Developing political advocacy skills through collective social action in the political and legislative processes

Effective political advocacy is a requisite skill for professional nursing leadership at all levels of practice. Learning activities that provides opportunities for development of political advocacy competencies need to be integrated into the baccalaureate nursing curriculum. Students need to appreciate how they can influence the political process at the systems and community levels of practice. While students can develop some skill in learning labs and simulations, participating in the actual political process has been found to be a more effective method for development of political advocacy skills. Students in one baccalaureate nursing program were prepared for a “Nurses Day on the Hill” sponsored by the state nurses association through a series of learning activities including power point discussions, simulations, study of specific health policy issues, formation of individual political priorities and preparation of a concise verbal presentation to individual legislators. These learning activities were repackaged as a political action tool kit which is posted annually on the state nurses' association website as a faculty and student resource. Students attend the “Nurses Day on the Hill”, receive an introduction to priority health issues and effective lobbying strategies, go to the state capitol to meet with legislators, attend hearings, and participate in a health policy demonstration. These experiences have a transformative effect on most nursing students. Students view their nursing role and responsibilities in the broader context of community and citizenship. They reflect on their learning by responding to a series of questions in an online discussion board thus sharing and comparing their thoughts with their peers. The major lessons learned by nursing faculty are that students learn best when challenged with real life situations, even if they are not feeling positive about the experience before it occurs, and that being part of collective political advocacy provides students with a context for future actions. Faculty partnering with the state nursing association in planning the event facilitates coordination of the political advocacy experience. This type of learning activity could be replicated with a variety of governmental bodies and may serve as a template for curriculum development in political advocacy.