The document discusses the importance of nurses advocating for healthcare policies that directly impact their practice, highlighting challenges due to a lack of understanding of political processes. It emphasizes the need for nurses to educate themselves through workshops and associations, like the American Nurses Association, to increase their influence and network effectively. Key factors for advocacy success include knowledge of issues, perception in politics, and collaborative relationships with respected mentors.

1. at least 2 references in each peer responses!
I noticed that there are many proposed policies on the agenda
that are related to healthcare. Some of them are specific to the
nursing practice. This creates the opportunity for the nurse to
advocate for policies that impact nursing and healthcare directly
by providing first-hand accounts and professional opinions
supported by research. Nurses have insight on issues, such as
patient safety and satisfaction, health disparities, access to care,
and promoting positive outcomes (Abood, 2016).
The problem is that some nurses are unable to navigate through
the politics of regulation and policy (Abood, 2016). This can
create a challenge and become discouraging for nurses looking
to make an impact or promote an agenda (Abood, 2016). Nurses
can overcome this difficulty by participating in internships and
workshops that provide the opportunity for a nurse to learn
about the legislative process and the current issues being
discussed (Abood, 2016). Understanding the political process is
an essential method for effectively advocate for an issue.
Nurses have to learn to play the game to promote change or
obtain the scarcely rationed funding available.
According to Milstead and Short (2019), key opportunities to
advocate for policy lies in knowledge and perception. Being
knowledgeable on an issue can increase your influence as an
advocate. Perception is a significant key in politics. Being
perceived as a valuable collaborator or obtaining the support of
a mentor that is respected can help push your agenda (Milstead
& Short, 2019). Networking plays a significant role in politics.
being introduced respected mentor or partner can help a nurse

2. gain influence with rallying for support of a proposed agenda
(Milstead & Short, 2019).
Probably the most significant opportunity for a nurse to
advocate for a policy comes with becoming a member of a
nursing association. Nurses associations like the American
Nurses Association (ANA) are set up with the mission of
influencing policy and advocating for the nurses and patients
(ANA, 2019). The strength lies in numbers with the nursing
association. Many of these organizations have built
relationships with politicians and political parties to gain
influence to support their agendas. For example, the ANA tends
to favor and support democratic candidates (Milstead & Short,
2019). Nurses associations have enough members to get the
attention of lawmakers. However, the nurse still has to task of
advocating within the association to gain support from its
members.