Judith K. Leavitt

Stages of nursing's political development: Where we've been and where we ought to go

How has nursing evolved as a body politic? A framework that conceptualizes the political development of the nursing profession in four stages is useful for analyzing previous accomplishments and planning future actions that will enhance the political involvement of nursing as it seeks to improve the health care delivery system.

Leaders in health policy: a critical role for nursing.

Nurses are expert as clinicians, educators, researchers and administrators. Yet too often that expertise is not translated into the policy arena. This article discusses opportunities and examples of ways in which expert nurses can use their knowledge, their perspective, their experiences and their skills as communicators to change public policy at all levels of government. Issues in education, practice and research are examined through a nursing lens to explore the political dimensions of advocating for policies that are right for the public and our profession.