Karen and I, as members of NANN's Health Policy and Advocacy Committee, had the opportunity to attend the "Nurse in Washington Internship Program" in Washington, DC, March 29 to 31. The program was sponsored by the Nursing Organizations Alliance of which NANN is a member. More than 100 nurses participated from more than 30 states and a variety of nursing specialty organizations. The purpose of the program was to provide training on how to advocate with our legislators regarding nursing and healthcare issues.

As a profession, nursing has not always been in the forefront when it comes to making itself visible in the political arena and attempting to impact policy. This internship program was conceived to help change this. This program gives specific strategies to guide both individual nurses and nursing organizations in becoming more visible in policy making. A panel of legislative staff affiliated with several senators spoke at great length regarding the specifics that nurses need to utilize to impact policy. Most important, we need to be visible, not only as nurses but also as constituents. We need to know who represents us in the Senate and the House of Representatives and what are the most effective methods of communication in reaching them in order to get our needs known. Most legislators today rely on e-mail, visits to their offices, and town-hall meetings. Your legislators want data; data from your workplace, your community, and your district. Give them the data that makes you rationalize and feel that this is an important issue that needs to be changed. You know why you believe there is a need for change; now help them to understand the necessity for change too. They need to hear our stories, our opinions and experiences as nurses that support the issue we are advocating for. An important piece to any communication that we cannot forget is follow-up. If we say we are going to provide information after our meeting, we need to complete that task. If our legislators show their support for our issue, we also need to remember to thank them. Through consistent communication with our legislators, we create an invaluable precedent for networking.

NANN is taking a more active role in legislation and advocacy with its expanded Web site. NANN members should take an opportunity to view the new links that have been added to assist the members to have access to current legislation. At NIWI, the question was raised "Does it make a difference when we send group responses to action alerts?" The answer was "Yes." The legislative staff looks at all correspondences from their constituents. Our e-mails, calls, and letters do make a difference. We are at a turning point in our healthcare system as we know it. Nursing issues are being raised regarding staffing ratios, education, advanced practice, home care, compensation, and so forth. We need to stay informed and be the advocates for our profession.