Advocacy Issues in Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
The nursing profession is constantly evolving, and nurses themselves are often at the epicenter of that change. Today’s nurse practitioners (NPs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and other nurses are working together to advocate for progressive policies, negotiate changes to existing regulations, and advance the nursing profession as a whole.
From the fight for full practice authority, to the establishment of nurse-to-patient ratios, to addressing the social determinants of health, these collective efforts help create a safer, more effective, and more inclusive healthcare system. In our advocacy section, we interview nursing leaders about the issues that matter most, and explain how you can get involved as a new, aspiring, or veteran nurse, too.
NP Advocates to Know: Dr. Felesia Bowen on Health Equity
Advocacy is woven deeply into the nurse practitioner (NP) role. It’s a part of the job that’s never finished. Advocacy can occur at a micro level, by advocating one-on-one for a particular patient, or at the macro level, by lobbying for policy changes; it’s often a mix of the two. For many NPs, advocacy concerns a particular issue close to their heart, one connected to underserved patients who deserve additional support. For Dr. Felesia Brown, the issue is health equity.
Guide to NP-Led Research
The healthcare community is a partnership between scientific research and clinical practice. For most of modern history, both arenas have been dominated by physicians. But as the healthcare workforce has expanded and the interprofessional care team emerged, nurse practitioners (NPs) have proven to be vital in delivering healthcare services in America.
Beating Burnout as a Travel Nurse
Recent survey results show that a quarter to half of nurses feel emotionally drained, used up, fatigued, and burned out several times a week, or even every day (NCSBN 2023). Nearly a fifth of the current nursing workforce has stated their intent to leave the profession by 2027, with a significant portion of those statements coming from nurses under 40. With an aging population and an ongoing need for healthcare services, America can’t afford to lose this much of its vital nursing workforce.
Cultural and Linguistic Awareness for Nursing Professionals
Nurse practitioners and other nursing professionals operate in a diverse landscape of cultures and languages. Understanding a patient’s cultural background and language proficiency is essential to effective healthcare delivery. It fosters mutual respect and trust and enhances patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment plans. However, not all nurses are aware of the importance of cultural and linguistic awareness.
Nursing Continuing Professional Development & The NCPD Award
Each year, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards its Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) Premier Award™ to accredited organizations that demonstrate excellence in NCPD. Presented to one or more fully accredited programs each year, the award recognizes recipients for a two-year period.
NP Advocates to Know: Dr. Kelli Garber on Telehealth
Advocacy is woven deeply into the nurse practitioner (NP) role. It’s a part of the job that’s never finished. Advocacy can occur at a micro level, by advocating one-on-one for a particular patient, or at the macro level, by lobbying for policy changes; it’s often a mix of the two. For many NPs, advocacy is about a particular issue close to their heart, one connected to underserved patients who deserve additional support. For Dr. Kelli Garber, the issue is telehealth.
Compassionate Practice in Nursing: What to Know
Nursing, at its core, is the profession of caring for others. However, compassion, an essential trait for nurses, extends beyond caring for needs. According to researcher Beth Lown in a paper published in the Association for the Study of Medical Education Journal, “Compassion involves recognition, understanding, emotional resonance and empathic concern for another’s concerns, distress, pain and suffering, coupled with their acknowledgment, and motivation and relational action to ameliorate these conditions.”
The Rise of Interprofessional Teams in Healthcare
Healthcare involves many more people than the physician and the patient. The modern healthcare team is a broadly interprofessional one, including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, physical therapists, nutritionists, counselors, and social workers, just to name a few.
Nursing Realities: Challenges, Strikes, and Tips for Aspiring Nurses
The numerous nursing strikes in 2022 and 2023 symbolize the collective voice of nurses advocating for better pay, improved working conditions, more time off, and enhanced mental health support. Despite these challenges, nursing can be a rewarding career choice for those committed to patient care. Here are some insights on how to navigate this journey effectively.
Can Nurse Practitioners Have Their Own Practice?
NPs in states that offer the most practice autonomy will find the easiest path to opening their own practice. Whereas NPs working in states with restricted practice must find a supervising physician to collaborate with them.