2. NURSES IN POLITICS
An article is on “Nurses in politics”
published in TNAI Journal (THE NURSING
JOURNAL OF INDIA) VOL. XCIX No.8
AUGUST 2008.
It is written by Mukesh chandra
sharma M.Sc. (N) 2nd year student
Paediatric Nursing specialty, Laxmi
memorial college of Nursing, Mangalore.
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3. INTRODUCTION
Politics is a process by which one
influences the decision of others & exerts
control over the situation &events.
So the term politics refers to
exercise of influence.
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4. WAY OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN
DIFFERENT AREAS.
WORK PLACE
INVOLVEMENT IN
CAMPAIGN,LETTER
WRITING &
VOTING
GOVERNMENT
PARTICIPATING ON
COMMITTEES
PROFESSIONAL
ORGANISATION
ACTIVITIES ON
LOCAL BOARD
COMMUNITY
AFFECTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF
INSTITUTIONAL
POLICIES
POLITICAL
INFLUENCE
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5. Florence Nightingale was the
consummate political nurse & understood
how to influence the British parliament to
allocate funds to reform British military
hospital & substantially improve the health
& sanitary condition of the troops.
Political activism is powerful form of
professional involvement.
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6. Three levels of political involvement in
which nurses can participate are
Nurse as citizen
Nurse as activist
Nurse as politician.
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7. Nurse as Citizen
A nurse citizen brings the perspective of health care to
the voting booth, to public forum & to involvement in
community activities.
Nurse Citizen politically active by:
Registering to vote
Voting to every action
Keeping informed about health care issues
Speaking out when services or working
conditions are inadequate.
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8. - Participation in public forum.
- Knowing her local state & federal
elected officials.
- Joining politically active
organizations.
- Participating in community
organizations that need
health experts.
-Joining a political party.www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.in
9. Nurse Activist
Nurse activist can make changes by:
Joining politically active nursing
organizations.
Contacting a public official through
letters, telegram, email or phone calls.
Registering people to vote.
Contributing money to a political
campaign.
Working in a campaign.www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.in
10. Lobbying decision makers by providing pertinent
statistical & anecdotal information.
Forming & joining coalition that supports on issues
of concern.
Writing letters to the editor of local papers.
Inviting legislatures to visit the work place.
Holding a media event to publicize an issue.
providing & giving testimony.
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11. Nurse Politician
The nurse politician can :
Run for an elected office.
Seek appointment to regulatory agency.
Be appointed to governing board in public
or private sector.
Use nursing expertise as a front line policy
maker who can enhance health care &
profession.
The most effective way to influence your
future in nursing is to be involved in politics.www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.in
12. Conclusion
Should nurse be involved in politics ? Now
that should not be a question. Yes nurses
should be involved in politics.
To become leaders, nurses need to develop
interpersonal & communication skills by
networking in work place & community &
keeping abreast of state & federal
government issues.
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13. Bibliography/Reference
Manson J. Diane,Leavitt K. Judith(1998).Policy &
politics in nursing & health care.3rd
edn., Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company,pp
9-14.
Chitty Kittrel Kay (1997).Professional nursing –
concept & challenge. 2nd edn., Philadelphia: W.
B. Saunders Company,pp 454-460.
Jardin Karen E.(2001).Political involvement in
nursing – education & empowerment – home
study programme cover story. AORN
Journal, October.
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