Your Association in Action

NANN has identified advocacy as one of four major goals for the association. In order to make an impact on neonatal nursing practice regulation and policy, NANN will increase opportunities to work in coalition with other healthcare related groups that impact neonatal practice. Read about the following alliances that NANN has forged in this area, and the initiatives that have an impact on you as a nurse.

Legislative Affairs

• NANN/NANNP's Health Policy Agenda: 2009-2010 addresses laws and regulations governing neonatal nursing and advanced practice nursing clinical practice, workplace safety, safe staffing, nursing education, nursing research, and disaster preparedness and response.
• 2009-2010 Issues and Priorities
• Health Policy & Advocacy Toolkit provides an introduction to the legislative process and how you can get involved. Below are handy reference guides to help you navigate the legislative landscape:
  • Getting Involved in Health Policy and Advocacy
  • U.S. Government 101 -- A Refresher Course
  • Who's Who in a Congressional Office
  • Key Congressional Committees for Nurses and Healthcare Issues
  • Glossary and Terms
  • The 111th Congress
  • NANN Fact Sheet - For use by any NANN member who is involved in advocacy issues.

 
Alliances

• The Nursing Organizations Alliance was formed when two long-standing coalitions of nursing organizations united to create a stronger voice for nurses. The vote to create The Alliance occurred on Nov. 17, 2001, at a special meeting National Federation for Specialty Nursing Organizations (NFSNO) and the Nursing Organizations Liaison Forum (NOLF) member organizations in Salt Lake City, UT. The mission of the new organization is "to increase nursing's visibility and impact on health through communication, collaboration and advocacy." NANN is a member of NOA.
• Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) The Nurse in Washington Internship Program provides nurses the opportunity to learn how to influence health care through the legislative and regulatory processes. Participants learn from health policy experts and government officials, network with other nurses, and visit members of Congr.ess. NANN plans to send two Health Policy and Advocacy Committee members to NIWI each year.
• The American Nurses Association (ANA) represents nursing to government both on federal and state levels on issues such as staffing, workplace safety and numerous advocacy issues. By becoming an organizational affiliate of ANA, NANN has increased its visibility exponentially, and joined a network of nursing organizations who work together, using their influence to support important nursing issues.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) addresses a wide variety of children’s issues on the state and national level. Some of those issues include children's health care coverage, immunizations, pediatric drugs and devices, and disaster preparedness. NANN has active liaisons to the Committee on Fetus and Newborn,  Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Perinatal Section, and Section on Transport Medicine. 
• Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief (ANSR) The Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief (ANSR) Alliance united in 2001 to identify and promote creative strategies for addressing the nursing workforce shortfall, including passage of the Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002. Currently comprised of fifty-four national organizations, the ANSR Alliance represents a diverse cross-section of nursing, health care, and other related organizations, health care providers, and supporters of nursing issues. The nearly 3.4 million licensed registered nurses (RNs) across the nation, who are the members of the ANSR organizations, represent a rich diversity of skills and experience that make the Alliance a leading advocate for nurses in the United States.
• The Nursing Community The Nursing Community is a forum for professional nursing and related organizations to collaborate on a wide spectrum of health care and nursing issues including practice, education, and research. Due to the wide spectrum of issues impacting nursing and health care, the Nursing Community works collaboratively and allows organizations to choose which initiatives they would like to support. Although there is a broad-based consensus on many issues, not every nursing organization chooses to sign every letter or document.
• Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) COINN represents global unity for neonatal nursing. The Council speaks with one strong voice to facilitate the growth of neonatal nursing and improve healthcare outcomes for our patients and families worldwide. The role of the Council is advocate, policy maker, quality evaluator, collaborator with healthcare, corporate, and lay groups, educator of health professionals, legislators, and lay public, and leader in global neonatal nursing.

Contact the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee with your comments or questions.