Nursing-The legislator/nurse’s role as an advocate for improving health care delivery
Nurses’ experiences expose them to experiences and incidents that motivate them to assume an advocacy role to influence change in laws, policies, and regulations governing the entire healthcare system. This advocacy requires them to go beyond nursing practices and engage in legal things, including politics and policy formulation (Zwinkels, 2019). Successful advocacy relies on having the will, power, energy, political skills, and time required to initiate change in the legislative field. Having a legislator/nurse advocating for improving healthcare delivery is important because they can identify concerns and needs related to patient care (Coyle & Kirk, 2019). The nurse/legislator can also share insights and experiences with elected and public officials to advocate for families and patients effectively and influence the policy-making process to ensure that the needs of the patients are put first. The respect the nurse/ legislator has strengthens the ability to persuade policymakers to implement the required change regarding patient care. The nurse/legislator can also help forecast policy needs in the healthcare environment and initiate the process of passing bills that enact policies aimed at helping patients.
What specific bills have the legislator/nurse sponsored or supported that have influenced health care?
Ivan Halla, who is a nurse, supported and sponsored the comprehensive disaster plan bill in Texas. The bill was proposed to local legislators, and Joe Deshotel, a state representative, agreed to introduce the bill and monitor the process of passing it. The nurse visited key legislators and learned how to present the issue in a detailed speech lasting two minutes (Abood, 2007). The nurse also attentively listened to the legislators to help support the causes of legislators who showed interest in the bill. The bill was finally passed, and an improved state disaster plan was established for individuals with disaster needs.
References
Abood, S. (2007). Influencing Health Care in the Legislative Arena. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 12(1).
Coyle, N., & Kirk, T. W. (2019). Advocacy in palliative nursing. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing, 861-867. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780190862374.003.0074
Zwinkels, H. (2019). Advocacy and the perspective of (neurology) nursing. Advocacy in Neurology, 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198796039.003.0009
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Question 
Nursing-The legislator/nurse’s role as an advocate for improving health care delivery
Choose a legislator on the state or federal level who is also a nurse and discuss the importance of the legislator/nurse’s role as advocate for improving health care delivery. What specific bills has the legislator/nurse sponsored or supported that have influenced health care?
Nursing-The legislator – nurse’s role as an advocate for improving health care delivery