The work of advancing nursing’s agenda continues.
A polarizing presidential and general election took place on November 5, and in its aftermath, I’ve heard from many American Nurses Association (ANA) members who feel pleased about the results and many who feel despondent. Regardless of your personal perspective on the election, one thing is clear: Nurses and the nursing profession play crucial roles in healthcare, and ANA’s mandate remains to push the nursing agenda forward. This isn’t the time to sit back and see what happens next—it’s time for us to leverage our power and diverse voices to create a healthier and more equitable world for all.
The election coupled with the feedback I’ve personally received has me reflecting on the writing of Alexis de Tocqueville, a French aristocrat, diplomat, and early sociologist. Nearly 200 years ago, Tocqueville recorded his impressions of the then-fledgling United States in his seminal book, Democracy in America.
Tocqueville was struck by the power of associations in American life. Some of his musings and insights remain as relevant today as they were in 1835, when he stated, “Americans of all ages, all conditions, all minds constantly unite… if it is a question of bringing to light a truth or developing a sentiment with the support of a great example, they associate.” These associations enable individual citizens—otherwise independent and unable to accomplish much alone—to achieve their common goals, he observed. Although Tocqueville couldn’t have imagined this moment in time, his notions about the impact of associations resonate with ANA’s mission today.
In an election that was about change, it’s important to remember that most congressional incumbents—including nurse champions—still hold their seats. We’ll continue to work with incumbents while engaging newly seated lawmakers. The incoming administration and Congress have put forth some bold proposals for reshaping the government, including new healthcare policies and regulations. At this crucial moment, we must cement our seat at the table and ensure that ANA’s priorities are heard. We’ll leverage our position as the public’s most trusted profession for more than 2 decades to continue to effect positive change for our members, nurses, and their patients. We also can use our stature to model and facilitate civil discourse. Clearly, our country needs constructive dialogue without acrimony to achieve compromise and progress.
So, what can you do? Consider joining ANA’s new Nurses Action Society, which aims to empower members in building and leveraging relationships with federal officials (rnaction.org/sitepages/NAS.aspx). This initiative seeks to advance the nursing community’s public policies. I encourage all nurses and nurse advocates to educate themselves on key policy issues at RNAction.org and all members to consider donating to ANA-PAC, which supports candidates who support nursing.
Regardless of which political party is in power, ANA’s priorities haven’t changed. We believe all nurses deserve healthy work environments, safe from violence and with appropriate staffing. We want to grow the nursing profession while enabling new nurses to thrive in a complex and ever-changing healthcare system. We care about the well-being of all nurses and offer tools and resources that support their mental and physical health.
A vibrant democracy is complicated, it requires diverse voices and a commitment to progress from stakeholders across the spectrum. ANA empowers nurses and ensures our democracy works for our members. Let’s lean into our association and keep our profession and our priorities on the front lines of civic engagement.
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
President, American Nurses Association
American Nurse Journal. 2025; 20(1). Doi: 10.51256/ANJ012520
