Legislative Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Abstract

Background: Policies, regulations, and laws influence all aspects of health care, including the education of health care professionals, independent practice, and patient access to care. Health equity and social justice are mediated through policy. Problem: While health policy knowledge and skills are recognized as essential competencies within nursing and midwifery curricula, most students graduate with limited or no experience engaging in advocacy efforts to advance legislation that would improve health systems and the delivery of care. Approach: An experiential learning activity is described that gives students authentic experience in federal legislative advocacy. Outcomes: Students report powerful, positive learning from interacting with their legislators. Conclusion: Support of a legislative advocacy experiential learning activity requires ongoing faculty initiative and can promote advancement of health policy bills into law. Opportunities to participate in legislative advocacy need to be expanded within nursing and midwifery education to cultivate leaders who can effect policy change.