Empowering Nurses: Advocating for Better Health Care Policies and Patient Well-Being
Influencing patient health through advocacy.
Did you know that as nurses we have the power to influence allocation of government funds and the passage of government bills on health care? Through advocacy for federal policy and appropriations (funding), we can influence the health care of our patients. We have a voice that can be used to provide lawmakers with a new perspective on the reasons for supporting health care policy. Government policies and budget allotment affect the health of constituents. Through legislative action, nurses can make changes that affect the lives of individuals, especially those with chronic diseases, minority background, and economic instability.
Not just for patients but for the community.
The ethical principle of beneficence means to do good. As nurses, we have the responsibility to not only do good towards our patients but to communities, expanding our focus from the nurse–patient relationship to a broader community health lens. Nurses can move from patient advocacy that makes changes for one patient to policy advocacy that makes changes for communities of patients. As nurses, we can discuss disparities seen in health care with legislatures to provide a new and personal perspective on support of different health care laws.