Nurses may have innovative suggestions for changing a particular health care practice, but if the suggestions are not enacted through policy, they help no one and simply remain good ideas. Fortunately, nurses today frequently are involved in the policy development process due to their increasingly recognized expertise in all aspects of health and health care. These policies may be at the organizational, local, state, national or global levels. The ability of nurses to help establish effective policy allows them to have a broader influence than through practice alone.
This week, you will explore the policy-making process and how issues reach the public agenda. You will also analyze how policies influence health care delivery and population health. In addition, you will consider ethical and value-based frameworks that guide policy development and practice.
Learning ObjectivesStudents will:
Analyze the influence of a health care policy on health care delivery and apply Kingdon's Model to health policy development
Evaluate key characteristics of an effective women's preventive health care program
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Learning Resources Required Readings
Milstead, J. A. (2016). Health policy and politics: A nurse's guide (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Chapter 1, "Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Public Policy, Naturally" (pp. 1-44)This chapter explains public policy and the nurse's role in directing health care issues to the government and securing a response.
Chapter 2, "Agenda Setting" This chapter provides examples of the process of moving a problem to the attention of the government so the solution can be considered at the state and federal levels.
Chapter 3, "Government Response: Legislation" (pp. 69-98)This chapter explores the multiple factors that influence the development of public policy through the legislative branch of government.
Coalition for Patients' Rights. (2012).
This website details the initiative of the Coalition for Patients' Rights, which seeks to ensure that patients everywhere have access to the quality health care providers of their choice.
University of Washington School of Medicine. (n.d.) Ethics in medicine: Managed care. Retrieved from
This article explains the effects and ethical concerns associated with managed care, which integrates payment with the delivery of health care.