The professional nurse has a vital role in health policy. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in healthcare, nurses are uniquely positioned to influence and shape policy. Nurses are uniquely positioned to identify healthcare needs and advocate for appropriate health policy changes to meet requirements. The Role of professional nurses in health policy outlines their impact on policy formation, identifying an action plan for nurses that improves how they involve in health policy. Health policies are regulations and guidelines for healthcare systems, services, and institutions. They are designed to ensure that healthcare is delivered effectively and efficiently.
[a] Role of professional nurses in health policy
The roles of professional nurses in health policy are multifaceted. Nurses have the knowledge and experience to contribute to policy development and help implement healthcare changes. The crucial professional nurse’s roles in health policy include policy research, formulating policy, implementing procedures, monitoring policy, evaluating policy, policy advocating the policy, public health promotion, healthcare education, and healthcare resource management.
Foremost, nurses advocate for patient needs. They are uniquely positioned to identify healthcare gaps and support patient needs. It’s done by providing evidence-based feedback on proposed health policies, which can help ensure that patient’s needs are met. The information is explained to the clients will help them decipher the key guidelines required for better health. The information is disseminated with equity to all individuals. This helps promote health policy in the health sector.
Additionally, nurses take part in educating people. Nurses are essential educators and advocates for the people. They can provide information on health-related policies and help increase public understanding of health issues. It will finally improve health outcomes.
Equally important, nurses do research and data collection. Nurses are key players in research and data collection. They can identify gaps in healthcare and use research to inform policy decisions. The main purpose of data collection is to keep the nurses updated about health changes in their sector. All research done will help make a clear examination, a keen observation, and a thorough interview vital to health promotion.
Nurses also play a vital role in developing policy. They are often involved in developing health policy. They can help to identify problems and develop solutions. They can also provide feedback on proposed policies and suggest new approaches. It is a mindful step that encourages nurses to make health policies that will guide their code of conduct in the working place. The guidelines include data privacy ab security, workplace safety, unison workouts, and security on the health sector information.
Implementation of the policy is also an essential role played by nurses. Nurses are termed to be a critical factor in implementing health policy. “Participating in nursing research and implementing research findings appropriate to practice” (Poorchangizi et al., 2017, p.3). They can help ensure that new policies are followed and provide feedback on how they work.
The nurses will offer great help in advocating for policy change. Nurses can be powerful advocates for change. They can work with policymakers to identify areas where they could make changes to improve healthcare. Advocacy may include funding to the health sector, safe practices in the environment, and great participation in the policy discussion.
The collaboration enhanced with other stakeholders in the health care facilities is also highlighted as a critical role nurse plays in providing care. Nurses can collaborate with other stakeholders, such as doctors, administrators, and policymakers, to help develop and implement health policy. Working together also helps improve patient quality-of-care provision in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Nurses can serve on policy committees to provide their expertise and insight. Typically, the nurses are outlined to be experienced chair of the committee that ensures in making outlines of the purpose, the expectation of the team member, and the time commitment needed to help the goal is fulfilled.
They are involved in developing legislative strategies in the health sector mandate directed to nurses. Nurses can help to develop strategies for influencing legislation and policy. All the nurses will ensure they advocate for changes within the workplace, nursing organizations, and government agencies and will directly involve themselves in policymaking.
Lastly, networking with other professionals is a crucial role played by nurses. Nurses can network with other professionals to share their knowledge and experience. It will help gain a better reputation, and a support network will be strong, visibility will be increased, and the connections will be more impactful in the care provision.
[b] Action plans for nurses to increase involvement
To increase their involvement in health policy, nurses must take an active role in policymaking. Nurses can become involved in policy research, formulation, and evaluation. They should also be proactive in advocating for better health policies, including voicing their opinion to legislators and decision-makers. Nurses should also participate in public health promotion initiatives, educating patients, families, and communities on the importance of health and wellness. Finally, nurses should work to ensure that healthcare resources are allocated effectively. These initiatives will help to ensure that nurses are involved in the policymaking process and help to improve healthcare outcomes. By taking an active role in health policy, nurses can help ensure that healthcare is provided effectively and efficiently.
One of the ways to improve the involvement is through participating in policy committees: Nurses can participate in policy committees to provide their expertise and insight. “Educated about health policy topics and initiatives to ensure that nurses fully participate” (Heller et al., 2014, p.206). They can also serve on advisory committees and other committees related to health policy.
Good networking and working in unison with other nurses increase involvement in health policymaking. Nurses should take advantage of networking opportunities with other nurses. It can help improve their knowledge of health policy and healthcare issues.
The nurses also should participate in research projects related to health policy. It can help to inform policy decisions and identify gaps in healthcare. It will enable them to be fully engaged and involved in the health policy. “What kind of research is important for nursing as a profession” (Chism,2021, p.8). Doing so will increase their participation spirit hence improving healthcare provision.
Developing legislative strategies is a crucial issue that nurses should consider to get full involvement in policy. It can help to develop strategies for influencing legislation and policy. They can work with policymakers to identify areas where they can make changes to improve healthcare.
Engagement with the public is also more critical in healthy policy involvement. Nurses can engage with the public to educate them on health-related policies. It can increase public understanding of health issues and encourage support for policy changes.
Advocating for patient needs is also vital. Nurses should be advocates for patient needs. They can provide evidence-based feedback on proposed health policies and help meet patients’ needs.
They are attending educational events related to health policy. It can increase their knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting healthcare. Nurses can also join professional organizations. It should be made consideration joining professional organizations related to health policy. It can provide them with additional resources and networking opportunities. Nurses can support health policy initiatives by providing feedback and advocating for change.
Finally, nurses should be proactive in increasing their involvement in health policy. Nurses should be proactive in advocating for change. They can identify gaps in healthcare and work with other stakeholders to develop and implement health policy.
In a nutshell, the professional nurse has a vital role in health policy. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in healthcare, nurses are uniquely positioned to influence and shape policy. By taking an active part in health policy, nurses can ensure that the needs of patients are being met and that healthcare is providing the best possible care. An action plan for nurses to increase their involvement in health policy includes participating in policy committees, networking with other nurses, participating in research projects, developing legislative strategies, engaging with the public, and advocating for patient needs. By taking these steps, nurses can be powerful advocates for change and help to improve healthcare.
References
Chism, L. A. (2021). The doctor of nursing practice: A guidebook for role development and professional issues. Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://books.google.co.ke/booksJ&lpgoles%20of%20=true
Heller, B. R., Drenkard, K., Esposito-Herr, M. B., Romano, C., Tom, S., & Valentine, N. (2014). Educating nurses for leadership roles. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 35(5), 203-210. https://doi.org/10.3928/0022-0124-20040901-07
Poorchangizi, B., Farokhzadian, J., Abbaszadeh, A., Mirzaee, M., & Borhani, F. (2017). The importance of professional values from clinical nurses’ perspective in hospitals of a medical university in Iran. BMC medical ethics, 18(1), 1-7. https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-017-0178-9
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