Since 1896, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has represented its members’ interests and empowered nurses.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is advocating that nursing expertise plays a crucial role in the development of policy initiatives and protecting the needs of health care consumers and nurses during a time of dramatic health care reform.

The long-standing Principles for Health System Transformation have been reiterated by the ANA.

The procedure must:

• Ensure that all citizens and residents have access to a standard set of essential health care services.
  Support the cost-effective utilization of innovative, technology-driven, hospital-based acute services while simultaneously optimizing primary, community-based, and preventive services.
  Encourage mechanisms that support those who do not have the means to share in the costs of health care while also encouraging economical use of those services.
  Make sure you have enough skilled workers who are committed to providing high-quality health care.

Other issues of importance include:

• an expanded role for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) in the provision of primary and preventative health care;
  securing federal funding for nurse training and education; and contributing to the improvement of the health care workplace.

Taking bold stances on issues that are important to ANA members in addition to lobbying on issues that directly affect the nursing profession The ANA has stood firm on a number of issues, including:

• Medicare reform;
• The importance of safe nurse staffing;
• Workplace violence;
• Whistleblower protections for health care workers; and
• Adequate reimbursement for health care services.

Supporting nurses to lead change

• The ANA is aware that recognizing nurses’ essential value is only the beginning. Because they perform so many different duties and specialize in so many different areas, nurses have a unique perspective on all aspects of health care. As a result, nurses are able to contribute ideas and insights regarding how this nation’s health care system can be improved.
• The well-being of nurses is crucial to this. Even though nursing dedication frequently causes self-care to fall to the bottom of the priority list, it is essential to bring it back up. Improved patient outcomes, increased staff retention for organizations, and most importantly: healthier nurses. nurses who are given the respect they deserve for their dedication.