AAPPN Lobby Day Update

Many thanks to AAPPN President Dana Dean Doering, Snohomish Co-Chairs Nikki Behner and Danielle Waldron, and Legislative Committee Member Danielle DeOliveira for traveling to Olympia for AAPPN’s Lobby Day on February 6, 2019.

Dana summed up the day beautifully. “Although feeling timid at first- it became a super fun day and one filled with heartfelt interest in what we as advanced psychiatric nurses are doing, and even greater interest in hearing our expertise, commitment to patient care & views on many subjects. It was also very inspirational to be in the Capitol, to meet the Senators and Representatives and to “feel” the verve of the place. These people are working for us and really need our input and expertise to add value to their decisions on these issues also.”

The main goal for Lobby Day was to introduce AAPPN and the advanced practice psychiatric nurse practitioner profession to legislators. We were able to meet with Rep. Mike Chapman (24th Legislative District), Rep. Mia Gregerson (33rd Legislative District), Sen. Karen Keiser (33rd Legislative District), Rep. Tina Orwall (33rd Legislative District), Rep. Sharon Shewmake (42nd Legislative District), Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (24th Legislative District), and Sen. Keith Wagoner (39th Legislative District).