The Legislative Process And Healthcare Lobbying

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Legislative Process and Healthcare Lobbying in the United States of America. Before a law is passed and implemented in America under both state and federal level, it has to go often time through a very lengthy legislative process except in the case of an executive order. And, without the skills and expertise of the lobbying strategies, the idea which might intended to become law may not even make it to the level of a bill not to mention the chance of it to become law. It is important for us as nurses, to understand the legislative process and become very familiar with the lobbying process and take early and prompt action to defend our interests and help prevent any negative impact that any idea or bill that may become law may have on the nursing profession.
Although our main mission is to provide great care to our patients, Florence Nightingale has taught us (Burkhardt & Nathaniel 2008, 3rd Ed. P18-19) that if we do not have legislative power many of our ideas can be oppressed therefore prevent the profession from thriving. To be well organized as a profession is very important, since many of the rules and regulation that govern us often come from a legislative process. According to Burckhardt and Nathaniel, we nurses, are nearly 3 million, ( Abood, S. January 2007). In addition to our caring skills we need to enact our lobbying and legislative skills to participate in the process and help protect the legitimacy of the profession. While many lawmakers may have advisers with some medical knowledge. However, many of these lawmakers have no background in the medical field particularly in the nursing field. We must get involved, let them feel our presence, not only through voting, but al...

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...hological preparation. After a nurse is done working their regular shift being forced to work overtime can out them a greater right of medical mistake in part due to fatigue and tiredness consequently putting the patient at high risk of complications.
Many other states have enacted law and regulation to help prevent that practice, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, California just to name a few (ANA 2015)
It is my position and with no doubt many other nursing positions that Ohio lawmakers need to pass laws to stop this mandatory overtime practice for nurses in the state. Failing to do so, Ohio will continue leaving both the nurses and the patients at risk. The cost of any mistakes or medical errors resulted from nurses’ fatigue and tiredness can be unprecedented. We need action now, to protect the patient as well as our staff nurse in the state of Ohio.