Health Policy and Advocacy

​ Committee

(Formerly named the Legislation Education Committee)

"Reaching Beyond the Bedside"

Sabrina Roney
Director
​Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
Connect on Social Media
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. 

Sabrina Roney, Director and Chair,
​Health Policy and Advocacy Committee, Summer Memo

Hello NSNA members!
 
I hope you are all enjoying your summers so far! I am so grateful to be serving as the 2021-2022 Chair of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. Recently the NSNA Board completed our orientation and first board meeting. The Health Policy and Advocacy Committee also had the opportunity to meet and discuss our theme and goals for the year.
 
Our theme for this year is “Reaching Beyond the Bedside.” We specifically want to focus on reaching out to and de-stigmatizing vulnerable populations. In our future careers as nurses, our education and skills are crucial to helping those who are beyond hospital walls and in need of healthcare. Nurses are powerful forces for good within their communities, and we hope to empower our NSNA members to take action and care for those who may not receive adequate support in our current healthcare system. We feel strongly that our members should take the initiative to also “reach beyond” their comfort zones and advocate for all types of patients.
 
The Health Policy and Advocacy Committee remains steadfast in our commitment to addressing NSNA Resolutions passed in the House of Delegates.
Read More

Sabrina Roney, 2021-2022 Director and Chair, Health Policy and Advocacy Committee Speaks on "Reaching Beyond the Bedside"

Sabrina Roney, NSNA 2021-2022 Director and Chair, Health Policy and Advocacy Committee speaks on "Reaching Beyond the Bedside" during the 2021 NSNA Leadership U Summer Summit.

Get Out the Vote
​

Picture
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.
​
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...
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.
Picture
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