2. Chapter 17 Presentation by: Megan Nash, LVN Adelina Ortiz-Bokako, LVN
Unit IV: Working Environment, Politics & Nursing Organizations Advancing Nursing Practice
Chapter 17
Presentation by: Megan Nash, LVN
Adelina Ortiz-Bokako, LVN

3. OUTCOMES
Define “politics,” “political power,” “information as power,” “networking,” “coalition‐building.”
Discuss the political implications of the felony charge lodged against Anne Mitchell, Texas RN, in
response to her reporting a physician to the Texas Medical Board for unsafe patient care.
Describe ways politics affect the functioning of the nursing units on which nurses work.
Explore five (5) strategies the nurse can use to hone his or her political skills.

4. OUTCOMES (Con’t) Explain five (5) laws of power.
Discuss the five (5) sources of power according to French & Raven.
Describe the organization and activities of a Political Action Committee (PAC).
Name three (3) nurse PACs.
Discuss “lobbying” in terms of who lobbies and what activities lobbyist engage in.
Identify eight (8) points to follow when writing a letter to a public official.

5. OVERVIEW Anne Mitchell, RN Nursing Politics
How to be politically savvy
How politics affects nursing units
5 laws of power
5 sources of power
Political Action Committees
Lobbying
Writing a letter to a public official

6. ANNE MITCHELL, RN Patient advocate, Whistleblower…. Felon?
Reported a physician to the Texas Medical Board for unsafe patient care
Indicted and threatened with 10 years in prison for “misuse of official information” – a third-degree felony in Texas
What would YOU do?
Whistleblower – a person who reports dishonesty/misconduct to an organization

7. ANNE MITCHELL, RN VIDEO

8. WHAT IS POLITICS?
Politics – “The process of influencing the allocation of scarce resources” (pg. 353)
In nursing  allows the nurse to identify needed resources, gain access to those resources, work with legislative bodies to lobby for changes in the healthcare system and overcome obstacles, thus facilitating the movement of the patient to higher levels of health function
Zerwekh, JoAnn Graham., and Ashley Zerwekh. Garneau. Nursing Today: Transition and Trends. St. Louis: Saunders, Print.

9. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Scenario: Your hospital is in the process of selecting a new supplier of IV pumps. You and the other nurses on your unit want to have input into that decision, because IV pumps are essential to the care of your patients and you have a definite opinion about the type of IV pump that works best. But the ICU nurses, who are thought to be more important and valuable because of the nursing shortage has made them as rare as hen’s teeth, have the only nurse position on the review committee (and therefore, the director’s ear). You and the other nurses on your unit strategize to secure input into this important decision.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Zerwekh, JoAnn Graham., and Ashley Zerwekh. Garneau. Nursing Today: Transition and Trends. St. Louis: Saunders, Print.

10. ACTION PLAN
Gather data about IV pumps – cost, suppliers, possible substitutes, etc.
Communicate to the supervisor your concern about the issue and your plans to get involved in the decision (follow chain of command)
State clearly what you want
Summarize (in writing) your request and the rationale and submit it to the appropriate person
Establish a coalition with the ICU nurses and other concerned individuals
Get involved with other hospital issues and contribute in a credible fashion (don’t be a single- issue person)
Zerwekh, JoAnn Graham., and Ashley Zerwekh. Garneau. Nursing Today: Transition and Trends. St. Louis: Saunders, Print.

11. LET’S MAKE A POINT.
Politics – The process of influencing the allocation of scarce resources
Coalition – merging of masses of people into one unity
Networking – the exchange of information among groups of people that share the same interest
Information as power
Political power – the ability to influence the behavior of people

12. NURSE’S POLITICAL SAVVY (p. 354)
Ability to analyze an issue
Ability to present a resolution in clear & concise terms
Ability to participate in a constructive way
Ability to voice one’s opinion (understand the system)
Ability to analyze & use power bases
Zerwekh, JoAnn Graham., and Ashley Zerwekh. Garneau. Nursing Today: Transition and Trends. St. Louis: Saunders, Print.

13. How politics affects nursing units
Nurse/patient ratios
Use of certain products/equipment
Healthcare finance

14. WHAT ARE THE 5 LAWS OF POWER?
Law #1: Power Invariably Fills Any Vacuum
Stepping forward to fill the vacuum
Law #2: Power Is Invariably Personal
One person creating a new approach to a problem
Law #3: Power Is Based On A System Of Ideas & Philosophy
Philosophy or idea must be one that attracts followers & raillies them to join the effort

15. 5 LAWS OF POWER (Continued)
Law #4: Power Is Exercised Through And Depends On Institutions
Through a nursing service organization an individual can garner the resources needed to amplify his or her power
Law#5: Power Is Invariably Confronted With And Acts In The Presence Of A Field Of Responsibility
The individual in the power position acts on behalf of the group

16. 5 SOURCES OF POWER
Reward Power: Ability to reward monetarily; there is power in numbers
Coercive Power: Ability to coerce or “punish” a decision- maker for going against the wishes of an organization
Legitimate Power: Influence that comes with role and position, what society has assigned us
Referent (mentor) Power: The power that “rubs off: of influential people
Expert (informational) Power: Imparting knowledge you know, or communicating via letters or hearings

17. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES (PACs)
PACs are a mechanism whereby individuals can pool their resources and collectively support a candidate
PACs are associated with many organizations at the national, state, and local levels and must comply with reporting requirements
American Nurse’s Association: ANA-PAC 4 Points:
Political focus
No legislative activities
Not “dirty”
Health Concerns Only

18. Nursing Political Action Committees
ANA-PAC
ip-Application-PDF.aspx
Texas RN-APN-PAC
Nurses Strategic Action Team
_homepage&ct=1

19. LOBBYING
The attempt to influence or sway a public official to take a desired action.
Also characterized as educating the legislator about nursing and it’s issues.

20. WRITING A LETTER TO A PUBLIC OFFICIAL
8 points to follow: (p. 364)
Write neatly without typos or grammatical errors
Correctly addressed
Professional letterhead
Cover a single topic
Refer to the bill by number and content

21. WRITING A LETTER TO A PUBLIC OFFICIAL (Con’t)
State the request in the first sentence
Brief rationale for request
Use your title (RN, AND, etc.), inside address & salutation
Do’s and Don’ts of Lobbying (p. 363)

22. FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“… nursing apathy toward participation in the political process is pandemic. Never more so than today has the profession needed a strong united stand within th political arena. Political involvement encompasses being knowledgeable about issues, laws, and health policy. As patient advocates, nurses cannot continue to be spectators in the political arena…” (Boswell, Cannon, & Miller, 2005)

23. Nursing Politics SUMMARY
No one understands nursing and healthcare like NURSES!
So don’t allow other healthcare professionals and interested parties decide what is best for US and for our patients! --- Be a nurse of influence!

24. References
Sack, Kevin. "Nurse to Stand Trial for Reporting Doctor." Nytimes.com. The New York Times Company, 7 Feb Web. 24 June 2013.
Moses, Jennifer. "Texas Nurses Under Fire for Whistleblowing." American Journal of Nursing (2009): 19. In The News. American Nurses Association. Web. 24 June 2013.
Zerwekh, JoAnn Graham., and Ashley Zerwekh. Garneau. Nursing Today: Transition and Trends. St. Louis: Saunders, Print.
Twedell, Diane M. DNP, RN, CNAA; Webb, Jo Ann MHA, RN. Nursing Administration Quarterly. Thriving in a Political World. 31(4): , October/December 2007
Boswell, Carol, RN, EDD; Cannon, Sharon, RN, EDD; Miller, Joyce, RN, MSN, C, WHCNP; “Nurse’s Political Involvement: Responsibility Versus Privelege. Journal of Professional Nursing. 21.1:5-8, January 2005

25. THE END!