LGBT RESPONSE

Peer 1  
Nurses should see themselves as practitioners with the opportunity and obligation to impact current and future delivery systems of health care to be successful. The practice of nursing is based on human health science and caring psychology. This works from a context that holistically respects all people and aims to encourage and advance the health of people throughout their lives and throughout all levels of society (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health, n.d). 
A large number of the leading nursing associations encourage nurses to take part in the formulating of policies actively. For instance, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing underlines the job of nursing in strategy. It distinguishes, in its “Fundamentals” reports, the standard arrangement inclusion that ought to be tended to in instructive projects at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees of expert nursing. The National League for Nursing and the American Nurses Association additionally anticipate that medical caretakers should address the approach as a component of their expert job. Politically, nurses can play a significant role in influencing policies that influences the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals (LGBT) (Burke, 2016). They include individuals from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, yet society has treated them as lesser beings. Nurses can influence policymaking concerning these groups in the following ways. 
Lobbying political leaders; Through unique knowledge of their constituents ‘ needs, city and county officials have the power to implement policies and programs that protect LGBTQ people, improve community engagement, and open opportunities (Burke, 2016). Nursing leaders can, therefore, lobby political leaders to pass policies that favor LGBT. 
Involvement in campaign groups; Many of these LGBT individuals face discrimination due to current policies in place. Nurses can join in their campaign and together fight for their rights. Sometimes, demonstrations are the only voice that the government hears and responds to. 
Volunteer to engage in conferences or activities related to strategy. Prepare a fact sheet and help prepare a document to educate policymakers. Inform stakeholders regarding events that provide incentives for policymakers to tackle. 
Conclusively, there is a need for changes to be effected on policies relating to LGBT rights to ensure they feel safe in society. As such, nurses should politically intervene with members of LGBT. They have the potential to have a profound global impact on politics. Nevertheless, it is nurses ‘ ethical and professional duty to intervene in policies they deem to be affecting their patients, LGBT notwithstanding. 

Peer 2 
Health policies impact health care and the nursing profession. The involvement of nurses in the development of health policy guarantees the provision of safe, accessible, high-quality and affordable care (Shariff, 2014). Nurses also have a role in patient advocacy. To this effect, they need to routinely consider the health needs of the LGBTQ community to eliminate any disparities in care and to improve the overall health of the general public. 
One political action that nurses can take to strengthen their role in policy-making is to take up internship or fellowship positions with nursing organizations that sponsor policy workshops (Aram, Rafii, Cheraghi, & Ghiyasvandian, 2014). During such workshops, nurses may get the opportunity to learn about contemporary health issues such as the needs of the LGBTQ community. With knowledge, nurses would be better placed to develop policy acumen which is the capacity to analyze policies. With policy acumen, nurses can effectively analyze health care services and direct their organizations to respond appropriately to the health needs of LGBTQ people. The development of policy acumen would thus be critical to nurses’ participation in policy-making. 
Nurses should also recognize the need for power as a driver for achieving goals in policy-making. Power would enable nurses to influence others inherently. Another plausible political action by nurses, therefore, would be to seek avenues and opportunities for the maximization of power (Aram et al., 2014). This may be achieved by the acquisition of adequate knowledge about health care issues. As such, nurses should engage in collaborative work with members of the LGBTQ community to gain knowledge about salient issues regarding the people. Such knowledge would ensure that nurses speak from a point of authority during policy-making deliberations. 
Another aspect of policy influence is advocacy. One of the most important mandates for nurses is to advocate for the rights of their patients. Achieving optimal advocacy would require nurses to take active roles in the political processes of their country. Through such involvement, nurses would be able to execute their advocacy roles more effectively. As patient advocates, nurses should ensure that everything in the healthcare system is centered on the delivery of patient-centered care (Aram et al., 2014). By enhancing their advocacy skills and capacities, nurses may be better placed to push for the perceived gaps in the health care of LGBTQ people. AACN MSN Essentials recognizes the need for a nurse to be able to provide intervention at the system level through policy development and the application of advocacy strategies to impact care (AANC, 2011). This third political action, therefore, would be in line with the requirements of nursing educations. 

Create a relevant response post with a minimum of 150 words that addresses peers’ initial posts regarding the specified discussion topic.  A rule of thumb for all DQ responses is the 3-3 rule; 3 paragraphs minimum, 3 sentences per paragraph minimum. Word document, double space. APA (6ht) 

This the original work if you needed 
Describe three political actions nurses could take to strengthen their role in policymaking as it relates to advocacy for improving LGBTQ health. Correlate your discussion to the AACN MSN Essentials, identify one that most pertains to this topic and elaborate on your selection. 
Attached below is additional information regarding providing adequate care for the LGBTQ community as outlined by Joint Commission and the CDC:  
Joint Commission & LGBTQ Community.pdf  
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health: https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/