The Role of the RN and APRN in Policy-Making
RNs and APRNs have various opportunities that that can enable them to participate actively in policy making. Nurses are registered members of different professional organizations that enable to them to participate actively in policy making. Through enrollment to these organizations in different state jurisdictions enable to take part in policy making. Membership to organizations such as the American Nurses Association makes it possible for nurses to actively participate in policy making (McGuire ET AL., 2017). This is promoted by analyzing and reviewing the existing the health policies. These organizations offer the needed opportunity to assess the different aspects of the health policies and contribute in policy making that safeguards the interests of the RNs and APRNs, and ensure that these interests are in best interest of the patients by ensuring the quality of care is safeguarded. The Role of the RN and APRN in Policy-Making
Besides, the workplace environment provides the RNs and APRNs with another opportunity for policy making. Workplace presents an important opportunity for nurses that can utilize to deliver healthcare to their patients. Since healthcare workers have an influence in their workplace, they can use it to influence healthcare systems by promoting policy review related to healthcare delivery by focusing on policies that contribute to efficiency and improved performance in the workplace by ensuring healthcare standards expected by their patients are met (Nantsupawat et al., 2017). The workplace enables the nurses to advocate for policies that affect efficiency, thus an important opportunity which they use to influence policy change.
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Challenges Presented
Despite these opportunities availing policy making role for nurses, there are also challenges that hinder full participation in policy making. One of the challenges is the difficulties that registering in professional organizations present to nurses, thus limit their participation in policy making (Lee, Hwang & Moon, 2020). Focusing on making the process efficient and brief would help reduce the complexity of the registration process. This would make the process for registering in nursing professional organizations simple. This should embark on reviewing the leadership to reduce inefficiencies associated with poor leadership to ensure responsibility and accountability. The Role of the RN and APRN in Policy-Making
Another challenge is presented by the workplace environment. To begin with workplace is faced with lack of cooperation and conflicts that make it hard for the RNs and APRNs to remain united when advocating for a policy change. Such problems can be overcome if there is goodwill among the nurses to work as a team and cooperate when advocating for change. Teamwork should be promoted by ensuring that nurses speak in one voice when reviewing policy change aimed at promotion of quality within the work place. Another challenge can emanate from poor leadership, which might present a hurdle for nurses’ participation in policy making. This can come in form of poor work environment that support nurses dynamism and participation in policy process. Leaders can turn to a more inclusive policy review process so that nurses can participate comfortably. The Role of the RN and APRN in Policy-Making
Strategy Recommendation
To promote policy making among the nurses include proper training and promoting good leadership. Training enables the nurses to comprehend their roles and responsibilities. On the other hand, good leadership would advocate on making a better workplace environment that motivate the workers to participate in policy making process. Leadership also enables the nurses to openly share their views on how policies can be improved to promote efficiency within the workplace. Besides, good leadership presents an opportunity for nurses to register within professional organizations that which are critical in creating an opportunity to participate I policy review. The Role of the RN and APRN in Policy-Making
References
Lee, S., Hwang, C., & Moon, M. J. (2020). Policy learning and crisis policy-making: quadruple-loop learning and COVID-19 responses in South Korea. Policy and Society, 39(3), 363-381.
McGuire, M., Goldstein, C., Claywell, L., & Patton, R. (2017). Analysis of student reflections of experiential learning in nursing health policy courses. Nurse educator, 42(2), 95-99.
Nantsupawat, A., Kunaviktikul, W., Nantsupawat, R., Wichaikhum, O. A., Thienthong, H., & Poghosyan, L. (2017). Effects of nurse work environment on job dissatisfaction, burnout, intention to leave. International nursing review, 64(1), 91-98 The Role of the RN and APRN in Policy-Making
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