Shaping policy in an antipolicy environment.

As the president of the American Academy of Nursing, I try to limit sharing my personal sentiments about politics and politicians in the pages of Nursing Outlook or Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing Mail. I feel quite comfortable sharing my thoughts on policy, but I do not assume that we all feel the same about our leaders and their style of governing. However, because the academy is primarily a policy focused organization and has integrated the policy process into our mission and vision I feel compelled to share with you that I believe our vision is in peril. I have watched with trepidation as the process for formulating policy has rapidly retreated from what I recognize as policymaking. Take a minute and turn to the back pages of this journal. You will find the American Academy of Nursing on policy statements. These are the signature pages of the academy; a place where we publish the policy briefs, policy statements, and position papers created by our expert panels on issues of high priority for serving the public and nursing profession. We understand that the process of policy development is essential to assuring that the positions we take are related to our priorities as leaders in nursing, that they are definitive statements that direct and influence action, and that they focus on impact. We value positions that inspire advocacy to create or protect those values, practices, and outcomes we hold dear. The academy has an evidence-based process for creating policy statements that have been refined over time. As I watch decision making unfold within our new administration, I sense a distinct departure from our own values related to policymaking. We must find a way to encourage a process that uses the underlying premise that policy is guided by a process that values evidence and a commitment to basic ideals including