How the nurses can become involved to influence health policy related to Diabetes The ability of nurses to influence the policy espoused in healthcare is fundamental for the protection of care quality through access to necessary opportunities and recourses (Arabi et al., 2014). The ability of a nurse to influence health policy relating to diabetes is a new concept although there has not been enough research on policy influence by nurses. According to Arabi et al. (2014) there is no conceptual comprehension of what policy influence by nurses entails. Through research Arabi et al. (2014) attempts to clarify the policy influence by nurses concept and proposes a definition for the concept. From the research Arabi et al. (2014) finds that nurses’ policy influence is the nurses’ ability to influence affairs and decisions on matter health through effective communication, collaboration with other health team members, and knowledge. On matters related to diabetes nurses can help improve patient outcome and the job environment by proposing policies that enhance collaboration, communication and collaboration with players on matters related to diabetes.

Nurses’ policy influence is a process that is quite dynamic. It is located on the scale and can be achieved through competency, knowledge, ability to accept change,...

A nurse possesses individual views concerning diabetes healthcare and this views can be useful in influencing policies in various ways. If policy influence by nurses on healthcare is recognized then nurses will embrace policy making hence their ability to influence patient outcome and healthcare process. In essence Arabi et al. (2014) proposes that individual views by nurses should be considered as fundamental ideas and concepts that can be applied during the making of health policy.
PHE. (2016) finds that nurses have the ability to influence the health of communities, individuals, and entire population. It can be demonstrated that nurses have a direct impact on public health through theory, implementation, education, practice, evaluation and evidence (PHE, 2016). The regular and frequent contact between nurses and diabetes patients can be used as a fundamental tool to influence health policy. Nurses can utilize their expertise, skills and knowledge acquired through direct contact with diabetes patients to shape health policies. Suggestions from nurses may include the simplistic policies such as physical activity or complex policies such as encouraging early diabetes diagnosis among obese, aged, and inactive people.

References

Arabi, A., Rafii, F.,…