According to the Gallup poll, the public has long viewed nurses as the most honest and trustworthy professionals in the United States. To that end, this intrinsic trust can be leveraged in order to bring about change in a variety of settings and situations.
The change that nurses can bring about occurs on both the macro and micro levels. Depending on the nurse, the approach and the issue at hand will vary greatly based on that nurse’s skill, knowledge, and comfort level as a healthcare professional in a unique position to make a significant difference.
The Micro
On the micro level, there are numerous strategies to employ in terms of shaping the future. Both small- and large-scale change are important in a complex society, and even small things can have an outsized impact.
Case #1: A therapeutic relationship between a nurse and a patient is the most obvious place to begin. Patients look to nurses for guidance through the intricate and confusing medical system, and if a nurse is a skilled communicator, she or he can truly serve a patient enormously. A non-compliant patient is causing damage to both her life and that of her loved ones, and this is where the nurse can step in.
For example, a nurse is managing the care of a 40-year-old woman with multiple comorbidities. As a former IV drug user infected with Hepatitis C, she also has diabetes, hypertension, and depression that responds well to psychotherapy and medication. She has four children between the ages of 4 and 15, works part-time, and receives child support from the children’s father.
In order for the patient to become Hep C negative, she must follow her medication regime and stay in counseling since the meds can cause severe depression and suicidality. And when she maintains control of her hypertension and diabetes, negative sequalae are avoided.
Therefore, this nurse has the chance to guide her patient towards clearing Hep C and living a longer, healthier life; this directly avoids depriving the children of their mother during their formative years. This nurse’s impact in the micro ripples outwards like a stone thrown into a pond, preventing terrible consequences for the next generation.
Case #2: In another scenario, the nurse voluntarily serves as the go-to person on her street for neighbors with medical issues, questions, and concerns. While the nurse isn’t providing treatment, she is using her knowledge to improve the lives of the 18 people living on her small cul-de-sac. Yet again, a nurse’s influence on a relatively small scale can have a much larger impact in the greater community.
The Macro
When we think of change, we may wonder how a nurse might foment larger-scale change; in this vein, we should never underestimate what a nurse may accomplish.
Case #3: As of late 2019, two nurses represent their communities by serving in the U.S. Congress. Both Congresswomen Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) do the work of change at one of the highest possible levels. Their history as nurses demonstrates that nurses can serve in a deliberative body as distinguished as the U.S. House of Representatives and help sway policy shaping the very future of the entire world; it can also encourage other nurses to follow their lead by running for local, state, or national office.
Case #4: Another example of nurses’ macro impact is those who choose to work as change agents within influential nursing organizations; one example would be the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (AHNE).
Viewing the global emergency of climate change as an urgent public health issue, AHNE exerts influence on local, national, and international climate policy. They also advocate for healthier indoor environments where people live and work; toxic chemicals, solvents, and cleaners can damage the health of children and adults, and AHNE strives to educate others in the interest of individual and collective health.
It All Matters
Whether a nurse is talking with a neighbor about her diabetes management or serving in the United States Congress, that nurse is spreading his or her wisdom in crucial ways that truly matter.
Nurses are the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and have the trust of the public in their favor; thus, no one can stop nurses from improving the lives of those both near and far. Nurses are legion, and our presence, intelligence, and ability to influence others is beyond measure.