Brief History And Overview of CNA

1904 - 28 nurses met to form the Colorado State Trained Nurses Association

  • Focus on improving training of nurses and establish standards for trained nurses
  • 1904 - Louie Croft Boyd - draft bill for RNs - "An Act Relating to Professional Nursing" - articulated requirements for licensure
  • Early focus was nursing education - continues to be a focus

1930 - First publication Colorado Nurse

1955 - Name changed to Colorado Nurses Association

  • Focus on improving nursing profession through advocacy

What's happening now in the Colorado Nurses Association?

  • Collaborates with Colorado Nurses Foundation volunteers in the writing and edits of The Colorado Nurse-which is provided quarterly to all RNs and LPNs in the state. No other group communicates with all nurses in the state on nursing issues of relevance to Colorado.
  • Coordinates Multiview contractor for weekly email to all members and prospects (approximately 10,000) as well as royalty fees from advertisers on this platform.
  • CNA Board contracts with Civica for Executive Director services that oversee operational-related work on behalf of CNA, including annual membership assembly.
  • CNA Board contracts with Civica Association Meetings and Management Company.
  • CNA contracts with Director of Practice & Government Affairs who assures membership advocacy work, and with Capitol Success, CNA's lobbying group.
  • Coordinates with CNA Board Regional Directors to maintain membership communications in all CNA Districts & Special Interest Groups for APRN's and for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses.
  • Maintains ANCC Accredited Approver status for nursing continuing professional development and works with contracted Program Director.
  • Maintains regular updates to website about CNA and membership. A 2016 MemberClicks contract supports a 'members only' communication forum.
  • Advocates for safe care of patients through the safe practice by nurses at Colorado and National related policy and regulatory efforts. Committees and methods to accomplish this include:
    • Government Affairs & Public Policy Committee
    • Staff Support to Annual Legislative Dinner and Nurses Day at the Capitol
    • Maintaining relationships with State and Federal Legislators
    • Partnering with ANA Government Affairs & Policy Division, Annual Lobbyists meeting; RN Action Center
    • Friends of Health Legislative Stakeholder Group participation
    • DORA and NPATCH Legislative and rule writing work
    • Immunize Colorado Coalition Group
    • Governors Medical Advisory Group to Governors Expert
    • Emergency Epidemic Medical Committee (Statewide Disaster preparedness and response)
    • Work to build strong nursing networks to validate the call to be the "voice" of nursing through strategic and tactical coalition building