According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), health care policy creates a framework designed to facilitate the delivery of healthcare services and enable providers to engage in practices that addresses the healthcare needs of the public. Regardless of whether healthcare policy is created through governmental actions, institution decision making, or organizational standards, nurses engaging in policy development contribute to creating a healthcare system that meets the needs of its constituents. DNP-educated nurses in health policy are also leading the discussion around increased autonomy for advanced practice registered nurses and removing legal barriers that prevent them from practicing to the full extent of their training and education. While master’s-level APRN programs prepare students to function as effective clinical practitioners, most do not provide them with the skills and knowledge required to develop health policy or influence the political process.
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Instead, it is the DNP that has become the primary source of education for nurses as it relates to healthcare policy. For example, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) identifies the following competencies for DNP graduates:
  • Analyze legal, ethical, and social factors in policy development
  • Evaluate the globalization on the development of healthcare policy
  • Influence health policy
Program content in a DNP program focuses on the significance of healthcare policy on all levels—state, national, and international—and how it influences healthcare systems. Often times, students of DNP programs further study health policy by incorporating the topic into their scholarly project. Field experiences in DNP programs may include visiting elected officials, spending time with an administrator, communicating with a national leader, or contacting a community-based action group. Doing so allows students to work alongside mentors who are knowledgeable about health policy. Many students also seek out faculty or healthcare leaders who are actively involved in advanced practice nursing issues. Many times, APRNs interested in influencing legislation and serving as health policy experts complete a policy fellowship after completing their DNP. Policy fellowships provide DNP nurses with the opportunity to brief legislators on healthcare issues, develop proposals, and attend staff hearings and conferences. DNP programs provide students with valuable exposure to the political process and opportunities to apply their newly gained knowledge as it relates to health policy.