The Road Less Traveled: Nursing Advocacy at the Policy Level

Abstract

A frequent observation made about nursing advocacy at the policy level is its absence-or at least its invisibility. Yet there is a persistent belief that nurses will participate in advocacy at the societal level in matters of health. Although gaps exist in our knowledge about how to advocate at the policy level, the authors suggest that a number of other factors contribute to the disconnect between what nurses are expected to do in terms of policy advocacy and what they actually do. There are two main purposes in this article: to review the epistemological foundations of advocacy in nursing, and to present a discussion of other factors that limit our participation in policy advocacy. The authors discuss challenges within the discipline, in the practice context, and at the interface of the worlds of policy and nursing practice. The article concludes with a discussion of possible strategies for moving forward.

Priority setting and policy advocacy by nursing associations: A scoping review and implications using a socio-ecological whole systems lens

“…Nurses' knowledge and experience, patient conditions, ward organization, and resources are among factors that influence how nurses establish preferential orders [10]. Similarly, the literature is replete with policy advocacy taken by individual nurses and the factors that influence their advocacy efforts including lack of preparation and knowledge, limited opportunities, and fear that careers may be jeopardized if political action is taken [11][12][13][14]. However, this literature does not address priority setting by nursing associations or the factors that influence actions taken by associations.…”

Advocacia Do Paciente Na Enfermagem: Barreiras, Facilitadores E Possíveis Implicações

“…23 These conflicts pose some risk to nurses, such as that of losing their jobs or being labeled negatively, which may inhibit their attempts to exercise their power and defend the rights of patients in healthcare settings. 1,20 Nurses seem to be risk-averse, as there is a culture of silence and conformity at the expense of conflict or confrontation, a culture that reinforces constraints that need to be overcome for nursing advocacy to be implemented. 20 Nurses can overcome these barriers, especially by seeking and improving their knowledge, which can be acquired through training, professional qualification and continuing education, enhancing the autonomy of nurses to advocate for their patients.…”

“…1,20 Nurses seem to be risk-averse, as there is a culture of silence and conformity at the expense of conflict or confrontation, a culture that reinforces constraints that need to be overcome for nursing advocacy to be implemented. 20 Nurses can overcome these barriers, especially by seeking and improving their knowledge, which can be acquired through training, professional qualification and continuing education, enhancing the autonomy of nurses to advocate for their patients. In the same way, nurses can establish alliances with physicians, and share the same values and goals focusing on the care provided to patients and jointly promote advocacy, which can minimize potential conflicts.…”

Doctor of Nursing Practice Students Advocating for Health Care Access, Quality, and Reform: From the Virtual Classroom to Capitol Hill

“…The emphasis on evidence-based practice is apparent throughout the DNP curriculum and facilitated by the addition of well-placed, meaningful experiences and targeted reflection that increase knowledge, develop skills, and clarify values, and more specifically in this course, relate to knowledge-based actions to improve health care by influencing policy decisions at the local, state, and federal levels. Offering experiential educational opportunities provides doctoral students a stage to practice policy dialogue; engage in actions that influence health policy; and participate in patient, community, and societal advocacy (Spenceley, Reutter, & Allen, 2006;Taft & Nanna, 2008).…”