largest segment of health professionals,

largest segment of health professionals,

1 postsRe: Topic 5 DQ 1
Through championing the nursing profession, nurses give a voice to the essential role that they play in advancing access to high-quality, affordable care. With energetic participation in advocacy, every nurse can help the profession to improve and move to higher levels. The American Nurses Association (ANA) believes that advocacy is a pillar of nursing. Nurses instinctively advocate for their patients, in their workplaces, and in their communities; but legislative and political advocacy is no less important to advancing the profession and patient care. The ANA serves to amplify the voice of nurses by advocating directly with decision-makers on Capitol Hill as policies are conceived, debated and implemented. The ANA provides support for state nurses associations as they advance their own advocacy agendas and help federal agencies and elected officials propose and enforce new laws that will advance the nursing profession. The ANA creates long-lasting relationships with nurses and their representatives, working to establish a health system where care is accessible, of high quality, and recognizes the nursing profession as an integral component. Registered nurses represent the largest segment of health professionals, with more than 4 million nationwide. Nurses not only represent an incredible force by sheer numbers, but policymakers rely upon their expertise as they work to improve our nation’s health system. Through participation in professional organizations, nurses can actively contribute to legislative changes that can affect patient care and the way they conduct their work. Nurses are continually looking for and exploring new ways to provide patients with quality care (GCU, 2018).