 different days.
Total Points: 100
Name: NURS_6050_Module04_Week08_Discussion_Rubric