UMass Nursing Students Attend 2026 AACN Student Policy Summit

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Edna Bonsu '28 (left) and Ronique Grandoit '28 (right) at the 2026 AACN Student Policy Summit.

Two UMass Nursing undergraduate students, Edna Bonsu '28 and Ronique Grandoit '28, attended the 2026 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Student Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 30 – 31 alongside Dean Allison Vorderstrasse. According to the AACN website, the event is "a two-day conference held in Washington, D.C. and is open to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students enrolled at an AACN member institution. Students who attend the Summit are immersed in didactic program sessions focused on the federal policy process and nursing’s role in professional advocacy."

Get to know Edna Bonsu '28 and Ronique Grandoit '28

Why did you decide to attend this summit?

Edna Bonsu:  I am part of the Seedworks Health Equity in Nursing Program and I decided to attend the summit because I felt it would be a great way to broaden my understanding of the role of advocacy in nursing. Nurses are often portrayed as advocates for their patients, but many people are unaware of the very tangible possibilities in other spheres, such as politics. I wanted to learn how I can use my voice to further support a profession I hope to be part of for the rest of my career.

Ronique Grandoit: I thought it would be a great opportunity to be introduced to other aspects of nursing. In class, we learned that nursing advocacy is an important aspect of your job as a nurse. I have yet to see it in my lifetime, and I had the chance to be able to view nursing in a different light, so I took it.

What did you do in D.C.?

EB: The majority of our time was devoted to the AACN conference. Our agendas were quite packed with panels, speakers, networking, and educational sessions preparing us for our visit to Capitol Hill. We got to meet a variety of nursing professionals, educators, and students from all across the country, which was super cool. We also had the chance to have dinner with Dean Vorderstrasse after the first day of activities had concluded. Though this didn't leave much time to explore the city, the bits of D.C. I saw were truly beautiful. 

RG: Our days consisted of lectures and presentations by various nursing, medical, and even legal representatives who discussed their experiences and the importance of the nursing voice. They prepared us on how to interact with and inform the state senators about the importance of investing in nursing education and funding. We had time to eat and meet new nursing students in
the country.

" The lessons I've taken from D.C. on advocacy and the power of using my voice will continue to guide the remainder of my time as a student and will also follow me as I begin my career. "

—Edna Bonsu '28

Talk about your visit to Capitol Hill.

EB: The visit to the Capitol was truly eye-opening. Though we weren't able to speak to our representatives directly, we educated their legislative staff about a plethora of issues impacting the nursing profession, such as nursing scholarships, the nursing and educator shortages, and the status of nursing as a professional degree. We encouraged them to support bills and initiatives that impact nurses for the better. Not only did I have the chance to reflect on the personal experiences and identities that have shaped the trajectory of my life and education, I also got to share them with my representatives, which was especially powerful.  

RG: Capitol Hill was an experience I never really thought I would have. It was so cool to see what I saw on TV in front of my eyes. We met with the staff of the Massachusetts members of Congress. The experience was powerful. We talked about the importance of nursing funding, specifically Title VIII, and how investing in nursing education and nursing research will eventually lower the cost of healthcare and federal deficits because of the versatility of nurses.

[Attending the conference] makes me feel important and that I can really make an impact, not only on the bedside level... I can advocate for patients on so many levels, and I view my classes differently with more importance and a greater lens of the overall picture."

—Ronique Grandoit '28 

What were some of the most powerful moments of your experience?

EB: Overall, the most powerful moments of my experience came from hearing the paths other nurses had taken to arrive in the roles and positions they hold today. Learning about the hurdles other professionals had overcome in the process of becoming the people they are today was very encouraging. When you're in the thick of nursing school, I think it's very easy to get stuck in cycles of being overwhelmed and stressed. Interacting with nurses who have been in my shoes was really refreshing. The advice I received spoke life into me and was a reminder that the goal is still in sight.

RG: I think one of the most powerful moments was listening and being guided by nursing students and deans throughout this whole experience. They were so intelligent and wise, which made me curious about their experiences. I was introduced to all types of nursing, and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities.

How has this experience impacted your UMass Nursing journey?

EB: This experience would not have been possible without the support of UMass Nursing. The lessons I've taken from D.C. on advocacy and the power of using my voice will continue to guide the remainder of my time as a student and will also follow me as I begin my career. Attending the AACN conference has truly enriched my experience as a UMass Nursing student and allowed me to participate in something much larger than myself.

RG: I have been able to look at the work and things I’m learning more seriously. It makes me feel important and that I can really make an impact, not only on the bedside level. It has added to my reason to be a nurse. I can advocate for patients on so many levels, and I view my classes differently with more importance and a greater lens of the overall picture.