Nurses Influencing Health Policy

Nurses who engage in policy do so through participation in their employer’s policy committees or through supporting nursing professional organizations.

• True
• False

Barriers to nursing involvement in health policy involve:

• Lack of political awareness
• Not having time to engage in the development of policy outside of work
• Lack of resources to develop skills in policy participation
• All of the above

According to the IOM, nurses should NOT be full partners with physicians and other health professionals in redesigning health care in the United States. 

• True
• False

How can nurses play an active role in positively changing health policy in the future?

• By being close-minded
• By only networking within the nursing profession
• By understanding the health policy development process
• By not having allies and supporters outside of the nursing profession

The International Council of Nurses works to shape health policy at a global level.

• True
• False

Which of the following are nurse leaders who have influenced health policy in the past?

• Dorothea Dix
• Florence Nightingale
• Lillian Wald
• All of the above

Nurses hold leadership positions as health policy advocates, researchers, developers, administrators, and evaluators.

• True
• False

Which of the following is NOT a facilitator for influencing change in health policy?

• Effective nursing leadership
• Understanding the health policy development process
• Building solid relationships with policy makers at the local and state level
• Lacking confidence in ability to participate in health policy change