Letter to All Senate and House Members Welcoming them to the 118th Congress

January 11th, 2023

Dear Representative,

On behalf of all the 63 member organizations comprising the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), we look forward to working and collaborating with you in the 118th Congress. The NCC represents 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 COVID-19, as with every public health crisis this country has faced, nurses have been at the frontlines leading the healthcare response, driving innovation, and improving health care delivery. Continued investment in the current and future nursing workforce is imperative. For fifteen years, 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), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) funds research that establishes the scientific basis for quality patient care. With a renewed purpose of addressing social determinants of health, 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 health, public and population health, veteran’s health, and mental health to supporting the safety and well-being of our nursing workforce and protecting them from physical violence, successfully connecting sound policy 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 evaluates lessons learned from COVID-19, and as we prepare for the next public health challenge, the contribution of nursing education, workforce, and research 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, we stand ready to support you and your staff to address these vital issues, while building long-term support for our current and future nursing workforce. Together we can ensure that our nation’s nurses have the resources needed to build a more equitable health care system. If the Nursing Community can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the coalition’s Executive Director, Rachel Stevenson, at 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
Academy of Neonatal Nursing
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners
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 Anesthesiology
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
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
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 Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers
National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence
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. (2022). Active RN Licenses: A profile of nursing licensure in the U.S. as of December 11. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/6161.htm.

Promoting America’s Health Through Nursing Care www.thenursingcommunity.org