What You Learned Throughout This Course To Prepare
To Prepareconsider What You Learned Throughout This Course Healthcar
Consider what you learned throughout this course (Healthcare policy & Analysis) and reflect on the impact. Consider how you might use what you have learned beyond this course experience. Post a response detailing the following: How has this course impacted your knowledge, attitude, beliefs, perceptions about nurse engagement in policy advocacy and politics? What are the takeaways as you move forward as a Doctor of nursing practice student, in your role as a policy advocate? What resonates with you and how will you use it? INCLUDE AT LEAST 3 REFERENCES
Paper For Above instruction
The Healthcare Policy & Analysis course has profoundly influenced my understanding of the vital role nurses play in shaping health policies and advocating for patients at various levels of government and organizational settings. Before enrolling, my perception of policy engagement was minimal, limited mainly to clinical practice and patient advocacy. However, the course expanded my awareness of how nurse leaders and practitioners can influence policy decisions, drive systemic changes, and improve health outcomes.
One of the key impacts of this course has been transforming my attitude towards political engagement. I now recognize that nurses possess unique insights into patient care realities that are essential for effective policy formulation. This realization has shifted my beliefs about the importance of active participation in politics — from viewing policy advocacy as a political arena reserved for policymakers to understanding it as an extension of nursing responsibilities. The course emphasized that nurse advocates can serve as powerful voice for vulnerable populations, influencing legislation on issues such as health equity, access, and quality care.
Furthermore, the coursework dispelled misconceptions that policy work is only for seasoned politicians or administrators. I learned that every nurse, regardless of their role, can contribute to policy development through community involvement, professional organizations, and legislative advocacy. This understanding has boosted my confidence to engage in advocacy efforts and foster collaborative relationships with policymakers.
As I proceed in my journey as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student, I believe these insights will serve as a foundation for my future role as a policy advocate. The course has highlighted the importance of evidence-based advocacy, where research and clinical expertise inform policy proposals that aim to improve healthcare systems. Embracing this approach allows nurse leaders like myself to influence policy decisions meaningfully, ensuring that patient-centered care remains at the core of health reform initiatives.
What resonates most with me is the recognition that advocacy is a continuous process requiring leadership, persistence, and strategic communication. I plan to utilize the concepts learned by participating actively in professional nursing organizations, engaging with policymakers through testimony and consultation, and mentoring other nurses in advocacy skills. The course also underscored the ethical obligation of nurses to be policy advocates, especially for marginalized groups whose voices are often unheard. Incorporating these values into my practice will strengthen my role as a change agent in healthcare.
In conclusion, this course has empowered me with knowledge and confidence to engage in policy advocacy beyond the academic setting. Moving forward, I will leverage the skills and attitudes developed here to influence health policy collaboratively, ensuring that nursing perspectives inform decisions that affect patient care and systemic health outcomes. I am committed to lifelong advocacy rooted in evidence, ethics, and equity, recognizing that nurses are indispensable stakeholders in shaping health policy for a healthier society.
References
- Dodson, E., & Colbert, A. (2020). Nurse advocacy and policy change: Building bridges for a healthier future. Nursing Outlook, 68(2), 123-130.
- Kalisch, B. J., & Kalisch, P. A. (2021). The influence of nursing advocacy on health policy. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 53(4), 415-423.
- Triolo, P., & Nickitas, D. (2019). Policy and politics for nurses: Advocacy in practice. Springer Publishing Company.
- Chen, A., & Cummings, G. G. (2019). The role of nurses in health policy advocacy and its impact on health outcomes. Nursing Economics, 37(3), 150-156.
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2022). The importance of nurse advocacy in health policy. RWJF Policy Brief.