Description
Constituency Policy 1: Have a Little
Overview
The first constituency policy faces an ongoing conflict between the status quo and progress. They want more power and control, more benefits, more money, and to have more respect as professionals. However, the strong desire to advance is counterbalanced by the fear of jeopardizing their current jobs and/or their professional standing. Their motivation to be something more, do something new, or believe in something bigger is held back and pulled in another direction by their fear of change or the demands of their personal life. The result of this internal tug-of-war is an attitude of inertia and ambivalence that has traditionally prevented nurses from organizing politically and effectively using their numerical power (Catalano, 2019).
Instructions
Using the scenario provided in the Table of Contents, create a 1-page plan of action to address the issue as a nurse with the “Have a Little” political mindset.
The plan of action should reflect the concerns of this constituency. Include the following:
State two specific concerns or hesitations that would prevent the constituent from becoming more active.
Your plan of action for the constituent should state suggestions or solutions for the concerns from the scenario.
Provide two examples of how this constituency can impact the policymaking process.
Constituency Policy 2: Want More?
Overview
The “have a little” policy has a reputation for being ambivalent, yet some of the most notable revolutionaries in history have come from this policy, including Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Loretta Ford, who founded the nurse practitioner movement (Catalano, 2019). These individuals came from the working middle class. They believed that it could be made better, and they “wanted more.” If you can overcome the fear of change, and risk the status quo, you too can make great strides in the profession. The “want more” constituents use their actions as examples of what individuals can accomplish.
Instructions
Using the scenario provided in the Table of Contents, create a 1-page plan of action to address the issue as a nurse with the “Want More?” political mindset. The plan of action should reflect the concerns of this constituency. Include the following:
The constituent should state two specific areas they want to impact and why.
Your response as a politically active nurse should reflect suggestions or solutions to the constituents.
Identify one additional example of an individual that falls within this constituency. How have they impacted healthcare
Constituency Policy 3: Sit Back and Watch
Overview
The third policy is the “sit back and watch” people, or “do-nothings.” These individuals can be heard making comments such as, “I agree with what you’re saying. I just don’t agree with your means,” “I’m not going to get involved in this,” or “I’m too busy to belong to the organization” (Catalano, 2019). The do-nothings tend to be observers, and if the other constituent efforts are successful, they will join because they feel they have supported the effort from an ideological standpoint. However, they avoid any active involvement in politics. The 18th-century British politician Edmund Burke recognized the danger of the do-nothings. He said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing” (Catalano, 2019).
Instructions
Create a 1-page plan of action to help a nurse who has the “sit back and watch” political mindset become more politically active regarding the issue introduced in the Table of Contents scenario. The plan of action should reflect the concerns of this constituency. Include the following:
The constituent should state two specific concerns or hesitations that prevent them from becoming more active.
Your response as a politically active nurse should reflect suggestions or solutions to their concerns.
Provide two examples of how their constituency can negatively or positively impact the policymaking process.
