Despite the lack of universal membership, the Colorado Nurses Association remains one of the largest professional organizations in the state for nurses and works to give reliable representation to all Colorado nurses. Though nurses do not always agree politically, the GAPP Committee (Government Affairs and Public Policy) has long held the position that healthcare is not a political issue, but one of well-being for all Coloradans.
With that in mind, I would like to call your attention to two of our recently adopted position statements. (CNA Position Statements may be found in their entirety on the CNA Homepage under the “Resources” tab.) The first of these documents, drafted, presented, and adopted by the CNA Membership Assembly in 2021 is entitled: “Protecting Women’s Reproductive Autonomy and Access to Reproductive Health Care.” It was formulated as an Action Statement and passed without opposition. During the 2021 Legislative Session, CNA supported bills to reduce maternal deaths and to address racial disparities in maternal healthcare. I would urge each of you to read this document in its entirety to better understand the role of nurses in supporting the healthcare of women in our state. ANA Position Statements support the language and intent of the CNA document.
The second Position Statement is frequently referenced as CNA’s Social Determinants of Health, or SDOH (“Colorado Nurse’s Role in Achieving Health Equity through the Mitigation of the Harmful Effects of Social Determinants of Health”), again presented as an Action Statement. Several members of CNA’s current leadership worked on this document which was passed unanimously by the 2023 CNA Membership Assembly and references CNA’s Bylaws as well as ANA’s Code of Ethics. Definitions of the social determinants of health are instructive and compelling. One statement refers to Health Equity:
“Equality aims for equal access for everyone, while health equity prioritizes social justice by adjusting resource allocation for minoritized and underserved populations to create an even playing field (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2022).”
The American Declaration of Independence expresses our right to protect our safety and happiness…for our future security. In November, the citizens of Colorado met and exceeded the 55% necessary to pass Amendment 79 (62% in favor and 38% against), placing the right to an abortion in the State Constitution and repealing a ban on government funding for abortion services.
Immediately following the 2024 Election, a 92-year-old man in Fergus Falls, MN, found a way to unite his politically divided neighbors. He had commissioned a yard sign urging citizens to “Please Vote for the Future, Not for the Again.” He hand-lettered a card to place over the words on his sign. It now reads: “Please Work for the Future…” His sign was featured in the local newspaper and neighbors began asking for duplicates for their yards. A potentially divisive outcome in a small town became a launching point for unity.
I urge CNA members to remember our mandate to support healthcare for all in Colorado. Work for the future – together.
