Currently, RNs and APRNs can actively participate in policy review by either defining the most appropriate standards of practice in healthcare or utilizing their knowledge to shift the government’s attention to the most effective solutions within the evaluation process. In the first or former case, the most critical challenge is the need for a “commitment to developing skills and acquiring knowledge about activities that lead to change” (Laureate Education, 2018a, p. 1). In other words, nurses are not directly trained to be proficient at proposing policy standards, which is why they might be faced with communication or conceptual barriers when defining the most appropriate standards of practice.
However, the given opportunity is essential for nursing professionals because it can be addressed by not only improving the quality of care delivered to patients but also illuminating the problematic areas which are not well-known among policymakers or doctors. In the case of the second option, the challenge is that “you may find that you’re not even aware of an issue until it’s in a state of legislation, regulation, design, and implementation, or evaluation” (Laureate Education, 2018b, p. 1). However, they can be overcome by focusing on the matters which have to be voiced and addressed with subsequent evaluation of whether or not these suggestions can be integrated at the current stage. The first strategy to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities is to directly contact the key managers and policymakers. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services can be contacted to find the key figures. The second strategy is to a healthcare institution’s resources, such as chief managers’ contacts and connections.
References
Laureate Education. (2018a). Design and implementation: Program transcript [PDF document].
Laureate Education. (2018b). Program and policy evaluation: Program transcript [PDF document].