Lauren Underwood: Nursing Leader in Congress

“More than ever we need nurses to step forward into leadership roles,” Rep. Lauren Underwood

When I first met Lauren Underwood in 2009, I knew she was a young nurse on a mission and destined to make her mark no matter where she went. Over the span of ten years she has gone from a practicing nurse to one of the youngest members of the 116th Congress, elected in November 2018. I recently interviewed Rep. Underwood, allowing her to share her experiences and insights with nurse leaders.

Early career

The congresswoman grew up in Naperville, Ill. She is a 2008 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Nursing, where a course on nursing politics opened her eyes to the world of health policy. She was hooked. After leaving the university, she obtained her Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Public Health in 2009 from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Underwood also completed a fellowship at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and returned to Johns Hopkins University as a nurse researcher.

During this time, Washington was awash with health care reform fever and the future congresswoman found herself at the Department of Health and Human Services working in disaster relief. Her intellect and organizational talents were soon recognized. She was appointed by President Barack Obama as special advisor where she met with the Flint, Mich., community and advised on the infamous lead-tainted drinking water crisis. Underwood’s nursing identity allowed her to easily relate to those affected and also allowed her to be knowledgeable with important stakeholders in the community. “The nursing voice is a very valuable and respected commodity in these types of situations,” she explained. “I was able to drill down and help shape the work that needed to be done.”

From the Flint crisis, she was appointed as a senior advisor to the president where the larger crisis of implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) awaited. As a nurse and presidential advisor it is easy to understand the congresswoman’s belief that health care is a “human right.”

Serving in Congress

Many of her nursing friends were not surprised when the future representative began to explore a congressional run on a shoestring budget in what was to be a David versus Goliath contest. The impetus for her candidacy was legislation to repeal and replace the ACA. As a young, vibrant millennial with a pre-existing heart condition, this legislation would have deprived her and millions like her of affordable health care coverage. Emerging victorious from a crowded primary and a bruising general election, Underwood became one of only three nurses currently serving in this Congress.

As we enter the second session of the two-year cycle of the House of Representatives, Underwood has made her mark as a strong voice for the nursing profession, but also for maternal health, especially black maternal health, research and gun violence prevention. She serves on the Committee on Education and Labor, is vice chair of Committee on Homeland Security and also serves on the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. She is an active member of the House Nursing Caucus and also the Congressional Black Caucus.

Advice for nurse leaders

As a tireless advocate for her constituents and the causes she champions, Underwood is adamant about the need for nurses to “show up and be involved.” Nurses need to share their experiences, she says. One example from her community experiences is the local health department. These departments are in every community but few are staffed with nurses. It is ironic that an entity responsible for health often has few health care workers in its employment. In Underwood’s view, nurses need to be at every level and involved.

Nurse leaders have a particular responsibility. Historically the strong suit of nursing has been problem solving. An adage notes: If you want something done, ask a nurse. “Now is the time not to ask just one nurse but all of the over 4 million to raise their voices in support of patients and their profession,” said Underwood. “Standing on the sidelines will not make health care more affordable or accessible and will not give patients more choices or give nurses more autonomy.”

The nursing profession is lucky to have Underwood on the Hill; she would love to have more join her in shaping policy and legislation to improve health in America. “More than ever we need nurses to step forward into leadership roles,” she noted.

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