The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action works with its state-based "Action Coalitions" throughout the country to implement recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine in its 2010 report on the future of nursing. The goal is to transform health and health care through nursing, leading to a healthier America. The Campaign is coordinated through the Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA), an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and RWJF. CCNA is an initiative of those same three organizations.
Panelists (left to right):
- Susan C. Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Director, AARP Public Policy Institute and Chief Strategist, Center to Champion Nursing in America
- Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Edna Cadmus, PhD, RN, FAAN, Clinical Professor & Specialty Director, Nursing Leadership Program, Executive Director of the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, Rutgers University School of Nursing
- Karren Kowalski, PhD, RN, FAAN, President and CEO, Colorado Center for Nursing
- Andrea Devoti, MSN, MBA, RN, Executive Vice President, National Association for Home Care and Hospice
- Barbara L. Nichols, MS, RN, FAAN, Executive Director, Wisconsin Center for Nursing
- George Zangaro, PhD, RN, Director, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis in the Bureau of Health Workforce at HRSA
On leadership: "The analytical, the assessment, and the listening skills of nursing are three of the things that are valued in the community." Andrea Devoti, MSN, MBA, RN
"Academically and theoretically we're all for diversity. 'Diversity here, diversity there, diversity everywhere'--but what are the measurable results? This is one of the things that the Campaign does very well." Barbara Nichols, MS, RN, FAAN
From Deborah Trautman:
- There are now 91 new entry-level bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) programs.
- The number of students enrolled in BSN programs has increased by almost 25 percent.
- Enrollment in BSN completion programs has increased by 78 percent.
On why nurses need to be in decision-making roles: "When there is a discussion about the fact that they cannot get physicians in the rural communities... and I said, 'Wait a minute. You need family nurse practitioners.'"Karren Kowalski, PhD, RN, FAAN
"We're trying to build a national repository for the nursing workforce data and develop a master file...We wanted to make this available to the policymakers and the researchers for nursing." George Zangaro, PhD, RN
Of the discussion featuring AARP, Heritage Foundation, and Families USA: "This panel is comprised of three organizations that don't always end up at the same end of the policy table. But we are so thrilled because they are in agreement that eliminating practice barriers for advanced practice nurses is really, really important." Sue Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN
Panelists (left to right):
- Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, CNE, Health Care Policy Consultant, The Heritage Foundation
- Elaine M. Ryan, MPA, Vice President of State Advocacy and Strategy Integration, Government Affairs, AARP
- Caitlin Morris, MPA, Director of Affordability Initiatives, Families USA
The Heritage Foundation's stance: "We are facing problems with maldistribution of providers, rural community issues, the workforce is aging, faculty are aging, and this seemed to be a great solution to helping change the provider model for health care and health care system." Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, CNE
AARP's stance: "If nurses can't practice up to that full extent, those caregivers and those patients are not receiving the care they deserved to receive." Elaine Ryan, MPA
Families USA's stance: "APRNs can be really impactful in ensuring that individuals not only have access to providers but access to providers that speak their language, or come from their communities, or understand their diversities." Caitlin Morris, MPA
The Campaign and the Nursing Community Coalition, composed of 65 national professional nursing associations, co-hosted a reception following the panel discussions.
Marcia Proto, MEd, CAS, executive director of the Connecticut League for Nursing and the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce (right), offered an idea for a Campaign slogan: "Practice excellence in America." With her is Winifred V. Quinn, PhD, director for advocacy and consumer affairs at CCNA.
Among those at the reception listening to remarks from the hosts are national nursing leaders, Capitol Hill staff members, and leaders from major national businesses, consumer organizations, and health care provider groups.
Credits:
Meredith Courville