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.
Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
Post an evaluation topic and a brief description of the evaluation. Discuss how social determinants impact this issue.
Sample Answer
The Role of Professional Nurses in Policy Evaluation
Nurses are uniquely positioned to participate in policy evaluation. They have a
deep understanding of the healthcare system and the needs of patients, and they are often the first to see the impact of policies on patient care. Nurses can use their knowledge and experience to identify the criteria that should be used to evaluate policies, and they can collect and analyse data to assess the effectiveness of those policies.
In addition to their technical expertise, nurses also have a strong commitment to patient advocacy. They are often the voice of patients in the policy-making process, and they can use their influence to ensure that policies are developed and implemented in a way that benefits patients.
Evaluation Topic and Brief Description
One example of a healthcare program or policy evaluation that nurses could be involved in is the evaluation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA has had a significant impact on the healthcare system, and nurses have been at the forefront of implementing and evaluating the law. Nurses have collected data on the impact of the ACA on patient access to care, quality of care, and health outcomes. This data has been used to inform policy decisions and to advocate for improvements to the ACA