ANA Supporting State Advocacy
Missed in last month’s issue were ANA staff visits to Wisconsin and Florida. During the Wisconsin Nurses Association Nurses Day at the Capitol on March 9, Senior Political Action Specialist Jerome (Joe) Mayer presented on “The Power of Nurses in Health Care Reform.”
Michelle Artz, Chief Associate Director and Lobbyist delivered a presentation about health care reform on March 17 for the Florida State Nurses Association’s Annual Lobby Day.
Arizona Nurses Association’s Legislative Day was held April 1 with more than 50 nurses and student nurses in the audience. The theme was strengthening advocacy skills. Janet Haebler, MSN RN, Associated Director for ANA State Government Affairs delivered the keynote, summarizing the “State of the States” with regard to issues of mutual concern to nurses followed by the value in understanding the political environment when trying to advance legislation or regulation. AzNA member and ANA American Nurses Advocacy Institute Fellow, Ray Kronenbitter MSN RN followed with a dynamic presentation on the nuts and bolts of grassroots lobbying, while providing some real life experiences with AZ policy makers.
Rhode Island State Nurses Association hosted two events in honor of Nurses’ Week on May 6. At the Capitol, resolutions acknowledging nurses’ contributions were read in each of the chambers, followed by an evening reception and dinner of more than 100 nurses and legislators in attendance. During each event, ANA staff, Janet Haebler, MSN RN highlighted consumer benefits and key nursing provisions associated with passage of The Patient Protection & Affordability Care Act (federal health care reform law).
Janet Haebler, MSN, RN
Tags: Arizona Nurses Association, Florida State Nurses Association, May 2010, Rhode Island State Nurses Association, state advocacy, Wisconsin Nurses Association
