Post a response to the following question and respond to one of your classmate’s postings for this question. Your initial response and responses to others should be at least 150 words. Respond to your classmate’s requests for feedback. Discuss, using specific theory from (National Academy of Medicine, 2021), how you can provide advocacy for advancing nursing practice to impact policy and/or politics in your healthcare setting. This can be downloaded from the following site: Go to Read the report….download the pdf.
Advocacy plays a crucial role in advancing nursing practice and influencing policy and politics within the healthcare setting. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) report, titled “The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity,” provides a valuable framework for understanding and implementing advocacy strategies in the field of nursing.
One way to provide advocacy for advancing nursing practice is by actively engaging in policy development. Nurses should familiarize themselves with local, state, and national policies that impact healthcare delivery. By participating in policy-making processes, such as joining committees or task forces, nurses can provide their expertise and influence the development and implementation of policies that promote nursing practice and improve patient outcomes. For example, nurses can advocate for policies that support increased nurse staffing ratios, which have been shown to positively impact patient safety and quality of care.
Another avenue for advocacy is through grassroots efforts and community engagement. Nurses can leverage their role as trusted healthcare professionals to educate and mobilize communities on health-related issues. By conducting community outreach programs, organizing public health campaigns, or participating in public forums, nurses can raise awareness about the importance of certain policies or practices, such as the need for comprehensive mental health services or access to affordable healthcare for all.
Additionally, nurses can engage in political advocacy by supporting and aligning with professional nursing organizations that have a strong voice in shaping nursing policies. By joining these organizations, nurses can contribute to collective action and leverage their numbers to advocate for legislative changes that improve the profession and impact healthcare policy. Nurses can also establish relationships with policymakers, attend legislative hearings, and provide expert testimony to educate lawmakers about the implications of proposed policies on nursing practice and patient care.
Furthermore, nursing research and evidence-based practice can be powerful tools for advocacy. Conducting rigorous research studies and disseminating the findings can inform policymakers and shape healthcare policies. Nurses can collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and generate evidence that demonstrates the impact of nursing interventions on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. By presenting this evidence to key stakeholders, nurses can influence policy decisions that support the integration of evidence-based nursing practices into healthcare systems.
In response to my classmate’s post, they mentioned the importance of collaboration in advocacy efforts. I fully agree with their perspective. Collaboration with various stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals, policymakers, patients, and community organizations, is crucial for successful advocacy in nursing. The NAM report highlights the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration and encourages nurses to work with diverse groups to address health disparities and achieve health equity.
From a theoretical perspective, the Social Ecological Model (SEM) can be applied to understand the importance of collaboration in advocacy. The SEM recognizes that individuals’ health is influenced by multiple levels of factors, including interpersonal, community, and societal factors. Within this model, collaboration at each level becomes essential to address the complex and interconnected determinants of health.
At the interpersonal level, collaboration with healthcare professionals allows for a coordinated and holistic approach to patient care. Nurses can work collaboratively with physicians, pharmacists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive care plans and advocate for patients’ needs. This collaboration ensures that healthcare decisions are evidence-based, patient-centered, and align with best practices.
At the community level, collaboration with community organizations, non-profit agencies, and local government officials helps to address social determinants of health and promote health equity. For example, nurses can work with community-based organizations to provide health education, advocate for improved access to healthcare services, and engage in health promotion activities targeted at vulnerable populations. By collaborating with these organizations, nurses can leverage community resources and reach a wider audience to advocate for policy changes.
At the societal level, collaboration with policymakers and legislators is critical to influence healthcare policies that promote nursing practice and improve population health outcomes. Nurses can partner with professional nursing organizations, advocacy groups, and policy experts to advocate for legislative changes. This collaboration allows for the exchange of knowledge and expertise, fostering a shared understanding of the policy implications and potential solutions to address healthcare challenges.
In conclusion, advocacy is essential for advancing nursing practice and influencing policy and politics in healthcare settings. By actively engaging in policy development, grassroots efforts, political advocacy, and research, nurses can contribute to shaping healthcare policies that support evidence-based nursing practice and improve patient outcomes. Collaboration with various stakeholders, as highlighted by the Social Ecological Model, is a key principle that underpins effective advocacy efforts in nursing. Through collaboration, nurses can leverage their expertise, build alliances, and create meaningful change in healthcare policies and practices.
References:
National Academy of Medicine. (2021). The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Retrieved from https://nam.edu/publications/the-future-of-nursing-2020-2030/