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The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action is an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Launched to implement recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine in its 2010 report on the future of nursing, the Campaign has Action Coalitions working in every state and the District of Columbia to transform health and health care through nursing and build a healthier America.
In summer 2016, the Campaign brought nurse leaders from across the nation to Omaha, Nebraska, and Knoxville, Tennessee, to participate in training and conversations on ways to build a Culture of Health, RWJF's vision that puts well-being at the center of every aspect of life and allows individuals to thrive and communities to flourish.
This is a look at that work.
The goals were to help Action Coalitions:
- Connect the Culture of Health with ongoing Campaign efforts to improve access to care, foster interprofessional collaboration, promote nursing leadership, transform nursing education, and increase diversity in nursing
- Understand how their collaborations with a diversity of people and organizations already contribute to a Culture of Health
- Learn how to develop strategies for building a Culture of Health
- Strengthen connections with partners through Culture of Health work
- Communicate more easily about a Culture of Health
The Culture of Health "Action Framework" provided a basis for the conversation.
The work in the room:
We focused on connecting a Culture of Health to the Campaign's ongoing work--improving access to care, fostering interprofessional collaboration, promoting nursing leadership, transforming nursing education, and increasing diversity in nursing.
Action Coalitions gave examples of Culture of Health work underway, which spurred discussion and more ideas.
A key message for all: Continue collaborating with their professional networks, but look beyond, too, to find new allies to help build healthier communities.
Participants shared innovative stories about work already underway to build healthier communities.
The Nevada Action Coalition, for example, is supporting the Vegas Roots Community Garden, which is in a low-income part of the city. The nurses joined forces with the city’s only urban farm to help expand the center that offers fresh produce in an area with few options for healthy food. The Action Coalition has rallied nursing students to help out and learn, and the community is better for it.
Thank you to the co-hosts of these meetings: In Nebraska, Victoria Vinton, MSN, RN, director of the Nebraska Action Coalition, which is co-led by Cyndi McCullough, RN, MSN, EDAC, director of clinical planning at HDR Architecture Inc., and James Summerfelt, president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association. In Tennessee, Victoria Niederhauser, DrPH, RN, PCPNP-BC, FAAN, dean and professor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Nursing and the board chair of the Tennessee Action Coalition, which is co-led by Rebecca Kelly, executive director of AARP Tennessee and Carole Myers, associate professor at UT-Knoxville. We also greatly appreciate our supporting sponsors in both states.
The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action is directed by Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior adviser for nursing, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Susan C. Reinhard , PhD, RN, FAAN, senior vice president and director, AARP Public Policy Institute and chief strategist, Center to Champion Nursing in America at AARP.