Today marks the end of National Nurses Week, which concludes on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, but not the end of our appreciation for all that they do. May the country continue to honor nurses, and strive to provide support, as their contributions and courage continue to make headlines.
Louisiana has appointed nurses to top spots in its efforts to respond to the public health and economic crises. Terrie Sterling, MSN, MBA, RN, a founding member of the Louisiana Action Coalition, is co-chair of the Resilient Louisiana Commission, which will examine the economy. Sandra Brown, DNS, APRN, FNP-BC, will co-chair the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force.
In her essay for National Nurses Week, Campaign for Action
Director Susan Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, invokes the outrage that Florence Nightingale felt so long ago, and applies it today. Hassmiller speaks up loud and clear on behalf of nurses without protective gear as well as hard-hit communities.
Pandemic and Nursing: A Painful Yet Inspiring Time
COVID-19 has shown the world how much nurses do, even under the worst conditions. Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, chief strategist for the Center to Champion Nursing in America, takes the opportunity of National Nurses Week to call for nurses to be recognized and respected year-round.
Public Allowed Better Access to Care as States Remove Barriers
Nursing coalitions and AARP state offices trying to make it easier for consumers to receive care during the pandemic have met success in numerous states. Legislatures across the U.S. are suspending out-of-date restrictions on advanced practice nurse practitioners, even if temporarily in some cases.
Nurses’ Imagination, Drive Behind Help for Homeless
The Illumination Foundation helps those who are especially vulnerable in an era that demands good hygiene: the homeless. COVID-19 has prompted Illumination to offer housing outside of shelters, and varying levels of care. COO Pooja Bhalla, DNP, RN, tells the story on the Campaign blog of the efforts of the organization that was founded by Paul Leon, BSN, MBA.
AARP Volunteer President Is Nurse, Health Advocate
AARP’s national volunteer president, herself a nurse, has long fought for better health for America through nursing. A profile of Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN, on the Campaign
blog for National Nurses Week lays out the many ways that Georges makes sure that nurses are positioned to answer the country’s most pressing problems.
During the pandemic, Nursing Now opens its virtual doors to ask nurses and midwives to express themselves through poetry. The results are witty, poignant, and wise. Nursing Now is a global campaign to improve health by raising the status and profile of nursing, and its Poetry Portal features writings from around the world.
The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action
website now offers a resources page with information for both nurses and the public about the novel coronavirus. Among features: Leading nursing organizations seek information from nurses and offer health suggestions, while trusted health authorities tell the public how to support nurses, and stay safe.
Company Offers Tips About Raising Funds in Changed World
Fundraising firm Campbell & Company offers strategies for organizations to retain new donors, those who have been drawn by the pandemic to give. The firm also has developed resources to support groups facing rapid changes in the world of giving.
Action Coalitions: What’s Up? Tell Us So That We Can Share
Fans of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action like to learn what’s happening in other states. But we might not know your stories. Help us celebrate your efforts and share details of progress by dropping a note to Aidan McCallion at
[email protected]. We’ll spread the news through news posts, social media, and the Campaign Update.
Funding, Tools, and Other Opportunities
AARP Community Challenge Goes for Local Change
Organizations are invited to apply for the 2020 AARP Community Challenge, proposing Ideas that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Projects are sought—none is too small!—for ways to improve housing, transportation, public spaces, technology, and more. Deadline Extended: May 15, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Participate in Testing the Board Engagement Survey
Calling all registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs): have you served for at least one year on a board of directors with fiduciary responsibilities? You may be eligible to participate in a study, approved by the University of Massachusetts Boston Institutional Review Board, to test an instrument aimed at measuring the engagement of nurses on boards. Take the survey and share this message with your RN and APRN colleagues. The survey closes on May 31.
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