United we stand: preparing nursing students for political activism.

Political activism for healthcare workers is a crucial complement to clinical practice. Nurses are in a unique position to not only provide bedside care but also to advocate for change within the political arena and the community at large. Preparing professional nurses for community-based practice involving political activism and civic engagement requires developing and sustaining a philosophy that supports service learning and community partnerships. The concepts of service, community, collaboration, empowerment, and political activism are essential foundations. These ideas are inherent in educationally preparing nurses to meet the healthcare needs of individuals and communities. Many nursing students, however, seem either intimidated by or uninterested in the political aspects of professional nursing practice. The authors will describe an educational strategy embedded in a senior capstone course that involves an account of a senior nursing class's first experience in political involvement.