NURS 8100 Week 4 Assignment Policy Model

NURS 8100 Week 4 Assignment

Policy Model

Student Name

Walden University

NURS 8100: Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Nursing

Professor Name

Date

Policy Model

Policy frameworks offer organized ways of promoting policy issues such that they are in line with legislative procedures and stakeholder participation. To promote healthcare access expansion, especially by Medicaid and community health programs, the appropriate policymaking framework should be selected. Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) is the most appropriate framework to promote this advocacy agenda item. This model brings health access onto the agenda as a policy problem by aligning the problem, policy solution, and political opportunity (Hoefer, 2022). The article presents how MSF is applied to develop priority advocacy and how this leads to policy adoption and agenda-setting.

Overview of Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework

Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) is a widely used model for policy analysis and lobbying. It forecasts policy change when three distinct streams, the problem stream, policy stream, and political stream, converge with a “policy window” (Bolukbasi & Yıldırım, 2022). The problem stream consists of problems emerging as public issues, i.e., health inequity, and the policy stream consists of potential policy solutions that are technically sound and politically acceptable, and the political stream consists of factors such as shifts in public opinion, government agendas, and the influence of interest groups (Bolukbasi & Yıldırım, 2022). Where the three streams meet, a policy window is created and champions can push their priority onto the policy agenda.

The Rationale for MSF Choice

• Definition of Problem and Public Opinion

Healthcare access, particularly by vulnerable populations, is an evidenced reality. MSF helps define the problem using empirical evidence on healthcare inequities, media coordination, and stakeholder mobilization (Enrica Leresche et al., 2023). The problem stream elevates the advocacy priority by bringing evidence of the social and economic impacts of restricted healthcare access.

• Formulating Realistic Policy Solutions

MSF’s policy stream allows for constraining policy proposals, including Medicaid expansion and funding for community health clinics. Policy recommendations based on evidence enable advocacy groups to form effective solutions tied to economic and public health gains (Enrica Leresche et al., 2023). Decision-makers find the policy proposals within reach.

• Political Momentum and Advocacy Opportunities

The political current in MSF is important for the recognition of timely political circumstances, including elections on the horizon, bipartisan majorities, or changes in healthcare policy priorities. These opportunities can be utilized by advocacy efforts through coalition building, lobbying the legislature, and mobilizing public opinion. Because healthcare policy is political, MSF assists in making advocacy efforts at the right time (Sykes et al., 2023).

• Agenda-setting and Policy Adoption Building

Using MSF, health advocates can position their causes against potential policy windows to ensure that access to healthcare remains an issue in legislation. This ensures maximum potential for policy adoption by aligning advocacy with political opportunity, public opinion, and implementable solutions (Sykes et al., 2023).

Conclusion

Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework is the strongest policy model for promoting the advocacy priority of increasing healthcare access. By combining problem definition, policy formulation, and political strategy, MSF has the greatest potential for producing policy change. The model is a rigorous but flexible process that ensures advocacy is aligned with legislative opportunities and interests of stakeholders. In the future, using MSF will allow more effective interaction with policymakers, greater public support, and ultimately better healthcare access for all demographics.

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