North Central Missouri College nursing student and Missouri Nursing Students’ Association (MONSA) Vice President Trina Ledford recently attended Nurse Advocacy Day in Jefferson City to learn firsthand how state-level policy impacts nurses, patients, and the future of healthcare in Missouri.
Nurse Advocacy Day brings together nurses and nursing students from across the state to deepen their understanding of the legislative process and the critical role nurses play in shaping healthcare policy. Participants explored the importance of advocacy, reviewed the Missouri Nurses Association’s key priorities, and learned strategies for communicating effectively with state representatives.
Ledford described the event as both inspiring and empowering.
“We learned how to advocate for nurses at the state government level,” she said. “We discussed the process of contacting our representatives and reviewed several bills currently being debated in the legislature. One of the most impactful discussions centered around a bill aimed at combating workplace violence, a challenge nurses face far too often.”
A highlight of the day was the leadership shown by NCMC alum MONSA President Asa Palmeri, who addressed an audience of nearly 400 attendees, many of them nursing students. Asa thanked participants for their commitment to advocacy and spoke about MONSA’s dedication to elevating the voice of future nurses.
“We were all so proud of our MONSA president,” Ledford added. “His message was encouraging, and he represented our organization with confidence and passion.”
Looking ahead, Ledford and the MONSA Board will attend the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Convention in Houston, April 8–11, where they will join nursing student leaders from across the country.
“I’m excited to network with such an inspiring group of young leaders,” Ledford shared. “It’s an honor to represent NCMC with pride and to engage in opportunities that strengthen my leadership and professional growth.”
Ledford expressed gratitude for the support she receives from NCMC faculty and staff and shared her enthusiasm for continuing to represent the college in statewide and national leadership settings.
Photo: Trina Ledford (second from left) with fellow MONSA leadership attending Nurse Advocacy Day in Jefferson City