Policies impacting patient care implemented at the national level and those developed by the
organization, ultimately impacts nursing practice at every level .This is done by improving
certain policy mandate to be integrated into patient care in an effort to achieve an expected level
of quality.
Daniels,(2004).
Smith (1997) as cited in Mason, Leavitt, Chaffit (2007) argued that it is possible to embrace a
assumes such partnership can discover previously unknown resources and develop new ones
to meet the needs of individuals, families and communities. Such framework , according to
Mason,et al (2007)embraces the need for global perspectives of policy making. Although most
citizens action occurs on a local level, the decisions made there increasingly have a global
impact. Promoting the health of local communities requires a focus on what is good for the world
community and vice versa. Nurses can advocate for the values needed to integrate global
( Mason, et al )2007
Political actions and policy making are usually associated with government but there are
government touch nearly every part of our lives from law requiring records documenting birth to
mandatory childhood immunization to laws determining what health services people are eligible
for in old age and how assets are distributed on person’s death. According to Mason et al
(2007),government policies determines whether children receive services that contribute to
According to Daniels(2004) health care policies at the organizational level defines nursing
practice and are derived` from government policies. Tools to integrate the policy mandates and
“best practice” into nursing care include standards of care, procedures, guidelines and
algorithms.If care is taken to ensure that each documentation is clear and concise and reflects
the care delivered within the organization,the documentation can provide a framework for health
care excellence and reduce liability.Government and its policies plays an enormously important
role in nursing and health care (Mason, Leavitt, Chaffit ,2007).It provides society with a legal
definition of what is nursing and defines what a nurse may do.It influences reimbursement
systems for health care and nursing services and to a great extent it determines who receives
what type of health services.As the sphere of government and its policy on nursing is
extensive,the government’s action are in turn shaped by the public and organizations,including
nursing.
The institute of medicine(IOM),(1988) as cited in Mason et al(2007) argued that although not all
efforts to improve and promote the health of the public must be made by the government, it
does have the responsibility for providing guidance in the policy making process.
Looking at the effect of policy agreement on policy framework for nursing practice in the
English-speaking Caribbean; opens the eyes to the importance of nurses and nursing.
Earlier this year, a recommendation was made in regards to policy that affects nursing
practice; this suggestion was made in light of nursing shortage in the English-speaking
Caribbean. It was recorded in the World Bank report that the shortage of nurses in the
nurses limits access to quality care and reduces the competitiveness of the region.
References
Daniels,R.,2004 ,Nursing fundamentals: caring and clinical decision making, New York, USA
Elsevier.