The American Nurses Association (ANA) is calling on the United States Congress to address some of the most pressing concerns of the nursing profession. Meaningful action must be taken to support the nursing workforce by tackling several chronic, longstanding problems from rampant workplace violence, lack of access to quality patient care, and the looming nursing shortage:
4182/H.R. 1195 in the 117th Congress, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. This legislation would require Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop and enforce specific standards for health care and social service employers that will hold them accountable for protecting their employees from workplace violence. This issue has been a long-standing concern prior to the pandemic and recent increases in instances of workplace violence have shown why passage of this legislation is so critical. This legislation passed in the House during the 117th Congress with significant bipartisan support. ANA urges Congress to ensure this vital legislation becomes law. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)
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5212/H.R. 8812 in the 117th Congress, Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act. This legislation would permanently remove barriers to care and increase access to high-quality services provided by APRNs under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Using federal and state waivers during the COVID-19 public health emergency, patients have benefited from APRNs being permitted to practice to the full extent of their clinical training and education. However, once the public health emergency is lifted, suddenly APRNs will not be able to continue practicing to their full extent to the detriment of patients. As a nation, we cannot afford to go backward.
246/H.R. 851, in the 117th Congress, the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act. This legislation would support nursing educational programs to grow, teach, and strengthen the future workforce of nurses. The nursing shortage harms not only nurses, but patients as well, as studies show quality care decreases when nurses are stretched too thin. Enhancing nursing education to respond to the current and future needs of the nursing workforce is a critical step towards solving the nursing shortage.
These legislative asks will provide comprehensive resources and protections for America’s nurses; a group that has worked tirelessly under the heavy burden of years-long COVID-19 pandemic along with a historically severe flu season and a surge of RSV infections.
ANA welcomes the opportunity to work with members of Congress over the next two years to enact innovative, bipartisan policy solutions that will support both our nation’s nurses and patients.
