Page 29 - Johns Hopkins Nursing Magazine Spring 2023 - Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

“We hope that nurses can start their careers with a sense have made a significant impact in their field or
of how crucial their knowledge is to changing policy and whose policy and advocacy work has improved the
how important policy tools are for changing health,” says health of individuals, communities, or populations
Szanton, who is teaching the inaugural 2023 curriculum, and demonstrate how nurse leaders are providing
which includes discussion-based seminars, regular outstanding contributions to health policy issues.
faculty mentoring sessions, and a policy-relevant project NEWS FROM JOHNS HOPKINS NURSING
and final presentation. Discussion and assignments help Learn more at nursing.jhu.edu/policyhonors.
students identify, evaluate, and influence local, state,
federal, and global policy issues. “As more nurses are
involved in policy and advocacy, more people will have THE INSTITUTE
access to care and better outcomes in life.”
The Policy Honors Program is just one part of a
“Advocacy is an inherent part of nursing,” adds Jenkins, strengthened policy focus.
“and this program does a great job of integrating us into
the world of policymaking. It’s a unique opportunity A JHSON policy institute, so new it has not yet been
to learn from leading experts, from community-based officially named, is being built to maximize the expertise
researchers to congressional lobbyists.” of nursing beyond the traditional role of caregiver,
utilizing skills in nursing roles as researchers, data
“As more nurses are involved analysts, entrepreneurs, health care advocates and—
most importantly—problem solvers. With a nursing
in policy and advocacy, more lens, the institute will be interdisciplinary, cross-
university, and forward-leaning, with cutting-edge and
people will have access to care collaborative research focused on two main pillars of
work, Szanton explains:
and better outcomes in life.” “Changing how nurses see themselves.” To achieve

better health for the United States and the world 27
Policy Honors Scholars are paired with faculty mentors through greater nursing leadership, the Institute will
like Campbell after an interview and matching process. create a policy pathway for implementation of nursing
(Mentors will rotate to offer access to the breadth of interventions developed at the School of Nursing. These
expertise among JHSON faculty.) The seminar course interventions will involve new and existing models of
must be taken both semesters that each student prevention and care (including training initiatives to
participates in the program. Discussions and varied increase diversity of the field), new payment models,
writing and presentation assignments will advance tech-enabled and virtual nursing care, and other
students’ ability to effectively communicate their enquiries with the potential to change nursing from an
analyses and policy proposals. In their second semester, undervalued, necessary cost to a fully valued asset.
students produce a policy-relevant project.
“Changing how the rest of the world thinks of nurses.”
Their successes will be celebrated in part through the To elevate the policy, communications, and media culture
annual Dean’s Award for Outstanding Policy Influencer, around nursing, the Institute will serve as a resource
honoring alumni whose advocacy accomplishments center where policymakers and news outlets can
at the local, regional, national, or international level routinely seek nurses’ input. The Institute will highlight