NANN/NANNP's Health Policy Agenda: 2011-2012

The focus of NANN and NANNP's (hereafter referred to collectively as NANN) health policy agenda for 2011-2012 is on advocacy and legislation at the state or federal level that governs or affects clinical practice, workplace safety, safe staffing, nursing education, nursing research, legal issues, reimbursement, and disaster preparedness and response of neonatal nurses and nurse practitioners. NANN will monitor, review, and respond to bills, laws, regulations, policies, position statements, or any other initiatives or proposals that may have an impact on our mission. Furthermore, NANN will consider its role in supporting legislation related to the normal newborn, premature infant, and other infants requiring intensive care, their families, patient safety, environmental risks, access to care, and general healthcare reform.

The guiding principles and goals of NANN's health policy agenda are to

• improve the health of neonates, infants, and their families through state and federal legislation and regulation so that all have access to evidence-based nursing care that is continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, and culturally aware
• create and maintain alliances with organizations that share goals with NANN, and work together towards achieving these goals
• ensure that state and federal practice regulations for APNs are concordant with NANN's vision for nurse practitioner education and practice
• achieve recognition for the association as the voice for neonatal nursing and the advocate for newborn infants and their families in the legislative arena
• provide for the future of the nursing profession by encouraging initiatives designed to resolve the nursing shortage and meet the needs of the nation for nurses now and in the future.