Public policy has a major impact on your practice and your patients. Advocacy is an expectation of the advanced practice nurse. Elected officials care about what their constituents have to say. To make a difference, you need to be informed and engaged. Contacting your legislator and discussing issues is an important attribute of nurse leaders. In your interactions with lawmakers you want to be positive and nonpartisan, personal, persistent, patient, focused on your message, and provide accurate information.
Directions
Determine the issue or message you wish to discuss with your legislator(s). Resource: The American Nurses Association Federal Legislative Priorities for 2019.
Identify your legislator and contact information from his or her website and/or search here.
Choose one method of Advocacy: Face-to-Face or Letter/ Email.
Advocacy Option #1:
Face-to-Face: Meet in person with a state or federal legislator or the legislator’s assistant/aide. The student may have to meet with the legislator’s assistant which is acceptable. Making an appointment might be time consuming , so you will need to begin the appointment process early in course. Students in the same legislative district may go together.
Once you have completed the visit, each student will write a summary and thank-you note .
Summary may include: Was legislator/assistant: — knowledgeable about APN role and topic or at least willing to become informed? Was he or she willing to express support or opposition? Was he or she cordial or merely civil, helpful or confrontational, or informative about the political process?
Post the summary and a copy of your thank you note in the D2L assignment link.
