For more information please follow the below link: As the largest medical profession in the world, nurses should be leading the way in redesigning the healthcare system. At the end of each day, data were saved on an external drive and on Microsoft OneDrive online. Political participation was defined as nurses involvement in activities considered to be political in nature (Vandenhouten et al., 2011). I also think new nurses are unaware of the type of impact they can have on different policies at the local, state, and national levels; they may also not know where to even start becoming involved in politics as well. (2013). And if you thought your Nurse Practice Act was free of politics, think again. Retrieved from http://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/83/, Juma, P. A., Edwards, N., & Spitzer, D. (2014). Moving towards the greater involvement of nurses in policy development. The Shortell Leadership Scale showed a similar effect, with a potential impact, for both scales, of up to a 53% decrease in the odds of intending to leave. The nursing profession has significant power to profoundly impact healthcare policy on a global scale. These are opinion pieces and are not peer reviewed. (2016) noted that nurses were generally unable to make financial contributions to political organizations as a result of low-income earnings. The summation and levels of the PAI used in this study included: (a) totally politically unaware (0-8 points); (b) slightly aware of the implications of political activity for nursing (9-17 points); (c) shows a beginning political awareness (18-26 points); and (d) politically astute and an asset to the profession (27-35 points). According to the World Health Statistics Report, there are approximately 29 million nurses and midwives globally, with 3.9 million of those individuals in the United States. Want to read all 4 pages? 8600 Rockville Pike :10.1177/1527154413490566, Kelly, K. (2007). Medical Imaging Core Requirements Year 1. COMMUNIQUE OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA STUDENT NURSES AND MIDWIVES. The result of this analysis is presented in Table 3. :10.1177/152715440200300203, International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Nurses have the requisite education, experience, and legacy that will enable them to lead the world in addressing the social determinants of health, factors that have a dramatic impact on the health of populations (Lathrop, 2013). Journal of Professional Nursing 32(1). Here is some of the major new nursing legislation on the agenda . Reference Welliver, M. (2021, March 10). During his time at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, he was deputy secretary for the local chapter of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association. https://www.emedevents.com/c/medical-conferences-2019/maternal-fetal-imaging-2019-1 36-50. However, nurses need support in order to effect change. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted We will be leading teams and working in many different settings, using . Journal of Professional Nursing 32(3). Many nurses enjoy taking care of their patients and being at the bedside to where they dont want to become involved in administration and the business or political aspect of their job. Disclaimer. Similarly, Avolio (2014) noted that although nurses agreed that it was important to be politically active, only 30% of respondents reported that they were motivated to become involved in politics. We are the ones at the bedside and those who sit behind a desk and make the policies sometimes dont have a clue. Nurses and other healthcare professionals must maintain a certain level of political awareness if they are to have an appropriate impact on legislation, regulation and other initiatives that affect healthcare or nursing. This may still hold true, and we can now attest to the fact that the professional is also political. When nurses join these organizations, they analyze problems to [] She abruptly pivoted, joining the core of Johns Hopkins Medicine's pandemic response as an operations chief of its . Note: The values in this table represent multiple responses from participants.Relationship Between Political Participation and Demographic CharacteristicsData were analyzed for significant differences in the level of political participation of participants based on selected demographic variables. Another barrier is the limited formal health care policy education in nursing (Welliver, 2021). #1: Public policies can create, regulate, and maintain public goods that foster supportive environments for good health. Health promotion in nursing: A derridean discourse analyis. HealthCom Media, the publishers of American Nurse Journal, the American Nurses Association and Al Roker Productions collaborated to bring a few shining examples of the exemplary work being done by nurses in today's very challenging healthcare environment to the American public. Citation: Alhassan, A., Kumi-Kyereme, A., Wombeogo, M., Fuseini, A.-G., (February 22, 2019) "Nurse Participation in Political Activities: Level and Practices of Registered Nurses in Tamale, Ghana" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. Another barrier is the limited formal health care policy education in nursing. 10 Interesting Facts About Registered Nurses You Must Know. The characteristics of this sample are presented in Table 1. 5. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice (PPNP) is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that explores the multiple relationships between nursing and health policy.PPNP serves as a major source of data-based study, policy analysis and discussion on timely, relevant policy issues for nurses in a broad variety of roles and settings, and for others who are interested in nursing-related policy issues. Your email address will not be published. It will conclude by addressing the relationships between political participation of nurses and their demographic characteristics. Background Characteristics of RespondentsOnly a minute percentage were in the highest category of political participation. Nurse leaders can use their sphere of influence to shape policy within their organization and encourage nursing staff's health policy involvement. Future research in this area needs to focus on strategies that enhance the political efficacy and participation of nurses, so as to enhance their role to strengthen healthcare and the health of the patients they serve. Regardless of the multiple factors limiting the nursing professions potential impact on politics, the fact remains that nurses are vital to the development and implementation of healthcare policy. Together we are strong. Tamale is Ghanas fourth largest city with a population of 360,579 people (World Population Review, 2019); it is the fastest-growing city in West Africa (Abaneh, 2019). American Nurse. He is a Fellow of both the West African College of Nurses and the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives and a Member of the Sigma Theta Tau International. Yet, studies have shown that nurse participation in political activities remains low. Retrieved from American Nurses: https://www.myamericannurse . Have systems (micro-, meso-, or macro- level) or population/aggregate focus. Again, nurses tendency to be passive in political participation is evident here. only a small number of the nurses were found to be politically astute. The independent samples t-test was conducted to determine differences in the level of political participation based on gender and practice area, while the one-way ANOVA was used to determine differences in political participation based on age and academic qualification. I am also back in school and am now learning to how have a bigger influence in my profession. Nursing. The results of the independent t-test showed that the mean score on political participation for males was statistically significantly higher (15.81) compared to females (14.20), (t (223) = 2.525, p = .012). Locally, nurses can become politically active by assuming leadership positions in the healthcare system or contacting elected officials about legislation affecting the industry. Many nursing scholars, professional nursing organizations, and other health-focused organizations, expect and encourage nurses to engage in socio-political activities. And for physicians, physical therapists, radiologists and other healthcare providers, we're singing the same song. New York, NY: Harper and Row. Opiate Crisis and Healthcare Reform in America: A Review for Nurses, Healthcare Transformation: A Bibliometric Analysis of a Global Endeavor, Nurse Policy Entrepreneurship in a Rural Community: A Multiple Streams Framework Approach, Nurses Advancing Telehealth Services in the Era of Healthcare Reform, Policy Advocacy Motivators and Barriers: Research Results and Applications. Voting matters. After all, healthcare legislation ultimately affects us all. :10.1177/1527154413489887, Montalvo, W., & Byrne, M. W. (2016). CRNA Continuing Education Symposium and CRNA Anesthesia Seminars for Nurse Anesthetists.Palm Springs Oasis in the Desert 2019 Encore Symposium is organized by Encore Symposium and will be held from Feb 18 21, 2019 at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, Palm Springs, California,USA. The demographic section contained questions about participant age, gender, professional rank, academic qualification, and area of nursing practice (whether clinical or education). ANA describes the nursing code of ethics as "non-negotiable in any setting.". https://www.emedevents.com/c/medical-conferences-2019/palm-springs-oasis-in-the-desert-2019-encore-symposium. Maternal-Fetal Imaging Advances in OB-GYN Ultrasound is organized by World Class CME and will be held from Jan 18 20, 2019 at The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America. Table 2. There are several reasons for the limited nursing participation in policy and politics. Nursing is the largest medical profession in the world with nearly 4 million nurses in the United States alone. Political efficacy and participation of nurse practitioners. When these battle lines are drawn, politically astute nurses and nurse leaders will often lead the charge in protecting (or even expanding) the Nurse Practice Act under threat. If nursing was considered STEM, it could improve workforce development, funding, and immigration policy. These organizations often have lobbyists that bring nursing issues to Capitol Hill. Lack of awareness, inadequate skills, and little opportunity for involvement are just a few factors. This situation is not peculiar to Ghana. 2015. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21 (IBM, 2015). We are the largest medical profession, so we can do it. Nurses are a critical part of healthcare and make up the largest section of the health profession. Nursing, as one of the most frequent professions in the world, now has the potential to have a global impact on politics and policy. Results of the one-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant differences in the mean scores on political participation among the participants based on age (p = .101), or academic qualification (p = .486). Even without completing a membership application form, nurses are automatically drafted into the association once the government posts them to start working. Nursing has become one of the largest professions in the world, and as such, nurses have the potential to influence policy and politics on a global scale. The nursing profession has significant power to influence healthcare policy globally. As the largest medical profession in the world, nurses have the potential to profoundly influence policy and politics on a global scale. Case Management Services to Meet the Complex Needs of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in the CommunityThe Successes and Challenges of a Unique Program from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Additionally, participants were asked whether they have ever actively supported a candidate for election as an Assemblyman or a Member of Parliament (e.g., by campaigning or wearing party souvenirs). These earlier findings are in sharp contrast to the present study where 91.1% of the participants were registered members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA). Background Characteristics of Respondents. In fact, it is the moral and professional obligation of nurses to be engaged in legislation that impacts their patients. American Nurses Association. FYS 100/102 First Year Seminar (specific to HP Clinically based programs) 3 credit hours MAT 111 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Math (QF) 3 credit hours BIO 150/151 Molecular Biology 4 credit hours; Foundations Course - Global Citizenship 3 credit hours; Foundations Course - American Citizenship 3 credit hours Featuring analysis of cutting-edge healthcare issues and first-person insights, Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 8th Edition continues to be the leading text on nursing action and activism. Professor Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. This resource consults experienced nurses, who . Restricted access Research article First published November 8, 2022 pp. As mentioned above, legislation that impacts nursing practice can radically change nurses' work lives. Such healthcare company executives I, myself, am a nursing student currently, and in the undergraduate classes we do not have classes on health policy or management, which looks at different topics in healthcare and regulations and policies. The nursing shortage is only predicted to worsen. As Oestberg so succinctly points out, If nurses dont stand up for issues that are important to us, those with competing interests in healthcare may be the only ones whose voices are heard. By joining their voices together, American nurses can influence the policy and politics that affect healthcare. Influencing healthcare in the legislative arena. American Nurse. (2005). The nursing profession's potential impact on policy and politics. Katie Pearce. All registered nurses working in the selected facilities were included in the study population. Questionnaires were marked as entered to avoid duplicate entries. Int Nurs Rev. Due to its central location, Tamale serves as a hub for all administrative and commercial activities in the Northern region. A period of one week was allowed for consenting participants to complete the survey. Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, has been a nurse since 1996. (2011) and Avolio (2014) respectively were registered members of a professional nursing organization. Factors that act as facilitators and barriers to nurse leaders participation in health policy development. Even a public health nurse may have influence on a local mayor, council member, judge or other elected official. : 10.1177/1527154413485901, Shariff, N. (2014). Required fields are marked *. Marquis and Huston define politics as the art of using legitimate power wisely. The nursing profession has significant power to profoundly impact healthcare policy on a global scale. I have learned to become more involved and how to have a voice with policies at my hospital even if it is on a smaller level. Hi.Good information.There are some conferences happening in which medical specialty would be Nursing and here is one of those conferences. His duties at the University for Development Studies include coordinating and supervising student research. 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Nursing needs policy, it provides the context to nurses' practice, roles, and knowledge and frames patients' day-to-day lives. It was Kaiser-Permanente to profit Nixons campaign financier, Edgar Kaiser. Nurse practitioners can impact health policy in different ways, simply depending on their practice specialty. Examples of questions asked on the PAI include, I am registered to vote, I belong to a professional nurses organization, and I have provided testimony at a public hearing on an issue related to health." Note: The values in this table represent multiple responses from participants. Political apathy in the nursing profession can be attributed to numerous factors, including a lack of knowledge of the political process and public policy formation, feelings of powerlessness, and a perceived ethical conflict between professional values and political involvement. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 12(1). As Oestberg states, As nurses, we need to think of policy as something we can influence, not just something that happens to us.. for-profit business entities instead of the service organizations they were intended to be. And nurses can even run for state office there are two nurses currently serving in the Florida State Legislature. In 1973 when Nixon did an illegal personal favor for his friend and campaign financier, Edgar Kaiser, then president and chairman of This guide offers an overview of the ACA and examines what this historic reform means for nurses. He has held key positions in the university including Head, Department of Population and Health (2010 – 2014) and Vice Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences (2014 – 2018). Secondary reasons for my decision to pursue nursing include traveling the world, enjoying the respect bestowed upon the nursing profession, and . Retrieved from http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/geography/tamale.php, Abood, S. (2007). Buchan J, Twigg D, Dussault G, Duffield C, Stone PW. This limited participation does not augur well for the nursing profession because, as noted earlier, limited participation in political activities fails to give nurses the needed leverage to lobby for better policies and programs for the profession. When nurses use political power to promote healthcare delivery, they are ultimately fighting for their patients. For more information please follow the below link: Furthermore, today's nurses are younger, more educated, and more diverse. Cite This Essay. Whitehead (2010) argues that influencing health policy through political involvement amounts to population-level health promotion. Meeting the policy agenda, part 1: the role of the modern district nurse. Nursing schools need to include healthcare policy education as part of the curriculum, as well as encourage some level of political involvement from nursing students. He is the current Convocation Representative (Professorial) on the University of Cape Coast Council and a member of a number of professional associations. For instance, only 5.8% reported that they attended the most recent district meeting of GRNMA, and only 16% indicated that they attended the last regional symposium organized by GRNMA in their region. Thank You. Only 30% and 45% of participants in studies by Vandenhouten et al. Nurs Res Pract. The first opportunity that exists is nursing associations or organizations. Mentoring nurses in political skill to navigate organizational politics. Independent samples t-test was used to test the association between gender, area of practice, and political participation. This section will describe the characteristics of the respondents, report nurses' levels of political participation and present the political practices of the nurses. The nursing profession's potential impact on policy and politics. The aging of nursing faculty will impact the capacity of nursing schools to educate sufficient numbers of registered nurses to meet future demand. 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/236573. The Cronbach's alpha for this adapted version was 0.82. The numerous clinical trials required for approval can take decades and cost up to one billion dollars. Mr. Afizu Alhassan holds a Master of Nursing Degree from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University for Development Studies, also in Ghana. Approximately 150 expert contributors present a wide range of topics in policies and politics . In a study conducted in the United States regarding political participation of registered nurses, only 23% of participants reported making monetary contributions to political candidates (Vandenhouten et al., 2011). The results of these tests are presented in Table 4. In many countries, nurses constitute the largest workforce in the healthcare sector (Juma et al., 2014; Shariff, 2014). As such, nurses have the potential to profoundly influence policy and politics on a global scale. Afizu Alhassan, MN, BSN, RNEmail: hafizbinhassan@outlook.com. As the purpose of this paper was to explore specific leadership . For more information please follow the below link: Much of academic language continues to use pejorative terms. Health care is a major issue in American politics, with important debates related to health care coverage and the underlying cost of health care. and transmitted securely. Politics can affect the role of a nurse and impact the career incredibly. Keith is also the co-host of RNFM Radio, a popular Internet radio station devoted to the nursing profession. Dr. Wombeogo lectures in various nursing and health-related courses, at the Schools of Allied Health Sciences and Medicine and Health Sciences, of UDS.