Nurses expertise and empathy are valued in the health care setting. As nurses, we should ensure that we each contribute to advancing the nursing profession through health policies that will improve health care. In this course, you will have the opportunity to learn how you can become a grassroots nurse advocate by acting and speaking as one collective voice. Follow the steps outlined below to write a letter to your Congressperson or Senator to express your view on an issue in nursing that is negatively or will negatively impact health care. The letter should be typed and proofread. Place letter in an envelope addressed to the Congressman/Senator.

Address the following in about 4 paragraphs to include:
1.    Introduce yourself; state the issue that you will address in the letter that is causing the problem
2.    Your opinion on this issue. Why is your issue important for you as a registered nurse; research about the issue to support your argument;
3.    Restate your purpose for writing the letter. Ask the Congressman/Senator to help to take action to address the issue.
4.    Ensure that you thank the Congressman/Senator