Posted: May 31st, 2023

Nursing Advocacy: Policy Concerns and Strategies for Effective Lobbying

Nursing Advocacy: Policy Concerns and Strategies for Effective Lobbying

Introduction

Nurses are essential healthcare providers who are responsible for patient care, health promotion, and disease prevention. They work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and community health centers. Nurses face numerous challenges in their daily work, including staff shortages, long working hours, inadequate resources, and exposure to infectious diseases. These challenges can negatively impact patient care, nurse well-being, and healthcare outcomes. Therefore, nurses must advocate for themselves, their patients, and their profession to improve the quality of care and working conditions. This paper will discuss some of the policy concerns that nurses may lobby Congress for and the strategies they can use to ensure their voices are heard.

Policy Concerns for Nursing Advocacy

Staffing and Workload
The shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals is a significant challenge facing the healthcare industry. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), the nursing shortage is projected to reach 1.1 million registered nurses (RNs) by 2022 (ANA, 2020). Staff shortages can lead to excessive workload, fatigue, and burnout, which can affect patient care, safety, and outcomes. Nurses may advocate for policies that support the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals, such as loan forgiveness programs, competitive salaries, and work-life balance initiatives.

Patient Safety and Quality of Care
Nurses play a critical role in ensuring patient safety and quality of care. They are responsible for administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and assessing patient conditions. Therefore, they need to have adequate resources and support to deliver high-quality care. Nurses may advocate for policies that improve patient safety, such as mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios, adequate staffing levels, and safe work environments. They may also lobby for initiatives that enhance the quality of care, such as evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and interprofessional collaboration.

Workplace Violence
Nurses are at high risk of workplace violence due to their frequent interactions with patients, families, and visitors. Workplace violence can lead to physical and psychological harm, decreased job satisfaction, and increased turnover rates. Nurses may advocate for policies that prevent workplace violence, such as staff education and training, security measures, and zero-tolerance policies. They may also lobby for legislative action that holds perpetrators accountable and ensures the safety of healthcare workers.

Professional Practice and Development
Nurses need to have opportunities for professional practice and development to provide the best care possible. They may advocate for policies that support their professional growth, such as continuing education, career advancement, and specialty certification. They may also lobby for initiatives that promote their autonomy, such as independent practice, prescriptive authority, and participation in healthcare decision-making.

Healthcare System Reform
Nurses can advocate for healthcare system reform to address the structural issues that affect healthcare delivery and outcomes. They may lobby for policies that improve access to care, reduce healthcare disparities, and enhance population health. They may also advocate for initiatives that address social determinants of health, such as poverty, housing, and education.

Strategies for Effective Nursing Advocacy

Collaboration and Coalition-Building
Nurses can achieve more significant impact and influence by collaborating with other healthcare professionals, patient groups, and community organizations. They can form coalitions and alliances to amplify their voice, share resources, and coordinate their efforts. They can also partner with policymakers, legislators, and government agencies to develop and implement policies that address their concerns.

Grassroots Mobilization
Nurses can mobilize their colleagues, patients, families, and communities to advocate for their cause. They can organize rallies, protests, and public forums to raise awareness of their issues and demands. They can also use social media and other digital platforms to engage a broader

One of the biggest concerns that nurses may have when advocating for change is the issue of workplace violence. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), healthcare workers are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing workplace violence than workers in other industries. In fact, a study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that nurses are four times more likely to experience workplace violence than workers in other industries. This is a serious problem that nurses must address when advocating for change.

There are several strategies that nurse lobbyists may use to address the issue of workplace violence. One strategy is to advocate for legislation that provides protections for healthcare workers who experience workplace violence. For example, some states have passed laws that require healthcare facilities to develop violence prevention plans, provide training for staff on how to respond to violent incidents, and provide support and resources for workers who experience violence. Nurse lobbyists can work with legislators to push for similar laws at the federal level.

Another strategy that nurse lobbyists may use is to push for increased funding for programs that address workplace violence. For example, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which was introduced in Congress in 2019, would provide funding for programs that help healthcare facilities prevent and respond to workplace violence. Nurse lobbyists can advocate for increased funding for these types of programs, as well as for research into the causes and consequences of workplace violence in healthcare settings.

Another area of concern for nurse lobbyists is the issue of healthcare access and affordability. Nurses understand firsthand the impact that lack of access to healthcare can have on individuals and communities. When people are unable to access healthcare, they may delay seeking care until their conditions worsen, which can result in more serious health problems and higher healthcare costs in the long run.

Nurse lobbyists may use several strategies to address the issue of healthcare access and affordability. One strategy is to advocate for policies that expand access to healthcare, such as Medicaid expansion and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Nurse lobbyists can also push for policies that address the high cost of healthcare, such as price transparency laws and regulations on drug prices.

Another strategy that nurse lobbyists may use is to advocate for policies that support primary care and preventative services. By investing in primary care and preventative services, healthcare systems can reduce healthcare costs in the long run by preventing more serious health problems from developing. Nurse lobbyists can push for policies that increase funding for primary care and preventative services, such as community health centers and public health programs.

Conclusion

Nurses play a vital role in our healthcare system, and their voices must be heard when it comes to policy decisions that affect their work and the patients they serve. Nurse lobbyists have an important role to play in advocating for change at the local, state, and federal levels. By using strategies such as hosting meetings with stakeholders, engaging in peaceful demonstrations, and working with legislators to push for policy change, nurse lobbyists can ensure that their concerns are heard and that policies are developed to support safe patient care, ethical observance, inclusion, and a conducive working environment. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, nurse lobbyists will continue to play a crucial role in shaping policies that support high-quality patient care and a thriving healthcare workforce.

References:

Abbasinia, M., Shokrollahi, N., Ebadi, A., & Peyrovi, H. (2020). Advocacy in nursing: A concept analysis. Nursing ethics, 27(2), 556-567.

Cronn, M. R., Huang, J. M., Staggers, N., & Bakerjian, D. (2022). Advocating for a healthier work environment: A call to action for nurse educators. Nurse education today, 108, 105214.

Groenwald, S. L., &

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