Healthcare PolicyWrite a letter to a legislator- senator or representative- state level. What issue is important to you- issue on a state level- SpanishPart 1Health care policies are developed in 2 places:o Legislationo Regulatory Rules- ex. BON- every agency has to go through a process to make a rule and post it for public to give input.To be effective in politics you need to know powero Reward power- for example work for a political campaign because you like who is runningo Coercive Power- don’t use- never forgotten. Ex. Threatening to get what they wanto Legitimate power- held by people with legitimate office- elective or dean of schoolo Expert power- expert in areao Derived or Transferred Power- if a smaller group works with a bigger and more powerful groupo Coalition Power- work together to work on something and get power by their numbero Present Power- need to be there 3 are used more frequently by nursing: expert- coalition and present power.Why important to be involved in politics:Texas Legislation decides how, when and where and on whom we practice nursingNurses are Expert for health care- nurses because of our numbers we take care of more people. We can be patient’s voicesKnow your legislatorsWhat specifically can you do to help legislation through the Texas legislationo Grassroots- people that elect different officers or legislators. o All politics is grassrootso Contact legislators email, office, phoneo Coalitions- main used in nursing in TX is the “nursing legislative agenda coalition”- which is a group of 20-30 nursing organizations in Texas come together to write nursing agenda and work with legislator on that agenda. o PACs- political action committee- donations to make relationship and maybe get voteso Nurse Day at the Capitol- one day when nurses get to speak about issues in Austin. 1st or 2nd week of March. We meet in groups to speak about issues then meet with legislator.Nursing Shortage:o Enhance practice environmento Expand supply2003- Legislation passed to protect title “NURSE” to only LVN and RNNursing Staffing RulesRules Created 2002 Retained Each hospital sets staffing levels for each unitEach hospital has staffing committee- to check staff experience, acuity of pt, is therea pct/tech? Environment -layout of unitCNO must be an RN and have a masters or plan of progression towards itCNO is to report directly to CEO of hospitalCNO is to participate in leadership in performance improvement activitiesOrientation- nurse not to be put in dangerous situation or where they are not trainedStaffing Rule/Whistleblower- hospital cannot terminate or discipline an employee if reports violation in good