The involvement of nurses in health policy and advocacy is aimed at promoting safety for patients and improving the quality of healthcare. Nurses’ unique experiences and perspectives can influence policy change and implementation at the state and federal levels.1 The ability to convey health-related questions and ensure communication with political institutions increases efficiency and raises vital concerns about the cost of treatment, reimbursements, quality of medical services, and other dimensions.
Advocacy is essential for nurse anesthetists as it has contributed significantly to recognizing their professional activities in the 20th century.2 Policy advocating at professional associations helps advance the issue further to the regional and national levels and gain institutional support.3 For nurse anesthetists, belonging to a professional organization and advocating for greater independence in their profession are critical elements of professional socialization.4,5 One of the most pressing challenges facing the nurse anesthetists community is strengthening direct reimbursement legislation and ensuring equal and fairer pay for all quality anesthesia providers. An essential step in increasing the impact of nurse anesthesia on healthcare policy-making at both state and federal levels is to integrate advocacy into nursing education programs.
Fundamental concepts of effective healthcare advocacy primarily consist of adherence to professional ethics and principles and applying knowledge and information. Also, no problems can be solved without sincere determination and dedication to their cause. Thus, commitment and personal initiative are significant in the policy-making process. It is vital to monitor legislative initiatives at the regional and federal levels, arrange meetings with politicians, lobby the interests of the expert community and let a professional voice be heard. A good advocacy strategy can guarantee the success of an initiative.
References
Mason DJ, Disckson EL, Perez A, McLemore MR, eds. Policy & Politics in Nursing and health care. 8th ed. Saunders, 2020.
Poole J, Borza J, Cook LA. Impact of Education on professional involvement for student registered nurse anesthetists’ political activism: Does education play a role? Journal of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 2019; 87(2):138-143.
Goudreau KA, Smolenski MC, eds. Health policy and advanced practice nursing impact and implications. Springer, 2014.
Mund, A. Professional socialization and political advocacy. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists,2018; 86(2):55-59.
Hoyem, RL, Quraishi JA, Jordan L, Wiltse Nicely KL. Advocacy, research, and anesthesia practice models: Key studies of safety and cost-effectiveness. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 2019;20(4):193-204. doi:10.1177/1527154419874410