Nursing Advocates

By Matt Hawkins

Two Bradley nursing administration graduate students discovered their voices at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Student Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. The March summit gave Ashley Falkner ’14 MSN ‘15, of Homer Glen, Illinois, and Kayla Hussey ’14 MSN ‘15, of Franklin Grove, Illinois, experience in front-line advocacy for their profession.

The two spent three days in the nation’s capitol discussing professional policy issues of national significance and learning about the role of advocacy. Discussion centered on the Affordable Care Act and funding for training, research and care. It also gave the Bradley students an inside look at issues and systems they discussed in a January Interim course on health care policy and politics.

“I felt empowered leaving the conference,” Falkner said. “This showed us there are careers for nurses beyond the bedside. The profession needs lobbyists on Capitol Hill.”

As part of the experience, the 200 students at the summit practiced their lobbying skills with their home states’ legislative leaders. The meetings with staff of Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk made a positive impression on Bradley’s aspiring nurses.

“How many people in their early 20s can say they sat in the office of a senator?” Hussey said. “We sat and talked face-to-face to advocate for our profession and health care. It was a light bulb moment to see that they do care and we can really talk to them.”

Three days with future nurses and health care administrators from across the U.S. also built a sense of community as students networked across state lines.

“We saw that we’re part of a broader team,” Hussey said. “We realized there are people everywhere who have the same values. It’s neat to see people around the country who are experiencing the same issues.”

To cap the experience, Bradley’s representatives will share newly acquired knowledge with faculty and students at several presentations.