others. During this course, I learned about the legislative process at both state and federal levels, visited the Indiana Statehouse, attended a public health conference in Washington, DC, and participated in a federal advocacy day.
Since then, I’ ve attended eight federal advocacy days( both virtually and in person on Capitol Hill), participated in four AONL Advocacy Academies, co-chaired an advocacy committee, and helped launch the Nurse Leaders in Advocacy( NLIA) program with AONL. I frequently get the opportunity to share my story with nurses across the nation with a primary mission to inspire and encourage others to join the cause, because it will take all of us.
Through these experiences, I’ ve seen how consistent and frequent advocacy can influence outcomes for both patients and nurses. For example, the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing( FAAN) Act, which aims to increase nursing faculty and clinical placements and update nursing curricula— directly impacts students like you. Another example, that is near to my heart, is workplace violence. As a nurse for more than 15 years, I have seen and experienced verbal and physical battery. This epidemic is misunderstood by lawmakers. Sharing experiences and insights can help to develop future policies that improve the safety and security of our workforce. Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in a Senate Briefing hosted by Senator Joe Machin. I was on a small panel of healthcare professionals who shared stories and answered questions from nearly 50 senate offices in Washington, DC. Together, we advocated for the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees( SAVE) Act, now titled Save Healthcare Workers Act.
So Now What?
1. Become a registered voter and exercise your right to vote.
2. Identify your current representatives at the local, state, and national levels based on your home address. This information is available through your state ' s official website or at Congress. gov.
3. Follow your representatives on social media and visit their websites. While we may not always share the beliefs of each representative, it is essential to understand their key priorities, initiatives, and areas of passion. Many political officials actively use social media platforms to maintain engagement with their constituents. For constituents, these platforms offer an effective means of staying informed and connected.
4. Recognize your passion. Take the time to reflect on what truly
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