title: Voices of Oncology Nursing Society members matter in advocacy and decisions related to U.S. Health Policy
abstract: The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), a member of the Nursing Organizations Alliance, invests in advocating for health and public policy decisions by sending members to the Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) program annually. NIWI provides a forum to educate nurses on the legislative process, giving attendees a better understanding of political, legislative, and regulatory issues facing nurses. The 2014 ONS delegation participated in training and lobbying focused on federal funding issues, nursing education, workforce oversight, and funding for nursing research. The three-day program ended with a Capitol Hill visit where nurses met with their respective legislators or their staff, using skills learned at NIWI briefings to influence policy for nurses and the patients they serve. Critical health and public policy decisions affecting nurses, their practice, and their patients require participation in and understanding of the legislative process. This article provides a glimpse into the three-day experience of the delegates attending the 2014 NIWI.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Marlon Garzo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Saria
authors.affiliation: Oncology Nursing Society, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Alec
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: AnnMarie Lee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1756-4262
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.affiliation: Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, Middletown, CT.
authors.forename: Gean
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Missouri.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barton-Burke
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012956:Societies, Nursing; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: advocacy; legislative process; public policy