From Bedside to Capitol Hill: Bradley DNP-FNP Student Advocates for the Future of Nursing
Ngai “Fei” Cheng
Doctor of Nursing Practice: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Student
When Ngai “Fei” Cheng enrolled in Bradley University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) program, she didn’t expect her studies would eventually take her to Capitol Hill.
But this spring, Fei joined hundreds of nurses and nursing students from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Student Policy Summit and Hill Day — an annual advocacy event focused on shaping healthcare policy and supporting the future of the nursing profession.
The experience helped her better understand the role nurses can play in shaping healthcare policy and advocating for their communities.
“While assessing my AACN competencies, I recognized a gap in my knowledge of policies and policy advocacy,” she says. “I also realized how essential this area is to professional competence, as it directly impacts the nation's health and the direction of healthcare.”
Throughout her coursework in Bradley’s online DNP-FNP program, Fei looked for ways to build her knowledge of healthcare policy and advocacy. When she learned about AACN Hill Day, she saw it as an opportunity to gain firsthand experience working alongside nurses and healthcare leaders from across the country.
Attending the event, however, came with a financial hurdle.
After discussing the opportunity with Dr. Deborah Erickson, the Senior Academic Director of Online Education and Associate Professor of Nursing at Bradley, Fei learned the Department of Nursing would help make the trip possible.
Erickson says supporting Fei's participation was an easy decision.
“What stands out about Fei as a student is her exceptional combination of academic excellence, professionalism, and potential for leadership growth,” she says.
“I knew that Fei was seeking an opportunity to learn more about the political influences in healthcare. During one of our meetings when Fei talked about attending the AACN Student Policy Summit and Hill Day, I immediately shared her interest with the Department of Nursing Chair, Dr. Rachel Borton, who was able to provide funds for Fei to participate in this exceptional learning event.”
A Front-Row Look at Healthcare Policy in Action
The two-day experience gave Fei an inside look at how healthcare policy decisions are shaped and how nurses can help influence them.
On the first day, she networked with more than 200 nursing students from across the country and attended presentations from healthcare leaders, congressional staffers and nursing experts.
“I gained valuable insights into how the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) supports students interested in research, how to engage staffers’ attention, and the inner workings of the healthcare system,” she says.
The second day focused on meetings with congressional offices as part of AACN’s national advocacy effort. Alongside nursing leaders from institutions across Illinois, Fei met with staffers from the offices of Senator Dick Durbin, Representative Lauren Underwood, Representative Darin LaHood and Representative Eric Sorensen.
Together, nurses advocated for several key initiatives, including:
- $610 million in funding for Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act, which supports nursing education, workforce development and access to care
- $210 million in funding for the NINR
- Reauthorization of federal nursing workforce development programs
- Legislation supporting nursing education and workforce development
More than 400 nurses participated in the advocacy effort that day, holding more than 200 meetings on Capitol Hill.
Dr. Erickson says the experience provided valuable opportunities for Fei to expand her professional network and advocacy skills.
“Upon her return, Fei shared numerous examples of how she networked with students, faculty, and administrators from other schools of nursing to advocate for nursing priorities with our legislators,” Erickson says.
Finding Confidence Through Advocacy
The experience also gave Fei a new perspective on the role nurses can play in shaping healthcare policy.
“The most important lesson is the power of unity. As one of the nation’s largest professions, nurses must come together with a unified voice to advocate for both our profession and the communities we serve. When we stand together, our impact is greater.”
Participating in Hill Day also reinforced the importance of being informed and prepared when advocating for healthcare policy changes.
Ahead of the trip, Fei took time to better understand healthcare issues affecting Illinois communities and how federal funding could help address them.
“I was honored to represent Bradley University at a national advocacy event,” she says. “Since I am not an Illinois resident, I took the initiative to research local issues and discovered that mental health is the leading cause of emergency department visits. I highlighted this finding as a key reason to support Title VIII.”
A Career Change Inspired by Compassion
Fei’s path into nursing was not a traditional one.
She lives in Edgewater, Maryland, just outside Annapolis, with her three children. Before entering healthcare, she worked in the food industry and had no nursing experience prior to 2017.
A personal experience inspired her decision to pursue nursing.
“My decision to become a nurse was inspired by the compassionate care my father-in-law received when he was hospitalized with glioblastoma. Witnessing the kindness of the nurses who supported him and our family motivated me to join this profession.”
After returning to community college, she earned an associate degree from Anne Arundel Community College and later completed her bachelor’s degree at Stevenson University. Today, she works as an inpatient nurse on a neuroscience unit while completing Bradley’s online DNP-FNP program.
After graduation, Fei hopes to serve her community by working in a local clinic with a focus on stroke prevention. She also plans to stay involved in healthcare advocacy and policy work.
“Participating in Hill Day gave me invaluable knowledge and firsthand experience to begin my policy advocacy journey,” she says. “It also boosted my confidence in communicating with policymakers and engaging in discussions that shape healthcare access, quality, and the nursing profession.”
Encouraging Other Nurses to Get Involved
Fei hopes other nursing students realize they don’t need to be policy experts to start making a difference.
“Healthcare policy and advocacy can be daunting. I learned that even small actions, such as emailing your local representatives or joining a discussion board as a participant, can be the start of a meaningful healthcare policy/advocacy journey. No action is ever too small.”
Fei says her time as a Bradley student has helped prepare her not only for advanced clinical practice, but also for leadership and advocacy opportunities beyond the bedside.
“Bradley’s intensive program has taught me to become a well-rounded practitioner who thinks critically and provides compassionate, empathetic care to every patient,” she says. “The encouragement and support I received in developing my advocacy skills empowered me to take my first step into policy advocacy. What I have learned will inspire me to keep advocating for improved healthcare access and quality.”
Whether the next step in your nursing career is adding a new specialization, growing as a policy advocate, or advancing your leadership skills, Bradley University’s online nursing programs are designed to help nurses expand their impact in healthcare and their communities.
Learn more and get started today.