Purpose: Discussion

Things to remember:

• Discussion post is at least 200 words.

• Answers all questions with opinions/ideas creatively and clearly. Supports post using several outside, peer-reviewed sources.

• 3 References, try to find resources that are 5 years or less

• No errors with APA format 6thEdition

To Discuss:

Discussion Topic 1: Introduction and Policy Involvement

Please introduce yourself and describe how you, as an advance practice nurse, could be involved in the political system. Describe any involvement that you have had. If you have not had any involvement, describe an area in which you would like to see public policy changed.????

Discussion Topic 2: Skills for Agenda Setting

Assume that you have been invited to your state board of nursing or state nurses' association meeting to brainstorm health policy issues.

Identify an issue that you would bring before this meeting. What resources would you use? What communication techniques would you use?

What agenda would you put forth? What skills are required of you as an advance practice nurse at this meeting?

Advance Practice Nurses And Public Policy - Models Of Agenda Setting

Please take a moment to watch this Course Overview presentation, or, read the presentation transcript.

Leaders of today in?uence public policy. Nurses can work toward better health care for the future by being in the leadership position. Being the largest group of healthcare providers, nurses can make an impact on the delivery and the decision-making process of health care.

The public policy process is different from the legislative process. It involves bringing problems to light; trying to get a reply from governmental bodies.

The process includes "agenda setting, design, government response, implementation and evaluation." (Milstead, 2016, p. 2)

The policy process is not static. It is ongoing. Nurses generally expect immediate response, but the public policy process is slower.

Change takes a longer period of time. It involves using strategies and activities that involve elected and appointed government of?cials. It also involves working with private citizens, and public interest groups.

Milstead (2016) de?ned policy as both an entity and a process. Public policy directs problems to the government and tries to get a response from the government.

In contrast, Milstead indicated that politics "is the use of in?uence to direct the response towards goals (p. 24)." Milstead uses the terms "public policy" and "policy" interchangeably.

Agenda setting is a process of identifying a problem and moving it forward, to the attention of government of?cials so that a solution can be found.

Milstead, J. A. (Ed.). (2016). Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse's Guide (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

After completing this unit, you should be able to:

Give examples of a health policy issues.

Summarize the skills needed to bring an issue before an agenda setting meeting.

Justify the skills needed at an agenda setting meeting.