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Michelle H

Discussion #1

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The American Nurses Association (ANA) works to advance the nursing profession and improve health and health care for all. One of the primary ways we achieve this is by advocating on behalf of registered nurses at the top levels of government as policies are conceived, debated, and implemented.  ANA amplifies nurses’ voices by lobbying Congress and executive agencies, and by offering information and tools that empower nurses to share their perspective and expertise directly with policymakers. (Nursingworld.org, 2022)

Two opportunities that currently exist RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy review are by being advocates and volunteering.  One challenge that could interfere with the opportunities are having the time to participate in meetings  being able to have evidence-based data regarding the policy when it comes to volunteering in meetings.  The other challenge is when it come to being an advocate that the nurse lacks the knowledge of the policy and having limited resources to be able to evaluate the outcomes or impact of the policy being reviewed.  Strategies that I would recommend to over come challenges with volunteering is to become a member and take on a internship within office with elected officials.  When it come to advocating, I would bring my expertise of evidence based data and speak on the issues that plague our healthcare system, whats working within the policy and what does not.  On the ANA site there is a toolkit that I would utilize to get involved to be a better advocate and be a voice with with my allies throughout the country.

Susan B

Discussion # 2

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Role of RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation 

Nurses can and should be involved in every process of health policy making, including policy review, because such policies affect them. There are various opportunities that are currently available for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-review. One of such opportunities is through leadership. RNs and APRNs have leadership roles, such as chief nursing officer, healthcare administrator, director of nursing, and clinical nurse manager, all of which demand active participation in policy-review (Chism 2021). The other opportunity is through advocacy. The advocacy principles provide that any individual who feels affected by a particular policy is free to express his/her opinion/view. RNs and APRNs are best placed to express their opinions and views on any policy at state and federal levels.

There are various challenges that are bound to face the leadership and advocacy opportunities for RNs and APRNs. The challenges associated with leadership roles for RNs and APRNs include communication and varying leadership skills and styles. In organizations where there is the communication challenge, RNs and APRNs may not have the right communication channels to air their views and opinions regarding a particular policy. Advocacy opportunity is associated with the challenge of gender inequality and competition for resources. Anders (2021) asserts that male RNs and APRNs may be denied the opportunity to express their concerns on a policy, especially if the policy concerns women.

The strategies that can be used to communicate or advocate better the existence of policy-review opportunities for RNs and APRNs include effective training and promotion of good leadership. Nurses should be trained on their roles and contributions on health policy. Good leadership in healthcare and nursing will create room for nurses to air their ideas and opinions when it comes to policy-review.