Many years ago when I was a newly qualified State Registered Nurse (yes – I am that old) policy was something that I never gave any thought to. It was something that happened in governments, far removed from my job and the patients that I cared for.
Now that I reflect back on that time I wonder why I felt that way. As I now work for the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions policy unit, it is clear that is no longer the way that I feel about policy development, or I would be clearly in the wrong job.
I have asked myself what sparked that 180 degree change in opinion. I think that our understanding, and our opinions, grow and evolve as our competence and proficiency grows and evolves. Patricia Benner’s 'Novice to Expert' was the expounded wisdom when I was doing my training and her views have stood the test of time. As a student nurse I remember the terror I felt the first time I pressed a needle into human flesh instead of the flesh of an orange. As my confidence grew I needed to focus less on the act of giving of an injection, releasing my energies to interact more with the patient and use my skills of observation.
As I passed through the novice to expert pathway the ‘intuitive’ parts of my practice and that which required particular focus and energy gradually changed. My mind started to focus on why we did things in a certain way (remember egg white and oxygen?) and whether there was a better way of doing things.
I developed an interest in research to better inform my practice and ended up doing a PhD in clinical decision making. Eventually my attention turned to policy development as a way in which I could contribute to improving the experience and outcomes of the recipients of nursing care across whole populations.
My plea to you is to not wait as long as I did before realising the power of policy to change care for the better. We all have the ability to influence policy development to achieve maximum benefit for the patients/residents we care for. In doing so we also enhance the profession in which we work.
I can almost hear the ‘bah humbugs’ coming back at me. In response I would say that the only way to change things for the better is to be part of that change process.
I am hoping that I have convinced you to try your hand at influencing policy development, so here is a good one for you to get involved in. A consultation on planned changes to the student funding system for nurse, midwife and allied health professional degree places has been launched by the Department of Health.
Interested organisations and the public are being asked to contribute to the consultation which will look at how the changes can best be implemented. This includes looking at opportunities for students applying for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional training as a second degree to be eligible for a student loan. The consultation is open until 30 June 2016.
This is your opportunity to influence change but that can only happen if you share your views via the consultation. Don’t let this chance pass you by!