Enhancing nurses' involvement in policy making: A qualitative study of nurse leaders

Abstract

Background: Nurses can play a valuable role in not only the implementation but development of general and health policies. However, evidence indicates limited involvement of nurses in politics and general health policy making owing to individual, interpersonal, and systematic barriers.

Introduction: Strategies are required to increase nurses' participation and engagement in policymaking. However, no studies explored the perspective of nurse leaders in policy making roles and how to improve nurses' involvement in policy making.

Purpose: To explore strategies to enhance nurses' involvement in policy making from the perspective of nurse leaders.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 11 nurse leaders with at least one year of experience in policy making. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The COREQ guidelines were followed for reporting.

Findings: Five themes were generated: strategically revisit and implement educational approaches, becoming transformative leaders, improving social image of nurses, developing triadic partnerships, and empowering nurses through reflective and supportive mechanisms.

Discussion: Nurses' involvement in policymaking can be enhanced by implementing grassroots-level educational strategies, managerial-level empowerment efforts, and social mechanisms focused on improving the social image of nursing.

Conclusions: Self and professional role empowerment through education, increasing awareness, and improving the social image of nursing can boost nurses' involvement in policymaking.

Implications for nursing policy: Nurse leaders, national and global nursing associations, and nursing regulatory bodies should collaborate with associations of nursing colleges to design nurse policymaking competencies framework and contextually tailored strategies to enhance nurses' engagement in policymaking.

Keywords: Health policy; leadership; nursing; policy making; qualitative.