Introduction: Health Policy as a DNP
Student Comment:
During our doctoral education, we were challenged as students to identify key policy makers. What was originally perceived to be a civic lesson quickly turned into a reality check. When the class was presented with the headshots of some obviously recognizable fi gures like the President of the United States and the state governor, overall confi dence quickly decreased as the images of our state senators, local representatives, and other key players, including the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and chair of the Institute of Medicine committee on the Future of Nursing, Donna Shalala, were presented and we did not know who they were. As nurses, especially those with a DNP, it is our obligation not only to be aware but also to be active in health policy. This may include working within an organization at the local, state, or national level. Regardless of our intended roles, our lawmakers are guiding the way we practice. On a state level, legislators are currently making decisions on topics, including a joint protocol with physicians, a multistate nurse licensure compact, nurse staffing ratios, requiring newly licensed RNs to attain a BSN within 10 years of initial licensure as a condition of license renewal, minimal staffi ng, and other legislation impacting nurses and overall healthcare delivered. We would be remiss if we didn’t also acknowledge the historic passing of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (shortened to Affordable Care Act and nicknamed “Obamacare”), which was signed into law in March 2010 and has been challenged in recent years. You can review the Affordable Care Act at www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html (HHS.gov, n.d.).
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Resources
Health and Human Services Resources
National Institutes of Health
Recommended E-Book Readings
Finding Government Information
Use primary sources rather than web sites that collect and process information from others. GovSpot.com, GovTrack.us and LegiScan.com are examples of sites that are very helpful as a tracking tool but are a secondary source of information. Information on these sites is assembled from official, primary data sources, largely from the Thomas Library of Congress web page (http://thomas.loc.gov/) or the new United States Legislative Information web page (http://beta.congress.gov/), either of which should be used to confirm information and as your citation.
- US Government Printing Office, Federal Digital System (FDsys)Online access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. Search for documents and publications. Browse by collection, Congressional committee, date, and Government author.
- Congress.govThe new United States Legislative Information web page
- USA.govThe U.S. government's official web portal
- GovTrackThis site is helpful as a tracking tool but it is a secondary source of information. Information on this site is assembled from official, primary data sources, largely from the Thomas Library of Congress web page (http://thomas.loc.gov/) or the new United States Legislative Information web page (http://beta.congress.gov/) either of which should be used to confirm information and as your citation.
- GovSpotThis site is helpful in finding government information but it is a secondary source. Information on this site is largely assembled from official, primary data sources which should be used to confirm information and as your citation.
- LegiScanThis site is helpful as a tracking tool but it is a secondary source of information. Information on this site is assembled largely from official, primary data sources, which should be used to confirm information and as your citation.
Find your Elected Officials
- Contact Elected OfficialsCall, e-mail, or mail U.S. state and federal elected officials and government agencies.
- Project Vote SmartFind your elected officials
U.S. Government Executive Resources
U.S. Government Legislative Resources
- Library of Congress United States Legislative Information at Congress.govVideos and text that describe the legislative process
- U.S. House Committee on RulesLinks to Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports on how Congress works.
U.S. Government Judicial Branch Resources
Local Government Resources
- Illinois Bills GovTrackThis site is helpful as a tracking tool but it is a secondary source of information. Information on this site is assembled from official, primary data sources, largely from the Illinois General Assembly website which should be used to confirm information and as your citation.
- State of Illinois Legislative Research UnitThe Legislative Research Unit (LRU) provides nonpartisan, objective, documented and timely information. The search function will search within all of the text on any of the LRU pages. The search function will also search within publications and PDF documents that are linked from this site.
- State of Illinois Researching Legislative HistoryThe intent of this article is to describe the documents and actions that comprise legislative history and to give guidance on how and where to find the records relating to those documents and actions.
Government Publications Resources
Illinois Nurse Practice Act
Podcasts and Webinars
- Webinar Using AHRQ's Health Care Innovations Exchange to Take on the Challenges of Care Delivery (flash)To view the multimedia archive, you will only need an updated version of Flash Player.