Opal Caldwell BSN, RN

Health policy was a new area for me to explore during my educational career. I have been an advocate for my patients since the beginning, but learning health policy, and how to use my voice to make a difference for the future of nursing and patient care was, new to me. During my last semester of nursing education I had the opportunity to learn and take part in health policy. Learning about the health care delivery system, healthcare reform act, and several other health policies, gave me a perspective of how policy advocates practice. I wrote a letter to my legislator to take part in a bill that would threaten my future endeavors as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). APN's are a valuable assess to community health and patient care. Being a part of making healthcare better for future nurses/patients has became a new passion of mine. Since taking this course I have joined two professional nursing groups and taken part in another letter to my legislator to advocate for the Nursing Workforce Act. If we, as nurses, do not stand up for our practice and patients who will?