The Conceptual Model for Nursing and Health Policy Revisited

A conceptual model of nursing and health policy was proposed by the authors in 2001. Revisions in the model have been made, and the model has been used to guide the evolution of a nursing doctoral program and doctoral dissertation research. The revised model provides a framework for analysis and evaluation of public, organizational, and professional policies influencing the quality, cost, and access to nursing and other health care services, as well as for nursing-discipline specific and health services research at any one of four interacting levels: Level 1--efficacy of nursing practice processes; Level 2--effectiveness of nursing practice processes and effectiveness and efficiency of health care delivery subsystems; Level 3--equity of access to effective and efficient nursing practice processes and efficient nursing practice delivery systems, and equity in distribution of costs and burdens of care delivery; Level 4--justice and the social changes and market interventions addressing equity.