OVERVIEW
The Policy Honors Program (PHP) at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing encourages students to explore the ways that nurses can engage with systems change and advocacy in any area of nursing they pursue. This program provides students with a foundation of skills to address critical health challenges and be more effective change agents and leaders.
To be eligible to enroll in this two-semester program, students will have successfully completed their first semester of the MSN Entry into Nursing Program. Selected students will be paired with a mentor based on their essay responses.
The PHP seminar course must be taken both semesters that the student participates in the program. Discussions and assignments will provide opportunities for students to identify and evaluate – and then influence – local, state, federal, and/or global policy issues. Students will be introduced to common approaches to policy advocacy and gain the skills and confidence to advocate for change at all levels. Through the assignment of varied writing and presentation exercises, students will advance their ability to effectively communicate their point of view with expertise and lived experience.
This program will help strengthen students’ analytical and communication skills, learn how conflicting perspectives of health care stakeholders impact policy decisions, and provide an opportunity to learn from policy experts and seasoned advocates across a range of disciplines.
Program Details
Applications
We will open the Policy Honors program application in October 2025.
- Students in their first semester are eligible to apply.
- Students are required to have successfully completed their first semester of the JHSON MSN Entry to Nursing program with a min 3.0 GPA in order to enroll.
- Students may not co-enroll into the Policy Honors Program with either the Research Honors Program or the Fuld Fellows Program.
- Program entry is competitive based on an evaluation of the application questions and essay.
- Applicants should demonstrate an interest in health policy and advocacy; experience is not required.
- Only those applications submitted by the due date will be considered.
Policy Honors elective (1 credit, pass/fail) for two semesters
Topical seminars to expose students to policy making and advocacy: 5-6 seminars per semester
Policy project practicum working on a policy project with a mentor for 3-4 hours a week
- Presenting an infographic based on the policy project
See the most recent policy honors presentations and infographics.
Health Policy, Regulation, and Advocacy
- National regulatory policy and standards in healthcare quality and equity
- National and state-level palliative care policy and advocacy
- Environmental sustainability in healthcare
- Medicaid’s role in advancing health equity
- Food Security and Federal Policy (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Health Equity, Disparities, and Social Determinants of Health
- Addressing Black maternal health disparities
- Indigenous health, disparities, and equity
- Behavioral/mental health, PTSD, and trauma-informed care
- Social drivers of health and population health policy
- Addressing the epidemic of missing and murdered Black women
- Interpersonal violence and gun violence prevention
Maternal and Child Health
- Maternal and postpartum health equity
- Parenting, child mental health, and early childhood development
- Lactation, breastfeeding policy, and advocacy
- Federal and state regulatory policy in maternal health and mortality
Healthcare Workforce and Leadership
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing and community engagement
- Leadership, organizational culture, and workforce equity
- Structural racism in healthcare
- Nursing workforce, and behavioral health integration in primary care
Public Health, Infectious Disease, and Global Health
- Infectious disease and sexual health policy
- Ethical migration and recruitment in nursing workforce development
- Global health workforce and policy
“The Policy Honors Program is part of our bold vision to reshape nursing and influence health for the next century. We want to introduce students early on to the impact they can have engaging in policy. As more nurses are involved in policy and advocacy, more people will have access to care and better outcomes in life.”
Dean Sarah Szanton, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN