Creation of a National Policy on Perinatal Depression: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse

• Advanced practice nurses have unique skills, knowledge, and experiences that are essential for creating health care policy.
• Becoming involved in health care policy creation is an essential role and responsibility of all advanced practice nurses.
• This author provides details on the steps that were taken to shape an evidence based national policy on perinatal mental health.
• A call to action is made for all advanced practice nurses to take a seat at the table and become active in policy creation at local, state, and national levels.

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) have unique knowledge, skills, and experiences that are essential for health policy creation. Involvement in policy creation is an essential component in APN education, yet few APNs are involved in this essential nursing role. The national policy case study outlines the steps needed to utilize these professional skills and offers a call to action for APNs to make a difference in shaping health policy for patients, communities, and the nursing profession at local, state, and national levels.