n Discuss at least three competencies/strategies that you have used effectively. Identify three competencies/strategies that you don’t currently use and discuss how you might incorporate them into your advocacy

Nurses have the privilege to influence parts of the legislation process and there happen to be several. Nurses can alter the initiation of a bill by proposing that the Congress members promote the suggested bill. Next, during the hearing stage, nurses are encouraged to put together a drafted version of confirmation to voice their thoughts to present a history on the matter at hand, and to determine how the bill will impact their role when it comes to influencing the legislative process. Nurses may also recommend modifications be made to the statute at the markup stage of the law-making process.

There are a few effective ways in which nurses can change the legislative process and how it ensues. The first is my preferred method and it is through advocacy in the community. I prefer advocacy because it is comprised of clarifications of other’s points of view and resolving important controversies by the nursing society thus the nurse’s guidance should speak for the well-being of a community and not an individual’s. Nurses may also act as advocates, where they are essentially a point of contact among the congressmen and nurses; therefore, they can guide health policies. One more way nurses can influence the process is by way of the direct legislative arena, this is where nurses are present for the health regulatory process (Wilmot, 2009).

Social determinants of health refer to a person’s way of life in their environment, such as where they are born, living, being educated, attending church, and having fun and how it affects health (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2005). These social determinants consist of what is accepted socially, mental outlooks, safety in the community, community resources and their availability, ease of obtaining health care assistance, culture, and knowledge. The main aforementioned determinants that alter the nurses’ duty in shaping the legislative process are what is accepted socially and one’s mental outlook.