Nurses Rank #1 Most Trusted Profession for 15th Year in a Row

December 19, 2016

The American public has again ranked nurses as the professionals with the highest honesty and ethical standards, according to a Gallup poll released today. The annual poll marks the 15^th consecutive year that nurses have been ranked the most trusted out of a wide spectrum of professions, including medical doctors and police officers. 

"Every day, millions of nurses are on the front lines in the fight to improve the health of all Americans," said Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of the American Nurses Association. "Whether nurses are by the bedside or in the board room, we continue to be a trusted resource and a vital part of our nation's health care system. This poll reflects the trust the public has in us, and we'll continue to work hard to keep that trust."

According to the poll, 84 percent of Americans rated nurses' honesty and ethical standards as "very high" or "high." The next closest profession, pharmacists, was rated 17 percentage points behind nursing. 

"Trust plays an important role in the relationship between nurses and the patients we serve," said Cipriano. "ANA encourages nurses to draw on that trust to engage with consumers to improve their health and to advocate for patients and for the quality of care in this country. Additionally, I challenge those charged with making health policy at the facility, local, state and national levels, to include the trusted voice of nurses at the decision-making table. Based on this survey, no other profession is held in as high regard by the public. And given nursing's frontline perspective on health care delivery, we offer a point of view that is unmatched."

In 2017, ANA will continue its longstanding efforts to advocate for health system reform. The association is committed to working with the new administration and Congress to advance policy that aligns with its four principles for health system reform: access to care, affordable and equitable care, quality of care and workforce.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's 3.6 million registered nurses. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org .

ANA President Responds to Department of Veterans Affairs Final Rule on APRNs

December 19, 2016

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a final rule granting full practice authority to three of the four established Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) roles when they are acting within the scope of their VA employment. Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) and Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) will now have full practice authority within the VA Health System as a mechanism for extending veterans access to a full range of qualified health professionals. ANA is disappointed that the VA failed to extend full practice authority to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).

The following statement is attributable to American Nurses Association (ANA) President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, in response to the final rule:

“The American Nurses Association is pleased with the VA’s final rule allowing APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and training. This rule puts veterans’ health first, and will help improve access to the timely, effective and efficient care they have earned. However, ANA is concerned with the final rule’s exclusion of CRNAs, which is solely based on the VA’s belief that there is no evidence of a shortage of anesthesiologists impacting access to care. We join with our colleagues in continuing to advocate for CRNAs to have full practice authority within the VA health care system.

“The 6,000 APRNs serving in the VA health care system are dedicated to delivering the best possible care to our heroes and their families. Today’s rule is the right policy at the right time, and we applaud the VA for taking this vital step in ensuring access to care and keeping America’s veterans healthy.”

APRNs are nurses who have met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements, and whose services range from primary and preventive care to mental health, birthing and anesthesia.

The proposed rule generated an unprecedented number of comments from veterans, health care providers and the general public. The final rule amends the VA’s medical regulations to permit full practice authority (FPA) for three of the four APRN roles when they are acting within the scope of their VA employment and authorizes the use of APRNs to provide primary health care and other related health care services to the full extent of their education, training, and certification, without the clinical supervision or mandatory collaboration of physicians.

Update Your ANA Profile

December 11, 2016

Nominees needed for ANA Substance Use Disorder Work Group - Nominations will close January 1, 2017

December 11, 2016

• Develop or update an ANA or joint position statement on SUD in nursing
• Create new and/or gather existing resources to educate students, nurses, and employers about preventing, identifying, and reporting suspected SUD across care settings
• Develop new and/or identify existing resources to support employers and nurses before, during, and after treatment for SUD