Connect

UVA Health Nursing Advocacy Initiative (NAI) held its second annual Advocacy Day on Jan. 29 at the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond. Every nurse who participated is an NAI Nurse Ambassador — a UVA Health professional nurse who has completed an in-person, NAI training session covering topics including the state legislature and legislators, nonpartisan advocacy communications, and coalition building strategies.

NAI didn't let anything stand in its way. "We were delighted (and frankly, relieved) to hold our Advocacy Day — even though the snow and ice shut down roads, schools, and created other logistical hurdles for all our Nurse Ambassadors who attended," recalls Leanne Fox, MPP, Nursing Governance Coordinator, Nursing Professional Governance Office. "We knew other organizations had to cancel their Advocacy Days earlier in the week, so we were glad ours was a 'Go!' NAI nurses arrived — undaunted — at pickup sites for the bus before 6 a.m., despite the ice and freezing temps."

Advocacy Day is one of the biggest events of the year for NAI nurse ambassadors. “It is essential that legislators are given the information they need to influence policy that supports good outcomes, and NAI is committed to creating the pathway to do that,” notes Jennifer “JT” Hall, MSN, RN, CNL, Director, UVA Health University Medical Center Nursing Professional Practice.

In addition to Fox and Hall serving as facilitators — the group included a third facilitator, Pamela Sirota, Legislative Coordinator, UVA Health Government Relations, and 21 Nurse Ambassadors. All attended a House of Delegates Health and Human Services Committee meeting — and were acknowledged by the Chair, Del. Rodney Willett: “Nurses are some of my favorite people!" He thanked UVA Health NAI Nurse Ambassadors for their healthcare advocacy on behalf of Virginians.

The group then split into three smaller groups of seven Nurse Ambassadors and one facilitator. Each group visited the offices of three different legislators, all of whom either represent areas that include a UVA Health facility or are involved in legislation relating to one of NAI's three key issue areas: maternal health, Medicaid defense, and health care workforce development.

UVA Health University Medical Center is ranked the #1 hospital in Virginia and among the top 50 nationally; UVA Health Children's is ranked the #1 children’s hospital in Virginia and includes a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Level IV Maternity Center, so UVA Health nurses care for the sickest mothers and babies who require the highest, most complex level of care.

“This was our second NAI Advocacy Day, and the increase in confidence that our ambassadors demonstrated in speaking with legislators as compared to when we began the program was noticeable,” says Hall. “They were extremely well prepared and delivered concise, expert information that prompted legislators to ask good questions and request additional information. The respect for their knowledge and experience was evident.”

"Our hospitals regularly receive complex patient transfers from other facilities, so UVA Health nurses care for patients who live well beyond their communities and are perfectly positioned to advocate for the health care of these patients to legislators," explains Fox. "In Richmond, NAI Nurse Ambassadors shared their expertise and experiences caring for these mothers and babies — after all, better maternal outcomes also mean better infant outcomes, and what helps patients is often less expensive in the long run, too. NAI Nurse Ambassadors from Obstetrics, Fetal Medicine, Labor and Delivery, and NICU were instrumental in these conversations with legislators."

She adds: "NAI Nurse Ambassadors are concerned about how anticipated losses to Medicaid funding will impact patients and hospitals, and though we understand this is largely a federal issue, we are interested to hear how state legislators are working to address this. Medicaid is a state-federal partnership and the federal government is responsible for setting standards and administering the bulk of funding; Congress must change federal law in order to prevent the most devastating impacts from occurring."

Fox says there are some ways state legislators are working to mitigate the impact this law could have. "20% of Virginians are on Medicaid, one in three births in Virginia is covered by Medicaid, and roughly one in three children in Virginia is on Medicaid. Medicaid also impacts use of the Emergency Department and uncompensated care."

Nurse managers — and nurses from UVA Health's Continuum Home Health, Population Health, and Pediatrics — were especially instrumental in these conversations, helping connect the dots for the Virginia State Capitol audience.

NAI met with:

• State Sen. Lashrecse Aird, who has sponsored several maternal health-related bills in the past.
• Del. Katrina Callsen and Del. Amy Laufer, referred to by NAI as “local legislators” because they represent UVA Health University Medical Center and its directly associated clinics.
• Del. Margaret Franklin, main sponsor of several maternal health bills this session, including HB1398 to establish a Maternal and Infant Mortality Review Team, and HB1400 to require insurance carriers to provide maternal mental health screening.
• Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, main sponsor of HB425, a bill advocated by NAI that would expand access to remote monitoring for issues such as hypertension and gestational diabetes during pregnancy and the postpartum period for mothers on Medicaid. 

And the staff of:

• State Sen. Creigh Deeds, our other local legislator.
• State Sen. Emily Jordan, who has championed maternal health bills including last year’s SAFE Birth VA).
• State Sen. Bryce Reeves, who has UVA Health facilities in his district.
• Del. Rodney Willett, Chair, Health and Human Services Committee, and sponsor of many healthcare and healthcare workforce bills.

After legislative meetings, the smaller groups reconnected as NAI ascended to the gallery above the floor of the House of Delegates. Del. Callsen honored NAI with an official introduction to the House and a warm acknowledgement of the group's healthcare advocacy. She explained the NAI to the House, noting the program has gained national recognition for nurse leadership: “Today is their Advocacy Day, I hope many of [you] have the chance to meet them, and I am grateful for their leadership and service.

"Nurse Ambassadors rose as the House of Delegates applauded their work," recounts Fox. "It was a huge honor and a very special and rewarding moment!"

NAI collaborates closely with UVA Health University Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, and UVA Health External Affairs Office, and is grateful for their support. 

Add Your Voice

NAI Nurse Ambassadors participate in policy discussions throughout the year and collect Nurse Narratives that relate to NAI issue areas to share with legislators in support of policies that impact patients, nursing, or healthcare. Nurse Narratives are one way every professional nurse at UVA Health can support this work. Submit your Nurse Narrative.