Abstract
U.S. registered nurses (RNs) are 2.6 million strong yet there is limited data about their political participation (US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009). Using the Civic Voluntarism Model (Verba, Schlozman, & Brady, 1995), this descriptive, predictive study measured political involvement of RNs, and factors affecting their participation including resources, psychological engagement, and recruitment networks. A sample of 468 RNs from the Midwest completed a 79 item on-line survey (Cronbach's ?= .95). Psychological engagement was most predictive of political participation with the dimensions of political interest, political efficacy, and political information/knowledge highly significant. While respondents reported it was important for nurses to know about political issues (86%), only 40% felt they could impact local decisions and fewer felt they could impact state or national government decisions (32%). Nursing education did not strengthen engagement as most respondents (80%) indicated nursing courses lacked political content with little preparation for political participation. Similarly the regression model showed resources contributed to political participation with time/money most significant. There was no appreciable difference found, however, among those with caregiving responsibilities or student status. Nurses engaged in primarily "low cost" activities (i.e., voting, discussing politics, and contacting elected officials). Nurse educators and professional organizations must cultivate political interest, efficacy and knowledge among students and nurses. Continuing education workshops to strengthen political interest, efficacy, and civic knowledge/skills are a priority while emphasizing activities with greatest impact for the least cost (i.e., communicating with legislators, use of social media, tracking healthcare legislation, and volunteer opportunities). The focus of education should be connecting personal actions with the potential to impact legislation resulting in enhanced personal efficacy, civic knowledge, and skills. Ultimately, nurses' input is needed to ensure that health policy is designed and implemented with expert knowledge of patient care.
Sigma Membership
Unknown
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Civic Voluntarism Model, Political Participation, Health Policy
Recommended Citation
Vandenhouten, Christine; Malakar, Crystalmichelle; Gallagher-Lepak, Susan; Kubsch, Sylvia; and Block, Derryl, "Political participation of registered nurses and factors influencing participation" (2012). Convention. 176.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2011/presentations_2011/176
Conference Name
41st Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Conference Year
2011
Rights Holder
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Political participation of registered nurses and factors influencing participation
Grapevine, Texas, USA
U.S. registered nurses (RNs) are 2.6 million strong yet there is limited data about their political participation (US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009). Using the Civic Voluntarism Model (Verba, Schlozman, & Brady, 1995), this descriptive, predictive study measured political involvement of RNs, and factors affecting their participation including resources, psychological engagement, and recruitment networks. A sample of 468 RNs from the Midwest completed a 79 item on-line survey (Cronbach's ?= .95). Psychological engagement was most predictive of political participation with the dimensions of political interest, political efficacy, and political information/knowledge highly significant. While respondents reported it was important for nurses to know about political issues (86%), only 40% felt they could impact local decisions and fewer felt they could impact state or national government decisions (32%). Nursing education did not strengthen engagement as most respondents (80%) indicated nursing courses lacked political content with little preparation for political participation. Similarly the regression model showed resources contributed to political participation with time/money most significant. There was no appreciable difference found, however, among those with caregiving responsibilities or student status. Nurses engaged in primarily "low cost" activities (i.e., voting, discussing politics, and contacting elected officials). Nurse educators and professional organizations must cultivate political interest, efficacy and knowledge among students and nurses. Continuing education workshops to strengthen political interest, efficacy, and civic knowledge/skills are a priority while emphasizing activities with greatest impact for the least cost (i.e., communicating with legislators, use of social media, tracking healthcare legislation, and volunteer opportunities). The focus of education should be connecting personal actions with the potential to impact legislation resulting in enhanced personal efficacy, civic knowledge, and skills. Ultimately, nurses' input is needed to ensure that health policy is designed and implemented with expert knowledge of patient care.
Description
41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.