What is the Fellowship timeline?

Applications open in July and remain open for 3-4 weeks. Fellow selections are made in August. Fellowship starts in October.

What will I produce as a Fellow?

You will contribute to campaign outputs. Depending on the campaign, that can include written sections, syntheses of findings, draft recommendations support content, and materials that support sharing recommendations through external opportunities.

Will my work be public?

Some Fellow work is published or shared publicly as part of campaign outputs. When Fellow contributions are public-facing, Fellows are credited.

What kinds of work will I do month to month?

Expect a mix of structured meetings, focused drafting work, and stakeholder conversations. The balance depends on the campaign stage.

Will I work alone or with others?

You will work with ANA\California staff and collaborate with other Fellows, partners, and subject matter experts as needed.

Will I need to be a policy expert to apply?

No. The Fellowship is designed to build your practical advocacy skills and show you how change happens in the real world.

What support will I receive?

You will receive guidance, structure, and feedback through required meetings and campaign work cycles.

Build real influence by advancing policy campaigns.

APPLY

What you will do as an Advocacy Institute Fellow.

You already see what is not working in the nursing workforce, healthcare, and public health. Our annual, immersive Fellowship program helps you turn real-world input into clear recommendations and build influence with the people who shape policy and systems.

Do real campaign work
Build listening tools
Synthesize data
Meet with experts
Draft recommendations

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Contribute to state-level policy campaigns like these.

Fellows contribute to campaign outputs that live beyond the program. When your work is used in public-facing materials, Fellows are credited.

ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN

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Draft Assessments

Fellows joined our Taskforces to draft assessments for health systems and academic institutions.

2021

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Support Pilot Studies

Fellows worked with partnering institutions to collect and analyze data from assessment responses.

2023

Publish Policy Reports

Fellows, Taskforces, and experts drafted policy recommendation reports from data and experts.

2025

Update Assessments

Fellows joined our Racism in Nursing Taskforces to draft assessments and analyze data.

2026

VETERAN HEALTH CAMPAIGN

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Publish Preliminary Report

Our inaugural Fellow joined our Advisory Council to develop survey and preliminary report.

2025

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Analyze Survey Data + SME Conversations

Fellows analyzed survey data and connected with subject matter experts to uncover opportunities.

2026

Publish Policy Report

Fellows, taskforce members, and experts drafted reports synthesizing insights into recommendations.

2026

Build Implementation Guides

Future Fellows will support the development of implementation guides for policy adoption.

2027

AI + DOCUMENTATION CAMPAIGN

Publish Literature Review

Fellow reviewed literature, research, and data to compile insights for future policy change and campaign focus.

2025

Draft Survey + SME Conversations

Fellows drafted a survey and connected with subject matter experts on five key focus areas.

2026

Publish Policy

Report

Fellows will draft reports, synthesizing data and insights into policy recommendations.

2027

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Start Advisory Council

Fellows will convene subject matter experts to guide additional focus areas under this campaign.

2027

VIEW ALL CAMPAIGNS

Who this is for

Registered nurses who want to strengthen their advocacy skills and take on systems-level challenges

Registered nurses who can commit time each month and follow through on deadlines and deliverables

Registered nurses who want to learn how policy change happens and how to engage decision-makers

What you will learn

What questions to ask to identify the real problem and what needs to change
Who to connect with, why it matters, and how to build productive working relationships
How to design surveys and listening tools that produce usable findings and actionable policy recommendations
How to draft clear messaging that supports action and decision-making
How to build relationships with legislators and other decision-makers
How policy change happens at the local and state level in practice

What you will do

Participate in required meetings, advocacy activities, and legislative and Board of Registered Nursing activities
Engage decision-makers, subject matter experts, coalitions, partners, and other stakeholders
Draft and refine campaign outputs, including writing, review cycles, and launch planning
Draft and refine campaign outputs, including writing, review cycles, and sharing recommendations through external opportunities
Create listening tools (for example: surveys and interview guides)
Review and synthesize data (for example: survey results, listening-session themes, and key findings)
Coordinate with ANA\California staff, leadership, and Fellows to shape priorities, next steps, and stakeholder conversations across the ANA\California network
Track decisions and changes, and maintain documentation of what those changes affect