Regulatory initiatives: instruments for leadership.
As this paper has emphasized, regulation of the health professions does not exist in a vacuum. First, regulation of professions and occupations always depends on political circumstances for its inception and operation. Second, regulatory policy issues revolve on questions of value accorded competing issues. In a democracy, values are the province of the public, not of the experts. Nurses can aid the public in sorting out relevant values by taking a leadership role in regulatory initiatives. Third, certain characteristics--expertise, cohesiveness, political salience and leadership--are significant in advancing the policy agenda. The nursing profession must rethink its position on the policy agenda. Fourth, the regulatory pattern of the future outlines an essential role for government--government acting as our agent in accomplishing tasks of social control and social justice. As James Reagan has stated, "Laws inevitably reflect the times in which they were written, expressing social objectives, scientific knowledge and technical capabilities of the era." We can extend that observation to rule making, modes of procedure and legislative patterns. None of these factors is static. Fifth, proposing regulatory initiatives is the cutting edge of practice. In the present social-political-technological environment, only one certainty exists for nursing professionals: The health care field will continue for some time in its present state of flux. Now as never before, nurses have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership, to influence public opinion about health care, and to play an important role in new regulations governing health care and the nursing profession.
Nichols
B
B
Department of Regulation and Licensing, State of Wisconsin.
D006281:Health Occupations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007857:Leadership; D008004:Licensure; D009729:Nursing; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States