Nursing, politics and policy: a response to Clifford.
Political decisions and social policy initiatives have an impact on the practice of nursing and on the provision of health care. In this paper, we develop the argument that nurses, therefore, need to have political awareness. Developing a critical approach to politics and policy in nursing includes, first, developing an awareness of the range of structural and ideological factors underpinning the emergence of policies. This, we argue, is an essential backdrop to the analysis of the impact on nursing and health care of specific policy initiatives. To illustrate this approach, we present a brief analysis of health policy under the last government, and consider how this came to impact on nursing. We then go on to outline health policy emerging under the present government, and consider how this reflects a commitment to 'third way' politics. Having considered the possible impact of new health policy on nursing, we suggest, finally, approaches to the teaching of politics and policy in nurse education programmes.
Hannigan
B
B
School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, University of Wales College of Medicine, Caerleon Education Centre, St Cadoc's Hospital, Lodge Road, Caerleon, Newport NP18 3XR, UK. hanniganb@cardiff.ac.uk
Burnard
P
P
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011057:Politics; D011209:Power, Psychological; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom