Today, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released results of a groundbreaking new opinion leader survey on nurses’ influence on health systems and services. Entitled “Nursing Leadership from Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders’ Perceptions,” the survey was conducted by Gallup on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Gallup interviewed 1,504 opinion leaders across key roles and industries for the survey, which was conducted Aug 18-Oct 30, 2009.
The key findings indicate that an overwhelming majority of opinion leaders say nurses should have more influence. However, the survey finds that opinion leaders also view nurses as one of the most trusted sources of health information, but see nurses as having less influence on health care reform than government, insurance and pharmaceutical executives and others.
Other key findings from the new Gallup survey:
Opinion leaders identified the top barriers to nurses’ increased influence and leadership as not being perceived as important decision makers (69%) or revenue generators (68%) compared with doctors; nurses’ focus on primary rather than preventive care (62%); and nursing not having a single voice in speaking on national issues (56%).
Attached please find a summary of survey results in their entirety.