XL4003 Assignment Advancing Workplace and Organizational Policy

XL4003 Performance Task Submission Template for Module 1, Part 1: Professional Nursing Organizations

Choose one to two (1–2) professional organizations relevant to your interests and sign up to stay informed about legislative and political advocacy to advance patient care and the nursing profession.

You may also find nursing organizations relevant to your local state or community that are not listed in the Module 1 Learning Activities. Consider subscribing to or enrolling in a professional organization of your choice.

Respond to the following questions:

• What organization(s) did you choose to sign up with so that you may stay informed about relevant policy issues and why?

I chose two well-known professional nursing organizations, the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National League for Nursing (NLN). Both organizations have important roles to play in the practice, education, and policy of nursing that directly affect patient care and the development of the profession of nursing. ANA is one organization that represents nurses in the United States the most (ANA, 2025). It places a huge emphasis on policy aspects that affect nursing delivery, working conditions for nurses, access to nursing services, and the overall safety of the nursing profession. Advocacy is closely tied to the legislative process, both at the federal and state levels, and applies to all nurses who wish to know more about health care policy and participate in the legislative process. I chose the ANA because of their current work and advocacy in the field of safe staffing ratios, workplace violence, and patient safety laws.

The NLN, however, has a stronger focus on nursing education, nursing workforce, and professional development (National League for Nursing, 2022). Additionally, it emphasizes strengthening academic-practice collaborations, filling faculty gaps, and influencing policies and practices surrounding nursing excellence. I selected the NLN because I have a personal interest in the future of nursing education and the education of a workforce to face the challenges of the 21st century in healthcare. The education for nursing is a priority in policy due to the fact that it is the base of clinical excellence, leadership, and patient-centered care. I have these two ways of looking at nursing policy through these two organisations: practice and education. In addition to the ANA’s policy advocacy, the NLN is dedicated to strengthening and filling the education pipeline with a competent workforce. The following organizations provide examples of the intersecting nature of health care delivery and education and their impact on the future of health care.

• How do national nursing organisations get the voice of the nurse to the political agenda?

National nursing organizations, such as the ANA and NLN, have a key role in contributing to the political voice of nurses. Single nurses may have limited resources, visibility, and influence to directly influence health policy. But when they are gathered in one professional body, their concerns as well as their recommendations are not to be taken lightly. The ANA employs several strategies to ensure that nurses’ voices are heard. These include direct lobbying of the legislators, participation in public policy forums, and policy briefs created to educate about best practices and solutions to health care problems. The ANA also sponsors programs such as Nurses on Boards and ANA-PAC (Political Action Committee) to encourage nurses’ participation in policymaking and to provide monetary assistance to candidates who advocate for changes in healthcare policies. Individual voices are magnified when they are united through professional nursing organizations and influence in shaping legislation and changes in the health care system. Although the NLN is more education-oriented, they still advocate for policy to address faculty shortages, funding for nursing programs, and academic-practice partnerships. It elevates the voice of nurse educators and prepares future nurses as a national priority. The NLN’s efforts to make nursing education a key part of healthcare policy include testifying before Congress, issuing policy statements, and collaborating with federal agencies. The role of national nursing organisations in the political sphere contributes to the credibility of nursing as a profession and a discipline that is crucial to public health (Chiu et al., 2021). These organizations enable nurses to shape laws that impact health and the sustainability of the nursing profession through research, coalition building, and participation in policy discussions.

• Identify an issue that has been discussed in an organization’s policy agenda that is based on research data.

The two organizations use research data prominently to inform their policy agendas. The ANA’s advocacy on the issue of safe staffing ratios is one example. The correlation between the appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio and patient outcomes has been consistently proven, with reduced length of stay, fewer adverse events, and lower hospital mortality resulting from the higher ratios. It also seems that stressed nurses are more likely to suffer from fatigue and mistakes, potentially putting patients at risk. The evidence is key to the ANA’s advocacy for federal and state legislation for safe staffing ratios in healthcare settings. The ANA presents a robust argument for patient care system-level changes, based on solid data.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using research in policy advocacy?

There are several benefits to using research as a basis for policy advocacy. First, it gives credibility to the arguments of policy by basing them on evidence, not opinion. Second, it gives policymakers an idea of the magnitude of the problems based on measurable data and makes ideas for solutions more convincing. In fact, there is strong evidence that correlates staffing ratios with patient outcomes, providing clear and quantifiable justification for nurse staffing legislation. Robust evidence-based advocacy reinforces the authority of professional organizations by supporting their policy positions with research. A further benefit is the fact that research can be used to assess the impacts of a policy over a long period of time. Comparing pre- and post-intervention data can be used to determine the effectiveness of a policy or program for policymakers. This helps to ensure accountability and provides the opportunity for ongoing system improvement.

But there are drawbacks to the research, too. Collecting and analyzing data to inform policy decisions may be lengthy and expensive, and may cause delays in action. In addition, research results can be misinterpreted or used selectively or be politicized to serve a particular agenda. For instance, there have been studies that focus on cost considerations against nurse staffing legislation without considering evidence for the benefits to patient safety. Sometimes, using research can overlook the complicated social and clinical realities, and data does not always reflect the experience of healthcare professionals and patients. Another difficulty is access to the literature; research is frequently published in academic journals, which are not readily accessible to all stakeholders, particularly frontline nurses or smaller organizations. This has the capability of limiting the inclusiveness of policy discussions and leaving loopholes in representation. Yet, research is an essential component of policy advocacy, as it provides objective facts to inform decision-making, and it faces several obstacles.