Health Policy and Advocacy

​ Committee

(Formerly named the Legislation Education Committee)

"Supporting. Leading. Engaging."

Nikule Abel
Director
University of Nevada Las Vegas
​Las Vegas, NV
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Seasonal Memos​

What is the Role of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee?

The committee is responsible for engaging members in the implementation of resolutions related to health policy and advocacy. NSNA is not a lobbying organization: NSNA informs and teaches members about health policy and advocacy. 

Nikule Abel, Director and Chair,
​Health Policy and Advocacy Committee Summer Memo

NSNA’s Summer Leadership U Conference takes place virtually on Thursday & Friday July 30-31, 2020. I will be presenting, so please don’t miss it! Click here for more info.   
 
Hello everyone! 
 
 I hope you are all having a fantastic summer! It is truly an honor to be serving this year as Chair of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. Recently the NSNA Board completed our orientation and board meeting. During the orientation period, the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee had the opportunity to discuss our goals for the year.  
  
Our theme for this year is “Supporting. Leading. Engaging.” We felt strongly about this because this is the true strength of the nursing community. According to the American Nurses Association, there are 4 million nurses in the United States. When this is in collaboration with the vast number of nursing students across our nation, we can ensure our profession is well-heard in all legislative matters.  
  
As you all know, the Presidential Elections will take place this November. We will be continuing the work my predecessor started with the Get Out the Vote Campaign by encouraging all nursing students to get registered to vote and to exercise that right. State and school chapters will have the ability to get involved with our campaign. We will be kicking off in September and gearing up to the November presidential election. State and school chapters will have the ability to be recognized for their efforts and work on NSNA’s official social media pages. Additionally, they will have the ability to apply for an NSNA Award presented at the NSNA’s Annual Convention in Houston!  

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Get Out the Vote
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It is our duty and right as United States citizens to vote, and it is our obligation as future professionals to monitor health and public assistance programs, funding for nursing education, and equal rights for all citizens of the United States. An excellent way to begin cultivating political awareness is by participating in the electoral process. The nursing profession has developed political savvy, and legislators listen to us. Legislators will pay closer attention to us when we can demonstrate that nurses and nursing students are showing up at the polls.
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Voter registration opportunities expanded significantly with thepassage of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. This act also referred to as the "Motor Voter," allows people to register to vote when they apply for or renew a driver's license. Also, the Act requires states to offer voter registration to citizens at state‐funded service agencies (i.e., food stamp and Medicaid offices), unemployment compensation offices, public schools and public libraries. All states must also accept and use the mail‐in voter registration forms. Go to https://www.justice.gov/crt/about-national-voter-registration-act for more information on the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.​ Read More...

Congress.gov
​Understanding policy overall is critical to understanding the nuances of healthcare policy.  Members can go to www.congress.gov to look up bills in the House of Representatives and Senate.  On Congress.gov members can review current legislative activities and complete congressional records. Those interested can also learn about bill sponsors, the status of a bill, and obtain full content of a bill. For more information please visit www.congress.gov.
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Image Courtesy of Congress.gov
A Hot Topic: Climate and Nursing
Dr. Barbara Sattler, Professor
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Plenary Session - April 6, 2018
66th Annual Convention - Nashville, Tennessee

Health Policy and Advocacy Resources

In this video Adam Halvorsen, former NSNA Director, urges all nursing students to get out and vote.
​Click below to learn the basics of Health Policy and Advocacy Activities.
 
​Below are links to useful resources when planning Health Policy and Advocacy education activities:
Imprint Articles