Response 1

 

The purpose of this post is to discuss two opportunities that currently exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in the policy review. This post will also state some challenges faced in policy review and how to overcome them. In addition, two strategies will be provided on how to make better advocates and communicate the existence of the opportunities listed.

One opportunity that currently exists for RNs and APRNs to participate in policy review is by joining and nursing organization such as the American Nurses Association. Being a member of the American Nurses Association provides insight into policy review by being able to communicate with legislators and be part of policy discussion of advocacy to promote the rights of nurses in the workplace and other health care issues (American Nurses Association, 2012). The vision of the ANA is to include nurses in discussions of policy advocacy, and lobby government for changes on nursing and health-related issues. Professional nursing organizations support political activities and validate the effectiveness of policies (Catallo et al., 2014). Challenges faced by being part of a nursing organization are the expenses of membership. Although keeping up with payments for yearly renewal of memberships is costly, discounts are provided through some workplaces and continuing education credits are free because of perks included with the memberships.

Another opportunity that currently exists for RNs and APRNs to participate in policy review is by engaging in their own workplace through committees (Catallo et al., 2014). For example, committees such ethics, skin, patient experience, and unit base council. Committees in the workplace setting focus on workplace barriers optimizing patient care, healthy work environments, and patient satisfaction. Committees in the workplace like hospitals have committees to improve the quality of care in order for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement (Martin & Zolnierek, 2020). Challenges faced by being part of a committee in the workplace are time-consuming and depending on the employer, time spent in the community meetings is not paid for. A strategy for nurses to be involved in their workplace committees would be asking employers to pay their nurses for the time spent in the meetings so nurses are encouraged to attend. Paying nurses to attend workplace committees is a small price to pay for the greater good of the workplace environment and nurse retention. Happy nurses mean a happier work environment and nurse retention, resulting in less money spent on training new nurses. 2 APA References

Response 2

 

APRNs and RNs are essential instruments in delivering quality healthcare services; thus, they should help evaluate policies affecting public healthcare. APRNs and RNs can be significant instruments in formulating and implementing policies that guide and ensure adequate healthcare delivery and services. According to Ellenbecker et al. (2017), nurses understand their working environment and patients more than most policies makers who are not in healthcare. Nurses have opportunities and have a crucial role in evaluating healthcare policies, as discussed in this paper.

First, nurses have professional organizations such as the Emergency Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing American Nurses Association, which guides healthcare delivery services; these organizations can be actively involved in evaluating healthcare policies (Catallo et al., 2014). All APRNs and RNs have a chance to air or give their views on how best to improve the welfare of patients and healthcare providers; this will help in formulating better policies.

Secondly, APRNs and RNs can influence policy evaluation through their contribution in various workplaces. Nurses can ensure that formulated or revised policies are effectively enacted in different healthcare environments or institutions. It is almost impossible to effectively implement some policies without nurses’ health; Thus, APRNs and RNs have an essential role in influencing policy evaluation through their workplaces.

However, some nurses may be hesitant to get involved with policy evaluation due to various reasons. For instance, some may prefer to focus on the care and well-being of their patients. Others may also feel ill-equipped to be involved in political activities or enter the realm of policy; this may be due to discrimination, corruption, or bad leadership by some politicians or leaders in their workplaces (Rambur, 2017).

To curb these challenges, all nurses should be educated on the benefits of their active involvement in policy evaluation. Again, leaders and politicians should ensure good leadership in every organization and working environment (Waddell et al., 2017). Every nurse should have an equal chance of voicing their views or opinions. Nurses understand their working environment better than many other specialists or policymakers; thus, their ideas should be incorporated when formulating and evaluating public health policies. With this, the policy evaluation process will be more reliable and productive. 2 APA References