When it comes to advocating for the profession, lobbying is one of the best ways to influence the creation of new programs or the passage of legislation to benefit occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) and the workers and worker populations they protect. It's not as complex as you might think. Consider the following tips for approaching your legislator, whether it be via face-to-face meetings, personal phone calls or written correspondence.

Scheduling a personal visit

To schedule a meeting, contact the legislator' s office and ask to speak with the scheduler or Health Legislative Assistant (Health LA). Be clear about the date and times you would like to meet, as well as issues you would like to discuss and attendees in your group. Do not be discouraged if you meet with a staffer instead of the legislator; building a relationship with legislative staff is helpful.

The initial meeting should be used as a get-to-know-you forum. As part of the getting-to-know-you process, here are some things legislators will need to know:

Introduce yourself

• Establish yourself as a health advocate. 
• Tell your legislator that you are a registered nurse. Your elected official may not be initially familiar with occupational and environmental health nursing, but many people are familiar with registered nurses. Then, use this opportunity to educate the legislator about the role of an occupational and environmental health nurse (OHN). For example, "As an OHN, I play an integral part in keeping your state's workers and worker populations safe and healthy on the job, enhancing their productivity and positively impacting business's bottom line." AAOHN has a one-page document about the role of the OHN and other background information you may wish to leave behind.

You are a resource

• Introduce your specialty, using general terms. Think "overview."

Issues important to you and your practice

• Explain the impact on your practice and/or the worker and worker population.
• Offer your expertise in the area of concern.

Stay in touch

• Leave your contact information and remind them you would be happy to lend your expertise on the legislative issues you mentioned.

Once you have established yourself as a credible source, you can then cover more specific legislative items. If you are meeting with your legislator to discuss a specific piece of legislation, follow these tips:

• Prepare ahead of time, have an agenda and be versed in the counter arguments.
• Ask the legislator where he or she stands on a bill or issue.
• Explain how this bill affects your practice or workers and worker populations.
• Do not monopolize the discussion, and be certain to leave room for the legislator to interject with questions or comments.
• If you do not know the answer to a question, assure the legislator or staffer you will follow up in a timely manner, and do so.

Calling or writing your legislator

If you're not comfortable with an in-person visit, consider calling or writing your legislator. When writing, send a personal letter, which is more effective than a form letter. Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing or calling:

• Always leave your full contact information when calling, and address your correspondences properly {The Honorable ; or Senator/Representative}.
• Identify yourself as a constituent from the legislator's district or state.
• Get to the point as quickly as possible and try to reference the specific bill number and title if you know it.
• Find out the legislator's point person for your issue and get his/her contact information.
• Once you are talking to the correct person, articulate your reasons for support or opposition to a bill. Focus on two or three points only and one bill per letter or conversation.
• Ask for a reply if you send a letter.

Follow up

After any meeting or phone call, send a thank-you letter summarizing the key points of the conversation as a reminder to the legislator; also, notify AAOHN, dean@aaohn.org and/or ann@aaohn.org.

Always keep the channels of communication open with your legislator, make visits, write letters and place phone calls. If your legislator feels it would be beneficial, you may - after securing the appropriate company approval - invite them to visit your workplace to find out more about health and safety programs and the benefits that OHNs like yourself provide to business.