1. Bonnie M. Wivell, MS, RN, CNS
Chapter 15: The Political Activism of Nursing – In Organizations & Government
Bonnie M. Wivell, MS, RN, CNS 1

2. Policy & Practice
Policy: Principles & values governing actions toward a given end. Sets forth a plan or goal for action. Changes with values.
Politics: Art of influencing decisions. Process of influencing allocation of scarce resources.
Stakeholders with vested interest influence decision making 2

3. Linking Practice, Policy, and Politics
Florence Nightingale and Lavinia Dock saw and understood the connection between their work and the larger world in which policy decisions affected what they were able to do
Flo and the Crimean war effort
Lavinia assisted with founding ANA to improve working conditions for nurses

4. Political Activism in Government
“The personal is political.”
Personal experience/view gives power to become involved and contribute
Personal experience compels involvement in the political process 4

5. Power Power is the ability to make something happen
Personal power: one’s status, charisma, wealth, part of dominant class
Position power: inherent in job position
Expert power: knowledge used to affect outcome
Latent power: untapped & underused; **nurses**
Professional power: knowledge based power within a profession
Power grabbing: hoarding power and control, taking it from others, or wielding it over others
Power sharing: equalizing resources, knowledge, or control 5

6. Power of Media
“Effective utilization of media is a powerful political tool for influencing both the public and those who hold elective office.”
Radio, Internet, Television, Newspapers
Johnson & Johnson (1999)--$25 million in public service announcements & scholarships to increase awareness of nursing shortage 6

7. A Lesson in Civics Three Branches of Government:
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Three Levels of Government:
Federal, State, Local
Electoral Process: process of electing public officials
Primary elections, General elections, Referendum—voter preference on issue 7

8. Nurses Can Influence Health Care Policy
Political Action Committees (PACs): raise and distribute money to candidates who support the profession’s stand on certain issues
Citizen level: keep informed, vote
Activist level: involved on specific issue that affects professional life
Get to know your legislators
Politician level: seek political office 8

9. Organized Nursing Political Activities
Strengthens professional nursing
Influences health policy
Update nurse practice acts
Modifications of multi-state licensing
Required continuing education for re-licensure
Nurse-patient ratio mandates
Direct reimbursement for advance practice RN
Prescriptive privileges for advance practice RN
Protect civil & privacy rights of patient
Illness prevention services & primary care for vulnerable populations (women, children, elderly) 9

10. Nurses Who Knew How to Use Political Power
Diane Carlson Evans
Goal was to recognize women, esp. those who served in Vietnam
Created a national nonprofit organization
Was responsible for the erection of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial dedicated on the National Mall on Nov. 11, 1993
Karen Daley
Sustained a needlestick injury in an ER in 1998
Contracted HIV and Hep C
Brought national media attention to the issue which brought about reform