Brigner on National Nurse Week

As a nurse, I’ve found one of the most rewarding aspects of my profession and chosen path is the ability to advocate for patients not just at the bedside, but also at the policy table. Nurses are in the unique and privileged position of caring for patients holistically: before, after, and during treatment. This approach can be extended to the lawmaking process, where a nurse’s voice is valuable in communicating how new policy or regulatory proposals would impact not only the health care system but patients themselves, and their families. In my career, I’ve had the honor of caring for patients during their time of need and advocate on their behalf in Washington, DC. While in nursing school, I became politically active, serving as President of the Texas Nursing Students’ Association and then as President for the National Student Nurses Association, where I traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for my fellow pre-professional nursing students. These experiences led me to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where I worked in Neurology on clinical trials and came to appreciate the importance of incorporating the patient perspective into new developments and policies in the health care field. National Nurses Week provided us with a time to recognize the tenacious advocacy and role of nurses for patients.  It’s not surprising that again in 2014, nursing was rated the most trustworthy profession by the Gallup polling organization. Nurses are patient advocates first a...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news