Making change by making our point: Nurses advancing environmental health policies

Nurses are becoming increasingly engaged in environmental health issues, such as chemical policy reform, through their networks, newsletters, listserves and journals. They are concerned about preventing diseases of environmental origin, but often lack the expertise to effectively advocate for change, whether it be in their institutions, communities, or government. Nurses that are both informed about environmental and public health problems, and empowered to effectively influence market and government policies, can be a powerful force to vastly improve public health. This session will provide a brief overview of market and government chemical policies currently being considered, and explore how nurses can utilize the following advocacy tools to advance public health protections: online advocacy, letters to the editor, Op Eds, public comments, testimony, legislative education (both in-district and in state or national capitals), and engaging with businesses via email, phone, and in-person correspondence. Case studies of nurses effecting change through environmental health advocacy will be reviewed. Immediate, hands-on application of these new-found skills during this session will empower nurses to confidently, competently engage opinion leaders on the need to improve public health through government and market policy advancement. This powerful, credible voice will contribute greatly to the advancement of such policies, thereby benefitting all people and communities.