Congress is on a short break, but the American Nurses Association (ANA) is always advocating for nurses.
During this 118th session of Congress, we have worked with our nursing champions to introduce several key pieces of legislation. These bills cover both work environment and workforce development issues, such as preventing workplace violence, recruiting nurse faculty, and addressing mandatory overtime.
ANA believes that advocacy is a pillar of nursing. Nurses advocate for their patients daily to ensure they receive the quality care they deserve and that nurses are proud to provide. Political and legislative advocacy are equally important to shaping a future where the nursing profession and patient care are prioritized.
Our advocacy is most effective when it is imbued with nurses’ voices and perspectives. Simply put, no one better understands the day-to-day struggles and triumphs of being a nurse than nurses themselves. Thus, to truly grasp the depth of these issues, Congress needs to hear directly from nurses. Contacting one’s federal representatives is a powerful way to make your voice heard and influence policy at the national level.
Below, you will find our most recent grassroots campaigns that provide the language and information needed to easily contact your representatives.
Take action today:
- Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act (H.R. 7546/S. 3860)
- This bill would address mandatory overtime for nurses, making it an option, not an obligation.
- Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (H.R. 7266/S. 3770)
- This bill would make critical investments in nursing schools to rebuild the nursing workforce and ensure patients’ access to timely care by well-trained medical professionals.
- Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 7002/S. 2815)
- This bill would support the recruitment and retention of new nursing school educators by addressing the pay disparity between nurse faculty and acute care nurses.
Check out all of our grassroots campaigns and learn more about the bills by visiting our RNAction Center!