For Immediate Release: 01/22/2010

Contact: Tim Tassa 202-777-1174 ttassa@aannet.org

 Gallup: Nursing’s Voice Lacks Volume
Academy Initiatives Seek To Achieve Greater Influence

WASHINGTON – Trust and confidence in nurses remains unequivocally high; however, according to a newly conducted Gallup Survey, opinion leaders believe that during the next five to 10 years nurses will have less influence than other stakeholders in health reform. The American Academy of Nursing (AAN), by mobilizing its cadre of 1,600 esteemed Fellows and advancing health policy and practice, is poised to have its voice resonate.

On behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), findings from the survey, “Nursing Leadership from Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders’ Perceptions,” compared nurses’ influence to government officials, patients, physicians, and insurance and pharmaceutical executives. The survey finds that while nurses possess a wealth of knowledge, they don’t have the authority they should in health care systems.

The public historically rates nurses as achieving the highest standards of professional honesty and ethics. And, according to the recent survey, opinion leaders believe nursing’s voice should be heeded concerning issues of health care policy development and management.

“Nurses work closely with consumers of health care services. They understand and are able to advocate for needed policy reforms influencing payment and delivery design,” said Academy President Catherine Gilliss, DNSc, RN, FAAN. “Our members are among those who develop innovative solutions to meet the gaps in today’s health care delivery system.”

A panel of politicians and experts responded to the survey’s results on Jan. 20 at the National Press Club, defining the results as a “call-to-action.” Based on responses by samples of faculty, insurance companies, corporations, health services and government employees, the new data punctuated the need for enduring nursing initiatives that document nurse-led and inspired solutions. Since 2007, the Academy’s Raise the Voice campaign has positioned nurses as innovators, subject experts and catalysts of change, targeting policymakers, media, and health care providers.

As part of Raise the Voice, AAN has named over 40 Edge Runners – nurses who have developed innovative models of care that achieve positive clinical and financial outcomes. Two Edge Runners – Mary Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Patricia Gerrity, PhD, RN, FAAN – were invited to participate on Wednesday’s panel to discuss the recent findings. Other panelists included Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, Gallup Poll Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport, and RWJF President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey.

“It is a bit troubling to me, and I think it should be a wakeup call to all of us who are very concerned about the future of healthcare in the country is that the largest group of health professionals in the country—nurses— and the people that they serve—patients— are perceived by opinion leaders as having the least influence on work that is needed to deliver care to them,” said Naylor, who developed the reputable Transitional Care Model for frail elderly.

Of the 1,504 respondents, 42 percent believed nurses were an invaluable source for information on health and health care. Only doctors (53.5 percent) received a higher number. Nurses were also deemed critical for the future elimination of medical errors (51.2 percent), the improvement of care quality (49.5 percent) and for more efficient care coordination (40 percent).

But the research listed hurdles nurses face to contribute to policy development and management of health systems and services. Among the barriers were nurses’ lack of decision-making authorization, limited revenue-generating capacity compared to physicians, and perceived lack of focus on preventive procedures. Fifty-five percent of respondents also believe that nurses lack a single voice, and 50 percent stated a lack of leadership opportunities for nurses.

For more information on the Raise the Voice campaign visit: http://www.aannet.org/raisethevoice

To view the survey in its entirety visit: http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=54350

###

The American Academy of Nursing (www.aannet.org) anticipates and tracks national and international trends in health care, while addressing resulting issues of health care knowledge and policy. The Academy’s mission is to serve the public and nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge

Return to Archives