Interweaving policy and diversity

Nurses too often consider that direct patient care is the only focus of nursing. However, the role of the nurse is broader than that of direct care and encompasses many components, all of which must be integrated into the self of the nurse. Political activity and policy formation are two areas of nursing that are misunderstood and are not adopted enthusiastically by many nurses. This article examines the whole policy process that includes agenda setting; government response via laws, regulations and programs; policy/program implementation; and policy/program evaluation. The process is then linked to the concept of diversity to illustrate the need, ease and opportunity for nurse involvement.