Underwood calls on nurses to engage in policy, politics

Speaking at the American Academy of Nursing‘s annual policy conference, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., laid out her policy priorities and expressed her fervent belief that “engaging in policy is not optional,” for nurses. Underwood is the most recent nurse to be elected to Congress. She said nurses are leading and driving change in the clinical and research sectors every day, but few nurses have stepped into the political or even policy arenas. She challenged nurses to engage in public health debates occurring in their communities and to educate the next generation of nurses to see civic engagement as part of the nursing role. (Off the Charts story, 10/29/19)