NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation

In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making. A critical component of any policy design is evaluation of the results. How comfortable are you with the thought of becoming involved with such matters? NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Some nurses may be hesitant to get involved with policy evaluation. The preference may be to focus on the care and well-being of their patients; some nurses may feel ill-equipped to enter the realm of policy and political activities. However, as you have examined previously, who better to advocate for patients and effective programs and polices than nurses? Already patient advocates in interactions with doctors and leadership, why not with government and regulatory agencies? NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

In this Discussion, you will reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

To Prepare for NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making.
Review the Resources and reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.

BY DAY 3 OF WEEK 9

Post an explanation of at least two opportunities that currently exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy review. Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges. Finally, recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities. Be specific and provide examples. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

1 The Roles of RNs and APRNs in Policy Making Student’s Name: Institutional Affiliation: Course: Instructor: Date: 2 Introduction Nurses fall into different categories depending on the education level and expertise. Similarly, nursing roles are different depending on the type of nurse and their specialization or expertise. Various opportunities also exist for different nurses. The RNs and APRNs have their unique roles that entail and define their careers. Nurses should set up policies to help them in the execution of duties. However, when setting the guidelines, some challenges may arise in hindering nurses from getting current opportunities. The discussion board discusses the opportunities existing for APRNs and RNs when participating in policymaking. Further, the paper entails nurses’ challenges in policymaking participation and the possible strategies to communicate the current opportunities.

Opportunities for APRNs and RNs APRNs and RNs have many opportunities to participate in policymaking. Firstly, the existence of professional organizations that APRNs and RNs can engage. For instance, the RNs and APRNs can join the Emergency Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and the American Nursing Academy. Nurses can use such professional organizations to learn more about the policies that concern the nurses (Chan et al., 2013, p.2021). NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Moreover, professional organizations facilitate the effective implementation of policies. The organizations also favor participating nurses by ensuring that the policies promote their welfare during the review process. Another opportunity exists in the nurses’ workplaces. At the workplace, nurses get a chance to exercise their responsibility. Also, nurses can impact available and prospective programs to enhance healthcare delivery. APRNs and RNs have a primary role in improving health and improving quality healthcare (Chan et al., 2013, p.2025). By engaging in workplace 3 activities, nurses can influence existing policies and development of new policies. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Moreover, when existing policies fail to enhance quality care, the nurses can request the policy’s revision or even decline that policy. At the workplace, APRNs and RNs can realize policies that can enhance and promote quality healthcare and the policies that fail to promote quality healthcare. Challenges and Measures to Overcome Sometimes the opportunities present several challenges for the nurses. For example, professional organization result in complexity in terms of the joining process. Many nurses attribute the failure to participate and join the organizations due to the complicated procedure when joining. Overcoming the challenge entails establishing an easily understandable and straightforward joining process (Butler & Diaz, 2017, p.18). Nurses will quickly join if the procedure is simple and understandable. Moreover, ineffective leadership in some organizations causes the organizations to be less radical. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Therefore, the organizations’ leadership requires frequent reviews to change less performing leaders and enhance successful reforms. The workplace opportunity also results in several challenges. Sometimes nurses may not get adequate information regarding the policies or need for their review. Similarly, other times the policymakers may not involve all nurses when doing the studies. Nurses should seek information concerning existing policies and possible policy reviews. They should also know their roles during the implementation of policies (Elliott, & Walden, 2015, p.481). Additionally, the workplace poses the challenge of disunity among nurses. It is possible to overcome the challenge by participating in activities that promote unity and focusing on common goals. Another challenge at the workplace entails poor leadership, limiting nurses’ ability to grow and enhance their leadership skills. Non-performing leaders occupy their positions for long, yet they 4 do not perform. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Nurses should advocate for equal leadership opportunities and be confident when they occupy such positions. Possible Strategies to Enhance Communication Nurses can employ several strategies to communicate existing opportunities. For instance, nurses can engage in training activities. Practical training enhances a better understanding of available options, the job environment and the nurses’ roles (Butler & Diaz, 2017, p.16). Secondly, an effective leadership strategy helps nurses to participate actively in airing their concerns regarding particular policies. Organizational leaders determine whether nurses can participate in policymaking and implementation. NURS 6050 Policy & Advocacy for Improving Population Health. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Knowledgeable nursing teams should implement the strategies of effective leadership and training. Conclusion Nursing policies are essential since they help nurses to execute their roles effectively. However, nurses may not participate in the procedures for various reasons. Overcoming those drawbacks entails joining professional organizations and encouraging unity at the workplace. When challenges such as poor leadership arise, nurses can unite to deal with such challenges. Also, APRNs and RNs should find leadership opportunities to occupy and promote effective policies that favor all nurses.NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Moreover, the goal is to promote successful patient outcomes, which is possible if only the policies encourage successful execution of nursing roles.

References

Butler, S., & Diaz, C. (2017). Nurses as intermediaries in the promotion of community health: Exploring Their Roles and Challenges. https://www.brookings.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2017/09/es_20170921_nurses_as_intermediaries.pdf 5 Chan, E. A., Jones, A., & Wong, K. (2013). The relationships between communication, care and time are intertwined: a narrative inquiry exploring the impact of time on registered nurses’ work. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(9), 2020-2029. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12064 Elliott, E. C., & Walden, M. (2015). Development of the transformational advanced professional practice model. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(9), 479487. https://doi.org/10.1002/2327-6924.12171 NURS 6050 Policy & Advocacy for Improving Population Health. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Module 5: Program/Policy Evaluation (Weeks 9-10)

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Program Policy and Evaluation [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Analyze opportunities for RNs and APRNs to participate in program/policy evaluations
Analyze strategies for overcoming challenges for participating in program/policy evaluations
Recommend strategies to improve the advocacy and communication of program/policy evaluations
Describe healthcare program/policy outcomes
Analyze healthcare program/policy evaluations
Analyze the role of the nurse advocate in program/policy evaluation

Learning Resources for NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Required Readings

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Chapter 7, “Health Policy and Social Program Evaluation” (pp. 116–124 only)

Glasgow, R. E., Lichtenstein, E., & Marcus, A. C. (2003). Why don’t we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition. American Journal of Public Health, 93(8), 1261–1267.

Shiramizu, B., Shambaugh, V., Petrovich, H., Seto, T. B., Ho, T., Mokuau, N., & Hedges, J. R. (2016). Leading by success: Impact of a clinical and translational research infrastructure program to address health inequities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 4(5), 983–991.

Williams, J. K., & Anderson, C. M. (2018). Omics research ethics considerations. Nursing Outlook, 66(4), 386–393. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2018.05.003

Document: Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Template (Word document)

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Importance of Program Evaluation [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Peter Beilenson: Ethics and advocacy [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author

Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.

To Prepare for NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

The Assignment: (2–3 pages)

Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:

Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

By Day 7 of Week 10

Submit your completed healthcare program/policy evaluation analysis.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK10Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
Click the Week 10 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
Click the Week 10 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK10Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
Due to the nature of this assignment, your instructor may require more than 5 days to provide you with quality feedback. NURS 6050 Policy Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 10 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 10 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 10

To submit your Assignment:

Week 10 Assignment