Political Environment Flashcards
What is the definition of “politics” according to Mason, Talbott & Leavitt, 1993?
A process by which one influences the decisions of others and exerts control over situations and events.
What is the definition of “politics” according to Clarke, 2003?
Politics involves using power to influence, persuade, or otherwise change - it is the art of understanding relationships between groups in society and using that understanding to achieve particular outcomes.
How does the government politically influence nurses, nursing profession, health, and health care?
Resources/funding for health and professionals.
Health authority policies are influenced by the government.
What did the Policy Papers (2014) of the BC Ministry of Health Setting Priorities for the BC Health System address? (3 things)
- Primary and community care
- Surgical services
- Rural health services
What are some nurses’ perceptions of barriers to political action?
- Lack of knowledge about distribution of health care resources and decision making processes.
- Lack of opportunity to communicate with other sectors and lack of experience.
- Belief that nurses rank low on the hierarchy of health care professionals in terms of power and influence.
- Profession in 94% female; traditionally women have not been socialized into political leadership roles.
- Education requirement for entry to practice has not been on par with other Health Care Professionals. We are just catching up now.
- Working hours of nurses and domestic responsibilities in their homes.
- Socialization of nurse with emphasis on individualized care and approaches not collective action and lobbying.
- Invisible profession which has difficulty articulating what we do as nurses.
How do nurses have the means to end the silence about the nursing profession?
- Nurses are the largest group of health care professionals
- Nurses can follow the example of physicians in creating a professional public image and using the media to present their views and expertise
How many RNs were employed in Canada in 2014? (including NPs)
> 290,000
How can nurses have the motivation to speak out about the nursing profession?
- Earn the respect of patients/families
- Earn the respect of other health care professionals
- Enable nurses to work at full scope
- Give nurses the opportunity to describe the work and progress of the nursing profession.
What is the difference between “trust” and “respect”?
Trust - a firm belief in the reliability, honesty, or truth of someone.
Respect - A feeling of admiration for someone related to their abilities, qualities, or achievements
How do nurses have the opportunity to speak out about the nursing profession?
- Health care system in turmoil
- People want information on which to base choices and actions
- Nurses have valuable information and insight to contribute
- Studies show that the public trusts nurses
- Current nursing and physician shortage
Why should nurses exert political influence? (3 broad goals)
- Client/patient focus
- Nursing profession focus
- Health care resource focus
Why should nurses exert political influence with a client/patient focus?
Promote, maintain, and improve patient health (influence the system so that we can do a better job of this)
Why should nurses exert political influence with a nursing profession focus?
- Working conditions of nurses (making sure we have working conditions that allow us to give good patient care).
- CRNBC looks at standards of nursing practice (making sure we have the resources we need to maintain the standards of practice)
Why should nurses exert political influence with a health care resource focus?
- Effective, efficient use of resources (in terms of health care system)
What are some sources of empowerment for nurses?
- Expanded scope
- Valued as scarce resources
- Nurse practitioner and nurse midwife roles legitimate and legal
- Nurses are advocates for their clients
- Knowledge is power
What are the 3 keys to political influence? (3 C’s)
Communication
Collectivity
Collegiality
What is collectivity?
- Joining with others to work together towards common goals
- Collective action
- Power in numbers
What is collegiality?
- Having esteem for and trust in your colleagues
- Mutual support
What is the definition of “policy” according to Titmus, 1974?
The principles that govern action directed towards given ends.
What are policies usually based on?
Usually based on values, goals, and principles.
What is the definition of “public policy” according to Milstead, 1999?
Directives that document government decisions.
What is nursing policy? (what levels of governance control nursing policy)
- May be an aspect of public policy.
- May also be influenced by public policy
- Example: Health Professions Act in BC
- CRNBC, CNA, ARNBC all have policy and position statements
- Health authority level: policies, RN initiated management (which is a policy)
- Nursing practice and education level: nursing practice and education standards (this is a type of policy as well)
What is the definition of “healthy public policy” according to Clarke, 2010?
Directives and goals for promoting the health of the public.
What is the focus of healthy public policy?
Focuses on population health including health status and equity.