Nurse administrator's role in health policy: teaching the elephant to dance

Historically, policies guiding the American health care delivery system have focused primarily on financing disease care. This emphasis on disease, rather than health, has sustained the idea of medical primacy while resulting in poor economic and health outcomes. Nursing's unique health-oriented contributions are undervalued and underutilized in the present system. This article addresses how and why nurse administrators should become involved in the policy arena. The article also emphasizes the need for skilled nurse leaders to influence the national agenda through political activism so that comprehensive nursing care is available and accessible.