Exploring the political astuteness of registered nurses

Abstract

Registered nurses (RNs) play critical roles in advocating for policies that impact patients and the profession, yet nursing’s voice is largely silent when it comes to shaping health policy. Despite efforts to increase nurses’ voice in health policy, the extent to which nursing expertise shapes health policy remains relatively unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine levels of political astuteness among registered nurses. A cross-sectional study of RNs (n = 212) was conducted using the Political Astuteness Inventory. Nurses in the sample voted (91%) at a higher rate than the general public (66.8%) in the 2020 federal election; however, levels of political activity beyond voting were minimal. Age and education were positively associated with political activity. Findings of this study indicate positive movement by nurses toward increased levels of political engagement, yet there is room for improvement in shaping health policy.

Keywords

Cross-sectional studies / Humans / Nurses / Politics health policy

References

[1] Reifsnider E. Nurses need to be involved in health policy and politics. Res Nurs Health. 2023; 46(2): 186-187. PMid:36752356 https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22300

[2] Hassmiller SB. Nursing leadership from bedside to boardroom. J Nurs Adm. 2011; 41(7/8): 306-308. PMid:21799361 https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0b013e31822509fa

[3] Salvage J, White J. Nursing leadership and health policy: Every-body’s business. Int Nurs Rev. 2019; 66(2): 147-150. PMid:31124127 https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12523

[4] Rasheed Y, Younas A, Mehdi F. Challenges, extent of involvement, and the impact of nurses’ involvement in politics and policymaking in the last two decades: An integrative review. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2020; 52(4): 446-455. PMid:32450004 https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12567

[5] Benton D, Ferguson S, Gómez Del Pulgar M. Exploring the influence of the nursing and medical professions on policy and politics. Nurs Manag. 2020; 27(1): 33-41. PMid:31995330 https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2020.e1896

[6] Sharpnack PA. Overview and summary: Nurses’ impact on advocacy and policy. OJIN Online J Issues Nurs. 2022; 27(2). https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol27No02ManOS

[7] Ehrlich T, Ehrlich T. Civic Responsibility and Higher Education. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group; 2000.

[8] McBride C. Democratic participation, engagement, and freedom. Br J Polit Int Relat. 2013; 15(4): 493-508. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-856X.2012.00516.x

[9] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Civic participation. Healthy People 2030. Available from: https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/civic-participation

[10] Wilson D, Underwood L, Kim S, et al. How and why nurses became involved in politics or political action, and the outcomes or impacts of this involvement. Nurs Outlook. 2022; 70(1): 55-63. PMid:34493399 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.07.008

[11] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2021. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982

[12] VandeWaa EA, Turnipseed DL, Lawrence S. A leadership opportunity: nurses’ political astuteness and participation. J Nurs Adm. 2019; 49(12): 628-630. PMid:31725522 https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000827

[13] Rewakowski T, Atav S, Clancy H, et al. Civic engagement in nursing: Measuring participation, reflecting on influences, and harnessing momentum. J Community Health Nurs. 2021; 38(3): 161-172. PMid:34148431 https://doi.org/10.1080/07370016.2021.1932954

[14] Clark PE. Political astuteness inventory. In: ClarkMJD, Reston,ed. Community Nursing:Health Care Today and Tomorrow. VA: Reston; 1984.

[15] Byrd ME, Costello J, Gremel K, et al. Political astuteness of baccalaureate nursing students following an active learning experience in health policy. Public Health Nurs. 2012; 29(5): 433-443. PMid:22924566 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1446.2012.01032.x

[16] Primomo J, Björling EA. Changes in political astuteness following nurse legislative day. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2013; 14(2): 97-108. PMid:23733906 https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154413485901

[17] Vandenhouten CL, Malakar CL, Kubsch S, et al. Political participation of registered nurses. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2011; 12(3): 159-167. PMid:22114316 https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154411425189

[18] Walton McLennan D, Mullinix CF. Encouragement: The key to increasing the number of nurses serving on boards. Nurs Forum. 2020; 55(3): 331-340. PMid:31985840 https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12432

[19] Benton D, Al Maaitah R, Gharaibeh M. An integrative review of pursuing policy and political competence. Int Nurs Rev. 2017; 64(1): 135-145. PMid:27324721 https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12275

[20] U.S. Census Bureau. Voter turnout rates among all voting age and major racial and ethnic groups were higher than in 2014. U.S. Department of Commerce. April 2019. Available from: https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/04/behind-2018-united-states-midterm-election-turnout.html

[21] U.S. Census Bureau. Voting in America: A look at the 2016 presidential election. U.S. Department of Commerce. May 2017. Available from: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2017/05/voting_in_america.html

[22] American Association of Colleges of Nursing.AACN launches nursing voices, nursing votes 2020. February 2020. Available from: https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/all-news/article/nursing-voices-nursing-votes-2020

[23] Intercollegiate Studies Institute America Civic Literacy Program. Enlightened citizenship: How civic knowledge trumps a college degree in promoting active civic engagement. 2011. Available from: https://www.americancivicliteracy.org/summary/

[24] Wilson D, Anafi F, Kusi-Appiah E, et al. Determining if nurses are involved in political action or politics: A scoping literature review. Appl Nurs Res. 2020; 54: 151279. PMid:32650883 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2020.151279

[25] Munro K. At least seven touches: One academic library’s marketing and outreach strategy for graduate professional programs. Public Services Quarterly. 2017; 13(3): 200-206. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228959.2017.1328297