NLN Opposes Layoffs at the National Institute of Nursing Research & National Institutes of Health

NLN Opposes Layoffs at the National Institute of Nursing Research & National Institutes of Health

Removals of Experienced Leaders & Staff Will Damage the Nation’s Public Health

Washington, DC — The National League for Nursing, the nation’s first nursing association and the leading voice for nursing education, opposes the recent layoffs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), particularly those in the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).

The NINR “leads nursing research to solve pressing health challenges and inform practice and policy—optimizing health and advancing health equity into the future,” according to its Mission. This is of critical importance to everyday Americans and directly impacts the care they receive from nurses.

The National League for Nursing has long been a leader of research into the science behind nursing education—how and why aspiring nurses are taught what they are taught to successfully provide quality care for their patients. The NINR historically supports nursing research to unlock the power and potential of nursing by leveraging nursing’s strengths and unique knowledge and perspectives to benefit every American.

Decisions like these should be considered in consultation with stakeholders who are deeply involved in health care and nursing research and can provide essential information about their impact on patient care and the health of our nation.

We were honored to host then NINR Director Dr. Shannon Zenk at the 2023 Nursing Education Research Conference (NERC). Her research on urban food environments, community health solutions, and veterans’ health has been extremely influential. The loss of her expertise at this national level of nursing is enormous.

Arbitrary firings of experienced and knowledgeable professionals like Dr. Zenk and experts at the NINR and NIH will damage the nation’s public health and end vital support to promoting health for all Americans.

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