In this section, you'll:
Download ready-to-use templates and scripts specifically tailored for nursing advocacy.
Utilize resources to put your advocacy knowledge into action.
Gain additional insights and best practices for nursing advocacy, enhancing your ability to advocate for important issues in healthcare.
Making changes to policies, systems, and structures can be a challenging process.
While much of the Advocacy Institute Guide has been focused on educating you, the following section is designed to make what you've learned actionable!!!
Use the templates and scripts we created below to get you started on your advocacy journey.
Templates you'll find in this section:
How to Share What Nurses Do
How to Call a Policymaker
How to Write an Email to a Policymaker
How to Write a Press Release
How to Email Pitch a Journalist
Note: To get the most out of the templates and scripts, utilize insights, tips, and best practices learned in previous sections of the Advocacy Institute Guide.
General
How to Share What Nurses Do
Nurses are essential to the healthcare system and play a critical role in improving patient outcomes, promoting public health, and advancing healthcare practices.
Nurses work to promote health and prevent illness through education, counseling, and disease-prevention strategies.
Nurses help to prevent illness by administering vaccinations, screening for health conditions, and providing patient education on healthy behaviors.
Nurses manage patient care by assessing patient needs, developing care plans, and providing direct patient care, including administering medications and performing procedures.
Nurses advocate for patients by ensuring their rights are protected and helping them navigate the healthcare system.
Nurses collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, social workers, and physical therapists, to provide comprehensive patient care.
Nurses educate patients and their families on health management, including self-care, medication management, and disease prevention.
Nurses conduct research to improve patient care and develop new treatments and therapies.
Nurses play a leadership role in healthcare initiatives, including developing policies and procedures, managing healthcare teams, and advocating for healthcare policy changes.
During conversations with policymakers, it is important to introduce yourself, inform them of what you do (as a nurse), and share why you care about the issue from a nurse's perspective.
Use the template below to share a comprehensive but concise response about what nurses do.
Tip: Remember, introductions should be short and sweet - no more than 15 seconds.
[What Nurses Do Template]
Download Word Doc - What Nurses Do Template.
Templates for Policymakers
How to Call a Legislator
If you want to make your voice heard on a particular issue or advocate for a cause, calling your legislator can be an effective way to do so.
Legislators rely on feedback from their constituents to shape their policies and decisions, and a phone call can be a more personal and impactful way to communicate your message than an email or letter.
Use the script below to plan for your call.
[Legislator Call Script]
Download Word Doc - Legislator Call Script.
How to Write an Email or Letter to a Legislator
Writing a letter to your legislator can be a powerful way to express your views and influence policy decisions. Whether you are advocating for a particular issue or simply want to voice your concerns, a well-crafted letter can make a significant impact on your representative's decision-making process.
Use this template to craft a succinct message to your legislator.
[Legislator Letter Template]
Download Word Doc- Legislator Letter Template.
Templates for News Media
How to Write a Press Release or Public Statement
Writing a press release or public statement is a critical skill for anyone who wants to promote a business, event, or cause. Similar in nature, both are essentially brief, compelling messages that aim to generate media coverage and public interest.
Before writing a press release or public statement, ask yourself questions like these:
Do I have data, personal stories, AND expert testimonies to back up my position?
Who are my primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences? What are their values?
Does someone oppose my position?
Who stands to benefit from my position?
Once you've written down some notes from the question above, you can begin writing your statement.
Remember, this is a time for clarity but brevity. Each of the four sections below should not exceed two sentences each - rare exceptions excluded.
Use the following format for your press release:
Introduce Problem: Start your press release by introducing the problem or issue that your message addresses. This can be a current event or a persistent issue that your organization is working to address.
Provide Context: Once you have introduced the problem, provide some context for your readers. This could include statistics, historical background, expert testimonials, or other relevant information that helps to frame the issue.
State your Position/Solution: After providing context, clearly state your position or solution to the problem. This should be a clear and concise statement that highlights the unique value that your organization brings to the table or details how the solution will address the problem.
Call to Action: Finally, include a call to action that encourages your readers to take some sort of action, whether it be visiting your website, attending an event, or contacting their elected officials. This should be a clear and direct request that motivates your readers to engage with your message.
[Example Press Release]
Need more examples? View official ANA\California press releases and statements.
How to Email Pitch a Journalist
Email pitching is an effective way to get your story in front of journalists. But journalists get hundreds of emails a day and are often on tight deadlines.
A successful email pitch should be concise, personalized, and provide a clear value proposition to the journalist.
Here are some key components of an effective email pitch to a journalist:
Subject line: The subject line should be concise and attention-grabbing, providing a clear indication of what the pitch is about.
Introduction: Begin with a brief introduction that establishes who you are, why you are reaching out to the journalist, and what you want to pitch.
Personalization: Personalize the pitch by referencing the journalist's previous work or areas of interest, demonstrating that you have done your research and are familiar with their coverage.
Value proposition: Clearly articulate the value proposition of your pitch, explaining why it would be of interest to the journalist's readership or audience.
Supporting information: Provide supporting information, such as statistics, case studies, or quotes, to reinforce the value of your pitch.
Call to action: End with a clear call to action, such as a request for an interview or a follow-up call.
Contact information: Include your contact information, including phone number and email address, so the journalist can easily get in touch with you.
Use this template to help you write better email pitches to journalists.
[Journalist Email Pitch Template]
Download Word Doc - Journalist Email Pitch Template.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Nursing advocacy is an essential aspect of healthcare in California.
Throughout the Advocacy Institute Guide, we have explored various aspects of nursing advocacy, including:
Perceived barriers and challenges to nursing advocacy
How to create change at the three different levels of policy
Steps to setting up your own campaign
What 'political will' is and how to measure it
How to compose and deliver your message
Who are nurse advocates who've done it before
Guides, templates, and scripts to give you a helping hand
From this guide, it is clear that nursing advocacy is crucial in ensuring that nurses have a voice in shaping healthcare policies and practices that affect their profession and patients.
Ultimately, nursing advocacy is about empowering nurses to be agents of change in their profession and society. As California's healthcare landscape continues to evolve, nurses need to remain vigilant and proactive in advocating for their interests and those of their patients.
By doing so, nurses can contribute to the development of a more equitable, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system in California and beyond.
Be bold and take the next step!