Health Policy In Nursing Education
Health Policy In Nursing Education
Policy
is the deliberate course of action chosen by an individual or group to deal
with a problem (Anderson, 2008). “Health policy refers to decisions,
plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals
within a society. An explicit health policy can achieve several things: it
defines a vision for the future, which in turn helps to establish targets and
points of reference for the short and medium term. It outlines priorities and
the expected roles of different groups; and it builds consensus and informs
people” (World Health Organization, 2014).
Health Policy Aspects In Nursing Education
Health
policy crosses all aspects of nursing. It guides and directs patient care at
the individual, community, national, and global levels. Nurses need to
understand the role of health policy in relation to delivery systems, quality
standards, reimbursement, and finance. Core concepts need to be included in all
levels of nursing education. Educating nurses in health policy is a mandate
found in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2014),
Students
need to understand the current health policy. Health policy is integrated at
all levels of the curriculum, including reimbursement guidelines, insurance,
and laws guiding professional practice. Guidelines, standards, and laws direct
nursing practice Health policy decisions are guided by the principle of quality
and safe patient care. Nurses need to be knowledgeable about health policy, and
willing to sit at the table with other decision makers to discuss health
policy. Nurses are in the best position to be engaged in policy making and
decisions at the local, state, national, and international level.
Coursework
should include core concepts such as health policy process and analysis
community, state, and national health care trends; disparities and quality
outcomes; health care financing and delivery systems; leadership principles and
practice management.
Promotion of Health Policy In Nursing Education
Nursing
has been engaged in promoting health policy since the time of Florence
Nightingale. Nurses have long held patient advocacy as a central tenet of
nursing practice. While nurses view their role as a patient advocate, advocacy
is a poorly understood concept in nursing ( McSteen & Peden-McAlpin, 2006).
Nurses are the largest segment of the health care workforce, and are at the
closest contact to patients. Research demonstrates that the quality of nursing
care is directly related to patient outcomes (Needleman, 2008)
The
literature explores various roles and viewpoints of nurses engaging in health
policy. One view is that the sphere of influence includes the community,
workforce and workplace, government, professional organizations, and special
interest groups (Chaffee, Mason, & Leavitt, 2012). Research studies show
that nurses can develop their own political conscience by learning about and
engaging in the policy and political process. Several strategies for nurses to
become stronger advocates and develop a political conscience include the direct
experiences of volunteering, campaigning, joining professional organizations,
and seeking internships and fellowships in areas related to health policy.
Other activities for developing health policy expertise include political sophistication,
moving to the public arena, and leading the way to health policy change
(Yoder-Wise, 2011). Health care is changing with the implementation of the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010). Therefore, it is imperative
that nurses become more politically savvy,
Outcomes Health Policy
Nurses
focus on delivering quality care and using evidence to continually improve
care. Understanding the relationship between health care financing and quality
outcomes that direct treatment protocols and length of stay is essential in
providing care. There needs to be a strong emphasis in nursing education
linking the relationship between health policy and safe patient care.In
the informatics age, there are resources available for easy access to health
care and policy information. Internet sites such as the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid (CMS) have online information regarding quality, safety, and
standard compliance along with financial tracking data.
The Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality offers comprehensive information regarding
standards, health care statistics, and research funding. Lastly, nurse
educators can partner with legislators and other decision makers in education,
research, practice, and policy improvements, Nurses need to use their strong
voice and be involved in areas where health policy decisions are made in
shaping health policy.