Health Policy and Advocacy

​ Committee

(Formerly named the Legislation Education Committee)

We Are the Future

Haley Ann Donnerstag
Director
Lehigh Carbon Community College
Schnecksville, PA
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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. 

Haley Ann Donnerstag, Director and Chair,
Health Policy and Advocacy Committee, Fall Memo

Greetings from the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee.
 
Time flies by so quickly, and it was just like yesterday that it was the summer. We are hoping that everyone has been adjusting to the fall semester. Another fall semester is here, which means there will be so much more knowledge for all of us to learn. Us nursing students and nurses will always be learning something new every day. For those who are new to NSNA, welcome! My name is Haley Ann Donnerstag, and I am the chair of the Health Policy and Advocacy committee.
 
The committee's theme, "We are the Future," has been very successful. We just had our Annual NSNA Advocacy Education Day: Bring Out the Mover and Shaker in You- Become an Advocate for the Nursing Profession. You all can watch the recording here.
 
The committee wants to thank everyone for having such a strong interest in advocacy. We would also like to thank all the speakers who were able to help inspire the future of nursing. As future nurses and leaders, it is up to us to become advocates, know how to make changes from local to federal level, and use leadership skills to make a difference in both the political and healthcare worlds.
 
The committee hopes that the Advocacy Education day helped inspire many ideas for the "Get Out the Vote" and "Health Policy and Advocacy" awards! Both of these awards have a submission deadline of March 7, 2023.

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NSNA Advocacy Education Day

NSNA’s Advocacy Education Day is designed for student nurses interested in learning more about legislative advocacy.
 
Students have the power to make change happen. NSNA believes it is vital to involve all student nurses in advocacy. Each student nurse can positively impact the profession through public policy advocacy for patients, nurses, and the nursing profession.
 
This Advocacy Education Day will teach participants to utilize their leadership abilities in the political world. Nurses continue to be the most trusted profession, and policymakers listen when nurses and student nurses speak!
Health Policy and Advocacy Resources

Haley Ann Donnerstag, 2022-2023 Director and Chair, Health Policy and Advocacy Committee Speaks on "We Are the Future"

Haley Ann Donnerstag, NSNA 2022-2023 Director and Chair, Health Policy and Advocacy Committee speaks on "We Are the Future" during the 2022 NSNA Leadership U Summer Summit.

Get Out the Vote
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The nursing profession has developed into politically savvy group, and legislators listen to us. An excellent way to cultivate political awareness is participating in the electoral process. Legislators will pay closer attention to us when we can demonstrate that nurses and nursing students are showing up at the polls. It is our duty and right as United States citizens to vote and 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.
 
Voter registration opportunities expanded significantly with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. This Act also called 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 Stamps 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...
Additional Resources

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

​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:
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