APHON Welcomes 117th Congress
January 29th, 2021
Dear Representative,
On behalf of the undersigned organizations comprising the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), we look forward to collaborating with you in the 117th Congress, especially as you begin your work during a public health emergency. The NCC includes 63 member organizations that represent the cross section of education, practice, research, and regulation within the nursing profession. We believe that the healthcare delivery system should be one that promotes wellness, advances research through scientific discovery, and provides timely access to care across the life continuum. With over four million licensed Registered Nurses (RNs), Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs),1 nurse leaders, students, faculty, and researchers, the profession embodies the drive and passion to continually improve care for all patients, families, and communities.2
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as with every public health crisis this country has faced, nurses have been at the frontlines leading the healthcare response. Continued investment in the current and future nursing workforce is essential. For over a decade, the Nursing Community Coalition has held strong to our Core Principles and has championed increased investments in:
Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs: Supporting Our Current and Future Nurses Reauthorized in the 116th Congress, the Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.) help meet the nation’s demand for nursing services by addressing all aspects of nursing education, practice, recruitment, and retention. Their focus is to address the needs of rural and underserved communities, where nursing care is critical to improving health.
National Institute of Nursing Research: Nurse Researchers and Scientists Leading the Way As one of the 27 Institutes and Centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NINR funds research that establishes the scientific basis for quality patient care. From reducing burdensome chronic illness and improving end of life care, NINR is at the forefront of disease prevention, patient care, and recovery. Our nation’s nurse researchers and scientists are essential to developing new evidence-based practices to care for all patients.
With an ever-changing health care landscape, the NCC has expanded its policy agenda to include some of the most pressing issues facing our country. From maternal mortality, public health, and population health to telehealth, veteran’s health, and mental health, successfully bridging innovations with impactful implementation is essential to ensuring an equitable and efficient health delivery system for all. It is imperative that legislation focuses on access to the entire continuum of services provided by RNs and APRNs and removes unnecessary barriers to receiving that care. As our nation continues to grapple with COVID-19, and as we prepare for the next public health challenge, the contribution of nursing education and the workforce remains critical; especially as we work to increase access to high-quality health care and promote wellness of the patient and provider.
As the new Congress commences and prepares to address these vital issues, we stand ready to work with you and your staff to support and improve care delivery models and build a long-term sustainable healthcare system that reinforces and bolsters strong nursing education, research, and practice programs. If the Nursing Community can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the coalition’s Executive Director, Rachel Stevenson, at 202-463-6930 ext. 271 or rstevenson@thenursingcommunity.org.
We also invite you to view the Nursing Community Coalition’s recent efforts at www.thenursingcommunity.org/.
Sincerely,
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners
Academy of Neonatal Nursing
American Academy of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
American Association of Heart Failure Nurses
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
American Nursing Informatics Association
American Organization for Nursing Leadership
American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc.
American Public Health Association, Public Health Nursing Section
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
American Society for Pain Management Nursing
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing
Association of Community Health Nursing Educators
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
Association of Public Health Nurses
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
Dermatology Nurses’ Association
Emergency Nurses Association
Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Infusion Nurses Society
International Association of Forensic Nurses
International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Association of School Nurses
National Black Nurses Association
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
National League for Nursing
National Nurse-Led Care Consortium
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs
Oncology Nursing Society
Organization for Associate Degree Nursing
Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Society of Pediatric Nurses
Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
1 APRNs include certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)
and nurse practitioners (NPs).
2 National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2020). Active RN Licenses: A profile of nursing licensure in the U.S. as of November
3, 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/6161.htm.
Promoting America’s Health Through Nursing Care www.thenursingcommunity.org · 202-463-6930 ext. 272