Abstract
Every day legislators make decisions that affect nursing practice, thus impacting care delivery and patient outcomes. Much of what nurses do and experience daily while caring for their patients is influenced directly by laws, regulations, and other policies. Nursing expertise and perspectives offer unique insights into patient care that benefit society. The advocacy role of nurses could help ensure that structural and process changes translate to a real-world patient and public health benefits. Nurses can leverage their position as the most honest and trusted profession to impact policy change in their local communities as well as nationally and globally. Learning about advocacy and policy can expand our influence and involvement in decision-making tables to drive positive change and shape the future of health care.
Every nurse in every setting has the opportunity to make a positive impact on the profession through advocating daily for nurses and the nursing profession.
—Karen Tomajan
Advocacy is about believing in the power of nursing and using our bold and most trusted voices to make a difference in the lives of patients, their families, and our communities.
—Anna Dermenchyan
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References
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Resources
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE). ANHE promotes healthy people and environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy. The public awareness and interest in all things “green” is creating a demand for nurses to understand the relationship between human health and the environment, in which we live, learn, work, and play. https://envirn.org
Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC). NOBC represents national and state efforts by nurses and others working to build healthier communities in the United States. NOBC is committed to increasing nurses’ presence and influence on corporate, health-related, and other boards, panels, and commissions. Their mission is to improve the health of communities and the nation through the service of nurses on boards and other bodies. https://www.nursesonboardscoalition.org/
Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI). NIWI is an annual event open to nurses, nursing students, and nursing organization staff leaders interested in an orientation to the legislative process. There is no application or acceptance process to attend NIWI. https://www.nursing-alliance.org/nurse-in-washington-internship
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Dermenchyan, A., Marquez, L.S.A. (2023). Building Skill to Navigate the World of Advocacy and Healthcare Policy. In: Rollins Gantz, N., Hafsteinsdóttir, T.B. (eds) Mentoring in Nursing through Narrative Stories Across the World . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25204-4_125
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