The ANA believes that advocacy is a pillar of nursing.
The ANA believes that advocacy is a pillar of nursing. Nurses instinctively advocate for their patients, in their workplaces, and in their communities; but legislative and political advocacy is no less important to advancing the profession and patient care.” —American Nurses Association
Select a nursing-related issue that interests you and that you would like to advocate for.
o Define the issue you would like to advocate for.
o Include context of the issue.
o Indicate who is being impacted by the issue.
o Provide a history of the issue and its current status.
o What issues are being addressed through this advocacy work?
o What is the goal of this advocacy? Is it clear?
o What progress has been made up to the present time? What progress must still happen?
o In regard to the advocacy work that has already been done, what was effective? What could have been improved?
o Who did this form of advocacy reach or not reach?
o What changes resulted from this advocacy?
o Evaluate what can be learned from the efforts of past advocates.
o Determine the leadership skills an
Sample Solution
Issue: Nurse Staffing Ratios
Definition
Nurse staffing ratios are the number of nurses assigned to care for a certain number of patients. Ratios can be mandated by law or set by individual hospitals or healthcare facilities.
Full Answer Section
Context Adequate nurse staffing is essential for safe and quality patient care. Nurses play a critical role in all aspects of patient care, from providing direct care to administering medications to educating patients and families. When nurse staffing ratios are too low, nurses can become overworked and stressed, which can lead to errors and omissions in care. Impact Inadequate nurse staffing ratios can have a negative impact on patients, nurses, and healthcare organizations. Patients may experience longer wait times, delays in care, and increased risk of complications. Nurses may experience burnout, job dissatisfaction, and increased risk of workplace injuries. Healthcare organizations may experience increased costs, lower patient satisfaction scores, and difficulty recruiting and retaining nurses. History The issue of nurse staffing ratios has been debated for many years. In the United States, there is no federal law mandating nurse staffing ratios. However, some states have passed laws mandating ratios for certain types of hospitals or units. For example, California has a law mandating nurse staffing ratios for intensive care units (ICUs). Current Status The issue of nurse staffing ratios is still being debated. Some argue that mandated ratios are necessary to ensure safe patient care. Others argue that ratios are inflexible and can lead to shortages of nurses. Issues Addressed Nurse staffing ratios address the following issues:- Patient safety
- Nurse workload
- Quality of care
- Healthcare costs
- Nurse recruitment and retention
- Collecting more data on the impact of nurse staffing ratios on patient outcomes
- Developing more effective strategies for communicating the issue to the public and policymakers
- Building stronger coalitions with other healthcare stakeholders
- Collecting and disseminating data
- Building coalitions
- Communicating effectively
- Strong communication skills
- The ability to build relationships
- The ability to think strategically
- The ability to motivate and inspire others