DNP 840 Topic 5 DQ 1: political activism and its limits
Making the case for nurse advocacy is the easy two-thirds. The third clause asks what constrains it, and that is where a thoughtful post separates from an enthusiastic one.
Editorial process
Last reviewed · August 15, 2026
Three questions, and the third is the awkward one
The why and the how are well-trodden. The why rests on standing: nurses see the consequences of policy at the point where they land, they are the largest health profession, and they are consistently the most trusted, which is political capital whether or not it is used. The how runs from the low-cost end — voting, professional association membership, responding to consultations, testifying, writing to legislators — through to serving on a board, advising a campaign or standing for office. Say which rung you are describing, because the obligations differ sharply along it and treating them as one thing is where posts go vague. It is also worth being honest about why the hesitancy in the prompt's premise exists rather than treating it as a failing to be exhorted away. Clinical work is absorbing and shift-based, political processes are slow and often fruitless, and employers rarely reward the time. An argument that acknowledges the cost persuades better than one calling reluctance apathy.
The third clause is the interesting one. Several real constraints apply. Speaking as a nurse borrows the profession's credibility, so the claim being made should be within your competence — a nurse's authority on staffing evidence does not transfer to tax policy, and spending trust outside your expertise depletes it for everyone. Speaking as an employee is constrained: many organisations restrict political activity on their behalf, public employees face further restrictions, and using an employer's name or data without permission is a genuine hazard rather than a technicality. Advocacy also cannot compromise patient care or use the clinical relationship as a channel, since patients cannot easily refuse a conversation with the person treating them. And where your professional association's position differs from your own, say which you are speaking for. Naming two or three of those specifically, with the code or policy behind them, is what answers the clause.
Likely learning objectives
Inferred from the brief — check these against your own rubric.
- 01Justify professional advocacy from the profession's specific standing.
- 02Distinguish the levels of political engagement and their obligations.
- 03Identify the ethical limits on speaking as a nurse.
- 04Recognise employment and public-service constraints on advocacy.
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Course-wide instructions that accompany this question
Important information for writing discussion questions and participation Hi Class, Please read through the following information on writing a Discussion question response and participation posts. Contact me if you have any questions. Important information on Writing a Discussion Question Your response needs to be a minimum of 150 words (not including your list of references) There needs to be at least TWO references with ONE being a peer reviewed professional journal article. Include in-text citations in your response Do not include quotes—instead summarize and paraphrase the information Follow APA-7th edition Points will be deducted if the above is not followed Participation –replies to your classmates or instructor A minimum of 6 responses per week, on at least 3 days of the week. 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DNP 840 Topic 5 DQ 1 What is the reasoning behind the need for doctorally prepared advanced practice nurses to be politically active A minimum of TWO references should be used for your initial post. For your response post, you do not need references as personal experiences would count as response posts. If you however cite anything from the literature for your response post, it is required that you cite your reference. You should include a minimum of THREE references for papers in this course. Please note that references should be no more than 5 years old except recommended as a resource for the class. Furthermore, for each discussion board question, you need ONE initial substantive response and TWO substantive responses to either your classmates or your instructor for a total of THREE responses. There are TWO discussion questions each week, hence, you need a total minimum of SIX discussion posts for each week. I usually post a discussion question each week. You could also respond to these as it would count towards your required SIX discussion posts for the week. I understand this is a lot of information to cover in 5 weeks, however, the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. Even in times like this, we are encouraged by God’s word that we have that ability in us to succeed with His strength. I pray that each and every one of you receives strength for this course and life generally as we navigate through this pandemic that is shaking our world today. Relax and enjoy the course! Name: Discussion Rubric Grid View List View Excellent 90–100 Good 80–89 Fair 70–79 Poor 0–69 Main Posting: Response to the Discussion question is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. 40 (40%) – 44 (44%) Thoroughly responds to the Discussion question(s). Is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. No less than 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three current credible sources. 35 (35%) – 39 (39%) Responds to most of the Discussion question(s). Is somewhat reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 50% of the post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible references. 31 (31%) – 34 (34%) Responds to some of the Discussion question(s). One to two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Cited with fewer than two credible references. 0 (0%) – 30 (30%) Does not respond to the Discussion question(s). Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible references. Main Posting: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Written clearly and concisely. Contains no grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Written concisely. May contain one to two grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Written somewhat concisely. May contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style. Main Posting: Timely and full participation 9 (9%) – 10 (10%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Posts main Discussion by due date. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post main Discussion by due date. First Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. First Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. First Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Second Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Second Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. Second Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Total Points: 100 Name: Discussion Rubric
Turn the brief into deliverables
- 01A reasoned case for advocacy grounded in professional standing.
- 02Specific mechanisms, distinguished by level of commitment.
- 03Two or three named ethical or legal constraints.
- 04The code or policy behind each constraint.
Why, how, and where the line is
Why nurses specifically
Ground the case in the profession's standing and vantage point.
How it is done
Set out mechanisms from low-commitment to high.
Speaking as a nurse
Examine the limits of borrowed professional credibility.
Speaking as an employee
Identify employment, public-service and patient-relationship constraints.
What the professional codes actually say
Recommended databases
- ANA Code of Ethics
- Your professional association's policy positions
- PubMed Central
- Your employer's political activity policy
Search sequence
- 1.Read the code provision on advocacy and its stated limits.
- 2.Check your employer's policy on political activity before writing about it.
- 3.Find how your association distinguishes member from organisational positions.
- 4.Look for evidence on public trust in nursing and what it is based on.
Reference shortlist
These are authoritative starting points, not a ready-made bibliography. A qualified reviewer must confirm that each source fits the assignment and supports the claim beside which it is cited.
Nothing here is cleared for citation until you have read it.
- 01
Policy Advocacy and Nursing Organizations: A Scoping Review
Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice · 2021
A scoping review of nursing organisations' policy advocacy, which supplies both the mechanisms and their institutional constraints.
- 02
Ethics and Human Rights in Nursing
American Nurses Association · 2025
The profession's ethical framework, which is where the obligation to advocate and its limits are both stated.
- 03
Past, Present and Future: A Historical Analysis and Reflection of 100 Years of Nursing Leadership
Journal of Nursing Management · 2025
A historical account of nursing leadership and public engagement, useful for what advocacy has achieved and cost.
- 04
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Nursing Fundamentals, NCBI Bookshelf · 2023
On scope of practice, which is the policy area where nursing's expertise claim is strongest and best evidenced.
Review before submission
Common mistakes
- Making the case for advocacy and skipping the constraints clause.
- Treating all forms of engagement as equivalent.
- Assuming professional credibility transfers to any policy question.
- Ignoring employer and public-employee restrictions.
Submission checklist
- Have you answered all three parts?
- Are the mechanisms distinguished by level?
- Do your constraints come with a source?
- Did you address speaking as an employee?
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