Fuchs Urges Nurse Leaders to Share Expertise Through Advocacy

Leading Lasting Change Through Advocacy  

For almost two years, you have led through a global pandemic on top of routine health events and crises. You have adapted policies when change was needed, continually updated protocols to keep staff and patients safe and redeployed, even created from scratch care teams and space to accommodate ever-changing needs. These extraordinary times are becoming the new normal.  

We face a myriad of challenges: the well-being, both physical and mental health, of our workforce, the shortage of health care providers, social justice, health equity and public health. These issues can best be addressed through the lens nursing leadership provides, but to shape the future of health care, we must talk about the challenges as well as the solutions. 

Now more than ever, policy makers, media and the public must hear from us – urgently and loudly. As nurse leaders, you have the experience, perspective and trust to create lasting change. 

Earlier this year, I testified before a U.S. Senate committee about the pandemic’s impact on health care workers and wrote letters to the editor about the state of the nursing workforce. Many of you have found yourselves in similar situations: testifying before local and state governments, writing guest editorials or participating in media interviews. I urge us all to seize these moments to create momentum. Given our unique position as the most trusted professionals, think how powerful it would be to leverage these opportunities as a collective group and raise the voice and influence of nursing leadership. 

Your education, training and experience has made you a highly skilled, compassionate and trusted leader who can assess a situation and identify the best way to move forward. Many of us advocate for changes within our organization to better our patients and our teams. I challenge us to broaden our arenas to use our voices for change beyond the walls in which we work. Write an op-ed, meet with elected officials, talk to your media relations department and get comfortable using social media. 

In the last two years, the AONL community of nurse leaders has been my strength. I’ve seen the words and work from many of you already sharing needed messages with the public. Some of us may disagree with how we achieve change—but the fact we are discussing it openly with thought leaders and nurses are driving the conversation are essential parts to leading transformative change in health care. Let us support each other through advocacy. Below are highlights that hopefully spark ideas among colleagues or inspire others to speak up in ways that honor not only what we’ve been through, but also what we are capable of achieving.  

Nursing Leadership Can’t Be Ignored | by Claire Zangerle, RN Modern Healthcare 

Health Care Workers Attacked at Medical Facilities Says Chief Nursing Executive | KSAT.Com 

MMH's Bredimus pleads with council to take 'clear stance' on use of masks| Midland Reporter Telegram 

AONL President Mary Ann Fuchs, DNP, RN