The atmosphere was electric in the Utah State Capitol on January 31. Citizens from all walks of life had gathered in preparation for the day’s legislative sessions, creating a sea of people that spanned the building. Each voice rang through the large marble corridors, creating a dull buzz that served as a backbone for the commotion. In the middle of it all was a group of graduate students from BYU College of Nursing, anxiously anticipating what the day held.
The Utah Nurse Practitioners host a “Day at the Capitol" at the beginning of every Utah Legislative Session, and the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) students had the opportunity to sit in with local representatives during the day’s sessions. “Soak up every single moment,” said Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Beth Luthy as she led her students on a tour of the building while debriefing them on what they’d be doing.
Each student had asked if they could sit in with their chosen senator or Utah House representative, and they would be present on the floor with them during their meetings. They wouldn’t just be onlookers, but special guests. Needless to say, this wasn’t something that happens every day! Excited to meet their leaders face-to-face and be featured on the floor, they were all smiles as they toured the different rooms of the Capitol.
It may seem odd that FNP students would need to understand how their state legislature works. After all, shouldn’t they be acclimating themselves to a clinical setting instead?
In reality, active civic participation is very important for nurse practitioners (NPs). With the ability to manage their own practice and serve as providers, local legislation can affect an NP’s clinical practice quite drastically.
Derick Sosa, a graduate program year two student, shed light on why NPs should be involved in local politics. “In the past, NPs didn’t have as many practice rights,” he explained. “Being in the health administration and legislature has expanded the [abilities of NPs]”
After taking in the grandeur of the Senate and House chambers, the students were privileged to sit down with a member of Governor Spencer Cox’s Cabinet! Michael Mower, Senior Advisor of Community Outreach and Intergovernmental Relations, has a strong relationship with BYU College of Nursing, and invited students into the governor’s office to discuss how they can impact nursing-related legislation.
Mower highlighted the need for healthcare providers to be involved in local politics, explaining the need to advocate for patients and other NPs: “You really can’t be an expert on everything, so [the elected leaders] rely on the healthcare professionals," he said. “You punch above your weight when you have expertise on issues like this.”
The FNP students learned an important lesson about the need for nurses to be represented in legislation. “There are [few] career nurses in the House, so being [there] helps us make connections,” said another year two grad student named Lisa Smith. Dr. Luthy also emphasized the responsibility NPs have to understand healthcare policy, calling it a “higher level of patient advocacy.”
“In nursing, we talk a lot about patient advocacy…we tend to think on an individual level, leaving the ninety-nine for the one…An even higher level of patient advocacy is to be influential in the legislature; with healthcare policy, we’re able to impact the health of all patients in the state.”
As the Senate and House meetings commenced, the students entered and were seated next to their elected leaders. They were recognized in front of everyone on the floor, and then they sat back, taking in everything they could about the front lines of policy creation. They exited with a new understanding – representatives and senators are real people, and they can work with them to make change for the better.
Assistant Professor Christine Platt was in attendance with the FNP students, and she was very pleased with what they were learning in regard to the proper way to make civic change. “This is about their civic duty,” Dr. Platt explained. “They now know how to [promote legislation] civilly, politely, and in a way that has good outcomes.”
The Utah Nurse Practitioners Board tells NPs that understanding local healthcare legislation isn’t just a good idea, but a responsibility. Because of their experience in the Capitol, BYU FNP students are well-equipped to do all they can to advocate for their patients, caring for all 100 of the sheep.