United With One Voice: Influencing Healthcare Through Advocating and Policy Development Lauren Hollingsworth, MSN, RN

To be a professional, nurses must have some key values as well as key behaviors to support those values and ideals.

 Clinical Competence/Excellence- becoming the best one can be through ongoing scholarship and research  Humanism- sincere concern for humanity/encompasses empathy & compassion  Altruism- displaying values, beliefs, and attitudes by putting the needs of others above personal needs

 Service- To be a professional, one must serve. Essential areas of service to be professional are one’s place of employment, to the community, to professional organizations, and to one’s discipline (nursing).  Ethical Conduct- encompasses autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, & justice

The nursing profession continues to rank highest as the most trusted and ethical/honest profession year after year in Harris polls.

 The nursing profession has a powerful influence on the public’s trust.  The Harris poll consistently reports that the public trusts information received from RNs regarding health care.  The above statements reinforce that nurses must be key players in health care discussions & decision-making policies.

Nurses influence through the mechanisms of advocacy and health care policy development and/or changes.

The cornerstone of nursing is advocacy. It is supported by the Code of Ethics for Nurses and is considered the ethical standard for all members of the nursing profession. Nurses have always been strong advocates for patients, causes, and the nursing profession. Through advocacy nurses are able to influence by pleading with and educating policy makers, stakeholders, administrators in a variety of economic, political, and social arenas. The voice of nurses can facilitate decision-making in allocating resources that promote nursing, nurses, and the health care system.

 Professional nursing organizations advocate for the nursing profession and all nurses.  They contribute to the voice and accountability of the nursing profession to society.  Each of the 100+ organizations speak for nurses and the nursing profession based on the mission & vision statement of the particular organization.

 Unity in advocacy  Political advocacy  Informing nurses  Disseminating professional knowledge  Professional development

 There is power created by unity and numbers.  Unity gives the nursing profession a greater voice.  Nurses are better able to engage in collaborative efforts with other nurses and other professional organizations.  Nurses are more effective in numbers as they educate the public, policy makers, and other stakeholders on different issues.

 Many members of specialty organizations work with lobbyists of the ANA in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures.  They work in persuading and informing legislators regarding the needs of nursing and the public. They educate on health care issues and quality care for all in society.

 Professional organizations provide a means of communicating quickly with members.  They inform nurses on how proposals will affect those who give and those who receive health care.  They use newsletters and bulletins to keep nurses well-informed.  Members can respond to communications via phone, s, tweets, and Facebook to legislators requesting support and advocating for the nursing profession.

At the national level, the power of over 2 million voices can be tremendous. This power serves to significantly influence change and development of policies and legislation which are pertinent to the nursing profession and health care.

 Organizations provide many opportunities for continuing education contact hours free of charge or at a significant discounted rate.  Many organizations such as the ANA provide educational opportunities through conferences, conventions, and webinars.

Professional organizations solicit scholarly manuscripts from members. They work to publish the most current advanced knowledge

The International Council of Nurses is a Federation of national nursing associations. It represents over 13 million nurses worldwide. It works to promote nurses to speak with one voice, influence health policy, and advance the profession of nursing around the globe. The mission of ICN is to lead all societies to better health.

Examples of International Advocacy Activities  es/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Tableo fContents/Vol /No1-Jan- 2012/Advocating-Globally-to-Shape-Policy.html es/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Tableo fContents/Vol /No1-Jan- 2012/Advocating-Globally-to-Shape-Policy.html El-Salvador- Dengue Fever Rwanda- changes in nursing Paraguay- nurse staffing/ standards of practice New Guinea- HIV/AIDS Iran- development of nursing profession

Advocating for Nurses, the Nursing Profession, and Quality Health Care for All

The ANA is the only full-service professional organization for registered nurses. It represents the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million RNs.

The ANA solicits and coordinates ideas from its members and other nursing specialties and associations. The ANA takes these ideas and deliberates and develops them based on the Code of Ethics, Social Policy Statements, & the Scope and Standards of Practice in Nursing.

 Fosters high standards of nursing practice  Advances the nursing profession  Promotes the rights of nurses in the workplace  Projects a positive & realistic view of nursing  Lobbies Congress and regulatory agencies on various health care issues which affect nurses and the public

The mission of ANA is to advance the nursing profession to improve health for all.

 Known as ANA-PAC  Established to promote improvement of the health care system in the U.S.  Raises funds for C/SNA (Constituent/State Nursing Associations) members and contributes funding for support of candidates for Federal office who support the legislative and regulatory agenda of the ANA

This center provides the following:  ANA Member Value Program- insurance  Fact sheets and resources  Professional tools  ANA periodicals

 The Board of Directors and Membership Assembly are charged with setting policy in health care, the workplace, patient care, and other areas where nurses are engaged.  Position statements/ resolutions address many of the hot topics related to health care and the nursing profession.

 Barriers to Practice of APRNs  Home Health Care: Plan of Care Designation  Medicaid Coverage of Advanced Practice Nursing

 $10 subscription/membership fee  If a SNA member, membership is free Get Involved !!!!

Video: Joan Lunden- narrator C5eeec Nurses Have A Huge Opportunity To Impact Health Care Through Advocating, Collaborating, and Policy Development