Above: Nursing students Mackenzie Gasser and Steven Santos with Dr. Lauren Swant.
During Saints Giving Day 2024, the Carroll College Nursing Cause was designed to help offset the costs for nursing students to register and attend the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Student Policy Summit in Washington, DC. During this event, nursing students from all degree levels (BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD) are immersed in program sessions focused on the federal policy process and nursing’s role in professional advocacy.
Thanks to the generous support displayed during this Saints Giving Day, Dr. Lauren Swant was able to have two of our current nursing students attend this event with her on March 24-25, 2024. Carroll College nursing students were the ONLY nursing students representing Montana Nursing Education in attendance!
The Student Policy Summit afforded me the opportunity to advocate for additional funds that will benefit those seeking a BSN or an advanced nursing degree. This funding is especially important in states like Montana where every county, except Yellowstone, is considered rural. Residents living in these rural areas must often travel hundreds of miles to seek care, because it is unavailable in their community. With increased funding, these rural areas have the potential to establish a primary care clinic closer to home, as it can be staffed by an advanced degree nurse. With easier access, patients are more apt to seek care, thereby preventing or slowing disease/illness progression.
As a future nurse, it is my responsibility to advocate for my patients, but in order to best do so, I must first advocate for the nursing profession. The Student Policy Summit gave me insight and opportunity to do that while there, and to continue doing so, wherever my degree may take me.
- Mackenzie Gasser (senior nursing student - traditional track) from Billings, MT
My recent experience in Washington D.C. has been nothing short of transformative, unveiling the boundless avenues for nursing professionals seeking to instigate genuine change. Beyond the confines of clinical practice, nurses are entrusted with the profound responsibility of advocacy, championing not just the welfare of individual patients, but the collective advancement of our profession. This experience served as a powerful catalyst, prompting contemplation on the potential ripple effects of policy advocacy and the pivotal role nurses play in shaping healthcare outcomes. Furthermore, the extensive networking opportunities afforded me the privilege of forging bonds with like-minded individuals who are united by a shared vision of transformative change. As I reflect upon the rich tapestry of experiences garnered through these new connections and experiences, these memories will undoubtedly remain cherished as I continue to navigate my career as a nurse.- Steven Santos (post-baccalaureate accelerated nursing student) from Whittier, CA