February 6, 2019 | NLN CEO Update on NLN Public Policy and Advocacy

Well, it's almost spring in Washington DC today, and 30+ degrees in Chicago, but the damage has been done. More than 20 people died as a result of the severe cold that hit the Midwest last week, including a freshman at the University of Iowa. The weather conditions had an enormous effect on nurses and other first responders who did not have the luxury of staying home during the worst of the deep freeze — I can only hope that the remainder of the winter will be more manageable and that spring will be here soon. The groundhog did not see his shadow on Saturday (unfortunately I never know if that is a good sign or a bad one), and your colleagues in Washington wish you well.

We also had the experience these past few weeks of watching helplessly as government workers were furloughed or required to work without pay, with the threat of another shutdown on the horizon. People should not be treated like pawns. Let us hope that the government will be made to function as it should, with reasonable people working together toward the common goal of good governance. After all, our government is "of the people, for the people and by the people."

This afternoon at 3 pm EST, Christine Murphy, director of public policy and advocacy for the NLN, will host a webinar, free to NLN members and only $30 for nonmembers, titled "How to Navigate the 116th Congress to Change Health Policy." It is late, but you can still take part — finish reading this Member Update and register immediately. The webinar, which will be archived, will focus on how to effectively advocate for policies that benefit nursing education, nurses, patients, and our communities in the context of the historic changes to the current political environment that are a result of the 2018 elections. We encourage individuals at all levels of advocacy experience, including and especially nursing students, to attend.

Let me also note that February is Black History Month. Many nurses of color have made and continue to make a difference in health care. On January 1, Dr. Ernest Grant began his term as president of the American Nurses Association (ANA). A burn treatment expert, he is African-American and the first man to lead the ANA. I will say more about Black History Month in my next Member Update.

As for specific legislation, H.R. 728, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act, was recently introduced in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. This bill, which would reauthorize Nursing Workforce Development Programs through the fiscal year 2024, was introduced by Representatives David Joyce (R-OH), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and David McKinley (R-WV). It amends Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to reauthorize nursing workforce development programs that support the recruitment, retention, and advanced education of skilled nursing professionals. It extends advanced education nursing grants to schools of nursing in order to support clinical nurse specialists and clinical nurse leaders, defines nurse-managed health clinics, adds clinical nurse specialists to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education, and reauthorizes loan repayments, scholarships, and grants for education, practice, quality, and retention.

Clearly, this is important legislation that merits advocacy by nurses everywhere. If your representative is a sponsor of H.R. 728, please write to say thank you. And, if your representative is not a sponsor, write to urge support for this important bill. Our Advocacy Action Center will help you craft your message and direct your email or tweet.

These are challenging times, colleagues, but we can accomplish wonders by working together toward our common mission to advance the health of the nation and the global community by building a strong and diverse nursing workforce — and never losing sight of our core values of caring, integrity, diversity/inclusion, and excellence. Colleagues, it's important that we practice civic engagement. When we encourage everyone to vote, it is to make sure that we have operational governance. Start thinking now about voting and how each and every vote is important.

Device Maker Microbot Medical Gives Back Gains Read More. The American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical launch enhanced resuscitation quality improvement portfolio for healthcare, Learn More. Free NLN CNEA Webinar: Hosting an On-Site Evaluation Visit, Register Today. #NLNCNEA The NLN/University of Central Florida Simulation Conference is an interprofessional conference open to healthcare professionals and current as well as prospective students. Don't miss the Early Bird Registration, Sign-up Today.

Next Issue of the NLN Member Update: Wednesday, February 20, 2019. View previous issues of NLN Member Update »