Welcome to the 1st Quarter Issue of the Colorado Nurse. If it feels like you just received last quarter’s issue just over a month ago, you are correct. One of two big outward-facing changes that happened with CNA in 2024 was a shift to a new publisher, along with a new schedule that did not align with many of the annual CNA events. For 2025, we adjusted the schedule to allow us to get information out in a more timely manner. For example, we are now a month into the legislative session, and you can find in this issue an article on how you can be more impactful with health policy either on your own or (preferably) working with others in CNA. Our second quarter issue will have more legislative updates, and the third quarter will come out before the annual conference, giving you a heads-up on CNA election matters and potential bylaw changes. Finally, the fourth quarter won’t show up in your mailbox amid the holiday season.

The second major highlight of CNA 2024 was the transition to a brand-new website. The website has two parts — the public-facing Coloradonurses.org to which anyone has access and MyCNA which is the members-only area. The public site has a calendar of meetings and events, resources including links to ANA and other health policy sites, a link on how to get involved, and of course the list of our CNA Board members and Bylaws. The members-only section is primarily a discussion area. I have heard some say, “I don’t need another social media account,” but MyCNA is the place to read about important bills being discussed at the Capitol, communicate with colleagues on workplace wins or needed solutions, or learn about upcoming events in and outside CNA. It is organized both as a large group and subdivided into smaller A.N.T.s, committees, and constituent associations so you can drill down to your specific areas of interest. (And if you can’t find your area of interest, let me know and I’ll help you set it up.) At the time I am writing this, only about 10% of CNA members have logged into the MyCNA area. The more active CNA groups are using it regularly for communication and discussion, but about 90% of members are missing out on that benefit. Check it out by clicking on “MyCNA” from the website and then registering using the email address you used for ANA registration. If there are any problems with logging in, contact me or info@coloradonurses.org. We want to hear all voices because we are stronger together.

Finally, in November CNA held a Town Hall featuring Meredith Post from OSHA talking about workplace violence. This served as an excellent reminder that not everything is addressed through legislation; nurses have other steps they can take to address workplace violence, starting with reporting the incident. As we look to additional Town Halls in 2025 (often advertised on MyCNA), I ask you what topics would best meet your needs. Send those ideas to mark@coloradonurses.org or info@coloradonurses.org.