12209 (604) Healthcare Policy and Advocacy: How You Can Make a Difference
Karen McDonald, MSN NNP-BC

Abstract
Advocacy and healthcare policy have the potential to impact our nursing practice everyday. With all of the changes that are taking place in our government related to healthcare reform, it is no wonder that we are all confused. Do you and your co-workers wonder how the changes that healthcare reform will bring, will affect you and your patients? Did you realize that you have the opportunity to let your elected officials know how you feel about the impending changes in healthcare? Well you do. As nurses, we are the ones that our friends and family turn to with their questions. Understanding how advocacy works and where to find information to answer all of these question is what this session is about. This concurrent session will delve into the basics of healthcare advocacy and how you can get started making a difference today. We will show you: • What health policy advocacy is. • Why do nurses what to be involved in advocacy • What issues are important to neonatal nurses • Government basics • How to get started in advocacy • How to communicate with elected officials • Personal stories of advocacy • Formal educational opportunities for advocacy • Partnering for advocacy at the Federal and State level

Learning Objectives
1. Define health policy and advocacy.
2. Recognize where to find information for federal and state representatives.
3. Identify one example of advocating for a public policy initiative to promote the health of a community.

Bibliography

National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Health Policy and Advocacy Toolkit. Retrieved March 25, 2009 from www.NANN.org/nannadvocacy.

Nurse In Washington Internship(NIWI) Program. Health Policy Toolkit. Retrieved March 29,2009 from
www.nursing-alliance.org/NIWI.