In a time of rapid change in health care policy and delivery, staying informed and actively engaged is essential. With this mission in mind, Indiana University School of Nursing hosted “The Policy Academy: Navigating the New Realities of Health Policy” on June 2-3 at the IU Indianapolis campus.
“Indiana University School of Nursing is committed to being a national leader as policy advocates as we engage in critical dialogue about issues that impact health care and all of society,” said interim dean Janet Carpenter, PhD, RN, FAAN, in her opening remarks. “This Policy Academy is so important as we emphasize the need to advance health policy through education, research, clinical practice, and leadership.”
More than 100 participants—both in-person and virtually—attended two days of panel discussions and small focus groups lead by experts, educators, and nursing professionals that explored topics ranging from framing effective messaging to building relationships that will strengthen the nursing community’s ability to foster change.
The first day’s morning session focused on “Using an Innovative Lens to Address State and National Policy Issues,” in which three panelists presented their innovative research and clinical focus and shared how their efforts have contributed to state and national health policy.
Kristin Ashford, PhD, professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, implores Kentucky lawmakers to enact statewide smoke-free laws by illustrating the link between smoking and maternal health. Toni Tipton, a women’s health nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife, presented how her work through the Five Rivers Health Centers in Ohio has successfully decreased the number of low birthweight babies through its Caring and Loving Maternity (CALM) program. Finally, Carpenter shared how her research and global collaborations have advanced the understanding of the menopausal symptoms of hot flashes.
"Distill Your Message"
The second panel, “Transforming Your Messaging for Maximum Advocacy Impact,” was comprised of leaders who have been at the forefront of using effective messaging strategies to enhance their advocacy. They offered guidance on how best to collaborate with stakeholders, most specifically, elected officials who have the power to change state and federal laws.
Janice Phillips, PhD, RN, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow 2010-2011, told the audience that, “before you ask your elected officials for anything, you need to know your agenda.”
“Learn all you can about the issues,” she said. “Read, read, read. There are many scholarly journals, published research, and news articles about topics that concern you, so make sure you are informed. And have statistics at the ready.”
Panelist Ambre Marr, legislative director for AARP Indiana, echoed Phillips’ advice.
“Messaging is essential to how I connect with legislators,” she said. “It might mean leading with data or leading with a story. You need a message that sticks and that is backed with facts. If you can get your message right, it really makes a difference from being heard and being ignored.”
The key, agreed all the panelists, was to be able to tell a compelling story. They told the audience to recruit patients who have been impacted by a particular issue and who will allow them to share how a new, or amended law could improve their lives.
A consistent theme among the panelists was the importance of building a relationship with local or federal government officials, but they acknowledged making these relationships may take a long time and may not always be easy.
“Advocacy is about the relationships you build with people,” said panelist Vicki Small, who has served as an AARP Indiana volunteer legislative team member since 2018. “I make it a point to learn all the representatives in my home area of Evansville, and I attend all their town halls, and sometimes our conversations are tough. Remember, advocacy is a journey.”
"Be Ready to Advocate"
Day two’s keynote speaker, Polly Pittman, PhD, addressed “Reclaiming Nursing: Policy Challenges in 2025.” Pittman is a professor of Health Policy and Management at George Washington University and provided a historical look at how the role of nurses has changed from being social activists in the early 20th century, through the physician backlash that diminished nurses’ involvement with patients, to today’s current changing environment.
She presented that it is critical that the healthcare industry reclaim the core functions of nursing and identify new opportunities “that allow nurses to do the work that they are trained to do in the community.”
The Academy’s third panel was titled, “Elevate Your Influence: Engage with Government Relations,” and featured professionals who shared strategies on how to build relationships with government relations and how to collaborate with coalitions and stakeholder groups, which is imperative to elevating nurses’ influence.
The afternoon sessions on both days divided attendees into smaller, topic-focused groups to delve into deeper discussions around the following tracks: Academia, Research, Clinical Practice, and Leadership. The Policy Academy also provided Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for participants.
Shandra Burton, PhD, RN, a postdoctoral research scholar at the University of Iowa’s College of Nursing, said she “walked away inspired” after attending The Policy Academy in 2023, so was excited to return this year.
“Now that I’m focusing on my postdoc and continuing my research on caregivers, I wanted to be exposed to these great sessions, and seeing the list of presenters offered a great potential for networking,” she said.
In her closing remarks, Sharron Crowder, PhD, RN, assistant dean for Health Policy Initiatives, encouraged all attendees to “find their niche” within leadership and the opportunities that are in front of them.
“As you to leave this Policy Academy,” she said, "we hope you have been empowered to lead with determination for what needs to take place, and how you are not leaving here alone because you have the mentorship and support of networking that you’ve gained over the last two days, as well as what you will embrace when you come back to our future sessions.”
The School of Nursing plans to host continued focus group sessions with this year’s attendees in the fall.