Political Action in Nursing Chapter 17 Political Action in Nursing

Political Action in Nursing Define politics and political involvement State the rationale for individual nurses’ involvement in the political process List specific strategies needed to begin to affect the laws that govern the practice of nursing and the health care system

Political Action in Nursing (cont’d) Discuss different types of power and how each is obtained Describe the function of a political action committee Discuss selected issues affecting nursing Multistate licensure Nursing and collective bargaining Equal pay for work of comparable value

What Exactly Is Politics? The process of influencing the allocation of scarce resources Enables the nurse “to nurse smarter” Augments power to improve care provided to patients Political skills enable nurse to: ID needed resources Gain access to those resources Overcome obstacles

What Are the Skills That Make Up a Nurse’s Political Savvy ? Ability to analyze an issue Ability to present a possible resolution in clear and concise terms Ability to participate in a constructive way Ability to voice one's opinion (understand the system) Ability to analyze and use power bases

Networking among Colleagues Successful networking Consciously build and nurture a pool of associates whose skills and connections augment your own Build network over your career Reciprocate with your resources

How Do I Go About Participating in the Election Process? Get involved—know the candidates Volunteer to help the candidate understand health care issues Draft position on health care Be cautious of the political “bug”

Nursing and Collective Bargaining Point of debate among nurses Pro—a tool to force positive changes in the practice setting Con—written contract may restrict freedom, flexibility, and professional judgment of the RN

Safe Staffing ANA has launched a campaign on this issue Staffing ratios need to be required by legislation but the number itself must be set at the unit level with RN input, rather than by the terms of the legislation

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. ― Machiavelli