In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making. A critical component of any policy design is the evaluation of the results. How comfortable are you with the thought of becoming involved with such matters?
The Role of the RN-APRN in Policy Evaluation
Inarguably, nurses make up the bulk of the healthcare workforce worldwide. They have been put in a position to see how policies are made and how the implemented policies impact patients and the community at large (“How nurses can shape health policy,” 2021). They, therefore, have a preeminent role in policymaking and evaluation. Policy evaluation is a process by which research methods are incorporated systemically to determine the effectiveness, quality, merit, impact, and applicability of a policy intervention implementation and process (“Brief 1: Overview of policy evaluation – centers for disease control”, n.d.). Basically, policy evaluation determines whether a policy has achieved its purpose. This paper seeks to expound on the roles of nurses in policy evaluation, opportunities for nurses to participate actively in policy review, and the challenges that these opportunities may present. This post also describes how to overcome these challenges and strategies for better advocating for the existence of these opportunities.
Since nurses play a major role in policy implementation and evaluation, they should be knowledgeable and experienced in that field. This could be achieved through educational training. Formal training on policy evaluation ensures that they have a strong understanding of policies giving them an upper hand in the matter.
There are several available opportunities for nurses to participate in policy review. The first opportunity a nurse has is running for office. Having a seat in the office allows a nurse to directly influence the decisions made during health policy formulation implementation and evaluation. The second opportunity for a nurse is joining a State Nursing. These organizations give nurses a platform to meet with legislators and other nurses from other places, which allows them to share knowledge and information on policymaking. Additionally, these organizations provide internships for nurses. These programs train and educate them about policymaking and also give them experience.
Consistently, the availability of opportunities for nurses to be involved in policy reviews comes with challenges. For example, most nurses lack adequate skills and knowledge of political and policy development (BARZEGAR SAFARI et al., 2020). Secondly, nurses have been sidelined regarding policymaking and development and are only given opportunities in their implementation, a great challenge (Rasheed et al., 2020). These challenges can be overcome by providing educational programs and awareness to nurses on the health policies and the importance of their participation in their development.
Several strategies can be adopted to better advocate for the existence of these opportunities. The first one is holding and attending nursing seminars and meetings. Major challenges and hindrances to accessing these opportunities can be addressed during these meetings. Secondly, proper communication tools should be employed as advocacy tools. Proper communication will allow a proper flow of information, create more awareness for the nurses, and ensure they are informed about the available opportunities.
References
BARZEGAR SAFARI, M., BAHADORI, M., & ALIMOHAMMADZADEH, K. (2020). The related factors of nurses’ participation and perceived benefits and barriers in health policymaking. Journal of Nursing Research, Publish Ahead of Print. https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000385
Brief 1: Overview of policy evaluation – centers for disease control. (n.d.). Re