Nurses play a crucial role in igniting change in healthcare through leveraging their unique insights and experiences, advocacy, and continuing to develop new skills and understanding. Opportunities such as participating in your State and National Associations provides us opportunities to be involved in professional development while engaging in continuous learning and remaining informed about healthcare policies, laws, trends, and enhancing one’s leadership skills.
ANA Membership Assembly
This past June we represented nurses of South Carolina at ANA’s membership assembly in Washington D.C. As members of the voting body, we voted to support nurses struggling with mental health issues and licensure and to increase access to quality health care for Veterans, finally we supported transparency in investment and ethical partnerships for investments within the ANA Enterprise.
We were encouraged to hear from ANA Enterprise CNO Debbie Hatmaker, PhD, RN. FAAN about ANA’s efforts to creating a Racial Reckoning Think Tank in partnership with minority nursing associations to ensure that the right voices and lived experiences are represented to offer meaningful recommendations to advance an anti-racist profession. Finally, we had the opportunity to meet with Legislative Representatives to encourage support for four priority federal health policy issues:
- Restricting mandatory overtime for nurses
- Nursing faculty Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 7002, S 2815)
- Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act (S. 2418, H.R. 2713)
- Protect Timely Access to Quality Nursing Care in LTC facilities
These are just a few examples of how we can ignite change within our profession. I challenge you to get involved in your State and National Associations. We are grateful that you are members, and your dues are vital to the work. But just imagine how much more we can accomplish with your voice.
Be Sure To Vote
Finally, SCNA and ANA are bipartisan organizations representing all nurses within our States and the United States. But I would be remiss if I did not encourage you to get out and vote in this upcoming election. We have a duty to represent the needs of our profession. Please remember that “no vote” is a vote. No matter what your political affiliation or political beliefs the privilege to vote should not be taken for granted. Many sacrifices have been made over time for us to vote and let our voices be heard. Further, we have a responsibility to the communities we serve to stand up and be counted. Our current political environment is challenging to say the least however, we must consider what our healthcare infrastructure will look like in the future. No matter what your political views, the future of healthcare is all our responsibility.
I am proud of our profession and what we do every day. We make a difference in the lives we serve. Let us continue to transform and ignite change together! Hope to see you in October!
