Introduction
One of the most significant public health issues in the state of West Virginia is the high rate of smoking. In West Virginia, 25.7 percent of the population reports smoking regularly, compared to only 17.5 percent in the country as a whole (United Health Foundation, 2016). At the same time, West Virginia has some of the least restrictive smoking laws in the United States, since there is currently no statewide ban on smoking in workplaces or public places (U.S. Legal, 2017). Also, the current state tax on cigarettes is only $1.20 per pack, which is lower than the national average (Scarboro, 2017). Therefore, my policy proposal is to enact a state law banning smoking in workplaces and public places and to increase the state cigarette tax to $2.00 per pack. To discuss this proposal, I plan to meet with State Senator Craig Blair, who represents District 15 in the West Virginia State Legislature. During the visit, I will urge him to initiate legislation on this issue, in order to protect the health of the people of West Virginia.
Communication Strategies and Empirical Evidence
When I meet with State Senator Craig Blair, one of my goals will be to communicate the seriousness of the issue from a health perspective. Thus, I will be ready to present him with scientifically proven information about the negative health effects of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Empirical studies show that healthy policy advocates are more effective when they provide evidence-based policy proposals (Garcia, Hernandez, & Mata, 2014), so it is more likely that Senator Blair will be receptive to my arguments if I highlight the research that has been conducted on this issue. In particular, I plan to highlight the body of research linking smoking with pervasive conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease (Rostron, Chang, and Pechacek, 2014) and secondhand smoking with physical and mental problems in children (Al-Sayed & Ibrahim, 2014), because this will ensure that he understands how high rates of smoking are affecting all of his constituents.
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In addition, after the meeting, I will be sure to follow up Senator with a personalized, handwritten note. According to empirical evidence from other nurse advocates, personal notes can be particularly effective because they demonstrate the nurse’s genuine concern about the issue (Halpern, 2002). By sending Senator Blair a handwritten note after we meet, I will not only be able to remind him of my policy proposal, but I will also demonstrate that I am committed to supporting change on this issue.
Importance of Successful Visit to Nursing
If my visit with Senator Blair is successful and he implements the legislation I propose, it could have important impacts on the field of nursing. For example, higher cigarette taxes could motivate more smokers to quit (Ross, Blecher, Yan, & Hyland, 2011), and patients may ask nurses for counseling on the most effective strategies. Therefore, nurses will need to be ready to offer advice and direct patients toward available medical and community resources. In the long run, the policy could also affect the types of cases that nurses commonly treat. For instance, conditions that nurses in West Virginia commonly see among smokers – such as lung cancer and cardiovascular problems – might become less prominent.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I look forward to a discussion the issue of smoking policy in West Virginia with State Senator Craig Blair. I plan to propose a statewide ban on smoking in workplaces and public places, along with an increase in the state cigarette tax. During our meeting, I will employ effective communication strategies, focusing particularly on supporting my proposal with research-backed evidence, and I will also follow up our meeting with a handwritten note. A successful meeting with Senator Blair could change health care in West Virginia in ways that would affect the practice of nursing within the state.
- Al-Sayed, E.M. & Ibrahim, K.S. (2014). Second-hand tobacco smoke and children. Toxicology and Industrial Health 30(7), 635-44.
- Garcia, L.B., Hernandez, K.E., & Mata, H. (2015). Professional development through policy advocacy: Communicating and advocating for health and health equity. Health Promotion Practice 16(2), 162-5.
- Halpern, I.M. (2002). Reflections of a health policy advocate: The natural extension of nursing activities. Leadership & Professional Development 29(2), 1261-3.
- Ross, H., Blecher, E., Yan, L., & Hyland, A. (2011). Do cigarette prices motivate smokers to quit? New evidence from the ITC survey. Addiction 106(3), 609-619.
- Rostron, B.L., Chang, C.M., & Pechacek, T.F. (2014). Estimation of cigarette smoking-attributable morbidity in the United States. JAMA Internal Medicine 174(12), 1922-8.
- Scarboro, M. (2017). How high are cigarette taxes in your state? Scarboro. Retrieved from https://taxfoundation.org/state-cigarette-taxes/
- U.S. Legal (2017). Smoking regulations in West Virginia. U.S. Legal. Retrieved from https://smoking.uslegal.com/smoking-regulations-in-west-virginia/
