This article seeks to fill a gap in the existing nursing literature by answering the question, “Where does health policy come from?” Nursing leaders agree that nurses should be involved in developing health policy, yet most nurses are not engaged. Many factors contribute to nurses' low rates of involvement, but the primary drivers is that nurses believe they lack the knowledge and skills to influence policy formulation. This article proposes a framework of the sources of health policy. We classify health policy sources as public, organizational, or professional, and provide examples. Nurses with a deeper understanding of the varied sources of health policy can enhance their political competence and more readily act in the policy domain.
Aarp. (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.aarp.org/health/
2.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ( 2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.ahrq.gov/
3.
Akers, T.A., Blake, B.J., & Hanson, R.A. (2008). Infections diseases from a global perspective . In C. Holtz (Ed.), Global health care: Issues and policies (pp. 181-198). Boston: Jones & Bartlett.
4.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. ( 1996). The essentials of master's education for advanced practice nursing. Washington, DC: Author .
5.
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2008 ). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.nursecredentialing.org/
6.
American Lung Association (2007, September). Search LungUSA. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=34706&ct=66704
7.
Bodenheimer, T.S., & Grumbach, K. (2005). Understanding health policy: A clinical approach (4th ed.). New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill.
8.
Brody, C. (2007). Policy spotlight: Regulating industrial chemicals to protect the environment and human health. In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed., pp. 947-954). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
9.
Cobey, L.B., & Cobey, J.C. (2007). Vignette: International emergencies: Health care and human rights. In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed., pp. 1022-1027). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
10.
Diers, D. (2002). Research as a political and policy tool. In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (4th ed., pp. 141-156). St. Louis, MO: Saunders.
11.
Ellenbecker, C.H., Fawcett, J., & Glazer, G. (2005). A nursing PhD specialty in health policy: University of Massachusetts Boston. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice , 6, 229-235.
12.
Fawcett, J., & Russell, G. (2001). A conceptual model of nursing and health policy . Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 2, 108-116.
13.
Foege, W.H. (2005). Global health leadership and management. San Francisco: Wiley.
14.
Gebbie, K.M., Wakefield, M., & Kerfoot, K. (2000). Nursing and health policy. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 32, 307-315.
15.
The Geneva Conventions.The core of international humanitarian law. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/genevaconventions
16.
Gerston, L.N. (2004). Public policy making: Process and principles (2nd ed.). Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe.
17.
Harrington, C., & Estes, C.L. (2008). Health policy: Crisis and reform in the U.S. health care delivery system (5th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
18.
Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP). (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.hfap.org/
19.
Hofler, L.D. (2006). Learning from the best: The benefits of a structured health policy fellowship in developing nursing health policy leaders. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 7, 110-113.
20.
The International Council of Nurses. (2007 , May). Nurses: Love the job, but not the work environment. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.icn.ch/PR15_07.htm
21.
The International Council of Nurses. (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.icn.ch/
22.
Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (2008 ). Results. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.ihi.org/ihi/results
23.
The Joint Commission. (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.jointcommission.org/
24.
Keepnews, D. M. (2005a). Policy perspectives of major nursing organizations. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 6, 109-126.
25.
Keepnews, D. M. (2005b). Policy perspectives of major nursing organizations: Part II. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 6, 246-263.
26.
Keepnews, D. M. (2005c). Health policy: A nursing specialty? Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 6, 275-276.
27.
Kettell, B. (2008). Luminary story. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.theluminaryproject.org/story.php?detail=11
28.
Krauss, J.B., & O'Sullivan, C.K. (2007). Policy spotlight: Mental health parity: Will it ever happen? In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed., pp. 311-322). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
29.
The Leapfrog Group. (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.leapfroggroup.org/
30.
Leavitt, J.K., Cohen, S.S., & Mason, D.J. (2002). Policy analysis and strategies. In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt , & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (4th ed., pp. 71-86). St. Louis, MO: Saunders.
31.
Longest, B.B., Jr. (2006). Health policymaking in the United States (4th ed.). Chicago: Health Administration Press.
32.
The Luminary Project. (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.theluminaryproject.org/
Maraldo, P.J. (2007). Policy spotlight: The politics of the pharmaceutical industry. In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed., pp. 354-362). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
35.
Mason, D. J., Leavitt, J. K., & Chaffee, M. W. (Eds.). (2002). Policy & politics in nursing and health care (4th ed.). St Louis, MO : Saunders.
36.
Mason, D.J., Leavitt, J.K., & Chaffee, M.W. (2007a). Policy and politics: A framework for action. In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed., pp. 1-20). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
37.
Mason, D. J., Leavitt, J. K., & Chaffee, M. W. (Eds.). (2007b). Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
38.
McTeer, M. (2005). Leadership and public policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 6, 17-19.
39.
Milstead, J.A. (1999). Health policy and politics: A nurse's guide. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen.
40.
MoveOn. (2004). MoveOn's 50 ways to love your country. San Francisco: Inner Ocean.
41.
National Committee for Quality Assurance. (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.ncqa.org/
42.
National Institutes of Health. (2008). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.nih.gov/
43.
Ohio 127th General Assembly, Regular Session 2007-2008. H. B. No. 346. Retrieved February 10, 2008, from http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText127/127_HB_346_I_Y.html
44.
Ohio Nurses Association. (2008). Health policy report: New faces, new beginnings. Staffing bill update-HB 346 . Ohio Nurses Review, 83, 9.
45.
Oulton, J.A. (2007). Nursing in the international community: A broader view of nursing issues. In D. J. Mason , J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed., pp. 966-981). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
46.
Partners in Health. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://www.pih.org/home.html
47.
Primomo, J. (2007). Changes in political astuteness after a health systems and policy course. Nurse Educator, 32, 260-264.
48.
Rodgers, B.L. (1989). Exploring health policy as a concept. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 11, 694-702.
49.
Russell, G.E., & Fawcett, J. (2005). The conceptual model for nursing and health policy revised. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 6, 319-326.
50.
Scott, C., & West, E. (2001). Nursing in the public sphere: Health policy research in a changing world. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 33, 387-395.
51.
Shi, L., & Singh, D.A. (2008). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
52.
Spenceley, S.M., Reutter, L., & Allen, M.N. (2006). The road less traveled: Nursing advocacy at the policy level. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 7, 180-194.
53.
Taft, S.H., Pierce, C.A., & Gallo, C.L. (2005). From hospital to home and back again: A study in hospital admissions and deaths for home care patients. Home Health Care Management & Practice, 17, 467-480.
The United Nations. Retrieved January 21, 2008, from http://www.un.org/english/
56.
Warner, J.R. (2003). A phenomenological approach to political competence: Stories of nurse activists. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 4, 135-143.
57.
Wong, S.T. (1999). Reimbursement to advanced practice nurses (APNs) through Medicare. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31, 167-173.
58.
World Bank. (2008). Data & research. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/0,,menuPK:476823~pagePK:64165236~piPK:64165141~theSitePK:469372,00.html
59.
World Health Organization. (2007). International travel and health. Retrieved January 15, 2008, from http://www.who.int/ith/en/index.html
60.
World Health Organization. (2008a). Infectious disease. Retrieved January 18, 2008, from http://www.who.int/topics/infectious_diseases/en/
61.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2008b). Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.who.int/en/
62.
World Trade Organization.What is the WTO . Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/whatis_e.htm
63.
Zabalegui, A., Macia, L., Marquez, J., Ricoma, R., Nuin, C., Mariscal, I., et al. (2006). Changes in nursing education in theEuropean Union. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 38, 114-118.
