Health Policy Nurse

Last Updated On Aug 22, 2024

RegisteredNursing.org Staff

5 Min Read

What is a Health Policy Nurse?

Many would argue that our current healthcare system needs reform to ensure that ever-growing patient care needs are met timely, safely, and efficiently. Nurses have worked to influence healthcare laws and policies ever since the field of nursing began. Therefore, those who are interested in ways to create and facilitate change in healthcare may wish to pursue a rewarding career as a Health Policy Nurse.

Health policy nurses work to review and revise healthcare laws, policies, and regulations. Using their expertise in the field of nursing, they advocate and make recommendations on how to streamline healthcare delivery as well as improve patient safety and patient care outcomes.

How to Become a Health Policy Nurse

Those interested in becoming a health policy nurse often have the following unique characteristics:

Well-organized
Research-focused
Have strong leadership skills
Are structured
Have an interest in the legal aspects of healthcare and law-making

What Are the Schooling Requirements for Health Policy Nurses?

At a minimum, health policy nurses should earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing school and pass the NCLEX examination to become licensed as an RN. BSN-educated nurses have completed courses in leadership and management as well as public health, which sets a foundation for the field of healthcare policy. However, in most cases, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is preferred, as MSN-prepared nurses have studied research, ethics, and health policy in an advanced-degree nursing program. The specialized MSN in Healthcare Policy is a particularly advantageous degree choice for aspiring health policy nurses.

Nurses can also choose to select a minor in pertinent fields such as law, health policy, etc., although it is usually not required. An example of the curriculum for a master's degree in health policy can be found on the University of California, San Francisco's website. Examples of courses include:

Theories of policy processes
Policy leadership
Healthcare economics
Health policy research utilization
Nursing leadership
Global health policy and nursing
Health policy residency

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

Completion of an MSN program with a focus on health policy is typically all that’s required to become a health policy nurse. Public health nursing certifications can also be beneficial as nurses who possess this certification are skilled in identifying healthcare needs among a larger population or community.

Nurses may also choose to earn certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in areas such as Executive Nursing.

What Does a Health Policy Nurse Do?

Health policy nurses focus on identifying and analyzing current healthcare law and policy. They advocate for change if needed and develop methods to implement policy changes. Also, in true nursing fashion, they evaluate the changes after implementation and revise as needed.

Where Do Health Policy Nurses Work?

Health policy nurses can work in a variety of areas. Examples include:

State, local, or federal government agencies
Research firms
Healthcare organizations
Community organizations
Consulting firms
Non-profit organizations

What Are the Roles and Duties of a Health Policy Nurse?

Some of the typical daily duties of a health policy nurse include:

Finding ways to increase access to care
Planning and implementing health policies
Advocating for patients
Identifying how to reduce cost and waste in healthcare
Promoting individual and community health and wellness
Improving efficiency in healthcare
Assisting organizations to adapt to changes in healthcare policy or law
Working to coordinate care within a community or organization

Health Policy Nurse Salary and Employment

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have data specific to health policy nurses in terms of salary and employment. However, there is data for Registered Nurses and Medical and Health Services Managers, which may encompass health policy nursing.

Registered nurse employment is expected to increase by 6% until 2032. The median pay is $86,070 per year.
Medical and Health Services Manager employment is expected to increase by 18% by 2032. The median pay is $110,680 per year.