Exploring Nurse Leaders' Policy Participation Within the Context of a Nursing Conceptual Framework

The Level of Political Astuteness in Nursing Leaders: A Baseline Assessment

OBJECTIVE

To assess the baseline knowledge of nursing leaders regarding political advocacy and healthcare policy.

BACKGROUND

Although there has been considerable attention to the need for nurses' involvement in health policy, there has not been a prior assessment of the political astuteness of nursing leaders.

METHODS

Researchers analyzed self-reported data from 101 nursing leaders collected via electronic survey from American Organization for Nursing Leadership members. Descriptive, correlational analysis of data assessing political astuteness and background information was completed.

RESULTS

Half of the nurse leader participants demonstrated slight political astuteness. Nurse executives, including those in chief nursing officer, chief nurse executive, and vice president positions, had higher levels of political astuteness than those in nurse director and manager positions.

CONCLUSION

Nursing leaders have beginning levels of political astuteness. Formal education is recommended to increase the knowledge base of nurse leaders in the areas of understanding the political and legislative process and the skills needed to advocate regarding healthcare policy, thus increasing their level of political astuteness.

School Nursing: Scope and Standards: What Is New and Important in the Fourth Edition?

Scope and standards documents can seem abstract or academic but, in reality, they are important representations of the practice of nursing, in this case, school nursing. This article will highlight the latest updates and changes to the School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Professional Practice, Fourth edition, including a discussion of the newest standard-Advocacy.

Nursing and advocacy in health: An integrative review

BACKGROUND

The practice of health advocacy in nursing has been defined as a process aimed at promoting the independence and autonomy of users of health services, in addition to providing information on healthcare decision-making and offering support for decisions taken.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Ethics approval was not required to conduct this review.

AIM

This integrative review aims to synthesize evidence in the literature on health advocacy in professional nursing practice.

METHODS

An integrative review methodology guided by Whittemore and Knalf was used. Studies were identified by conducting searches on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and LILACS databases. Of 2179 records, 34 studies matched the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The main aspects involved in the practice of health advocacy by professional nurses are related to the ethical principles of the nursing profession, such as protecting patients seeking autonomy and care. Furthermore, the practice of health advocacy by nurses requires an empathetic attitude, responsibility, and assertive communication.

CONCLUSION

The diverse possibilities for the practice of advocacy synthesized in this study allow nurses to approach and become familiarized with the topic, being able to acquire and complement knowledge that will reflect on their professional practice in different work environments such as the educational field, in hospital practice, or basic health care.

Public Opinion Leadership in Nursing Practice: A Rogerian Concept Analysis

In the Dutch nursing context, work remains in strengthening the voice of nurses serving as frontline health care providers and board members alike. Conceptual clarity of Public Opinion Leadership (POL) in nursing practice is needed to provide attributes, antecedents and consequences for nurses and nurse leaders so they can contribute in the public debate and policy making processes. Using Rodgers’ method of evolutionary concept analysis and the key words “POL,” “lobbying” and “public affairs,” we searched PubMed (including MEDLINE), CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library for articles written in English, published between January 1999 and May 2020, which resulted in a final selection of seven studies. In addition, transcripts of an expert panel discussion regarding POL were analyzed. Attributes of POL are credibility, accessibility, altruism, dynamic networking and sense of systemness. Antecedents are a clinical background, authentic authority, policy and political awareness and strategic skills. The main consequences of POL entail influencing those who are involved in policy making processes, a new generation of public opinion leaders, and the raising of bottom-up political leaders. POL is a relatively new concept for nursing, with increasing interest given the need to ensure quality of care by increasing the use of evidence in clinical practice. POL in nursing practice is defined as the action of influencing public debate regarding policy making processes by maintaining dynamic (social) networks, having a high sense of systemness, and being (clinically) credible, altruistic and accessible to peers and a wide variety of stakeholders.

A concept analysis of influence for nurse leaders

BACKGROUND

To shape priorities for health and health care outcomes, it is essential for nurse leaders to be influential. The application and impact of influence are readily recognized, but not its characteristics.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this project was to conduct a concept analysis of influence relative to nurse leaders.

METHODS

The Walker and Avant method of concept analysis was utilized.

FINDINGS

Attributes of influence include advocacy, communications skills, competency, confidence, credibility, and engagement. Antecedents of influence are authority, collaboration, integrity, and mentorship. Consequences of influence are action, change, commitment, compliance, decision-making, motivation, and resistance.

DISCUSSION

By drawing upon a systematic understanding of the concept of influence, nurse leaders are urged to develop and leverage the attributes of influence to drive and achieve collective good for the future of health and health care in society.

Nursing, advocacy and public policy

This article draws attention to the nature and importance of public policy. It argues that if nurses are to influence the quality of healthcare effectively, they must be engaged with policymakers to get nursing care issues on the policy agenda. There is an ethical imperative to do so, driven by the advocacy role of the nurse and rooted in the values base of nursing. In addition, it is argued that if one takes the role of patient advocacy seriously, as core to the nursing role, two things are required of nurses: We must (a) broaden the conceptualisation of patient advocacy beyond the individual patient to the system of healthcare resourcing and provision and (b) see systemic change as important as change at the bedside.

The nurse influencer: A concept synthesis and analysis

AIM

The purpose of this paper is to provide a clear definition of the concept of a nurse influencer.

BACKGROUND

While the nursing profession is known for caring, advocacy, and trustworthiness, the nurse influencer is an emerging concept in health care. Clarification of this concept is essential to understand the necessary characteristics and potential opportunities for the nurse influencer.

METHODS

Walker and Avant's method of concept synthesis and analysis was used.

RESULTS

With time, self-efficacy, and a measurable intention, a nurse can become a nurse influencer. A nurse influencer is a nurse who has a platform to affect change through demonstrating integrity, a dedication to learning, and excellent communication of ideas and information. In addition to creating change, the nurse influencer may also disseminate knowledge and generate empowerment for themselves and others.

CONCLUSION

This concept analysis, the first focusing on the nurse influencer, provides an explanation of this concept and a concept map of the nurse influencer's attributes and contributions.

Encouragement: The key to increasing the number of nurses serving on boards

Nurses have a lot of knowledge about health and health systems but are not yet adequately represented on boards and commissions that influence health and healthcare in our country. The majority of nurses are women and the hesitancy of women to seek board and elected positions are well documented. The purpose of this statewide survey of nurses was to ascertain the political engagement of nurses and their identified barriers to service. The nurses in our sample were more politically engaged than the state as a whole and 40% reported willingness to consider or pursue a board or elected position. The primary barrier was a lack of confidence that their appointment would be supported. While there were some differences by age of the respondents, time, money, and family responsibilities were also identified as barriers to seeking board and elected positions. Our results underscore the need to socialize and encourage nurses to serve in positions that influence health and healthcare in our country.

Reflections on the working process in nurse participation in political activities

ABSTRACT Objectives: To reflect on the scope of the working process in nurse participation political activities as a possibility for expanding its performance. Methods: this is a reflective study, supported by the discursive elaboration on the nursing participation political activities and work process, structured through concepts, theoretical perspectives and practices based on the experiences described in references. Results: studies on this process demonstrate that nurses need sensitivity to understand the complexity of their social practice. Final Considerations: in their professional actions, nurses must mobilize political resources, making their knowledge, skills and attitudes available to their practices, aiming at power and improvement of conditions for the work of Nursing.

Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality: An Overview With a Historical Retrospective and a View Toward the Future

An historical overview of Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality also known as the Culture Care Theory (CCT) and evolution of the Sunrise Enabler are presented along with descriptions of the theory purpose, goal, tenets, basic assumptions, major core constructs, and orientational definitions. Recent articles, books, and book chapters provide relevant exemplars to enhance scholarly understanding and application of theory constructs. Proposed future directions encompass using the CCT to guide research of discovery and translational research projects for evidenced-based nursing practice; develop nursing courses and curricula to prepare culturally competent nurses; guide future culturally competent administrative and leadership policies and procedures; inform public policy related to cultural diversity and underserved populations; promote grant writing initiatives to enhance cultural diversity in hiring nursing staff, supervisors, and faculty; and promote admission of nursing students from underserved and/or diverse backgrounds.