Discussion Post 2: RN/APRN Role in Healthcare Policymaking

This discussion post explores the role of nursing practitioners in policymaking to promote patient wellbeing. It highlights the importance of professional organizations like the American Nurses Association in developing policies and leadership skills. The post also emphasizes the significance of teamwork and knowledge sharing in effective policymaking. Challenges such as knowledge deficit and funding issues are addressed, with solutions like training programs and securing funding. The post includes responses to two colleague's posts, analyzing their arguments on nursing policymaking and the impact of workplace violence. References from APA style are also included to support the arguments.

Running head: DISCUSSION POST 1
Discussion Post
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

DISCUSSION POST 2
Discussion Post
Initial post
Policymaking is one of the primary mandates of nursing practitioners in order to promote
wellbeing among patients in the healthcare setting. The nursing platform has to accountable and
empress change before anticipating to convince lawmakers (Burke, 2016). In order to implement
effective healthcare and promote wellbeing among patients, nurses have to establish policies that
promote effective attainment of desired objectives.
The establishment of professional organizations is a significant opportunity for nurses. A
typical example is the American Nurses Association. The association presents fundamental
opportunities for the development of policies. For instance, the concerns of the nurses are shared
by the federal candidates embedded within the political action committee of the association. The
ANA also plays a significant role in developing leadership skills among nursing staff, including
training programs on the process of policymaking.
Teamwork brings about a vital opportunity for the nursing staff regarding the
implementation. The rules embedded in teams make a member articulate them and facilitate
policymaking processes. Furthermore, knowledge sharing in teamwork helps nurses to find
resolutions to their challenges, thus promoting effectiveness in the policymaking process.
Milstead & Short (2019) acknowledge the importance of teamwork in promoting good patient
outcomes in the healthcare setting. This narrative identifies the reason why teamwork is an
opportunity that can direct nurses towards creating policies that are relevant to the primary
objective of promoting welfare among patients.

DISCUSSION POST 3
Knowledge deficit regarding the process of policymaking among nurses is the
fundamental challenge. Most nurses do not even understand the importance of policymaking in
promoting the effective achievement of patient outcomes. Lack of adequate funds to facilitate
the implementation of the initiative is also a fundamental problem. Most nurses have fixed time
schedules, and their participation in policymaking require allowances. Furthermore, some
resources are needed for the initiative to be executed.
These challenges can be curbed through promoting training and development programs in
nursing institutions. This will ensure that the nurses are educated on the importance of engaging
in policy making process, including the procedure for implementation of the program. On the
same note, funding sources can be utilized through loan advancements, governmental support,
and advocating to lure grants from donors.
Response One
I like the way Moore argues regarding the role of nurses in the policymaking process.
The discussion explores vivid concepts in the nursing profession, including the issues that
require to be handled by the target policies (Irving, 2014). Such issues include taking care of their
self, coworkers, their patients and patient’s families (Arabi, Cheraghi, Ghiyasvandian & Rafii, 2014).
The post also explores the lack of awareness as a fundamental problem and challenge that
requires to be tackled through the promotion of educational programs among the nursing staff.
However, the post fails to be specific enough on the priorities available to nurses in promoting
policymaking processes.
Response Two

DISCUSSION POST 4
Bolalin’s post on the role of RNs and APRNs in policymaking is of much significance
following its emphasis on the lawmaking aspects. The discussion post also brings forth a new
concept concerning workplace violence as a fundamental challenge facing healthcare facilities
(Sisawo, Ouédraogo & Huang, 2017). I find this a vital aspect to be anticipated because of its
impact on effective inter-professional collaboration which I explored within my discussion while
addressing effective teamwork. This discussion goes further to display vital methodologies of
managing the underlying challenges (Peterson, 2017). However, the discussion post fails to
address the available priorities to the nursing staff.

DISCUSSION POST 5
References
American Nurses Association ANA). (n.d.) Advocacy. Retrieved
from: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/
Arabi, A., Rafii, F., Cheraghi, M. A., & Ghiyasvandian, S. (2014). Nurses' policy influence: A
concept analysis. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 19(3), 315–322.
Burke S. A. (2016). Reflection on Nursing Leadership. Influence through policy: Nurse have a
unique role. Retrieved
from: https://www.reflectionsonnursingleadership.org/commentary/more-
commentary/Vol42_2_nurses-have-a-unique-role
Irving, A. (2014). Policies and Procedures for Healthcare Organizations: A Risk Management
Perspective. Retrieved from https://www.psqh.com/analysis/policies-and-procedures-for-
healthcare-organizations-a-risk-management-perspective/
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse's guide
(6th ed.) Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Peterson M. E. (2017). Barriers to Practice and the Impact on Health Care: A Nurse Practitioner
Focus. Journal of the advanced practitioner in oncology, 8(1), 74–81. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5995533/
Sisawo, E. J., Ouédraogo, S., & Huang, S. L. (2017). Workplace violence against nurses in the
Gambia: mixed methods design. BMC health services research, 17(1),
311. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2258-4

DISCUSSION POST 6