NURSING ADVOCACY Empowering the Next Generation of Nurses to Shape Healthcare Policy
By Rachel Culpepper
As future nurses, you have the power to influence healthcare policy and practice in meaningful ways— even before you graduate. Nurses play a vital role in shaping the healthcare system, especially at the federal level, and your involvement matters. When nurses advocate for critical issues like healthcare access and quality, patient safety is addressed. As nursing students, you bring fresh perspectives and knowledge from your education and clinical experiences. This unique viewpoint is crucial as you prepare to enter a complex and ever-changing healthcare landscape.
I am a registered nurse, practicing in the intensive care unit at a level 1 trauma center. My passion for nursing leadership has led me to serve in progressive leadership roles for more than 10 years in a multitude of roles along my journey.
Graduating from a nursing program and successfully passing the NCLEX ® exam are still among my proudest moments. There is no other profession that cares for people at every milestone in their life, from birth to death. We have the privilege to have an impact on our patients and their families, every single day.
This privilege, however, comes with responsibility and obligations.
As healthcare’ s largest workforce, nurses need to be better represented in local, state, and federal advocacy efforts that shape legislation. In our profession, advocacy is required regularly in our care environments; these same skills can be transferable to Capitol Hill. Nurses and healthcare professionals are underrepresented in Congress, which means the nursing voice is needed now more than ever. Policymakers need to hear from nurses, as those closest to patient care, about the gaps, barriers, and challenges that they encounter.
I serve as a board member for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership( AONL) representing five midwestern states at the national level. In AONL, nurse leaders are at the forefront of tackling issues such as nursing shortages, workforce development, and education. By advocating for increased funding for nursing education and workforce initiatives, we can help ensure that there are enough qualified nurses to meet growing healthcare demands. As students, you can support and benefit from policies that strengthen nursing education and workforce development, ensuring a strong future for the profession.
When nurse leaders— especially those just starting in the field— get involved in advocacy, it raises the profile of nursing and highlights its importance. Your participation can help secure more support for nursing programs, funding for education, and policies that advance our profession. By engaging in advocacy now, you’ re inspiring your peers and future students to become leaders and advocates themselves. It’ s essential that you use your voice to champion the needs of patients and the nursing workforce as healthcare continues to evolve.
My Advocacy Journey – And How You Can Start Yours
My own journey in advocacy began during my doctorate program at the Indiana University School of Nursing in 2018. Unfortunately, I had not been exposed to advocacy and policy until my terminal degree in nursing. I will admit, it was not a class that I was looking forward to, however, it became the class that changed my life and inspired me to continue the work and spread the message to
November / December 2025 25