Making our voices heard in Washington, DC - Health Policy Issues - perioperative nursing

AORN Journal, March, 2003 by Burke Beu

There are many ways in which perioperative nurses can make issues and concerns a priority for federal legislators. These include becoming more knowledgeable about and involved in the legislative process through the Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) program; attending the 2003 AORN Federal Affairs Conference and Lobby Day in Washington, DC; making nursing's priorities known to the media; and serving on AORN's Legislative Committee.

NURSE IN WASHINGTON INTERNSHIP

The NIWI program is sponsored by the Nursing Organizations Alliance, a coalition of specialty nursing associations of which AORN is a member. The NIWI program was developed to prepare nurses to become more involved in the federal legislative process. Each year, the program provides information on current health policy initiatives, public policy development, and federal budgetary and funding issues. Participants learn how they can influence the legislative process as individuals and as nurses. An important and exciting aspect of NIWI is the opportunity to meet with elected officials in the US Congress and lobby them regarding nursing concerns.

In February 1998, the AORN Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Legislative Committee to award annual scholarships for the NIWI program to two AORN members who have demonstrated a high level of interest in legislative activities and personal commitment to becoming leaders for public policy and advocacy at AORN. The scholarship pays the program registration fee, travel, lodging, and meal expenses in Washington, DC. Award recipients are selected by the Legislative Committee chair and cochairs in November. All AORN members who are not previous NIWI award recipients are eligible.

This year, NIWI takes place March 2 to 5. The recipients of the 2003 scholarships are Terri Aldama, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, of Glendale, Ariz, and Becky Churchman-Winn, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, of Houston. The winners were notified of the award and congratulated by the AORN Board of Directors during a telephone call from AORN President Donna Watson, RN, MSN, CNOR, ARNP, FNP-C, in December 2002.

AORN Board of Directors member Nathalie Walker, a recipient of last year's NIWI award, shares the following comments on the event.

   As a recipient of the
   NIWI scholarship, I attended
   this dynamic and informative
   program in Washington,
   DC, in March 2002. It
   is a four-day, intense educational
   program, and it
   cannot be compared to any
   other program that I have
   experienced. The program
   included guest speakers
   well known to the health
   care community and faculty
   that consisted of experts
   who practice in the legislative
   arena. During the week
   we went to Capitol Hill for
   a White House briefing and
   visits with our elected officials
   in the US Senate and
   House of Representatives.
   We discussed our issues and
   concerns regarding health
   care and our specific practice
   areas as professional
   registered nurses.

   One of the highlights of
   the program was a networking
   reception and dinner
   AORN past President
   Trish Seifert welcomed
   everyone to the dinner and
   introduced our speaker,
   Colleen Conway-Welch,
   dean of the Vanderbilt
   University School of
   Nursing, who gave a presentation
   on disaster preparedness
   and what nurses
   are doing to ensure a safe
   future.

   The Nurse in Washington
   Internship has reaffirmed
   my belief that everyone has
   a voice and that one person
   can make a difference. It
   time for all nurses to focus
   more on legislative issues,
   not just our daily work.
   Collectively we will have a
   major impact on society,
   and together we can make
   the public stand up and
   take notice. We certainly
   cannot solve the nursing
   shortage or other pertinent
   issues alone. However, by
   drawing on the collective
   wisdom and experience of
   the NIWI attendees, we can
   help point the way to some
   means of solution. I thank
   you for entrusting me to
   attend NIWI as the scholarship
   recipient of AORN last
   year. (1)

Applications for the 2004 NIWI program will be available in July 2003. For more information, contact Government Affairs department staff members Burke Beu at (800) 755-2676 x 233 or Fred Franko at x 289.

FOCUS FOR LOBBY DAY

All AORN members can advocate for AORN's legislative priorities and speak with members of Congress about perioperative nursing during the 2003 AORN Federal Affairs Conference and Lobby Day, scheduled for May 5 and 6, in Washington, DC. Informational brochures and registration forms have been mailed to chapter presidents and will be distributed by the Government Affairs department in the Resource Center at AORN's annual Congress in Chicago.

Lobby Day education sessions will focus on new federal legislation pertinent to AORN, such as patient safety bills, nursing shortage proposals, and reimbursement issues. AORN participants from the NIWI program will present an education session on member-driven advocacy.