7 CHAPTER

Policy Set of principles Determines direction for activity and allocation of resources Identifies prioritized group or organizational goals

Public Policy Policy made on behalf of the public Developed/initiated by government Interpreted/implemented by public and private bodies Laws/statutes Regulations Executive orders Court rulings

Policy Development Process Process by which society makes decisions Selects goals and best means for reaching them Handles conflicting views Allocates resources Politics: Policy development by those with a vested interest in its outcomes

Nursing Profession and Policy Development Early leaders Activism for social conditions Support for women’s suffrage issues Concern for health of population groups

Stages of Nursing Involvement Marginal participation in political activity Collective policy development Coalition participation Leadership in mobilizing others

Spheres of Nursing Influence Workplace Governmental policy arena Professional organizations Community

Community Health Nursing Roles (Refer to Table 7-2) Citizen Activist Politician Researcher

Types of Health Policies Substantive policies Dictate actions to be taken Procedural policies Determine how those actions will occur Distributive policies Allocates goods and services

Types of Health Policies (continued) Regulatory policies Restrict or constrain behaviors Redistributive policies Take goods and services away from some and give to others

Avenues for Health Policy Development Legislation Creates laws or statutes Rules and Regulations Orders that have the force of law Deal with procedures to implement legislation

Avenues for Health Policy Development A Typical Legislative Process FIGURE 7-1 A Typical Legislative Process.

Administrative Decisions Made by individual or agencies under executive orders

Judicial decisions Interpret laws in the court system

Nursing Involvement Assess policy situation Plan and implement health policy Evaluate effects of health policy development

Models of Policy Development Rational or Rational-Comprehensive model “Garbage Can” model Kingdon’s Policy Stream model Stage-Sequential model

Policy Development Agenda setting Issue identification Issue analysis Consciousness raising regarding the issue

Plan Health Care Policy Develop/evaluate alternative policy solutions Delineate policy Plan for strategies for policy adoption

Strategies for Creating Support Stay informed and communicate with policy makers Network Build coalitions Create media support Organize community Lobby and advocacy Present testimony

Traditional Political Strategies Vote Campaign Hold office

Health Policy Evaluation Evaluate involvement of stakeholders’ policy development Assess strategic management of policy development process

Criteria for Evaluating Health Policy Adequacy in meeting health needs of public Safeguards for the rights of individuals Equitable allocation of resources Capacity for implementation Effects of the policy on target population

Resources New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing - Nursing In Public And Health Policy The New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing is a primary source for data-based evidence to formulate reliable health policy that has a positive impact on nursing care, nursing education, and patient outcomes.  The Center serves as a catalyst for the implementation of innovative practice and education models.

Resources National Student Nurse Association provides step by step guidelines to composing a resolution. American Public Health Association (APHA) Policy Action Board outlines 2007 new Policy Process & Policy Review and Archiving Process Calendar.