Policy change and advocacy represent an important part of nursing work. As healthcare professionals that work directly with individuals, and often represent a mediating force between a doctor and their patient, nurses become the primary actor of informed and evidence-based change in policy. This discussion will center on some examples of nursing advocates that have managed to bring changes to public policy.
Firstly, the figure that can be seen as the founder of Nursing Advocacy as it is known today can be discussed. Florence Nightingale, an especially famous figure, often regarded as the founder of modern nursing. She has lead the effort of professionalizing nursing as an occupation, and brought up its importance in the eyes of the public. As mentioned before, she has also been the central figure behind starting political advocacy coming from nurses. The act of lobbying for the improvement of the conditions for soldiers in the Crimean War can be seen as the beginnings of modern patient-centered care and medical action (Eaton, 2018). While Nightingale’s lobby advocacy can be seen as a major step towards improving the wellness of patients, the modern-day nurses work in different ways.
Nursing professionals of the modern age try perfecting the existing methods for treatment and patient assessment, while also introducing evidence-based practice into the common eye. Additionally, some of them attempt to improve the safety and policies regarding practitioner wellness. An important actor of change in this process is Karen Daley. This nurse has successfully worked in advocating for better provider safety, which is a topic often forgotten in this discussion (Patton et al., 2019). By working at a local, state, and national level alike, Daley has managed to successfully improve medical professional’s safety during work.
On a similar note, some nursing advocates choose to work not on an individual level, but by combining their efforts and forming organizations. Despite personal professional advocacy being a valid tool for change, a power of a healthcare coalition or a similar collection of people in terms of political influence can be significantly higher. In this case, the Nursing Community Coalition can be seen as a valid example (Miyamoto & Cook, 2019). The group works to fulfil sustainable development goals and promote patient wellness in nursing through their collective action.
References
Eaton, M. K. (2018). From practical to powerful: How a nursing student health policy fellowship transformed my political, professional and patient advocacy. Practical and Professional Nursing, 2(1), 01–06. Web.
Miyamoto, S., & Cook, E. (2019). The procurement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the American national policy agenda of Nurses. Nursing Outlook, 67(6), 658–663. Web.
Patton, R. M., Zalon, M. L., & Ludwick, R. (2019). Nurses making policy: From Bedside to Boardroom. Springer Publishing Company.