Students Attend Policy Summit in D.C.

Five School of Nursing students spent three days in Washington, D.C. learning about health care policy, meeting with policy makers and discussing nursing’s role in professional advocacy during the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Student Policy Summit.

Students representing the University of Minnesota School of Nursing included Bachelor of Science in Nursing student Karen Maldonado, Master of Science student Bakhridzhon Ibragomova, Doctor of Nursing Practice student Megan Lifto, DNP student Joyce Rudenick and PhD student Marjorie Webb.

They met with staff from the offices of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Sen. Al Franken, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum.

“It was an incredible experience to let these staffers know issues that are important to nurses,” said Webb.

Students were in Washington, D.C. March 22-24. They met with American Association of College of Nursing President Eileen Breslin, National Institute of Nursing Research Director Patricia Grady and White House Office of Public Engagement Associate Director Bess Evans, among other policy leaders.

“It was absolutely incredible to sit at tables with accomplished nurse scholars who have spent their careers contributing to the science and advancement of nursing knowledge,” said Rudenick. “It was equally incredible to meet MN and BSN students, soon to graduate and take their first steps into their nursing careers, and to realize they are the future of nursing.”