Influencing health care in the legislative arena

Nurses are well aware that today's health care system is in trouble and in need of change. The experiences of many nurses practicing in the real world of health care are motivating them to take on some form of an advocacy role in order to influence a change in policies, laws, or regulations that govern the larger health care system. This type of advocacy necessitates stepping beyond their own practice setting and into the less familiar world of policy and politics, a world in which many nurses do not feel prepared to operate effectively. Successful policy advocacy depends on having the power, the will, the time, and the energy, along with the political skills needed to 'play the game' in the legislative arena. This article describes the role of the nurse as health care policy advocate, identifies the power bases available to nurses as they assume that role, discusses the policy process in the legislative arena, and presents strategies for effective action. A list of selected online resources is included to help readers learn more about shaping and influencing future health policy.