Professional Development

National poll- Nurses should have more influence

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From reducing medical errors to increasing the quality of care to promoting wellness to improving efficiency and reducing costs, a new survey finds that an overwhelming majority of opinion leaders say nurses should have more influence.

But these opinion leaders—including insurance, corporate, health services, government and industry thought leaders, as well as university faculty—see significant barriers that prevent nurses from fully participating as leaders in health and health care. Those are key findings from a first-of-its-kind survey, “Nursing Leadership from Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders’ Perceptions,” conducted by Gallup on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Gallup interviewed 1,504 opinion leaders across key roles and industries for the survey, which was conducted Aug 18 to Oct 30, 2009.

Gallup historically has found nursing ranked among the most ethical and honest professions by the nation’s adults. This new survey finds that opinion leaders also view nurses as one of the most trusted sources of health information, but see nurses as having less influence on health care reform than government, insurance and pharmaceutical executives, and others. Yet a strong majority of respondents say nurses should have more influence than they do now on health policy, planning and management.

“Nurses are highly trusted sources of health care information, but as we look to reform our health system, our nation is not taking advantage of all that nurses have to offer,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “This survey shows that opinion leaders recognize that we are squandering opportunities to learn from nurses and implement their ideas. We must build on the widespread trust of nurses’ expertise as an essential component in leading and implementing reform.”

Other key findings from the new Gallup survey:

  • Opinion leaders feel that nurses’ primary areas of influence are reducing medical errors (51 percent), improving quality of care (50 percent), and coordinating patient care in the health care system (40 percent).
  • Large majorities of opinion leaders said they would like to see nurses have more influence in a large number of areas, including reducing medical errors and improving patient safety (90 percent); improving quality of care (89 percent); promoting wellness and expanding preventive care (86 percent); improving health care efficiency and reducing costs (84 percent); coordinating care through the health care system (83 percent); helping the health care system adapt to an aging population (83 percent); and increasing access to health care (74 percent).
  • Opinion leaders identified the top barriers to nurses’ increased influence and leadership as not being perceived as important decision-makers (69 percent) or revenue generators (68 percent) compared with physicians; nurses’ focus on primary rather than preventive care (62 percent); and nursing not having a single voice in speaking on national issues (56 percent).

1 Comment.

  • Stop cowering to the lowest common denominator. Let’s work together to educate nurses to be the highly educated, intelligent, caring individuals we already are. If this cannot be accomplished then it may be necessary to “weed” the garden.
    Nurses are at the bedside spending time with pts and families, we know what changes need to be effected to bring about fewer errors and better pt care with higher satisfaction rates.
    Nurses need to be heard and respected by administration and government.

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