Charting a Research Agenda for the Advancement of Nursing Organizations’ Influence on Health Systems and Policy

Abstract

Nursing organizations across Canada play a significant role in influencing and shaping public policy. 2020, the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, is an opportune time not only to support nurses in building policy leadership but also to explore opportunities to better understand and strengthen the policy advocacy work of nursing organizations. Given various social, political, and economic forces, the nature of organized nursing across Canada is changing significantly. We draw on recent key national and global events including our systematic inquiry into the Canada’s 2019 federal election, the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and the Coronavirus pandemic to examine how Canadian nursing organizations respond in highly complex and evolving contexts. We use our observations to offer a vision and chart a research agenda for the advancement of nursing organizations’ influence on health systems and policy. Specifically, we focus on three key areas including examining nursing organizations’ policy agendas and spheres of influence; nursing organizations’ decision-making around policy advocacy tactics and engagement approaches; and the impact of policy advocacy coalitions and networks on nursing organizations’ influence.

Policy Advocacy and Nursing Organizations: A Scoping Review

“…Some papers were focused on discussing strategies more broadly while others focused on the strategies used by specific organizations. Commonly identified strategies included interorganizational collaboration and coalitions ( Baumgart, 1993 ; Bednash, 2015 ; Betts, 1996 ; Birnbach & Orr, 1993 ; Brekken & Evans, 2011 ; Chiu et al, 2020b ; Cho & Kashka, 2004 ; Dick et al, 1986 ; Fyffe, 2009 ; Green et al, 2004 ; Hall-Long, 1995 ; Hardy, 1985 ; Hansen-Turton et al., 2009 ; Jones, 2004 ; Kenner, 1995 ; Kishi & Green, 2008 ; MacDonald, 2012 ; Madler et al, 2014 ; Miyamoto & Cook, 2019 ; Mosley, 1996 ; O’Brien, 2003 ; Rieger & Moore, 2002 ; Rubotzky, 2000 ; Sampson, 2009 ; Sattler, 2003 ; Sharp, 1994 ; Thomas et al, 2004 ; Wieck et al, 2004 ; Whyte & Stone, 2000 ), meeting with policymakers and government ( Betts, 1996 ; Brekken & Evans, 2011 ; Cho & Kashka, 2004 ; Green et al, 2004 ; Hansen-Turton et al, 2009 ; Hall-Long, 1995 ; Hardy, 1985 ; Kishi & Green, 2008 ; Macdonald, 2012 ; Madler et al, 2014 ; Miyamoto & Co...…”

“…Of those 20 papers, 12 were focused on analyzing or critiquing the policy positions of nursing organizations. These papers were focused on examining how organizations constructed their positions in comparison to others ( Kelly, 2008 ; Kent & Liaschenko, 2004 ; Saulnier, 2003 ), the evolution of policy positions overtime ( Hardy, 1985 ; Hardy, 1988 ; Lewenson, 1989 ; Woods, 1989 ), and the breadth and depth of policy positions in relation to specific topics such as spheres of influence ( Chiu et al, 2020b ), harm reduction ( Gagnon & Hazlehurst, 2020 ), and climate change ( Nicholas & Breaky, 2017 ). Two papers were focused on critiquing organizations’ positions on matters that were more controversial such as assisted suicide ( White, 1999 ) and conversion therapy ( Blackwell, 2008 ).…”

Housing Conditions and Health Implications for Migrant Agricultural Workers in Canada: A Scoping Review

“…However, the government's response reflects both a lack of urgency and an exceedingly narrow acknowledgement of concerns raised by workers, advocates, and scholars. Amidst these political struggles, nurse scholars and advocates have played a prominent role in advocating for affordable, quality housing for the general public (Benbow et al , 2016 ; Chiu et al, 2020 ). Yet the discipline has been relatively silent in recognizing the unique housing threats faced by migrant agricultural workers.…”

Editorial: contributions of professional nursing organizations

“…They provide opportunities to engage with other nurse colleagues through a variety of mechanisms. Importantly, PNOs influence policy at the local and national levels (Chiu et al, 2020), including advocating for nurse values and patient welfare (Goolsby & DuBois, 2017).…”

“…The importance of nurses participating in policy development at the local, national and international levels was highlighted during the World Health Organization's designation of 2020 (extending into 2021) as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife (Chiu et al, 2020). Moreover, the fifth recommendation in the State of the World's Nursing 2020 Report stresses the role of nurses contributing to national health policy decisions.…”