Trusting nurses to have an effect on health care

Last week, Gallup released the survey results: Nursing leadership from the bedside to the boardroom: Insights from thought leaders. The results of this survey, conducted on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), showed that nurses should not have as much influence in health care decisions as we perhaps should. Experts interviewed (insurance, corporate, health care, government and industry thought leaders, and university faculty) said they viewed nurses as trusted professionals, and most said nurses must have more influence on health policy. planning and management.

So what are the barriers? Here’s what they found:
• Compared to doctors, nurses should not seen as essential decision makers and money earners.
• Nurses concentrate on primary care, not preventive care.
• Nurses should not have one voice on national issues.

Similarly, Gallup conducts an annual survey of Americans regarding essentially the most honest and ethical professions. 2009 was the eighth consecutive yr that nurses were recognized as America’s most trusted occupation.

So if each experts and the American public have strong confidence in our trustworthiness and decision-making ability, and if we consider we are able to really make a difference, what are our next steps as a gaggle? How about we’re individuals? How to beat the reported barriers?