Nursing Issues: Political Action Chapter

Problem solving is a different process than articulating and resolving an issue. Issue resolution involves considering the political, historical, social, and economic factors related to the problem.

A structured approach to understanding an issue, considering its multiple facets (political, historical, social, and economic).

Methods for overcoming obstacles to resolving an issue.

Nurses affect healthcare by their education, quality of care, workforce size (influenced by socioeconomic factors), and the environment they provide care in.

Nursing's role is political—the profession must organize and speak collectively on healthcare issues to effect change.

Quality healthcare depends on standards of education, quality of care given, number of available nurses, and the healthcare environment's conditions.

Nursing practice involves problem-solving and decision-making, making it inherently political due to legislative changes affecting practice scope and ethical codes.

Expressing an issue as a dilemma, conundrum, question, or statement. Includes situating the topic by identifying assumptions and conducting a literature review to clarify the issue.

Identifying and making explicit the assumptions held about a topic; assumptions are ideas considered true without support. Identifying assumptions and studying the topic's historical background through literature.

Once an issue is identified, asking 'what', 'how', and 'why' it's a problem. Clarifying the problem's essence.

Examining nursing and healthcare history, not just recorded history but also silenced, diminished, or erased perspectives, to gain new insights.

Using codes of ethics to analyze issues; relating issues to professional relationships with individuals, families, and other healthcare professionals.

Examining social and cultural factors influencing an issue. Considering prevailing attitudes, values, priorities, and the dominant culture.

Examining power dynamics surrounding an issue. Determining whose voices and knowledge influence possible solutions or barriers.

Challenges societal gender assumptions in health issues, without prioritizing gender over other factors. It questions how gender affects nurses, clients, and the health system.

Examines health issues through the lens of economics, considering resource scarcity, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency.

Obstacles that prevent the effective solving of a health issue (e.g., limited access to resources, irreconcilable differences, power imbalances).

Difficulties in accessing necessary resources or information related to a health issue.

The clarity and knowledge of a health issue, affecting how it can be solved.

Disagreements between involved parties that cannot be resolved.

Disparities in power among parties involved in a health issue, making resolution difficult.

Inability to accept multiple viewpoints when addressing a health issue.

Identifying and clearly stating a specific health-related issue to be addressed.

Thoroughly examining a health-related issue through various perspectives (e.g., economic, feminist) to better understand its complexities.

Creating plans of action to address and resolve identified health-related issues.

Influencing decision-makers to support a specific health issue.