10 Jan What is the potential impact of nurses holding elected office? How might healthcare policy advocacy change if nurses are seated at the table?

For this Discussion, you will consider what it takes to run for an elected office, as well as explore what is at stake for nurses to run for these positions. You will identify nurses elected to public office, and you will consider the impact of these positions. How might learning about policy and advocacy pave the wave for a future as an elected official?

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Readings

· Dawes, D. E. (2020). The political determinants of health. Johns Hopkins University Press.

· Chapter 4, “How the Game is Played: Successful Employment of the Political Determinants of Health” (pp. 78–111)

· Porche, D. J. (2023). Health policy: Applications for nurses and other healthcare professionals (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

· Chapter 13, “Board Governance and Policy Leadership” (pp. 185–192)

· Chapter 14, “Institutional and Organizational/ Association Policy” (pp. 193–199)

· Chapter 17, “Policy Institutes” (pp. 255–264)

· American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. (2022). Advocacy and policyLinks to an external site. . https://www.aana.com/advocacy

· American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2022). AANP advocacy: Championing the NP role and amplifying the NP voiceLinks to an external site. . https://www.aanp.org/advocacy

· American Nurses Association. (2018). ANA advocacy toolkitLinks to an external site. . https://rnaction.org/SitePages/toolkit.aspx

· American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Nurses serving in congressLinks to an external site. . https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/federal/nurses-serving-in-congress/

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Policy, Performance, and Evaluation. (2021). Resources for writing briefsLinks to an external site. . https://www.cdc.gov/policy/polaris/training/writing-briefs/index.html

· IDRC. (n.d.). How to write a policy briefLinks to an external site. . https://idrc-crdi.ca/en/funding/resources-idrc-grantees/how-write-policy-brief

· International Council of Nurses. (n.d.). https://www.icn.ch/Links to an external site.

· International Council of Nurses. (2022). Nursing policyLinks to an external site. . https://www.icn.ch/nursing-policy

· National League for Nursing. (2022). Public policyLinks to an external site. . https://www.nln.org/public-policy

· National League for Nursing. (2022). Toolkit homeLinks to an external site. . https://www.nln.org/education/teaching-resources/professional-development-programsteaching-resources/toolkits

· Open Secrets. (2021). Health professionalsLinks to an external site. : Summary. https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=H01

· Pitsker, K. (2019, November 26). How to run for local office. KiplingerLinks to an external site. . https://www.kiplinger.com/article/business/t043-c000-s002-how-to-run-for-local-office.html

· She Should RunLinks to an external site.. (2020). https://sheshouldrun.org/Links to an external site. Note: Explore this site on the topic of “Running for Elected Office.” You will need to join (free) to access the self-quizzes and materials.

· United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable development goals: 17 goals to transform our worldLinks to an external site. . https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

· Weakley, S., & Tarrega, M. (n.d.). How to write a policy briefLinks to an external site. . https://policyscotland.gla.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TSRFWritingaPolicyBrief.pdf

· Document: Global Issues Impacting Nursing Download Global Issues Impacting Nursing(PDF)

Media

· American Nurses Association. (2021, May 11). RNAction: When nurses speak, Washington listensLinks to an external site. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJD60OucJn0 Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 1 minute.

· Parks, M., & Weiner, C. (2019, October 19). How to run for officeLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2019/10/15/770332855/how-to-run-for-office

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To Prepare:

· Review resources about running for elected office.

· Consider what it might take—including resources, manpower, education, money, etc.—to run for office.

· Research nurses who have become elected officials.

· Consider why nurses might consider running for office.

By Day 3 of Week 10

Post a response detailing the following:

· What does it take to run for elected office? What are the resources you may need?

· After determining what it takes to run for office, identify an elected official that is a nurse (anywhere in the world), and then provide an introduction, with a picture, for this official.

· Finally, explain why running for office is important for nurses to consider.

By Day 6 of Week 10

Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts. Respond to at least two of your colleagues on 2 different days by supporting or expanding on the ideas identified by your colleagues or sharing additional perspectives on the issue described by your colleagues.