course material

1. Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation (needs at least 3
paragraph and at least 3 references)
In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved
in policy-making. A critical component of any policy design is evaluation of the results. How
comfortable are you with the thought of becoming involved with such matters?Some nurses
may be hesitant to get involved with policy evaluation. The preference may be to focus on
the care and well-being of their patients; some nurses may feel ill-equipped to enter the
realm of policy and political activities. However, as you have examined previously, who
better to advocate for patients and effective programs and polices than nurses? Already
patient advocates in interactions with doctors and leadership, why not with government
and regulatory agencies?In this Discussion, you will reflect on the role of professional
nurses in policy evaluation.To Prepare:In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how
professional nurses can become involved in policy-making.Review the Resources and reflect
on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.By Day 3 of Week 9Post an
explanation of at least two opportunities that currently exist for RNs and APRNs to actively
participate in policy review. Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may
present and describe how you might overcome these challenges. Finally, recommend two
strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these
opportunities. Be specific and provide examples.Reply to the discussion (Taylor)-Needs 2
paragraph and at least 3 referencesPolicy Review in NursingMain Question Post- Nurses
need to be a part of the policy review process to better their organizations and careers.
Nurses can participate in policy review by joining a professional nursing organization.
According to (Derouin 2019), professional organizations are “asked to assist with data
collection and eventual dissemination of summative evaluation data” (p. 122). With nurses
helping to gather data, they can participate in policy review by gathering information and
knowledge to better a policy and evaluating the outcomes. Professional organizations are a
great way to learn from others in your organization and get their opinion on policy review.
Nurses can also participate in policy review by using evidence-based research and data to
contact their legislation regarding health policy issues or concerns. During policy review,
gathering reliable information and reflecting on it can help improve research and
implement better policy. By presenting legislation with a concrete proposal to enhance
policy, the review process will help improve any issues. Nurses will better understand the
importance of policy review by being an active participant.Challenges may arise when you

2. mix nurses and policy review. When joining a professional organization, you may deal with
the others’ opinions that you don’t quite agree upon. Professional organizations help build
your networking team, but if your ideas and opinions don’t match others, it can make it
difficult for you to build a strong team. According to Derouin (2019), a few challenges to
health policy evaluation include lack of resources to complete assessment, lack of
comparative results, and social media. Lack of resources could be a challenge, but joining a
professional organization can provide you with many resources for a policy review. Lack of
results could be a challenge, but engaging in evidence-based research can help you form a
proposal to send to the legislature to improve policy review. With the upcoming
presidential election, health policy has been discussed a lot on social media. Social media is
a great way to discuss and learn the opinions of others. Using social media, Professional
Nursing Organizations can share policy information amongst their members and followers
(Waddell, 2018). Social media and ever-changing technology can help nursing challenges
when participating in policy review, such as HIPPA violations. Policy evaluation “serves as
the key to improving quality, safety, efficiency of clinical practice as well as assessing the
impact of emerging innovations and science (Polit & Peck, 2012)” (Derouin, 2019, p. 118).
Whether it’s through joining a professional organization, accessing social media, or using
evidence-based research, nurses need to be active participants in policy review to better
their profession, organization, and communities.Strategies to communicate issues between
nurses and policy review are essential. Gazarian et al. (2020) recommended the using
research over how to put health policy into action to help determine ways to improve health
care. One strategy to help with writing to the legislature regarding policy review would be
to use writing resources, like Grammarly, to help with punctuation and plagiarism. Another
approach when writing to legislation would be to research evidence-based data using
reliable and credible databases. Nurses need to use evidence-based research to improve
health policy as well as healthcare as a whole. The ability to search for reliable and up-to-
date information will help you construct a solid proposal to present to the legislature. A
strategy to advocate about joining professional organizations would be to reach out to
fellow APRNs in your community. Communicate and see if they are involved in any
professional organizations and persuade them to join with you. Banding together to work as
a team will lead to success.ReferencesDerouin, A. (2019). Health policy and social program
evaluation. In J. A. Milstead, & N. M. Short (Eds.), Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide
(6th ed., pp 115-131). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett LearningGazarian, P., Ballout, S.,
Heelan-Fancher, L., & Sundean, L. J. (2020). Theories, models, and frameworks used in
nursing health policy dissertations: A scoping review. Applied Nursing Research.
https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2020.151234Waddell, A. (2019).
Nursing organizations’ health policy content on facebook and twitter preceding the 2016
united states presidential election. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(1), 119–128.
https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1111/jan.13826Reply to Leigh- Needs 2
paragraph and at least 3 referencesMain Discussion PostMany nursing professionals
hesitate to get involved in either policy-making or policy evaluation due to the lack of
confidence in preparedness or knowledge. In opposition, the Institute of Medicine believes
that “nurses were vital to the redesign of healthcare systems, needed to be viewed as

3. partners of physicians and other healthcare providers, and needed to be “at the table” to
ensure effective planning, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of healthcare policies”
(Milstead, J.A., Short, N.M., (2019). Even though nurses struggle with assurance, many
opportunities are offered to become educated in policy evaluation.Opportunities for policy
evaluation in the nursing profession are presented at the state and national levels. Joining
state nursing associations presents nurses with the opportunity to gain knowledge of
policymaking and evaluation. Through attending conferences, connecting with other
members throughout your state, lobbying, speaking to the media on nurses’ behalf,
protecting your states’ Nursing Practice Act, and advocating allows nurses to advance their
policy evaluation knowledge (Arkansas Registered Nurses Association (ARNA),
(2020). Even though there are many benefits, challenges are also exposed. Due to an
increased workload of Advanced Practicing Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Registered
Nurses (RNs), being apart of either state or national level associations presents challenges
that may be overcome with proper time management. Another opportunity for the
professional nursing community is the ability to reach out the local and federal legislation.
“Working with your elected representatives on smaller nursing issues related to your
experience builds credibility so they’ll be more likely to turn to you when they’re looking for
resources for larger nursing issues (Oestberg, Fredrik MSN, RN. (2013). By sharing personal
experiences and evidence-based practice research with members of legislation allows
nurses to assist in policy evaluation through checking the value, effectiveness, and impact
(Oestberg, Fredrik MSN, RN. (2013). Challenges that may be presented are the inabilities to
contact local and federal legislation and the differences of opinion. If unable to contact
members of legislation, forming relationships with either your organization policy-makers,
members of your organization’s administration, or even your educational coordinator may
assist in communication. In order for the knowledge and confidence of nursing
professionals to grow, they have to be informed of the available opportunities. By the
encouragement of the administration, management, and educational coordinators,
practicing RN’s and APRN’s would have the opportunity to advocate for their healthcare
profession.References:Arkansas Registered Nurses Association (ARNA). (2020, January 7).
Membership Benefits. https://arna.org/membership/benefits/.Milstead, J.A., Short, N.M.,
(2019). Interprofessional Practice. Health Policy and Politics- A Nurse’s Guide. (pp. 117).
Jones and Bartlett Learning.American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.). Health
Policy.Oestberg, Fredrik MSN, RN. (2013). Getting involved in policy and politics, Nursing
Critical Care: (Volume 8. Issue 3. pp 48). doi: 10.1097/01.CCN.0000429392.92546.6f