Discussion Post: Advocacy through Legislation
Nursing is the largest medical profession in the world with nearly 4 million nurses in the United States alone. When nurses influence the politics that improve the delivery of healthcare, they are ultimately advocating for their patients. As the largest medical profession in the world, nurses should be leading the way in redesigning the healthcare system (Brokaw, J. 2016). Any nurse can influence policy and politics at the local, state, and federal levels. Locally, nurses can become politically active by assuming leadership positions in the healthcare system or contacting elected officials about legislation affecting the industry. At the state and federal levels, nurses can get involved in policy and politics by joining a professional nursing organization. These organizations often have lobbyists that bring nursing issues to Capitol Hill. Nurses can also write their state representatives regarding healthcare policy. Nurses can undertake internships with elected officials to personally work on matters affecting healthcare.
Audrey Gibson is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing the 6th district, which includes sections of downtown Jacksonville in Duval County, since 2016. One of the bills sponsored by Audrey Gibson is FL S1556 - Maternal Health Care Services. Requiring the Department of Health to develop and implement the Prevention of Maternal Mortality Grant Program by a specified date; requiring the department to award grants to certain training programs; requiring the department, in consultation with the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), to conduct a certain study and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature by a specified date; requiring the department to develop and implement the Investments in Digital Tools to Promote Equity in Maternal Health Outcomes Program by a specified date, etc. (Ballotpedia, n.d.)
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