We Keep Waiting: Developing Advocacy Skills in Your Nurses at the Organizational Level to Advance State & Federal Conversations (Leadership SIG)

Medical assistants (MA) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs)/licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) have seen the expansion of their scope of responsibility that often does not align with their training and education—and RNs usually have oversight of these roles. Why are RNs not owning our territory? If not us, who, and when? Why do we keep waiting for someone to save us? The AAACN Advocacy Committee is partnering with the ANA to advance the state and federal conversations of title protection and nurse reimbursement. This presentation assists nurses and nurse leaders in having conversations to answer these questions so we can create our narrative and be staunch advocates for our professional practice. We will also demonstrate how to bring state and federal issues and legislation into staff meetings, governance councils, and local chapters of professional organizations, as well as provide ideas in creating an "elevator speech" for RNs, no matter their role, to answer the inevitable question, “What exactly do you do?"

Continuing Education Instructions and Disclosure Information:

Contact hours available until 4/6/2026.

Requirements for Successful Completion:
Complete the learning activity in its entirety and complete the online nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) evaluation. You will be able to print your NCPD certificate at any time after you complete the evaluation.

Disclosure of relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies (planners, faculty/speakers, reviewers):

Planning Committee Disclosures:
There are no Planning Committee disclosures to declare.

Speaker Disclosures:
There are no speaker disclosures to declare.

Commercial Support:
No commercial support declared.

Accreditation Statement:
This educational activity is jointly provided by Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc. (AJJ) and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN).

Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc. is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

AAACN is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider number CEP 5366.

Learning Outcome:
After completing this learning activity, the participant will be able to identify ways to advocate for nursing as a professional practice.