Discussion 2: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making Word cloud...

Question Answered step-by-step Discussion 2: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-Making Word cloud… Discussion 2: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy-MakingWord cloud generators have become popular tools for meetings and team-building events. Groups or teams are asked to use these applications to input words they feel best to describe their team or their role. A “word cloud” is generated by the application that makes prominent the most-used terms, offering an image of the common thinking among participants of that role.What types of words would you use to build a nursing word cloud? Empathetic, organized, hard-working, or advocate would all certainly apply. Would you add policy-maker to your list? Do you think it would be a very prominent component of the word cloud?Nursing has become one of the largest professions in the world, and as such, nurses have the potential to influence policy and politics on a global scale. When nurses influence the politics that improve the delivery of healthcare, they are ultimately advocating for their patients. Hence, policy-making has become an increasingly popular term among nurses as they recognize a moral and professional obligation to be engaged in healthcare legislation.To Prepare:Revisit the Congress.gov website provided in the Resources and consider the role of RNs and APRNs in policy-making.Reflect on potential opportunities that may exist for RNs and APRNs to participate in the policy-making process.By Day 6 of Week 8Respond to at least two of your colleagues* posts by suggesting additional opportunities or recommendations for overcoming the challenges described by your colleagues.FYI: ANSWER TO COLLEAGUE 1 AND 2 AND INCLUDE TWO IN TEST CITATIONS IN EACH RESPONSECOLLEAGUE 1Health care systems are evolving rapidly and, at the same time, presenting opportunities for medical professionals to contribute their knowledge and expertise to assure improvement. Nurses, as an integral part of these systems, should embrace the positive changes that are taking place, as well as exert influence on the formulation of health policies, not merely implement them (Akram Arabi, 2014). The influence of nurses in advocating for sound healthcare policies serves to protect patient safety and improve the quality of care; participation in creation of policy makes it easier for nurses to access the resources they need to provide high-quality care to their patients. In recognizing nurses’ influence on health policies, I investigated opportunities for RNs and APRNs to participate actively in policy making. The primary opportunity for nurses to advocate for policy legislation is to increase awareness of the need for nurses to act as advocates. Many of the leading nursing organizations encourage nurses to take an active role in the development of public policies. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the role of nursing in policymaking is detailed in its “Essentials” documents and the expected policy involvement should be addressed in educational programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels of professional nursing, as well as advanced practice nursing programs (AACN Programs, n.d.). In its capacity as a profession, nursing has a responsibility to participate in health policy development in order to improve the health of people all around the world. Nurses, on the other hand, have not yet fully realized their potential when it comes to participating in health policy, advocacy, and leadership initiatives (Turale, 2019). Therefore, I would emphasize that nurses’ lack of engagement in health policy and politics is a significant challenge. Educating nurses about policy and encouraging them to participate in health policy research are essential in order to take advantage of the opportunity to increase awareness in the nursing profession and exert due influence in determining policy-making outcomes. Secondly, APRNs can join organizations that advocate on their behalf, and those who are members of professional nursing organizations have the credentials, the standing, to provide relevant personal testimony in support of the need for legislation (Chilton, 2015). Nursing organizations such as AANP maintain a variety of user-friendly websites that offer information on how to participate in policymaking activities. Participating in health policy is a critical role an APRN can take on in effecting positive advancements in health care that benefit multiple generations of patients across institutions, states, the country, and even the world. Due to the membership requirements and the fact that the AANP is a volunteer organization, it would be difficult for all APRNs to be actively involved in a nursing organization of this nature. However, the fact that not everyone does join possibly means that the more driven or truly active members will select themselves in. In order to better advocate for or communicate about health policy-making, as a first strategy I recommend that APRNs use social networking to raise public awareness, which, along with influencing public opinion via social media, can have an impact on policymakers. As policymakers respond to public needs, it becomes clear that shaping public opinion on a particular subject will require APRNs to play an integral part in promoting policymakers’ engagement and appropriate response (Charalambous, 2019) An additional strategy that I can use to better advocate for or communicate about health policymaking is joining nursing advocate organizations. We must encourage APRNs to become members of professional nursing organizations and to participate actively in policymaking; goal-directed involvement with other nursing professionals who likewise believe in the importance of participation as individuals and as a group will enable us to effect positive change in health care.COLLEAGUE 2Lewinski and Simmons (2018) stated that as nurses, citizens, community members, and employees, there is a wide variety of opportunities available to us to get involved. Sometimes it is difficult to see how involvement can impact a larger picture. As Registered Nurses (RNs), policymaking can be one of those items that seem difficult to connect with (Lewinski & Simmons, 2018). How can the day-to-day patient care activities impact policy and governmental action? Opportunities on how RN’s can participate in policymaking will be explored as well as challenges and ways to overcome them. Recommendations will be offered on how to improve communication on the existence of the opportunities to participate in policymaking.APRNs and RNs are critical when it comes to advocating for health care policy because they have clinical expertise and the educational background for presenting the case for passing legislation on health care issues (Yearwood et al., 2020). Yearwood et al. (2020) posited that APRNs and RNs are at the forefront of health care and treating multiple patients with peculiar needs and can relate personal experiences about how legislation can impact these patients. With this regard, APRNs and RNs have a number of opportunities when it comes to participating in policy-making. For instance, advocacy. The APRNs and RNs, who advocate for major health policies, can influence several people throughout their states and nations, depending on the levels of the health policy. APRNs and RNs have the ability to alter health care for individuals for several years to come (Yearwood et al., 2020).With advocacy, APRNs, and RNs are provided with the ability to conduct quality improvement projects in their working environments and use findings in helping the implementation of new policies at their facilities (American Nurses Association, 2019). Another opportunity that APRNs and RNs have the opportunity of writing to their state and federal legislators about health policy bills that have been filed. Since they work with patients on a daily basis, APRNs and RNs have the ability to share personal stories regarding how enacted bills could have aided specific patients to reduce complications, or maybe may have decreased health costs through screening or treatment at earlier disease stages. Talking points ought to incorporate economic impact (American Nurses ssociation, 2019).Another way RN’s and APRNs can impact policymaking is by writing letters to their local newspapers or interviewing on radio stations telling their story. Bringing stories of home communities to the eye and ear of the public and news media can be a way to get attention on the issues going on. Sometimes it is a personal story that makes the difference. Knowing how an issue impacts one person and their story can be the spark needed to move the issue forward. Many State-level congressmen do not have a staff to help them stay abreast on the issues, and they rely on constituents to keep them informed (American Nurses Association, 2019). The above opportunities present a number of challenges despite the fact that they have the ability to influence the patients positively. For example, the negative image of APRNs and RNs, which involves the commitment to the strategy procedure not being perceived and the absence of chance to be associated with wellbeing arrangement advancement (Yearwood et al., 2020). At the same time, lack of skills, knowledge, and support. These include the absence of tertiary training, absence of learning relating to wellbeing approach improvement process, and all through the phases of arrangement advancement, just as the absence of help and certainty (Yearwood et al., 2020). The above challenges can be overcome by providing APRNs and RNs with direct opportunities for taking part in the health policy development process. The above implies enhancing APRN’s and RN’s involvement in policy development activities could enrich their experience, confidence, and competence in the process (Yearwood et al., 2020). At the same time, APRNs and RNs ought to be proactive in seeking opportunities for being involved through various forums. Moreover, APRNs and RNs should be provided with the opportunity to gain experience and competence for enabling them to participate effectively in policy development, thus making their voices heard and honored (Yearwood et al., 2020).From above, the opportunities for taking part in policy-making are advocacy and the opportunity of writing to their state and federal legislators about health policy bills that have been filed. The effectiveness of these opportunities can be achieved through public awareness, thus ensuring that every element and aspect of the society that is impacted by the policy is positively influenced (Lewinski & Simmons, 2018). Another strategy is having a direct role in policy development. Taking part in health policy is the most critical role APRNs and RNs can have in influencing positive changes in health care (Lewinski & Simmons, 2018). Health Science Science Nursing NURS 6050 Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)