Health policy and politics

A comprehensive guide to the full health policy process—from agenda setting to program evaluation—this Sixth Edition offers expanded insights on policymaking, social media influence, economics, finance, and real-world nursing applications. Includes Navigate 2 Advantage Access with interactive eBook and learning resources.

Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide, Sixth Edition is a comprehensive and authoritative resource designed to equip nursing students and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to understand, influence, and lead within today’s complex health policy environment. Each new print copy includes Navigate 2 Advantage Access, providing an interactive eBook, engaging student practice activities and assessments, a robust collection of instructor resources, and powerful learning analytics and reporting tools to support teaching and learning outcomes.

This essential nursing textbook offers a clear and thorough examination of the entire health policy process, from agenda setting and policy formulation to implementation, political advocacy, and policy and program evaluation. Written specifically for nurses, the text bridges the gap between health policy theory and real-world political action, emphasizing the critical role nurses play in shaping healthcare systems, legislation, and public health outcomes.

The Sixth Edition has been fully updated to reflect the evolving healthcare landscape, featuring expanded coverage of key and emerging topics such as:

• Health policy development and decision-making processes

• The influence of social media on health advocacy and political engagement

• The role of economics, finance, and healthcare funding in policy formation

• Political systems, stakeholders, and power structures affecting healthcare

• Equity, ethics, and social determinants of health

Drawing on the authors’ extensive experience in nursing, policy, and political advocacy, the book presents practical case studies, real-life examples, and applied scenarios that help students connect nursing practice with policy analysis and political strategy. These examples empower readers to see themselves as active participants and leaders in healthcare reform at local, national, and global levels.

Ideal for undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, as well as practicing nurses seeking to expand their policy competence, Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide, Sixth Edition is a vital tool for developing policy literacy, advocacy skills, and political awareness. It supports nurses in becoming informed change agents who can influence health policy, improve patient outcomes, and advance the profession through evidence-based political engagement.