Developing political competence: A comparative study across disciplines

Political activism is one way that nurses care for individuals and communit ies, and intervene in the broad range of socioeconomic factors influencing health. Though policy advocacy is a core public health function and a valua ble nursing activity, the process of acquiring requisite skills and attitud es for political involvement is not often explored. What crucial experience s enfranchise nursing students toward future policy involvement? What is th e student journey toward political competence? Do nursing students vary fro m students of other disciplines in this process? In-depth interviews were c onducted with baccalaureate nursing students and political science students who were near graduation. Content analysis of interview transcripts reveal ed several themes. Despite rich examples of activism, nursing students view ed public policy as a barrier, and did not see connections between the pers onal, professional, and political. Nursing seemed grounded in application a nd service, demonstrating by involvement that they could "walk the walk." P olitical science involvement originated in theory, and resulted in more art iculate discourse on the subject: they could "talk the talk." The data sugg est a need for interdisciplinary dialogue, faculty modelling of political c ompetence, opportunities for students to realize personal, professional, an d political connections, and a concern of socialization in the context of g lobal citizenship.