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Janet Primomo, PhD, Nursing, University of Washington, Tacoma, Campus Box 358421, 1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma, WA 98402, 253 692-4475, jprimomo@u.washington.edu

The purpose of this study was to determine if political astuteness changes after students complete a graduate course in health systems and policy. The Political Astuteness Inventory (PAI) was developed by Philip Clark in 1981 and published in Community Nursing: Health Care for Today and Tomorrow (1984) by Mary Jo Drummer Clark. The inventory was updated and adapted, with permission, for this study. The PAI is an excellent learning tool that raises awareness about political actions. This inventory might also be useful as an outcome measure for health policy courses in nursing curricula.

In order to determine if political astuteness changed following a 10-week course in health policy, students were invited to complete the PAI twice: during the first class and again during the final class. The PAI is a 40-item structured inventory that takes 10 minutes to complete. Sample items include: “I know the names of my representatives in Washington, DC.,” and “I know of at least two issues related to my profession that are currently under discussion at the state or national level.” A total score is calculated by counting the items checked, providing a level of political astuteness. The levels include: totally unaware politically (0 - 9 points); slightly aware of the implications of politics for nursing (10 - 19 points); shows a beginning political astuteness (20 - 29 points); and politically astute and an asset to the profession of nursing (30 - 40 points).

Thirty of the 37 students voluntarily participated in the study and submitted both PAI's. At baseline, 26% were totally unaware, 51% were slightly aware, and the remaining 23% were beginning to be politically astute. Following the course, 7% were totally unaware, 25% were slightly aware, 51% were beginning to be politically astute, and 16% were politically astute and an asset to the profession of nursing. There was a significant increase in political astuteness following the course (M = 21, SD = 7.3) as compared to baseline (M =13, SD = 5.7), t = - 8.1, df = 30, p =.000. Academic preparation in health policy can increase nurses' political astuteness.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

• To identify a measure of political astuteness that can be used to evaluate learning outcomes in health policy courses.
• To describe changes in students’ political astuteness following a graduate course in health systems and policy.

Keywords: Politics, Nursing Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 439.0 kb)