Abstract
Abstract
Obesity has become a global public health issue with increasing prevalence rates reaching pandemic proportions. Opportunities exist for nursing involvement in policy issues including but not limited to safe staffing patterns, safe handling of bariatric patients, national standards for food and beverages sold in schools, and insurance policies for obesity. Nurses are well suited to apply their expertise and influence in the policy process.
The policy process is a dynamic, nonlinear process that includes agenda setting, legislation, regulation, implementation, and ongoing evaluation involving formal and informal relationships with special interest groups, individuals, legislators, bureaucrats, and/or political parties. A clear understanding of the entire policy process is imperative to successful participation in the policy arena.
Nurses have a professional obligation to advocate for clients through participation in the policy process. Participation in the policy process influences the direction of policy and legislation, ultimately shaping the type of services and the environment in which clients may access services provided by nurses and other healthcare professionals.
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview and framework for the policy process and to elucidate steps for applying the policy process to bariatric nursing issues. An overview of the obesity pandemic is discussed, and the policy process is differentiated from the legislative process with application to bariatric nursing issues.