Toward the end of fall semester, WNMU Nursing students and faculty had a chance to learn more about the legislative process and professional advocacy at the New Mexico Nurses Association Student Day at the New Mexico Legislature.
“The purpose is to teach the students to advocate,” explained Associate Professor of Nursing Margaret Fran Driver. “They had students from every university in the state come to Santa Fe.” Driver led the trip along with Assistant Professor of Nursing Angela Cox. Joining them were two Level 3 nursing students, Ariana Medina and Catherine Fierro.
The experience was a full-day affair, said Driver. “They had a morning session where they talked about the legislation that would be coming up in the next legislative session,” she noted. “And then we walked over to the Roundhouse and watched the Legislative Health Committee.” At the Roundhouse, the students and faculty then had a chance to talk with several legislators, as well as with the lobbyist for the New Mexico Nurses Association.
In the afternoon, the students participated in a mock legislative session in which they debated a bill that will be in front of the Legislature during its 2025 session.
The experience was eye-opening, said Medina. “One of the number one reasons why I chose nursing was because of advocacy,” she said. “Learning how our laws are passed, especially in the field of healthcare, was really interesting to experience. We learn about it in class and by watching videos and reading books, but we don’t usually get to sit in on committee hearings, for example.”
Medina emphasized that the experience was not only educational buy also empowering. “My biggest takeaway from the experience is that I always have a voice,” she said. “It is okay for me to disagree with something if it is going to compromise someone’s safety. Anything that appears concerning, I can address that appropriately.”
In addition to being educational and empowering, the experience in Santa Fe was also culturally enriching. “I grew up in New Mexico, but I had never been to the Roundhouse,” noted Medina. “To be able to experience that was really neat.” In particular, she said, she enjoyed the art displayed in the Roundhouse.
Medina said that she also enjoyed the opportunity to spend time informally with the nursing faculty on the trip, eating meals together and enjoying the culture of Santa Fe. “I got to see my professors outside their professional realm,” she said. “We enjoyed each other’s company.”