The Relentless School Nurse: My Last Hill Day – A Reflection on Advocacy, Purpose, and the Work That Matters

There is something powerful about walking the halls of Congress with a clear purpose, knowing exactly why you’re there and exactly who you’re fighting for. I’ve had the privilege of doing that year after year as the National Association of Nurses (NASN) Director from New Jersey.  This year, I did it for the last time in this role. And while endings always carry a certain weight, this one felt less like a goodbye and more like a gift.

Hill Day is the annual opportunity for NASN leaders and school nurse advocates from across the country to meet directly with their congressional representatives, putting faces and voices to the issues that matter most to school children and the nurses who care for them every day. It is democracy in action, and it never gets old.

This year, we arrived better prepared than ever, thanks to an extraordinary four-hour hands-on media-competency training led by communication strategist Barbara Glickstein. Barbara didn’t just teach us how to talk to legislators; she helped us find our advocacy voices. Through real practice and guided reflection, she gave us the tools and confidence to tell our stories compellingly, authentically, and with impact. For many of us, it was a reminder that our lived experiences as school nurses are not just professional credentials; they are powerful evidence. Walking into those congressional offices, I felt the difference.

This year’s legislative priorities were as urgent as ever. We advocated for passage of the bipartisan NURSE Act (H.R. 3262), which would formally recognize the critical role school nurses play in keeping students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. We urged Congress to protect IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which turns 50 this year and remains a lifeline for students with disabilities. Moving its administration out of the Department of Education, as has been proposed, would weaken the very oversight that makes it work. And we called for reauthorization of Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, which support nursing education at every level and help ensure the next generation of nurses is ready to serve.

One of the most personally meaningful moments of this Hill Day came when I had the opportunity to meet with Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey. Before thanking him for his support of our advocacy priorities, I told him something I had long wanted to say: thank you for what he did on January 6th, 2021. The now-iconic image of then-Congressman Kim kneeling on the floor of the Capitol Rotunda in the early morning hours after the attack, quietly picking up debris with his bare hands, spoke volumes about his character and his love for this institution. It was the kind of quiet, dignified act that stays with you. To be able to look him in the eye and express that gratitude,  as a New Jerseyan, as a nurse, as someone who believes deeply in democracy, was a moment I will carry with me long after this role ends. 

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For me, this Hill Day carried something extra. Knowing it was my last as NJ Director made every conversation feel sharper, every handshake more meaningful. I found myself reflecting on how much has changed over the years — the issues we’ve fought for, the progress we’ve seen, the colleagues who have stood beside me in those offices and hallways. The school nursing community is one of the most dedicated, passionate groups of professionals I have ever had the honor of working alongside. Thank you to dear friends and colleagues, spending time together is healing and envigorating. 

It wasn’t really my last Hill Day. It was just my last one with this particular title. The work continues.

Some views from NASN Hill Day 2026