Beyond the Bedside: Nurses, a Critical Force in the Macroallocation of Resources

In: Selected Rand abstracts: a guide to RAND publications, Band 13, Heft 2

Abstract

Nurses bring a wealth of experience and expertise to resource allocation decision making in many different arenas in and outside of health care. This article, grounded in the utilitarianism theory of justice, will examine macroallocation and microallocation of scarce resources in health care, including participation of nurses in macroallocation and microallocation of these resources, and types of allocation challenges within health care. Macroallocation in specific branches of the United States government and integrating resource allocation content into the educational curriculum are also discussed. The authors make the case that nurses can most effectively meet patient needs by active engagement in decisions that involve macroallocation and microallocation of resources.