The Time Is Now for Nursing Advocacy

Nurses should be the ones advocating for nursing, say these CNOs.

Nurses across the country are faced with many challenges, such as workplace violence and staffing ratios, that have potential legislative components.

CNOs must be equipped with the skills to advocate for policies that will improve the lives of their nurses and help them deliver the best quality care to patients.

The HealthLeaders CNO Exchange is well on its way in Nashville as the participating members discuss everything from succession planning, leadership development, virtual nursing and AI, to workplace violence and nursing policy. On a panel about advocacy and policy, the participating CNOs had three areas of focus for nurse leaders wanting to get involved in the legislative process.

Issues to prioritize

According to the panelists, there are several key issues that CNOs should be prioritizing, with workplace violence policy at the top of the list. There has been a national push towards further penalizing those who assault healthcare workers, specifically with the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act, or the SAVE Act. Many have come to expect workplace violence in nursing, and CNOs need to counter that narrative and push for more legal protection for nurses.

The panelists made it clear that regardless of the viewpoint, mandated staffing ratio legislation is something CNOs must pay attention to. Reimbursement and full practice authority policies are also critical, especially for nurse practitioners, to demonstrate the value of nursing.

On a national level, nurse leaders now find themselves needing to defend Medicare and Medicaid, according to the panelists. There are several policies coming out of HHS that the panelists are concerned about and it's important that CNOs stay up to date with the newest proposals from legislative bodies at all levels.

Getting involved

The list of policies goes on and on, but the key takeaway from the panelists is that CNOs must be at the table during legislative discussions. Many policymakers do not understand the inner workings of the healthcare ecosystem, and by developing strong relationships with legislators, nurse leaders have the ability to make a real impact.

The panelists recommended that CNOs make appointments with local, state, and federal legislators outside of session, and make it clear that they can be a point of contact for when the legislator needs an expert. When the legislative bodies are in session, CNOs should make their presence known and engage as constituents.

CNOs should also develop relationships with their government relations teams at their organizations. Ultimately, the panelists emphasized that now is the time for nurses to advocate for nursing, rather than letting others do it for them.

Skills to employ

While advocacy might be new for some CNOs, it's necessary to take part in, and according to the panelists, there are a few key skills to work on that will improve advocacy efforts.

First, engage in storytelling. Everyone has been touched by a nurse or by the healthcare industry at some point in their lives, and by sharing those stories, CNOs can make nursing policies feel more personal to legislators who can prioritize them.

The panelists recommended following up with data to support the storytelling and emphasizing numbers that will stand out, such as vacancy rates. Nurse leaders should also get to know legislative aids and staffers who are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the legislators as part of their team. Despite the overwhelming nature of politics and the constant change, CNOs should try to stay educated and be selective about where they can affect the most change.

The CNO Exchange continues, so stay tuned for more coverage.

The HealthLeaders Exchange is an executive community for sharing ideas, solutions, and insights. Please join the community at our LinkedIn page. 

To inquire about attending a HealthLeaders CNO Exchange event, email us at exchange@healthleadersmedia.com.