As a nurse, one of the first lessons we are taught are the skills of assessment, communication, and intervention. As a nurse leader for the association and on a national level, I had the pleasure of exercising these same skills at the annual ANA Membership Assembly (MA) in June 2024. Joined by DNA Secretary, Dennise Washington, and Executive Director, Christoper Otto, Delaware had full presence at MA. Day one was spent on Capital Hill, joined by more than 30 Delaware nurses to advocate for restricting mandatory overtime, Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 7002, S. 2815), Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act (S. 2418, H.R. 2713) and to protect timely access to quality nursing care in long-term care facilities. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester heard directly from Delaware nurses on these topics.

On day two, representatives from state nursing associations and ANA leaders gathered to discuss and hear vital issues from nurses affecting the profession. The first dialogue forum focused on the impact of licensure and employment practices on nurse’s mental and emotional well-being, including how to eliminate barriers. The second forum addressed care coordination and collaboration for veterans receiving community care, ensuring access to care and nurses prepared to provide care. The third forum focused on the comprehensive revision of the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. State nursing associations were asked to provide comments on the proposed changes.

We heard from ANA’s interim CEO, Angela Beddoe, on an enterprise initiative in which we envision ANA in 2040 and closing the gaps to prepare us for the future. Her bold vision includes ensuring nurses have “best in class practices, innovation, engagement, education, research, programs, and financial vitality.” This address was a powerful and forward message with eyes fixed on a destination the ANA hasn’t seen before and we are excited for it.

On day three, the voting body moved to support the work on the dialogue forums from the previous day. In addition to this, a motion was made and approved on transparency in investments and ethical partnerships. This work confirms that nurses are activists and change makers. This is an exhilarating time for the work of the nursing profession and for ANA and state nursing associations to be positioned to make a greater impact that ever. New ANA Board of Director members were elected and announced. Those include:

• President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Oregon Nurses Association;
• Secretary Amanda Oliver, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPST, ANA-Illinois;
• Director-at-Large Edward Briggs, DNP, MS, APRN, Florida Nurses Association;
• Director-at-Large Ahnyel Burkes, DNP, RN-BC, NEA-BC, Louisiana State Nurses Association; and
• Director-at-Large, Staff Nurse Josephine Agyei, BSN, RN, ANA-New York.

Thank you to all our members for trusting us to use a collective voice on these key issues. The future is bright, and I am excited to continue to advance nursing and our profession in Delaware and nationally.