Please respond to in 200 words with references.

RE: Discussion – Week 9

COLLAPSE

Main Question Post

Nurses work very closely with patients. This is why they should be involved in the political aspect of healthcare. They know what policies in place need to be reviewed and/or changed. “Thanks to their frontline role, nurses offer a unique, expert perspective on every aspect of the health care system, and have a key voice in ongoing efforts to improve public health” (American Nurses Association, n.d., para. 2).

Nurses can be involved in policy review through their place of work. If a current policy at their place of employment is not working, the nurse can make suggestions for change.

Another way nurses can play a role in policy review is through their communities. They can reach out to local government representatives and attend community meetings (Regis College, n.d.).

When trying to review policies via community efforts, nurses might face some challenges. These challenges can include negative feedback from the public (Milstead & Short, 2019). To overcome this challenge, nurses must involve the public in every step of the review process (Milstead & Short, 2019). They could hold community meetings and engage with the public. During these meetings, they can allow members of the community to speak and voice their concerns as well as inform them of the current status of the policy review (Milstead & Short, 2019).

When trying to make changes to policies in their workplace, nurses can face resistance from other staff members. One approach to handling this issue is by using effective communication. Educating staff members on the benefits of the changes and why the changes are necessary is important. It is also vital to listen to the opinions of the employees and validate their concerns.

One strategy that can be used to make individuals aware of these opportunities for being involved in policy change includes ensuring nursing students are educated in their nursing program about the importance of being involved in policy change and ways they can be involved. Another strategy would be to provide training in the workplace to make employees aware of the ways they can be more involved in policy review and how to express their ideas for change.

References

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Health Policy – American Nurses Association (ANA). Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/healt…

Regis College. (n.d.). How Does Nursing Influence Health Care Policy? Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/how-does-nurs…