Week 1 Discussion RE: Discussion Prompt 2
Nurses are the largest group of healthcare providers in the US, yet they lack appropriate representation and involvement in policy development process. Proper education on health policy issues needs to be emphasized among nurses, and nurses need to understand their role in advancing the profession. Nurses have a duty to stay educated on health policy issues, violations of human rights, and access to care, all which require a proper understanding of health policies. Skilled and expert knowledge is needed among nurses as they are expected to stay updated on the current healthcare environment for them to engage in proper policy developments actively. All nursing curriculums at all education levels need to enforce an understanding of health policy and necessary skills to enable nurses educate patients, policy makers, and the public on the required policies for quality and improved healthcare.
Most nurses also have less motivation and desire to engage in policy development at both state and national levels since they perceive their profession as mere jobs. As a result, most nurses lack a long-term vision concerning their profession both currently and in the future. Once nurses are motivated and challenged to make reliable decisions concerning their future, they may focus more on the policy development process rather than short-term issues and other daily challenges. Lastly, lack of adequate education and qualification on leadership limits most of the nurses from taking part in policy development. Indeed, nursing is yet to standardize its educational path to be in line with states and their related regulatory bodies, hence giving them less representation when it comes to vital policy developments. Despite nurses being considered as the largest group among healthcare providers, it still ranks as the least educated. Proper education leadership is necessary for the development of feasible and reliable policies, yet most nurses lack this qualification.
References
Carolyn, J. (2019). Policy Advocacy Motivators and Barriers: Research Results and Applications. Retrieved from: http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-24-2019/No3-Sept-2019/Articles-Previous-Topics/Policy-Advocacy-Motivators-Barriers.html