Nurses comprise the country's largest number of healthcare workers, with 4.7 million registered nurses across the US. Yet, they are severely underrepresented when it comes to having their voices heard in healthcare policy. Nurses represent only 2% of all healthcare-related articles written about public opinion on legislation.
Patrick Luna, MSN, RN, CEN, a Senior Instructor of Clinical Teaching at the University of Colorado College of Nursing, went to Washington, D.C. in February for the Hispanic Policy Health Summit. He shares his experience and insights he learned about giving nurses a voice in the legislative process.
Q: What is the Hispanic Health Policy Summit?
A: The Hispanic Health Policy Summit is offered to members of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) [Luna has been a member since 2020 and was elected as a national board member in 2024]. The summit unites members of the Latino healthcare community to advocate for healthcare issues affecting the Hispanic population. More than 100 nurses from around the country attended the summit.
I wouldn’t have been able to attend without the support of CU Nursing. I was able to go to the summit because of my roles at the college as faculty advisor for Future Voices [a student organization dedicated to creating a supportive community on campus].
Q: What did you do at the summit, and whom did you meet with?
A: The first day of the summit had information sessions where we were shown opportunities for advocacy, focusing on our local communities. We also learned strategies to connect with leaders – regardless of their political affiliation – so we can focus on hearing from nurses and address healthcare needs in Latino communities.
Patrick Luna with one of the summit's speakers, Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MPH, LCSW, RN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAAN. |
On the second day, we went to Capitol Hill. Each of us had meetings with aides from our local house representative and both senators [Luna met with aides from Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representatives Gabe Evans and Brittany Pettersen].
Q: What did you talk about? What types of laws did you discuss?
A: My meetings were so enlightening. I advocated for three bills that support the pipeline for nurses and nursing education. I was able to speak freely and candidly about the challenges facing nurses and the urgency of the situation, especially when it comes to the nursing shortage.
When it comes to nursing education, I explained to them how we have a bottleneck. We have so many people who want to become nurses, and if we want to teach them, we need to have more educators. There are bills in both the House and Senate to support nursing faculty.
Q: How do meetings and attending summits improve healthcare at a local and national level?
A: Attending a summit like this is so important because it puts the priorities of nurses and educators on the radar of decision makers. None of the healthcare aides that I spoke to were aware of a national nursing shortage and how nursing education related to this issue. They were very receptive and kept asking how they could help and where they could find common ground to come up with solutions.
Q: How did it feel walking into the Capitol, knowing you were going to advocate for nurses?
Nurses at the Hispanic Health Policy Summit in front of the US Capitol. |
A: I have such an immense feeling of pride. All the nurses at the summit had diverse backgrounds but were there to advocate for nurses. We’re also Hispanic nurses, so it was very empowering knowing we were bringing our unique perspective.
Q: What can nursing students take away from your experience? Why should they make their voices heard?
A: Nursing students and current nurses can see that in a short amount of time – two days – you can make a difference. I hope that students see how advocacy is a skill and something they can learn. My goal is to create a similar event locally that creates a space for Colorado nurses to advocate for the needs of our local community at a state level. Our voice is essential when decisions are made that impact the health of our communities.
