The Eau Claire Student Nurses Association sent 24 nursing students from Eau Claire and Marshfield to Madison’s annual Nurses Day on Tuesday at the Capitol.

The event, sponsored by Wisconsin Nurses Association, is held so registered nurses and nursing students can learn how the government works.

The nurses and students also had the chance to talk to several state senators and representatives in Legislature including Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, said senior Linda Huelsbeck, a member of ECSNA.

“One of the wonderful things about these events is getting to speak to state senators and representatives,” Huelsbeck said.

The students’ trip began around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday when they left Eau Claire. While in Madison, the students had the opportunity to hear several speakers describe how legislature is enacted and discuss key legislative issues in nursing.

Senior Susan Paulus-Smith, an ECSNA member, said there are several reasons why it is important for nursing students to take part in Nurses Day. She said it could help them know what the current issues are in health care and let them see how the political system works.

Paulus-Smith said it is important for nurses and student nurses to be more active.

“There’s so many issues with health care it’s becoming an urgency,” Paulus-Smith said.

Huelsbeck agreed, adding that nurses need to be advocates for the industry and are responsible for getting themselves heard. She also said student nurses at the university have been encouraged by professors to become politically active.

One of the main issues talked about at this year’s event was Kreibich’s “Forgivable Loan” bill, Paulus-Smith said. The bill aims to waive tuition for Wisconsin nursing students because of the massive shortage of nurses.

If passed, the four-year nursing program at Eau Claire would be tuition-free, Paulus-Smith said.

Another issue in the nursing profession is the nurse-to-patient ratio. Huelsbeck said nurses have too many patients to care for and are leaving the profession because they are being overworked. She added many nurses have mandatory overtime shifts where they are forced to work an extra shift if there are staff shortages.

Huelsbeck said other nursing issues include insurance coverage and access to health care.

She said, “It’s important to come together and get our voices heard.”