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Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice
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Legislative Decision Making and Health Policy: A Phenomenological Study of State Legislators and Individual Decision Making

Sarah W. Kerschner, MSN, RN

Vermont Department of Health Working in Maternal and Child Health Planning Activities

Judith A. Cohen, PhD, RN

University of Vermont, Burlington

Phenomenology was used in interviewing 4 state legislators, all members of the House or Senate health and welfare committees. Data analysis revealed three essential elements as forming the essential structure of individual legislative decision making on issues of health policy. The first essential element, understanding the issue, was described via the themes of listening and learning about the issue. The second essential element, shaping a personal stand, was described as critically evaluating the issue to form a personal opinion. The third element, weighing for action, was revealed through themes of evaluating alternatives to choose which strategies to consider and pursue. Influences that affect decision making were grouped into eight categories: prominence, values, constituents, life experience, source of information, respected colleague, time, and political process. Nurses working to influence the development of health policy may be more effective by developing strategies within the described essential structure of decision making.

Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, Vol. 3, No. 2, 118-128 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/152715440200300205
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