OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.
NCC Sends Letter to Appropriators Reiterating FY 2022 Funding Requests
On January 19, sixty members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting at least $314.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $200.782 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.
NCC Sends Letter to Senators Supporting Shared Nursing Priorities in Build Back Better Act
On January 19, fifty-seven members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter urging the Senate to advance sound policies within the Build Back Better Act, including support for nursing education pathways, the Nurse Corps, and Momnibus.
NCC Sends Letter of Congratulations to the Administrator of the Health Resources & Services Administration
On January 31, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter welcoming Carole Johnson, who was recently selected to be the Administrator of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).
In my first message of the year, I highlighted the amazing work of our members through their volunteer service on OADN committees and task forces. . I shared with great admiration how each of you persevered and made a difference in the lives of your nursing students. I am forever grateful for all the work you do to advance the profession and support OADN. Now, I must ask that you continue to make a difference by sharing the value of an OADN membership with your nursing faculty and colleagues to help us strengthen our collective voice and impact. As the onlynational organization solely advocating for community college nursing education and the associate degree pathway, it is imperative that we all contribute to the continued growth of OADN.
Over the last few weeks, I have had the chance to review the 2021 convention evaluations that have been submitted thus far. It is obvious everyone was elated to be in person with their colleagues, share experiences from the past two years, and hear from the exceptional speakers. It was some of the general comments at the end of the evaluation that spoke to my passion and purpose as OADN’s CEO. Statements such as, “The last session left an impression on me as a culmination to be part of the solution to assure many more have access to nursing as a profession. I am hoping we continue to gather and plan and act upon these initiatives. Thank you OADN for being in the forefront of these issues. WE ARE OADN!” Another comment, “Really enjoy being a member. You are doing great work!” Yet another, “I have the utmost respect for OADN and all that it does for associate degree nursing educators.”
However, one remark that really stood out for me was, “We need to do an intensive campaign for all ADN educators to join the national organization. Being that it is the only organization that advocates for associate degree nursing.” I wanted to stand up and cheer, as it has been a long-term goal for OADN that all ADN programs become members. We realize there are challenges to achieving this goal for ADN faculty, such as budget constraints, an unsupportive administration, and a lack of understanding among program about the important work OADN does every single day to advocate for the preservation and advancement of the associate degree pathway.
OADN is your strongest advocate and best resource for associate degree nursing, but we need your help now more than ever to strengthen our voice and collective impact. Each of you play an integral role in our ongoing advocacy for associate degree nursing education and our future expansion in networks that promote leadership, professional development and collaboration within community college nursing education and the communities we serve.
I would like to challenge each of you to use your role and experience as a valued member of OADN to speak with a fellow faculty member, dean or director and share the important work that OADN does to support them. Let us know how the conversation goes and how we can support you. Also, I am more than willing to speak with any of your Deans and Directors group about the value of OADN and provide an update on the important work we are doing. OADN membership offers many benefits, one of the most significant being it gives you a voice in OADN to help shape and direct the future of this critical pathway on the national level. I humbly ask that you use your voice now to help us expand our membership and shape the future of associate degree nursing. For more information on the benefits of membership, please visit Membership – (oadn.org)
As always, I value hearing from you so please let me know how I can help to encourage all ADN educators to become members of OADN.
SILVER SPRING, MD – According to the findings of a new, national survey of nurses by the National Commission to Address Racism inNursing (the Commission), nearly half reported that there is widespread racism in nursing, demonstrating a substantial problem within the profession. Comprised of leading nursing organizations, the Commission examines the issue of racism within nursing nationwide and describes the impact on nurses, patients, communities, and health care systems to motivate all nurses to confront systemic racism. Integrity calls on the profession and nurses to reflect on two realities, one as the most trusted profession while also being a product of our environment and culture. It is necessary to work toward connecting these two realities.
“My colleagues and I braced ourselves for these findings. Still, we are disturbed, triggered, and unsettled by the glaring data and heartbroken by the personal accounts of nurses,” said Commission Co-Lead and American Nurses Association (ANA) President Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are even more motivated and committed to doing this important work justice. Racism and those individuals who do not commit to changing their ways but continue to commit racist acts have absolutely no place in the nursing profession.”
According to more than 5,600 survey respondents, racist acts are principally perpetrated by colleagues and those in positions of power. Over half (63%) of nurses surveyed say that they have personally experienced an act of racism in the workplace with the transgressors being either a peer (66%) or a manager or supervisor (60%).
Superiority continues to surface as a primary driver from nurses representing predominantly white groups along with nurses who are advantaged and privileged by unfair structural and systemic practices. These survey findings move beyond the rhetoric to the reality and should serve as a call-to-action for all nurses to confront racism in the profession.
“Structural and systemic practices that allow the racist behaviors of leaders to continue to go unaddressed must be dismantled,” said Commission Co-lead and National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) President and CEO Martha A. Dawson, DNP, RN, FACHE. “As cliché as it sounds, it starts at the top. Leaders must be accountable for their own actions, set an example for their teams and create safe work environments where there is zero-tolerance for racists attitudes, actions, behaviors, and processes. Leaders must also create a climate that gives permission and support to dismantle institutional policies and procedures that underpin practice inequities and inequalities.”
Of those nurses who report that they have witnessed an act of racism in the workplace, 81% say it was directed towards a peer. Nurses say that they have challenged racist treatment in the workplace (57%), but over half (64%) said that their efforts resulted in no change.
“Nurses are ethically and professionally obligated to be allies and to speak up against racism, discrimination, and injustice for our patients and fellow nurses,” said Commission Co-Lead and National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA) President Debra A. Toney, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Civil rights and social movements throughout history offer the blueprint, which demonstrates that diligent allyship is key to progress. To the nurses that challenge racism in the workplace, do not get dismayed by inaction, but continue to raise your voice and be a change agent for good.”
Many respondents across the Hispanic (69%) and Asian (73%) populations as well as other communities of color (74%) reported that they have personally experienced racism in the workplace. Overwhelmingly, the survey findings indicate that Black nurses are more likely to both personally experience and confront acts of racism. Most Black nurses who responded (72%) say that there is a lot of racism in nursing compared to 29% of white nurse respondents. The majority (92%) of Black respondents have personally experienced racism in the workplace from their leaders (70%), peers (66%) and the patients in their care (68%). Over three-fourths of Black nurses surveyed expressed that racism in the workplace has negatively impacted their professional well-being.
“The acts of exclusion, incivility, disrespect and denial of professional opportunities that our nurses have reported through this survey, especially our Black, Hispanic and Asian nurses, is unacceptable,” said Commission Co-lead and National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) President Adrianna Nava, PhD, MPA, MSN, RN. “Racism is a trauma that leaves a lasting impact on a person’s mental, spiritual, and physical health as well as their overall quality of life. As the largest health care workforce in the country, we must come together to address racism in nursing as the health of our nation depends on the health and well-being of our nurses.”
Since its inception in January of 2021, the Commission has been intentional and bold in leading a national discussion to address racism in nursing. The Commission has convened listening sessions with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) nurses and hosted a virtual summit focused on activism with foremost subject matter experts. Collaborating with top scholars on the issue, the Commission developed a new definition of racism to establish a baseline for holding conversations, reflecting on individual or collective behaviors, and setting a foundation for the work ahead.
“The collective voices and experiences of BIPOC nurses nationally have provided a call for overdue accountability within the nursing profession to acknowledge and address the structural racism rooted within nursing, especially policies that have anti-Black and anti- Indigenous histories,” said Commission Co-lead and Member-at-Large Daniela Vargas, MSN, MPH, MA-Bioethics, RN, PHN. “The next generation of BIPOC nurses deserve more than performative activism and empty words that continue to yield no progress toward structural changes within the nursing profession or racial equity. The breadth of the nursing profession through the Code of Ethics for Nurses holds all nurses accountable for calling out racism and replacing racist policies rooted in white supremacy with ethical and just policies that promote and implement accountability, equity, and justice for nurses and the communities that we serve.”
Nursing’s challenges with the issue of racism are reflective of the larger society. As a profession, we need to confront these same challenges with racial inequities within the profession. As such, the Commission’s work is urgent to create safe and liberating environments for all nurses so that the profession exemplifies inclusivity, diversity, and equity. The Commission urges all nurses across every health care setting and environment to join us in boldly confronting systemic racism. We must address upstream sources of racism in order to build sustained safe and effective environments of optimal care delivery ideal for every nurse and every patient regardless of race, origin or background. Nurses can learn more and share a story of experiencing racism or being an ally forchange today.
*Data was collected through a survey administered by the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing Between October 7-31, 2021, 5,623 nurses completed this survey. *
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About the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing
The National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing (the Commission) examines the persistent problem of racism within nursing and describes the impact on nurses, patients, communities, and health care systems to motivate all nurses to confront systemic racism. The work is urgent to create safe and liberating environments for all nurses as well as profession that exemplifies inclusivity, diversity, and equity. The Commission is comprised of leading nursing organizations that represent a broad continuum of nursing practice, ethnically diverse groups, nationally and in regions across the country and who have for years raised their individual voices to condemn all forms of racism within our society. OADN is an inaugural member of the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing.
The National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing is seeking public comments for the 2022 National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing Foundational Report. The report and instructions for how to provide comments are located here: ANA Public Comment (nursingworld.org) under “Current Opportunities”. OADN was invited to be an inaugural member of the Commission in January of 2021.
The draft document is broken up into six parts, for your review. OADN Members are especially directed to the education section. Remember to provide the line and page number with each comment to facilitate review of your comments. Please, share this announcement widely with nursing colleagues, faculty, students, interprofessional colleagues, and other stakeholders. Note the closing date for submission is February 14, 2022, at midnight EDT. Please direct questions or technical issues to: sarah.simons@ana.org.
OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.
NCC Sends Letter to Senators Outlining Shared Build Back Better Act Priorities
On December 2, fifty-six members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter strongly urging the Senate to preserve shared nursing priorities, including support for nursing education pathways, the Nurse Corps, and Momnibus, in their Build Back Better Act.
NCC Sends Letter to Congress on COVID-19 Blanket Waivers
On December 20, forty-four members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action to make waivers permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency (PHE).
I hope everyone had the opportunity to take a breath and enjoy the holiday season over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, I know from member communications that many of you have been impacted by the Omicron variant. However, the positive news is the illness has been less severe. I know all of us have been impacted in one way or another, but as we enter 2022 may we celebrate a new year with new beginnings.
It is often customary for the first communication of the new year to reflect on the past year’s work and provide perspective for the year ahead of the organization. I would like to briefly continue with this tradition by highlighting some of OADN’s work while emphasizing that this work is only possible due to the dedication of OADN members. It is difficult in a limited message to share all that has occurred, but I would like to focus on a few high points.
The world of simulation changed dramatically during the pandemic, as the shift was made to the high demand for virtual simulation. Throughout 2021, the OADN Virtual Simulation Task Force under the leadership of OADN member Dr. Rebecca Cockrell developed a structured and objective resource to assist nursing educators in identifying products that augment or replace clinical experiences. The OADN Simulation Task Force members’ creation of this database of virtual simulation product reviews is unprecedented in nursing education. The success of this initiative is unparalleled with tireless efforts and consistent dedication to the project through the task force members who provided this valuable resource to OADN members.
Disturbing events in our country raised awareness of the impact that racial and social injustice has on Americans’ health and well-being and as a result, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force was formed. The OADN Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force members developed a bold position paper with actionable items. The actions once again keep in mind the need to assist OADN members by “providing learning opportunities for nursing faculty and students that critically examine the social determinants of health, the social mission of nursing, and the needs of under-resourced communities.” The OADN Board of Directors unanimously endorsed this exceptional paper that was authored by OADN members: Dr. Anna Valdez, Patrick McMurray, Dr. Angela Millan, Dr. Justin Fontenot, Dr. Tyler Sturdivant, Dr. Sharon Goldfarb, Lorrie Davis-Dick, and Deonna Thompson.
Throughout 2021 the OADN COVID Task Force members continued to focus on the trends driving changes resulting from the pandemic, as well as the tools needed to undertake new challenges. The Task Force recognized the unique set of challenges and opportunities faced by ADN educators and created a repository that included resources for online teaching, updates in regulations, changes in clinical placements, and important nursing education tool kits. This committed group of OADN members meets monthly to assess the ever-changing environment in nursing education. The Task Force is now focusing on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 recommendations to influence and innovate specifically as it relates to Recommendation 8 which in part states the “nursing profession should strengthen and protect the nursing workforce during the response to such public health emergencies as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, including those related to climate change.”
The OADN Research Committee is a long-standing committee of OADN and over the years has done exceptional work including publication. The OADN Research Committee members understand the many areas of research needed for ADN education. Consequently, this enthusiastic and devoted committee has decided to undertake a major project on ADN Faculty Salary and Workforce Shortage. Collection of this data is critical as OADN pursue strategies to address this nationwide issue. The committee is currently developing a survey with plans for dissemination in early 2022. We are hopeful all OADN members will participate.
As you look back at this message you will notice the words, “OADN members” emphasized throughout. OADN would not be the thriving organization it is today if it were not for the continued support from each of you. Each of you has persevered and made a difference as you educate nursing students. YOUR impact as an OADN member continues to advance the profession. My new year message is not about what OADN has accomplished but about what you have helped us accomplish. “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
I want to wish each of you a healthy, adventurous, and a year full of laughter.
As I traveled home from the OADN Annual Convention in Austin, I reflected on how thrilled I was to see so many of you in person and have the opportunity to meet and speak with you directly. It was inspiring to hear your stories and learn about your experiences over the past 20 months. I believe we have truly risen to the challenge and demonstrated the ability “to Move Beyond 2020,” with each of you being a testament to overcoming adversity. All the exceptional presentations showed resilience, creativity, and a steadfast determination to provide the best possible learning environment for each student to be successful at a critically challenging time when competent nurses are desperately needed.
I was amazed by the faculty and student poster presentations this year. It was so exciting to see the winning students called to the stage at the Town Hall Meeting to receive their monetary awards. Thank you to OADN’s exclusive compliance partner CastleBranch for such a generous donation that enabled OADN to recognize the demanding work of the superior faculty and student poster presenters. In particular, the student poster presentations provided a wonderful learning experience for the students, and it will surely be a memorable event as they continue their education and advance their careers in the nursing profession.
Another terrific opportunity at the Convention this year was the Leadership Workshop, Your Leadership Journey: Invest in Yourself! I spoke with several of you who participated, and you all provided incredibly positive feedback about this wonderful professional leadership opportunity. As you may know, this initiative was part of our strategic plan for the past year. Mary Dickow, OADN Director of Leadership Development, assembled a wonderful group of speakers to help provide information and essential skills every leader needs to be successful when navigating their professional journey. We announced the new OADN Leadership Institute, accepting applications for two (10 participant) cohorts in 2022. The OADN Leadership Institute will be a four-month cohort-based program and will provide participants with an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, and share perspectives through mentoring, virtual seminars, roundtable discussions, and peer-to-peer coaching in a supportive environment. The application cycle runs from November 29, 2021, through January 10, 2022. Contact Mary at mary.dickow@oadn.org for more information.
I would like to thank everyone who was able to attend the OADN Convention, both in person and virtually. We deeply appreciate your support and welcome the opportunity to provide resources that will assist you in your daily work. Our goal is for you to walk away from every OADN event with the most valuable, up-to-date information and resources you can apply to your program as soon as you return home.
Thank you again for trusting me to represent you as your OADN President. I will continue to do my best to work with the OADN Board of Directors and staff to advocate for your interests and help advance OADN. As we move into this busy time of the year with semesters ending, family responsibilities, and holiday commitments, I hope you can find some time to take care of yourself. As I have stated in previous messages, we cannot continue to help others if we do not take care of ourselves!
My wish is that you and your families have a blessed holiday season!
OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.
NCC Statement on the House Passage of the Build Back Better Act
On November 19, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) issued a statement after the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act. This bill included NCC top priorities that address nursing education, the workforce, and public health.
NCC Sends Letter to Appropriators Updating FY 2022 Funding Requests
On November 19, sixty members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting at least $314.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $200.782 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.
OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.
NCC and the Campaign for Action hosts Virtual Congressional Briefing on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Report
On October 4, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) and the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, hosted a virtual briefing on key findings and recommendations from the new National Academy of Medicine (NAM) report, The Future of Nursing 2020 – 2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity.
As you know, OADN has always been committed to promoting best practices in nursing education and supporting academic progression within the profession. Support for all pathways into the nursing profession is critically important now more than ever if we hope to meet the current nursing workforce demands facing our country and continue to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of the communities we serve. As an active member of the leadership alliance, OADN has been very engaged in the advancement of nursing academic progression through the National Education Progression in Nursing (NEPIN) Collaborative, NEPIN: National Education in Nursing Collaborative – Academic Progression: fostering collaboration to ensure that nurses have access to higher levels of education and achievement. (nepincollaborative.org)
Last week, NEPIN released a groundbreaking report that includes key information regarding Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) enrollment and graduation data. I believe you will find the information in this report timely as leaders in ADN education. The Trends in Nursing Academic Progression 2016-2020 report is the culmination of years of commitment and hard work by nursing leaders and health care stakeholders who share a common goal of delivering successful patient outcomes from a well-equipped and sufficiently supported nursing workforce. This outstanding report, which is the first of its kind at the national level, will serve as a single data source to equitably interpret current trends in nursing academic progression. The data sheds light on a five-year period and highlights many success stories, including a 23% increase in ADN to BSN enrollments as well as an increase of 13% to 27% in the number of ADNs graduating with a BSN. The report also includes critical information on the important work ADN programs have done to remove barriers to access and support academic progression among a diverse student population. NEPIN’s Executive Director, Tina Lear, acknowledges that with all the success there is still more work to do, “our mission is not complete, and I encourage you to visit our website to see the important work to date as well as ongoing projects that could benefit from your expertise – as nursing education leaders – to further the commitment to academic progression across the country.”
Another way NEPIN is advancing excellence in nursing education is through its innovative Quality Designation Program for Accredited Nursing Programs. Lear explains, “The NEPIN Quality Designation is a wonderful opportunity for accredited nursing programs to be recognized for their strategic plans that enhance, empower, and encourage students to achieve a higher level of education. I highly encourage you to look at the application and consider applying for this prestigious acknowledgement to aid in the effort to advance nurses to higher degrees and create a workforce that optimizes the health of all Americans.” The application and additional information can be found at Quality Designation – NEPIN: National Education in Nursing Collaborative (nepincollaborative.org)
As nursing education leaders, we understand how vitally important ADN programs are to producing a highly trained, skilled, and diverse nursing workforce in this country. It is imperative that we share our knowledge and the recent NEPIN findings within our communities as we continue to advocate for community college nursing programs that are graduating more than 50% of the nursing workforce in our country. The NEPIN Trends Report provides indisputable evidence that clearly shows ADN graduates are committed to academic progression as many ADN graduates continue to the BSN or a higher advanced degree.
For the health of our profession and the communities we serve, we must continue our efforts to promote a nursing pipeline of qualified and diverse professionals. Thank you for all you do as leaders to mentor and support your students and faculty as they progress on their academic journey and prepare to realize their full potential. The future of our profession and the health of our nation depend on it.
