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Educating legislators and nurses is a major part of the lobbyist's job, as well as developing strong relationships with lawmakers, their staff and other lobbyists by gaining and sharing up-to-date information.

Rose Gonzalez, MPS, RN, director of government affairs for the American Nurses Association, was stunned by being ushered to the front of a line that stretched down a hallway in Washington, D.C. Awaiting their turn to enter a small room, Gonzalez and other health care lobbyists were hoping to gain access to "markups" on an appropriations bill. During a break, a congressman spied Gonzalez in line and escorted her past the jealous eyes of her colleagues.

"A markup is when the legislators take a bill and are making changes in committee," Gonzalez said. "You try to see if your little piece is in or out."

Once the bill is marked up, it goes forward to be voted on. "This particular bill incorporated funding for [nursing] education," Gonzalez said. "I was very interested to hear whether they were going to change it or give nursing some special emphasis."

Gonzalez, who said she was "pleasantly surprised" to be given first-class treatment, was reaping the fruits of her labor. Her good fortune that day was a result of many hours of just doing her job.

"I had been working very closely with the legislator and his staff, so he just spotted me in the crowd and said, 'Why don't you come with me?' she said. "My job as a lobbyist is really about educating people and building relationships."

How respected are nurses on Capitol Hill? "Our word is what makes the difference," Gonzalez said. "We know that nurses are trusted. We take that with us when we lobby. We're committed to the issues that we move on and we're truly respected on Capitol Hill."

Gonzalez said recently in The Hill newspaper that legislators ranked the ANA No.17 out of 171 influential groups on health policy, a prestigious ranking, especially when compared to organizations with much greater resources, such as the American Medical Association.

Legislation education

Tricia Hunter, MN, RN, executive director and lobbyist for the American Nurses Association\ California, expanded on the need for educating political leaders.

"A bill can impact whether our patients have access to their practitioner or get a certain medication. A bill impacts whether a patient gets a cardiac cath, dental hygiene or a hearing aid. It becomes imperative that we're talking to legislators because they often don't know much about health care," Hunter said.

Hunter knows firsthand the importance of educating legislators. Twelve years ago, she was elected and served as an assemblywoman for California.

While serving in the Assembly, Hunter introduced legislation that licensed perfusionists, who run heart-lung bypass machines during cardiac surgery. Because Hunter, a former operating room nurse, led the legislation, the bill flew through both houses with consent. After the bill passed, "13 legislators came back and asked me what a perfusionist was and one even asked why we were licensing percussionists," Hunter said, laughing.

"My point is," Hunter said, "there's no way a legislator can be informed on all the issues that come into the Assembly and Senate. You're only going to know as much about the bill you're voting on as someone who cares about that legislation takes the time to let you know," Hunter said.

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