Six weeks after turning into CNA President in October 2023, I used to be privileged to attend the American Nurses Affiliation Annual Management Summit. The venue was a resort lodge throughout the Potomac from Washington DC that had been remodeled right into a Christmas themed wonderland. Visitors have been in full vacation mode. And nurses from 44 states have been there to community and study from each other.

On Day 2 of the Summit, ANA President Jennifer Mensik-Kennedy highlighted for us the present motion factors of the American Nurses Affiliation. On the prime of her checklist was the Racial Reckoning Assertion, launched by ANA in 2022 (https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/racism-in-nursing/RacialReckoningStatement/). A panel dialogue on Day 3 of the Summit featured nursing leaders from North Carolina and Texas, in addition to Dr. Rumay Alexander, who presently serves as ANA’s Scholar-in-Residence on Racism. Dialogue revolved across the historical past of inequity in every state and present pathways ahead in addition to obstacles posed by laws and tradition.

Dr. Mensik-Kennedy’s second level was the nationwide nurse staffing disaster. Laws is pending on the nationwide stage, and naturally many states are additionally addressing this challenge in various methods.

The third level regarded office violence. Dr. Mensik-Kennedy acknowledged that nurses must be “protected, supported, and work in protected environments.” Once more, nationwide laws is pending, supported by OSHA pointers. And this challenge is distinguished in laws pending this session in Colorado.

Nurse burnout continues to be an issue, and Dr. Mensik-Kennedy identified that many nurses consider there’s a stigma in looking for assist. She acknowledged {that a} Nationwide Day for Scientific Wellbeing is deliberate for 2024 to focus on this challenge.

Each nurse was requested to acquire an NPI (Nationwide Supplier Identifier) quantity to facilitate schooling of the general public concerning the work that nurses do.

This led to the following level of Dr. Mensik-Kennedy’s tackle, that concerning the financial worth of the nursing career. Considered one of her illustrating factors was that nurses obtain just one% of all philanthropic donations made to healthcare. The scope of our work is unrecognized.

Within the closing level of her speak, Dr. Mensik-Kennedy touched on world healthcare. She talked about the significance of supporting the ICN (Worldwide Council of Nurses) in Gaza in these troubled occasions. She referred to the results of local weather change on inhabitants well being. And he or she closed by stating that ANA/CSNAs should turn into sturdy leaders on this time of essential points, and moreover should assist the flexibility of younger nurses to maneuver into their roles.

These points shall be mentioned on the nationwide and state stage as we acknowledge their impact on nurses and our want to deal with them.

To be trustworthy, the audio system and displays have been informative and interesting. However for me, probably the most helpful takeaway from this management summit was the collective information and expertise represented by the leaders current, each new and skilled, and from many differing locations and disciplines. We have been capable of share our considerations, concepts, and questions each formally and informally and in so doing to put the muse for ongoing collaboration. What works in a single state might not work the identical manner for one more state, however in speaking and studying from each other, we have been capable of come away with enthusiasm and anticipation for all the potentialities.

The Colorado Nurses Affiliation has a membership that represents differing ages, backgrounds, experiences, and places. We deliver our individuality to our work and the career is strengthened by our variations in addition to by our similarities. There are numerous areas the place we might not agree, however in problems with healthcare and the wellbeing of the inhabitants of Colorado, we most definitely perceive each other. Dr. Mensik-Kennedy referred to the 5 million nurses in the US in saying: “…everyone knows one another, and we all know one another WELL.”

I sit up for the nice work that nurses in Colorado can do by supporting and studying from each other.

Mary Satre, MSN, MBA, RN | CNA President