Curious about what the present state of politics means for our med-surg nursing specialty? In this episode, the co-hosts welcome AMSN Advocacy and Legislative Committee Board Liaison Yalanda Comeaux and Incoming Chair Michael Urton to share the latest updates on the legislative issues impacting the future of med-surg nursing. From staffing and workplace safety to Title VIII funding and workforce development, they'll explain how AMSN is making sure the voices, challenges, and expertise of med-surg nurses are heard by lawmakers who can make a difference.

Yalanda Comeaux, MSN/Ed., M.J., BA, RN, CMSRN is a nurse of 30-years with experience spanning in specialties like post-operative care (PACU) nursing, acute care, critical care, med-surg/telemetry, nurse educator, and adjunct faculty in teaching med-surg. clinical. Currently working as clinical nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Yalanda has an MSN/Ed. and holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law & Policy (M.J.) from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, she is a grant recipient of the 2016 NIWI (Nurse In Washington Internship) that allowed her the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC on the "Hill" where she acted as a nurse advocate on behalf of medical-surgical nurses. After her return from Congress Yalanda's work as a volunteer with AMSN began, her involvement include working as committee chairperson for the Legislative team, working as a member on several taskforce projects and currently acting in the role as a member of the Board of Directors. Yalanda is a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) and is a self-published author of RN Bound: A Guide for Becoming a Successful Nurse (2016). Michael Urton, DNP, APRN, AGCNS, NEA-BC, FAMSN, is a board-certified adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist and is currently the director of advanced practice nursing at Duke University Health System in Durham, North Carolina. He is vice chair of the AMSN Advocacy and Legislative Committee. Dr. Urton holds a faculty appointment at East Carolina University and retired from the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

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Maritess M. Quinto, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN is a clinical educator currently leading a team of educators who is passionately helping healthcare colleagues, especially newly graduate nurses. She was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States with her family in Florida. Her family of seven (three girls and two boys with her husband who is also a Registered Nurse) loves to travel, especially to Disney World. She loves to share her experiences about parenting, travelling, and, of course, nursing!