The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making Active participation by RNs and APRNs i

The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making Active participation by RNs and APRNs in policymaking can significantly affect the healthcare environment. I will, therefore, focus on two of the above identified openings and examine the associated risks and potential response measures to champion these roles. Opportunity 1: Nursing Associations and Organizations Nursing associations and organizations are one of the major ways whereby RNs and APRNs could get involved in making policies (Hajizadeh et al., 2021). They participate in advocacy activities at various levels, which include community, state, nation-wide, and international nursing, and hence are a voice for nursing and, thus, patients’ comfort. Challenges: Most of these nursing associations operate under a budget constraint, therefore limiting their advocacy in seeking policy changes (Milstead & Short, 2019). Besides, only some nurses are affiliated with such organizations, hence narrow effects. It can pose a challenge for nursing associations to balance out their members’ diverse interests and concerns as they prioritize certain policy initiatives. Overcoming Challenges: Advocate for increasing numbers of nurses, including APRNs, who actively belong to various nursing associations. Stress the importance of collective actions and how membership contributes to advocacy efforts. Collaborate with other healthcare stakeholders like physician organizations and patients’ rights organizations for resource sharing and creating a unified voice supporting nursing policies. Opportunity 2: Legislative Fellowships and Appointments The nurses may also join other stakeholders in advocating for policy change by taking up legislative fellowships/posts. Working in these positions lets RNs directly lobby policymakers, working for health care policy change inside governments. Challenges: Applying and getting selected for legislative positions is incredibly competitive. It is also possible for this service to be an exercise in time wastage with nurses forced to go on leave, which can impact their earnings. Overcoming Challenges Increasing competitiveness for legislative roles requires professional development and networking of RNs and APRNS. For instance, they could join leadership programs or seek mentorship from experienced nurse legislators (Tummers & Bekkers, 2013). Nursing associations and healthcare institutions must be encouraged to offer financial aid or flexible job options to help nurses in such positions. Hospitals, for example, can be allowed to give nurses Sabbaticals while on their way to political posts. Advocacy and Communication Strategies Nursing associations can raise awareness among nurses regarding policy-making chances. Nurses may also want to collaborate to develop success stories demonstrating how one nurse has made a difference in policy and providing tips for applying (Tummers & Bekkers, 2013). Create mentoring opportunities for a seasoned nurse advocate and an aspiring Nurse Policy Fellow. Such mentors help at various stages of achieving this goal. To sum up, the active participation of RNs and APRNs in policy-making is diverse. However, there are difficulties such as resource constraints, competition, and time restrictions, but strategic engagements, alliances and mentorships have helped overcome such dangers. In addition, educational and awareness campaigns and mentorship programs must be implemented to promote recognition and communication on such options. In this way, nurses can influence the formulation of health care policies in favor of their profession and the entire health care delivery system. References Hajizadeh, A., Zamanzadeh, V., Kakemam, E., Bahreini, R., & Khodayari-Zarnaq, R. (2021). Factors influencing nurses participation in the health policy-making process: A systematic review. BMC Nursing, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00648-6Links to an external site. Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Tummers, L., & Bekkers, V. (2013). Policy implementation, street-level bureaucracy, and the importance of discretion. Public Management Review, 16(4), 527–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2013.841978Links to an external site.