Five Ways for the Advanced Practice Nurse to Influence Change

Advanced practice nurses are ideal agents to influence change. With a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience, they can make a significant impact on health care in these five ways.

Political Participation

• Lobbying is a good way to be influential in health care reform.

  Many of the challenges that advanced practice nurses face are discussed and decided in political arenas by politicians. When seeking to combat issues and create more health and wellness laws, Susan Kremer says that "nurses have the knowledge and the skills to create change." Nurses can donate their services to politicians who support their interests, attend local and national political meetings where they can interface with decision makers, volunteer for political campaigns, vote during election time or write letters to seek support from elected officials.

Advocacy

• Advanced practice nurses need to be health policy advocates, active, ongoing supporters of the issues that matter to them. Nurse advocates should work on behalf of the people they represent and should talk about nursing-related issues at every opportunity. Sheila Abood says, "When they choose to take on the role of policy advocate...nurses often have to move out of the comfort zone of their practice arena..." Whether they write about the policy concerns in newspaper articles or speak at public forums, advocates should make sound recommendations for needed change.

Non-Traditional Career Paths

• Advanced practice nurses can influence change through the various career paths they take. According to NurseSource.org, by pursuing innovative, non-traditional ways to practice nursing, these nurses "can now be found in professional venues once thought impossible." Nursing can lead to career opportunities in fields such as education, law, business, and journalism. For example, nurse attorneys can represent patients to ensure that their legal rights are protected or medical injustices are righted.

Strategic Planning

• Strategy is another way for advanced practice nurses to influence change. Whether the goal is to change health policy or make an impact on consumer health issues, the key is to take a strategic approach. This approach includes gaining an in-depth understanding of the issues that need to be changed and the stakeholders, obstacles, and opponents to that change. As Kai Tiraki says, advanced practice nurses need to know "who to influence, how to influence and the appropriate timing to initiate lobbying the right people."

Communication

• Advanced practice nurses must talk about change to influence it.

  Advanced practice nurses can influence change by raising their voices and speaking out about issues, concerns or injustices in the health care system. Although it was common in the past for other members of the health care system to advocate for advance practice nurses, in today's environment, these nurses must be able to voice their own concerns. With many opportunities available through the media and other public forums, advanced practice nurses must be able to confidently communicate and become vocal advocates for change.