Many thanks to Patricia Poirier, PhD, RN, AOCN®, for allowing me to share her poster, Health Policy Advocacy Begins in Undergraduate Nursing School, which was highlighted at the 36th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress in Boston last month. I love her poster because I recently have become active in health policy…and it has only taken me seven years as a nurse. FAIL. I did receive education about health policy in my undergraduate program, but I wish it was more comprehensive and pushed me to be active while in nursing school. Dr. Poirier’s poster is an excellent example that can easily be replicated by other programs to increase nurses’ health policy advocacy.
You can also download Dr. Poirier’s poster to reference in your upcoming presentations and articles or share with your nursing program dean or director. Subtle hint, eh? Please do so and help increase or incorporate health policy advocacy into undergraduate nursing programs.