MSU-Meridian nursing students visit lawmakers during Advocacy Day at U.S. Capitol

MERIDIAN, Miss.—Prior advocacy work recently sent two Mississippi State University-Meridian Master of Science in Nursing students to Washington, D.C., to speak with lawmakers about bettering patient outcomes.

Christie Chatterton of Meridian and Alden Tomlinson of Corinth were chosen from among 36 peers to attend the recent American Association of Colleges of Nursing Advocacy Day.

“As a state grassroots liaison, I see firsthand how nursing policy and advocacy affect every nurse and every patient we serve,” said Mary Stewart, dean of MSU-Meridian’s School of Nursing who accompanied the students. “Our Mississippi leaders welcomed our voices and took time to listen as we shared how strong nursing education is essential to improving health across our state.”

Chatterton spent 18 years in education at Northwest Middle School in Meridian before entering the MSN program. As a teacher, she ran a mentorship program and advocated for providing fundamental sustenance and protection for students, such as food and clothing.

“In nursing I would like to focus on women’s health and become an advocate for victims of sexual assault,” she said.

Before entering the MSN program, Tomlinson had been on a path to law school, having earned a political science degree from MSU.

“This trip really opened my eyes. In nursing, I knew we were understaffed, but being adequately staffed means being paid well for the work we take on,” Tomlinson said. “It takes funding to create a school like this, to get good faculty and to give the world what it needs—more nurses.

The students had the chance to meet with staff from the offices of Mississippi Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Rep. Michael Guest.

“The most eye-opening experience of this trip is realizing that we do have a voice,” said Tomlinson, who plans to earn a doctorate in nursing. “Do your homework, realize people may not agree with you, and keep working to improve patient care.”

For more information on MSU-Meridian’s MSN program, visit www.nursing.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.