Nurses are taught the importance of being proactive in the political and legislative arenas as well as being skilled clinicians. Advocating for the patients they serve, promoting public health issues, partaking in the development of health care policy and protecting nurses and the profession of nursing are imperative.

The Department of Nursing of the School of Health Professions and Nursing is committed to increasing students’ awareness and participation in the political process. Therefore, in addition to their coursework, students in the undergraduate nursing program are invited to attend the annual New York State Nurses Association Legislative Workshop. Dr. Amy Wysoker, an active member of the professional nurses association and a member of Legislative Council of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), provides mentorship and serves as a role model to the students. This past March, 10 nursing students participated in the event. Students spoke highly of the opportunity to network with other nurses and to learn how to lobby legislators. They have consistently noted that this experience has demonstrated an important aspect of the professional nurse role, one that they would not have appreciated solely by classroom exposure. One student, Sandra Shivamber, commented:

As part of my community health class, I was given the opportunity to go to Albany to visit a NYSNA legislative voting workshop and reception. There I learned about the legislative process and techniques to influence policy makers on health care issues. I found this trip to be very informative as well as enjoyable. I was impressed to see nurses from all geographic regions of the state coming together to promote significant issues for improvement to our health care system. It is important to be knowledgeable on how we can make a difference for a healthier society and I feel it’s imperative that all nursing students be given the chance to attend a legislative workshop.

Another student, Rochelle Herring, stated:

I was very impressed with the representative from NYSNA who was so well informed on the issues, and how to negotiate the systems. I was reminded of how voting can impact the healthcare of our New York community. I saw how I could affect change through the legislative process. We are sometimes locked into our small communities and do not see the big picture. I realized that government impacts everything we do.

There are approximately 250,000 registered professional nurses in New York State. Power to initiate change comes in numbers. The process begins with the education of our students.

Amy Wysoker, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Nursing