Using Nursing Research to Shape Health Policy

Book excerpt: Examining the crucial interrelationship between nursing research and health policy, this book presents examples of specific health care policy that has been influenced, implemented, or changed as a result of nursing research. It builds on the discussion of this relationship as described in the editors' earlier book, Shaping Health Policy through Nursing Research, named a Doody's Core Title in 2013 and an AJN Book of the Year in 2011. This current edition updates earlier information with new nursing research by esteemed scholars. It encompasses research related to major policy statements of the decade, including the IOM Future of Nursing report, the Affordable Care Act, and the Blueprint for Genomics in Nursing, and highlights how they have influenced, and will continue to influence, health policy. Written for multiple audiences including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and nursing professionals, the book presents information on how science shapes health policy in general, models and strategies for linking research and health policy, and multiple examples of how major nursing research has influenced health policy. The text provides both a conceptual orientation and an operational approach to strategies linking research to policy and influencing policy makers at the organizational, community, state, national, and international levels. Key Features: Offers examples of cutting edge nursing research that provides a foundation for practice and policy Incorporates major policy directives of this decade and highlights how nursing research has influenced health policy Demonstrates to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and nursing professionals how nursing research can shape health policy decisions Includes perspectives, models and strategies for using nursing research to influence health policy Addresses how nursing research shapes policy at organizational, community, state, national, and international levels