You should respond to both discussions separately–with constructive literature material- extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts.
Minimum 150 words each reply with references under each reply.
Incorporate a minimum of 2 current (published within the last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work. Journal articles should be referenced according to the current APA style (the online library has an abbreviated version of the APA Manual).
DISCUSSION 1
State and Federal Advocacy
Advocacy can be defined as action by a physician to promote social, economic, educational, and political changes that ameliorate the suffering and threats to human health and well-being that he or she identifies through his or her professional work and expertise (Kuehne et al., 2022). However, advocacy is not only a professional responsibility; it also shapes legislation, leading to more accessible and advanced health care.
Healthcare professionals can get involved with organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Public Health Association (APHA). These organizations advocate for patients and providers through legislative action with federal and state legislators who help shape healthcare policies. They also support research and evidence-based practices to improve healthcare outcomes.
One can also participate in legislative hearings, which provide a platform to influence policymakers on specific issues directly. Testifying at hearings allows individuals and organizations to present their perspectives and expertise to lawmakers, becoming a part of the official legislative record, thereby informing lawmakers about the issue. This also increases public awareness and enables citizens to engage in policymaking. Studies show that advocating for Medicaid expansion in non-expansion states has increased access to care and reduced preventable hospitalizations (Lin et al., 2021).
Healthcare professionals can leverage their clinical knowledge and research to inform policymakers. They can use data to identify trends, patterns, and relationships. Using data eliminates guesswork and allows decisions to be based on evidence.
Advocacy is an important aspect in healthcare. Getting involved with professional organizations, participating in legislative hearings, and using data to inform policy can help transform the legislative environment
DISCUSSION 2
Nursing Advocacy Actions to Improve Health Care at the State or Federal Level
Nursing advocacy is not confined to the bedside, it also extends to courtrooms, boardrooms, and the halls of government. Nurses are educationally and professionally equipped to influence healthcare decisions, drawing on their firsthand knowledge of patient care and system challenges. As trusted professionals and the largest group within the healthcare workforce, the voices of nurses carry significant weight in shaping both healthcare delivery and policy at the state and federal level. This advocacy may be achieved through various actions, including participating in policy discussions, joining professional nursing organizations, and exercising the right to vote. By engaging in these actions, nurses help mold the system to improve patient outcomes, promote equity, and strengthen the overall healthcare system.
Policy Discussions
In order to grasp how the system functions and how choices are made, nurses and advanced practice nurses should attend legislative sessions at the municipal, state, or federal levels; the acquisition of knowledge on how the system works helps nurses have a direct impact in shaping policy by enabling them to communicate their perspectives in ways that resonate with legislators and lobbyists (Morris, 2023). Additionally, establishing ties with legislators who draft healthcare legislation is a way of taking part in policy discussions. This can be done by contacting the state representative and attempting to establish a two-way communication system that may build rapport (Morris, 2023).
Joining Professional Organizations
Joining professional nursing organizations empowers nurses to play a vital role in improving healthcare at both the state and federal levels. Organizations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and state nursing associations, provide a unified voice that advocates for policies affecting nursing practice, patient care, and public health (ANA, 2024). By becoming members, nurses gain access to policy education, legislative updates, and opportunities to participate directly in advocacy efforts, such as serving on policy committees, contributing to position statements, or testifying before lawmakers (ANA, 2024). These organizations frequently offer platforms for networking, collaboration, and supporting research, which contribute to more informed and effective policy development.
Exercising the Right to Vote
Voting is a vital way for nurses to advocate not only for the health of their patients and communities, but also for addressing critical professional issues that are influenced by policy. Challenges like burnout, high patient-to-nurse ratios, workplace violence, restricted scope of practice, and limited resources for safe care are widespread in the profession (American Nurse Journal, 2022). However, these concerns often go unaddressed in legislation due to the low voter turnout among nurses and the limited number of nurses holding public office (American Nurse Journal, 2022). As a result, the nursing profession remains underrepresented across all levels of government