State Advocacy
ANA staff traveled to two states recently in support of the state nurses association’s legislative efforts. On March 3rd, Janet Haebler, MSN, RN, Associate Director for ANA State Government Affairs delivered a key note address, “Harnessing Nursing’s Political Power” to 450 nurses and student nurses at the annual Connecticut Nurses Association’s (CNA) Legislative Day in Hartford. State Senator Harris and Representative Ritter described the legislature’s challenges during the current session, while CNA’s lobbyists and Mary Jane Williams, chair of CNA’s government relations committee briefed attendees on priorities for the session to which individuals would lobby. On March 24th, Ms. Haebler testified on behalf of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association in support of H 7416, a bill that would amend Rhode Island’s Nurse Practice Act to require future nurses and students to attain a baccalaureate degree in nursing within ten years of initial licensure. This follows a 2008 ANA House of Delegates resolution encouraging states to pursue this avenue for nursing education advancement. Currently two other states have active legislation: New Jersey and New York. In spite of some division among the nursing community related to the nursing education advancement legislation, the vast majority of witnesses during the Rhode Island House hearing were in support.
Janet Haebler, MSN, RN
Tags: ANA House of Delegates, ANA State Government Affairs, Connecticut Nurses Association, March 2010, nursing education, Rhode Island State Nurses Association
