Abstract
For the first issue in 2024, the Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing welcomes its new home with Sage Publications Inc. This issue offers an array of post operative articles, including an integrative review on the nursing care of children post cardiac care surgery in intensive care units, as well as a program evaluation of parent engagement activities with postoperative cardiac surgery patients in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. This issue also features a team's exploration of an interdisciplinary intervention aimed at reducing gastrostomy-tube-related pediatric emergency department visits, and another uses health literacy implementation principles to develop their pediatric colorectal program. Finally, a thought-provoking review on the book titled, “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters” sparks conversation and reflection.
For this editorial, I wanted to reflect on my experience this January engaging in policy advocacy. Being involved in policy is something all nurses should consider as part of their nursing profession. Legislation frequently passes that directly impacts our patients and the way nurses practice. Engaging in policy advocacy can vary from one nurse to another and can range from advocacy though our government representatives to contributing to drafting a legislative bill.
My first experience with policy advocacy was through participation in the Hispanic Health Summit through the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). In this conference we learned about key issues and legislative bills that affected nurses and our patients and equipping us with valuable materials for engaging in conversations with our government representatives during Hill Day. This year, I had the privilege to join over 100 nurses dressed in Navy blue at the Hispanic Health Summit in Washington, D.C. where we advocated on key issues such as Access to Health Care, America's Health Care Workforce, and Climate Effects on Health. I also attended three Hill Day appointments, where I met with my representative and their staff to tell them my story as an advance practice nurse, and as a constituent from their district.
Advocating for ourselves as nurses and championing the needs of our patients is important. Failing to do so would mean that decisions affecting us, and our patients could be made by individuals lacking the necessary knowledge about our profession or our patients. It is our duty as nurses to inform policymakers of the best way to care for our patients or to support our profession.
If you are interested in getting started here are some tips I have learned along the way.
Tip #1: Prepare Ahead of Time
Take the time to familiarize yourself with your representatives. Visit Congress.gov. This website is an excellent resource where you can identify your representative, explore their website, obtain information about their key priority issues, learn how to contact their office, and discover other ways to connect with them, such as through social media.
Decide on the key issues or legislative priorities you wish to address in advance. Come prepared with a one-page handout of the issues and include statistics highlighting why they are important. Relate the information back to your home district and its constituents. If this seems intimidating, consider joining a conference or coalition of nurses participating in a Hill Day.
Take and exchange business cards. This is a great way to stay connected to the key legislative assistants in their offices. Finally, make sure to follow up with a thank-you email after each in-person visit, reminding them of your conversation and the support you are requesting.
Tip #2: Start Small
If visiting your representative in Washington, D.C. is not feasible for you, consider visiting their local office instead. Additionally, getting involved in local state laws is equally important, as these laws often govern how nurses practice. Being actively engaged in frequent conversations with your representatives can help to establish connections and position you as an expert in your field. During legislative sessions, set up email alerts for bills related to nursing and provide public comments as a nurse when bills are open for feedback. Calling or sending emails to your representative's office is also equally important.
Tip #3: Have Fun and Enjoy the Process
While passing laws that govern our practice or how we treat our patients is serious business, policy advocacy is exciting. Find a group of like-minded colleagues who share your passion for advocacy for the nursing profession and consider going as a united group. By engaging in policy advocacy, nurses can elevate the voice of the profession, shape policies impacting the profession, and enhance the quality of care provided to our patients.
