| Healthcare cost, quality and access have been topics of the nation for many decades. Policy and politics directly influence healthcare and therefore, outcomes and scope of practice for professional providers of healthcare. Nurses represent the largest numbers of professional healthcare providers in the United States and rank as the most trusted profession for over a decade (Gallup, 2013). Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are nurses with advanced training and education and should role model and advocate for colleagues and the profession of Nursing as a professional responsibility. Development of health policy should be untaken with expert healthcare providers as primary stakeholders and patient populations as the beneficiaries of the improved and available healthcare options. The tangible lack of interest, money, and time, coupled with apathy, bolster the belief that Nursing cannot overcome the current physician dominant health care system that is in place. Nurses, especially APRNs, are uniquely poised to affect change and promote advocacy by moving from a novice to expert in the political arena.;Today, in these changing healthcare times, it is requisite that APRNs advocate for themselves, as well as the profession of Nursing. Intensifying the legislators' knowledge of the APRN role, the quality of outcomes, and the ability to meet the healthcare needs of populations will assist in gaining full scope of practice throughout the nation. Development of an advocacy toolkit will assist with evolving advocacy capabilities of APRNs, from novice to expert. |
