NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
Walden University NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER – Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
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How to Write the Body for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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Sample Answer for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
Introduction
In this presentation, I will describe a knowledge worker and outline the concept of a knowledge worker. I will also define and explain nursing informatics including its core competencies. I will outline the role of a nurse leader as a knowledge worker. I will present a hypothetical scenario based on my healthcare organization that would require or benefit from the access or collection and application of data. Lastly, I will explain what knowledge might be derived from that data.
Concept of a Knowledge Worker
A knowledge worker refers to an individual whose job requires them to think for a living. The job of a knowledge worker is ever-changing, dynamic, and autonomous. It entails problem-solving and requires both convergent and divergent thinking to get a solution to all the simple and complex questions that arise in daily work activities (Turriago-Hoyos, Thoene & Arjoon, 2016). A knowledge worker is expected to be innovative, by routinely creating new and better ways of doing things.
Six major concepts of a knowledge worker
1.Knowledge worker productivity demands that he/she ask the question: “What is the task?”
2.Knowledge workers have to manage themselves as they have autonomy (Turriago-Hoyos et al., 2016).
3.Continuing innovation has to be part of the work, the task, and the responsibility of work.
4.Requires continuous learning on the part of the knowledge worker, and equally continuous teaching.
5.The productivity of the knowledge worker is based on quality and quantity (Turriago-Hoyos et al., 2016).
6.Knowledge worker productivity requires that it is both seen and treated as an “asset” rather than a “cost” (Turriago-Hoyos et al., 2016).
References
Turriago-Hoyos, A., Thoene, U., & Arjoon, S. (2016). Knowledge workers and virtues in Peter Drucker’s management theory. SAGE Open, 6(1), 2158244016639631. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016639631
Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
Nursing Informatics
Nursing informatics is the application of information technology in nursing practice, management, and education. It entails the incorporation of information science, computer science, and nursing science to support nursing practice and knowledge management (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). The American Nurses Association (ANA) published the aim and standards of nursing informatics. ANA presented Nursing Informatics as a nursing specialty that incorporates nursing science, computer, and information science to provide data communication management, knowledge, and nursing work (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017).
Nursing informatics has three major competencies namely, computer skills, informatics knowledge, and informatics skills.
Computer skills: Entail computerized searches and retrieving patient demographics data; the use of telecommunication devices, the use of IT for enhancing nursing care, documentation of patient care, and the use of networks and computer technology safely (Darvish et al., 2015).
Informatics Knowledge: Entails the cognition of the use and importance of nursing data for enhancing practice. Also, the recognition of the fact that the computer can only support nursing care and that there are human functions that cannot be performed by computers (Darvish et al., 2015).
Informatics Skills: Entails the interpretation of information flow within the organization; preparation of process information flow charts for all aspects of clinical systems; and development of standards and database structures to facilitate clinical care, education, administration, or research (Darvish et al., 2015).
References
Darvish, A., Bahramnezhad, F., Keyhanian, S., & Navidhamidi, M. (2015). The role of nursing informatics in promoting the quality of health care and the need for appropriate education. Global journal of health science, 6(6), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v6n6p11
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
A nurse leader is required to develop and enhance knowledge worker skills related to data gathering, data analysis, and identifying clinical trends and patterns. The role of a nurse leader as a knowledge worker is to come up with innovative ways that will improve health care access, increase the quality of care, and decrease overall healthcare costs (Turriago-Hoyos et al., 2016). The nurse leader strives to achieve these goals by focusing attention on the use of technology and the development of electronic systems for data collection and analysis (Darvish et al., 2015). Much of the challenge of matching technologies to specific patient-care units or service lines are guided by nurse managers and their staff.
Nurse leaders as knowledge workers have a role of determining data that will be most useful in guiding patient-care delivery and promoting positive patient outcomes. Nursing units collect lots of data daily. Nurse leaders utilize knowledge worker skills to ensure accurate data collection, reliable methods of analysis, and logical findings and conclusions (Ajanaku & Mutula, 2018).
They use electronic data systems and rapidly translate patient findings and information into knowledge that informs and produces quality patient-care outcomes.
Nurse leaders support electronic technology initiatives in their units. They come up with approaches to support education and empowerment that assist unit staff to collect clinical data, and identify patterns for delivering more efficient and effective patient-care services (Darvish et al., 2015).
References
Ajanaku, O. J., & Mutula, S. (2018). The relationship between knowledge management and nursing care performance. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 84(2), 39-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.7553/84-2-1785
Darvish, A., Bahramnezhad, F., Keyhanian, S., & Navidhamidi, M. (2015). The role of nursing informatics in promoting the quality of health care and the need for appropriate education. Global journal of health science, 6(6), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v6n6p11
Turriago-Hoyos, A., Thoene, U., & Arjoon, S. (2016). Knowledge workers and virtues in Peter Drucker’s management theory. SAGE Open, 6(1), 2158244016639631. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016639631
Sample Answer 4 for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
My current healthcare organization attends to numerous patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. The risk factors for most of these conditions can be identified early through screening and mitigated or approached taken to reduce the impact of the disease.
Healthcare data can be potentially useful in predicting a patient’s risk for a disease such as Type 2 Diabetes, which has been a major concern due to its associated morbidity and mortality.
The Electronic Health Record (EHR) can be used to collect a patient’s data, including their past medical history, family, social history, and lifestyle practices (Dash et al., 2019). The data can be collected on the initial contact with a patient, and health providers should be advised to take a comprehensive patient history in the first contact.
References
Dash, S., Shakyawar, S. K., Sharma, M., & Kaushik, S. (2019). Big data in healthcare: management, analysis, and future prospects. Journal of Big Data, 6(1), 54. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-019-0217-0
Also Read:
Interaction Between Nurse Informaticists and Other Specialists
THE IMPACT OF NURSING INFORMATICS ON PATIENT OUTCOMES AND PATIENT CARE EFFICIENCIES
HEALTHCARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
LITERATURE REVIEW: THE USE OF CLINICAL SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES AND EFFICIENCIES
THE INCLUSION OF NURSES IN THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE
THE ROLE OF THE NURSE INFORMATICIST IN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
Sample Answer 5 for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
Introduction
In most cases, knowledge workers have technical skills, thinking skills, management skills, ability to engage in teamwork, and communication skills. Knowledge workers have got deep skills and knowledge in a given subject. There are many different jobs that require some degree of knowledge (Kianto et al., 2019). Therefore, employees labelled as knowledge workers are mostly differentiated by the ability provide solutions to different problems and develop unique resources in different areas of expertise. Over the years, there are different employees that have been recognized as knowledge workers, this is due to the rise of different professions and specialization areas. Knowledge workers are important in the workplace since they provide technical guidance that lead to the successful outcomes in the operational processes. Knowledge workers are different from other workers due to their emphasis on non-routine problem solving processes (Karr-Wisniewski & Lu, 2017). The knowledge workers often consider a combination of divergent and convergent thinking. However, because of the amount of research and literature applied in the modern work environment, it has become very difficult to define the term.
The Nurse Leader as Knowledge Worker
Nurse leaders are always involved in the organization of nursing workforce to ensure that there is quality healthcare delivery to the patients. They normally apply data collection and analysis techniques to undertint the trends in the infectious diseases and other forms of complications that ensure the recruitment of an elaborate or skilled nurses. Nurse leaders often have the role of directing and controlling work environment. Further, they are considered to be the agent of quality healthcare delivery. They therefore have the technical knowledge of identifying areas of weaknesses and implement quality measure that can ensure effective healthcare delivery. Also, nurses are involved in the research processes to provide counseling, education and assistance/guidance among the nursing workforce. Managing knowledge workers can sometimes prove to be a very difficult tasks give their advanced skills and perceptions. In most cases, knowledge workers prefer some levels of autonomy. In other words, they do not like being managed or overseen (Acton & Golden, 2018).
Concept of a Knowledge Worker
Majority of knowledge workers have specialty in different subjects. In other words, they have specialized skills and knowledge in a particular subject. In most cases, they have spent years gaining and developing their knowledge and skills, as well as resources in the workplace or through formal education. Some knowledge workers work from experience they have acquired during their long years of practice. In the current society, there is a constant change in the acquisition of access of information. For the employees, there are always a lot of materials needed to ensure improvement in the job performance (Švarc, 2016). To access these sources of information, there is always the need for the knowledge workers (Chen et al., 2019). In the healthcare practices, knowledge workers often engage in the evidence-based practices to ensure that effective care is delivered to the patients to enhance quality of healthcare outcomes. Incorporation of research is necessary in the current healthcare practices; this require the intervention of knowledge workers to ensure efficient healthcare delivery.
Nursing Informatics
With the development in technology and evidence-based practices in the healthcare system, nurse informatics have increased roles to play in the delivery of healthcare. Nurse informatics are able to apply data to determine trends in the healthcare system and to enhance healthcare delivery. The knowledge of nursing informatics is therefore critical in performing complex procedures that go beyond common nursing practices (Saba & McCormick, 2015). Nurses involved in the nurse informatics specialty are always positioned at the intersection of computer science, nursing science, as well as information science where they can better manage and communicate information, data and general knowledge in the practice of nursing. In most cases, the analysis and interpretation of data is critical in the improvement of quality treatment processes. However, to be able to interpret these data, there is always the need for expertise. Knowledge workers are critical in these areas given their ability to enhance the acquisition of application of knowledge (American Nurses Association, 2015).
Hypothetical Scenario
Nurse leaders can apply clinical reasoning and judgement in the establishment of accurate nurse to patient ration to enhance the management of patients. In other words, nurse leaders can apply the knowledge of nurse to patient ration obtained from data analysis to establish enough nurses and other healthcare workers in the management of patients. Knowledge workers can play critical roles in the identification of the problems in the healthcare system that require solution; this scenario is possible through the collection and analysis of data to obtain essential information. Nurses with technical skills are always needed in the research processes to ensure that there is enough information to enhance treatment processes. The knowledge of nursing informatics is therefore critical in performing complex procedures that go beyond common nursing practices. Nurses involved in the nurse informatics specialty are always positioned at the intersection of computer science, nursing science, as well as information science where they can better manage and communicate information, data and general knowledge in the practice of nursing.
References
- Saba, V. K., & McCormick, K. A. (2015). Essentials of nursing informatics. Retrieved from: http://mtshohoe.edu.gh/library/index.php?p=show_detail&id=800&keywords=ebook
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice. Retrieved from: http://mtshohoe.edu.gh/library/index.php?p=show_detail&id=855&keywords=
- Chen, Q., Olsen, G., Bagante, F., Merath, K., Idrees, J. J., Akgul, O., … & Pawlik, T. M. (2019). Procedure-specific volume and nurse-to-patient ratio: implications for failure to rescue patients following liver surgery. World journal of surgery, 43(3), 910-919. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-018-4859-4
- Karr-Wisniewski, P., & Lu, Y. (2017). When more is too much: Operationalizing technology overload and exploring its impact on knowledge worker productivity. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(5), 1061-1072. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563210000488
- Acton, T., & Golden, W. (2018). Training the knowledge worker: a descriptive study of training practices in Irish software companies. Journal of European industrial training. Retrieved from: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/03090590310468958/full/html
- Kianto, A., Shujahat, M., Hussain, S., Nawaz, F., & Ali, M. (2019). The impact of knowledge management on knowledge worker productivity. Baltic Journal of Management. Retrieved from: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/BJM-12-2017-0404/full/html
- Švarc, J. (2016). The knowledge worker is dead: What about professions?. Current Sociology, 64(3), 392-410. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0011392115591611
Sample Answer 6 for NURS 6051 THE NURSE LEADER AS KNOWLEDGE WORKER
The Concept of a Knowledge Worker
The responsibilities of a nurse manager have evolved throughout the years beyond the traditional scope of direct patient care. One of these unique responsibilities is being a “knowledge worker.” Peter Drucker pioneered the concept of “knowledge worker” in 1959 to describe highly trained individuals who require specific knowledge to fulfill their professional tasks. This was due to the growing specialization and the realization that professional tasks required skill sets. This means that people in the 21st century need to have certain abilities that set them apart from those in other fields and make them the best candidates to carry out specific activities (Drucker, 2013). Nurse leaders need excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities to be successful in their roles as knowledge workers. They must develop the analytical skills required to analyze complex data and apply them to guide deliberations. They must also be very good communicators because they will convey their knowledge to others.
The emergence of technology necessitating technical skill acquisition to enhance health care outcomes reinforces nurses’ position as knowledge workers. The new technology has strengthened nurses’ ability to organize information and increase their clinical expertise, enabling them to develop new perspectives on nursing practice (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2021). This is particularly apparent when information technologies are integrated with other technologies or systems to display electronic health records in health information management that complies with HIPAA regulations. In embracing transformational potential and redesigning nursing procedures, nurses are knowledge workers because they boldly extend their clinical practice’s conventional boundaries.
The increased emphasis of nurses on lowering healthcare costs without sacrificing quality or expanding access is evidence of the growing importance nurses place on using their minds to address the increasingly complex issues that arise within their profession. This demonstrates the significance of informatics as a nursing discipline that has become increasingly important.
Analysis of the Hypothetical Scenario
The scenario illustrates the challenges encountered by healthcare providers in organizing patient care plans and diagnostic data. With several tests and different physicians’ notes to keep track of, it is practically hard to recall information about each patient’s treatment plan. Patients may also suffer from anxiety while awaiting the results of their tests or receiving their appointments. Inaccessibility to information may also contribute to other health problems. Although patient portals are strongly recommended, they are not appropriate for everyone. Having access to one’s test results and numbers in advance might increase anxiety and uncertainty if the results are out of the ordinary or otherwise unexpected. New research, “Informed or anxious: patient preferences for release of test results of increasing sensitivity on electronic patient portals,” argues that secured discussions through email on patient portals might help relieve some of these worries.
The concept of the nurse as a “knowledge worker” is relevant to this scenario.
The Concept of a Knowledge Worker
The responsibilities of a nurse manager have evolved throughout the years beyond the traditional scope of direct patient care. One of these unique responsibilities is being a “knowledge worker.” Peter Drucker pioneered the concept of “knowledge worker” in 1959 to describe highly trained individuals who require specific knowledge to fulfill their professional tasks. This was due to the growing specialization and the realization that professional tasks required skill sets. This means that people in the 21st century need to have certain abilities that set them apart from those in other fields and make them the best candidates to carry out specific activities (Drucker, 2013). Nurse leaders need excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities to be successful in their roles as knowledge workers. They must develop the analytical skills required to analyze complex data and apply them to guide deliberations. They must also be very good communicators because they will convey their knowledge to others.
Nursing Informatics and the Role of a Nurse Leader as a Knowledge Worker
The emergence of technology necessitating technical skill acquisition to enhance health care outcomes reinforces nurses’ position as knowledge workers. The new technology has strengthened nurses’ ability to organize information and increase their clinical expertise, enabling them to develop new perspectives on nursing practice (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2021). This is particularly apparent when information technologies are integrated with other technologies or systems to display electronic health records in health information management that complies with HIPAA regulations. In embracing transformational potential and redesigning nursing procedures, nurses are knowledge workers because they boldly extend their clinical practice’s conventional boundaries.
The increased emphasis of nurses on lowering healthcare costs without sacrificing quality or expanding access is evidence of the growing importance nurses place on using their minds to address the increasingly complex issues that arise within their profession. This demonstrates the significance of informatics as a nursing discipline that has become increasingly important.
In this case, nurses need to learn and employ technical skills centered on using computers to make sense of vast volumes of data to practice informatics. It also enables nurses to coordinate care by integrating technology across care settings and service lines. Informatics enables nurses to operate as knowledge workers by conceiving and organizing data to inform the provision of nursing care, increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. This implies that nurses have access to information technology that helps them gather and make sense of massive amounts of data. This necessitates them to employ specific skills to establish reliable ways for evaluating the data and delivering rational conclusions that guide practice. Informatics is a fundamental progression that emphasizes nurses’ status as knowledge workers.
Four informatics competencies underscore the role of nurses as knowledge workers. These skills include data collection, information processing, knowledge application, and knowledge synthesis.
The first competency is data collection, which entails accumulating and summarizing data essential to nursing care, especially the outcomes of various nursing interventions. The second competency is information use, which involves analyzing the gathered information to conclude its significance and application to nursing practice and other areas of health care. The third competency is the application of knowledge, which involves establishing relationships among various data points (literature) to draw conclusions and make observations that may be used in nursing practice. Finally, knowledge building transforms data into actionable steps, such as revised rules and standards (Bowerman & van Wart, 2015).
Analysis of the Hypothetical Scenario
The scenario illustrates the challenges encountered by healthcare providers in organizing patient care plans and diagnostic data. With several tests and different physicians’ notes to keep track of, it is practically hard to recall information about each patient’s treatment plan. Patients may also suffer from anxiety while awaiting the results of their tests or receiving their appointments. Inaccessibility to information may also contribute to other health problems. Although patient portals are strongly recommended, they are not appropriate for everyone. Having access to one’s test results and numbers in advance might increase anxiety and uncertainty if the results are out of the ordinary or otherwise unexpected. New research, “Informed or anxious: patient preferences for release of test results of increasing sensitivity on electronic patient portals,” argues that secured discussions through email on patient portals might help relieve some of these worries.
The concept of the nurse as a “knowledge worker” is relevant to this scenario.
Conclusion
Nursing professionals have specialized skills and expertise to guide clinical judgment and patient care. In this case, the nurse’s ability to efficiently handle patient information and data is important to providing quality care.
By employing patient portals, nurses may use their skills to help patients manage their health information and interpret their test results. Using patient portals, nurses may quickly access vital patient data, enabling them to make better decisions while treating patients. Also, the nurse’s responsibility in successfully training patients to navigate patient portals is vital to ensure patients can acquire and use the data they must participate in their care actively.
To improve patient care, nurses must keep up with the latest developments in technology and industry best practices. Patient portals allow nurses to work more efficiently and effectively, which benefits patients. Nursing processes may be streamlined with the help of patient portals, allowing nurses to devote more time to patient care and less time to administrative tasks.
References
- Bowerman, K. D., & Wart, M. V. (2015). The business of leadership: An introduction: An introduction. Routledge.
- Drucker, P. (2013). Managing for the future. Routledge.
- McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2021). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Week One Discussion
Informatics play a large role in making sure that the field of nursing progresses. When looking at how healthcare as a whole changed, there have been great strides to make sure that technology keeps up with the demand for better solutions. When looking at how COVID-19 has changed the way that the healthcare industry worked with informatics, the pandemic “has made telehealth a popular care model for providing necessary healthcare services” (Wu, 2021). One hypothetical scenario that would work in my healthcare environment would be the making sure to track how patients continue with outpatient treatment after an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Nurses may see patients in need of repeated inpatient hospitalizations not being able to follow up on appointments made outside as a psychiatric nurse. Data would be collected on the number of patients coming to outpatient appointments and assessed based on repeated number of inpatient hospitalization for patients. Knowledge could be derived on possible factors that may contribute to rehospitalization such as lack of access, transportation, and financial stress. Psychiatric nurses would need informatics to help answer these questions as information technology is “critical to the development of evidence-based psychiatric nursing” (Repique, 2007). The clinical nurse leader would use clinical reasoning and judgement to help find solutions for these patients using the data gathered to make sure to prevent a reoccurrence of inpatient hospitalization. According to Dempsey, nurse leaders need to “optimize the environment of care and work that will provide better outcomes and to serve their communities” (Dempsey, 2022).
References:
Dempsey, C. (2022). Nursing Leadership Across the Continuum: The Nurse Leader in Industry. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 46(4), 283–290. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000544Links to an external site.
Repique, R. J. R. (2007). Computers and information technologies in psychiatric nursing. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 43(2), 77–83.
Wu, Y. (2021). Utilization of telehealth and the advancement of nursing informatics during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 8(4), 367.
NURS 6051 Week 8 Discussion 2 The Role of the RN APRN in Policymaking
Two opportunities that exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy-making are by participating in disease advocacy/special interest groups and through personal experience. According to the American Nurses Association (n.d.), advocacy is a pillar of nursing. Thousands of nurses across the country have a chosen specialty that is considered their “niche.” For example, mine is psychiatry and I am a huge mental health advocate. RNs and APRNs have the opportunity to participate in policy-making dealing with their chosen specialty, as they most likely know quite a bit about those fields and can bring their knowledge to the table. Personal experience brings about another opportunity for RNs and APRNs to participate in policy-making, as experience allows one to bring to light problems encountered while working that could be addressed with advice/help from the main caretakers.
The challenge for the opportunity of a special interest group may present could be how congress would decide which advocated disease would deserve special recognition by receiving a new policy. There are so many catastrophic diseases it would be difficult to choose which one or in what order in which to move forward. The challenge for the opportunity of those with personal experience could be that the issues a group of nurses is having may be facility-specific problems, not a nationwide common issue, which may cause the policy proposal to be thrown out.
Strategies to better communicate/advocate the existence of these opportunities include approaching the policy proposal in a systemic way and building relationships to support the policy. We respond to problems on a disease-by-disease basis instead of systemically (Health Policy and Politics, 2018). In other words, when issues in healthcare arise, they are usually only addressed according to how they affect a certain disease progression. For example, someone diagnosed with dementia is often not eligible for certain resources until their disease progression has worsened and they need to be institutionalized (Health Policy and Politics, 2018). At this point what good has the system really done for them? Mental health resources that could be used by dementia patients can also be used by someone with anxiety and depression. Approaching issues in a way that covers more than just one disease at a time could make policies so much more effective. Building relationships with media, consumer groups and businesses to help bring light to issues needing to be addressed in healthcare would be a great way to better advocate the existence of these opportunities for RNs and APRNs (Getting Your Program Designed and Implemented, 2018). The more individuals advocating for change, the better chance a proposed policy has of becoming a reality.
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Advocacy. ANA. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Getting your Program Designed and Implemented
[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Health policy and politics [Video file]. Baltimore,
MD: Author.