Nurses have the potential to promote the public's health through active involvement in shaping health and social policy. Preparing nursing students to influence public policy is a major component of the curriculum in public/ community health nursing. A series of learning experiences was designed to engage students in this process. First, students participate in information sessions at the State Health Department and the State House. This provides them with opportunities to engage in dialogue with public health leaders as well as advocates from both professional organizations and community groups. Next, students identify the legislators who represent them in the community and write a narrative that describes the legislators' interest and commitment to health-related legislation. Lastly, students work in clinical groups to analyze a public health problem that can be addressed through public policy interventions. This has led to the students testifying at legislative hearings and working with community groups involved with the issue. The students present their findings to their peers and to the wider college community. Through these learning experiences, students gain practical experience in understanding the political process that leads to important policy change. This in turn prepares them for their roles as professional nurses and involved citizens.
Nurses as professionals and as individual consumers are affected by health policy and bear a responsibility for participating in the health policy arena. Nursing's growing recognition of the importance of public policy issues is increasingly being translated into action by various groups within the profession. Persuading student nurses of the importance of health policy provides a special challenge to faculty. A clinical practicum was designed that requires senior baccalaureate students in various community settings to identify, analyze, and challenge health policy issues. The course design, integration into the curriculum, and evaluation can be models for faculty considering the challenge of stimulating student interest in health policy issues.
Nurses as professionals and as individual consumers are affected by health policy and bear a responsibility for participating in the health policy arena. Nursing's growing recognition of the importance of public policy issues is increasingly being translated into action by various groups within the profession. Persuading student nurses of the importance of health policy provides a special challenge to faculty. A clinical practicum was designed that requires senior baccalaureate students in various community settings to identify, analyze, and challenge health policy issues. The course design, integration into the curriculum, and evaluation can be models for faculty considering the challenge of stimulating student interest in health policy issues.Mobilizing nurses to become active in key health care policy issues is imperative if America is to achieve a health care delivery system that is equitable for all. Health policy is a defined set of principles that guide activities to safeguard and promote the health of the public (Clark, 1992). Nursing's agenda for health care reform (ANA, 1991) is an example of a proposal to change the focus of health care policy from illness to wellness.
Purpose:To investigate the meaning of spirituality in pregnancy by asking, "How does your faith or spirituality affect your pregnancy?" Background: Despite the emphasis of midwives on the holistic nature of pregnancy, few have described the meaning that spirituality may have for pregnant women. The study was guided by the HOPE Theory (Holistic Obstetrical Problem Evaluation). Methods: Study participants were recruited from a nonrandom convenience sample of 130 pregnant African American and Caucasian women between 16 and 28 weeks' gestational age. Content analysis was conducted, and data were coded and clustered under major themes. Results: Of the study sample, 62% were African American and 38% Caucasian; 76% were Medicaid recipients. Seven themes emerged on how faith or spirituality affected the women's pregnancy, including 1) strength and confidence, 2) guidance and support, 3) protection, 4) blessing or reward, 5) time to communicate with God, 6) help with difficult moral choices, and 7) a generalized positive effect. Of the 62 women who responded that spirituality affected their pregnancy, the overarching theme was a desire for connectedness to oneself, others, or God. Conclusion: The findings from this study emphasize the importance of spirituality within a holistic framework and the need for health care providers to attend to spirituality as a resource in pregnancy for those who value it.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.