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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Carol R. Shelton, PhD, Mary E. Byrd, RN, CS, PhD, Patricia A. Thomas, PhD, Joanne Costello, MPH, and Dorothy Petrarca, MS. Department of Nursing, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI 02905
Engaging Students in Shaping Health Policy
Nurses are members of one of the largest groups of health care providers and have the potential to promote the public's health through their active involvement in shaping health and social policy. Motivating and preparing nursing students to influence public policy is a major component of the curriculum in Public/Community health nursing. A series of learning experiences is designed to engage students in this process. The students participate in information sessions and tours of the State Health Department and the State House. This provides them with opportunities to engage in dialogue with public health professionals and political figures including the Lieutenant Governor, the Majority leader of the Senate, legislative leaders as well as advocates from both professional organizations and community groups. Each student is expected to interview the legislator who represents him/her in the community and to write a narrative that describes the legislator's interest and commitment to health related legislation. Students work in clinical groups to analyze a public health problem that can be addressed through public policy interventions. At times, this has lead to the students testifying at legislative hearings and working wth community groups involved with the specific issue. At the end of the semester, the students present their findings to their peers and to the wider college community. Through these learning experiences students gain practical experience in understanding the political process that leads to important policy change and which prepares them for that role as graduates and involved citizens.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
Keywords: Nursing Education,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.