From Capitol Hill to the ANA Floor
A First-Time Observer’s Perspective on National Nursing Advocacy and Leadership
By Elaina Diaz, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN
Director of Nursing Professional Development
THIS SUMMER, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY to collaborate with fellow Texas nurses on a national stage by participating in the American Nurses Association (ANA) Hill Day and attending the ANA Membership Assembly in an observer role.
ANA Membership Assembly representatives included:
- Gayle Dasher, PhD, RN, ANP-BC – San Antonio
- Vanessa Trevino, BSN, CRRN, DNP-FNP student – New Braunfels
- Edtrina Moss, PhD, RN, MBA, NE-BC, AMB-BC, CLSSGB – Missouri City
- Art Rodriguez, DNP-RN, MPH – Brownsville
- Cynthia McCauley BSN RN CPHQ CPC CMOM CMIS – Sugar Land
- Beverly Walker, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC – Hutto
- Rene Millet Guerra, DNP, PHD-S, FNP, PMHMP, MBA, RN-BC – Humble
ANA Membership Assembly Representative Alternates included:
- Daniel Cabrera MBA, BSN, RN – Laredo
- Carliss Ramos, DNP, RN, CPHQ, EBP-C – Pearland
- Richard Beard, MSN, RN – Mesquite
- Terry Throckmorton, PhD, RN – Missouri City
- Serena Tobar, MSN, RN, CVRN-BC, NPD-BC – Dickenson
- Yvonne Mack DHA, RN – Houston
- Lori Forbus, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CENP – Midland
- Katherine Degenstein-Gartman MSN RN CENP HACP – Beaumont
- Brittany N. Wall, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE-cl, CHEP, CHSE, CSSBB – Allen
- Melissa Hollis, PhD (c), MSN, CMSRN, CNEn, RN-BC – Allen
- Mona Gaw, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, CPHQ
- Sierra Holloway, DNP, MSN, RN – N. Richland Hills
- Rebeka Watson Campbell, PhD, RN, CNE – Santa Fe
- Virginia Vecchio, MBA, BSN, RN, CPN – Wylie
- Misty McNabb MSN PMHNP-BC, MBA-HA – Providence Village, NY
Advocating for Change
Two events, held in Washington, D.C., brought nursing leaders together to influence healthcare policy, shape the future of our profession, and elevate the voice of nursing at the highest levels. As a first-time participant, I found the experience both inspiring and enlightening. I gained valuable insight into the power of collective advocacy, the legislative process, and the critical role nurses play in national healthcare conversations. Here's what I experienced, what I learned, and why every nurse in Texas should consider engaging with our profession at this level.
ANA Hill Day: Nurses Leading the Conversation in Washington
ANA Hill Day brought together nurses from across the country to advocate for legislation that directly impacts our profession and the patients we serve. Our Texas delegation visited congressional offices to discuss four critical policy priorities:
1. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 2531 / S.1232)
This bipartisan bill would require OSHA to implement enforceable standards for workplace violence prevention programs in healthcare settings. These programs must be developed with the direct involvement of frontline staff, especially nurses, ensuring that those most affected by violence have a voice in creating safer environments.
2. The Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (S. 575 / H.R. 1317)
The I CAN Act is a game-changer for APRNs, removing unnecessary Medicare and Medicaid barriers to practice. Importantly, it does not alter state-level scope of practice laws. Rather, it enables APRNs to deliver care to the full extent of their training, expanding access, reducing delays, and improving care quality for patients across the nation.
3. Protecting Funding for Medicaid
Proposed cuts to Medicaid threaten patient access, healthcare facility sustainability, and the nursing workforce. Nurses on the Hill made it clear: cuts to Medicaid mean fewer jobs, lower wages, heavier workloads, and higher patient acuity—all while undermining the healthcare safety net for vulnerable populations.
4. Reauthorization of Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs
Title VIII funding supports nursing education, retention, and workforce expansion. ANA is advocating for $530 million for these programs, alongside $210 million for the National Institute for Nursing Research. For context, current Title VIII discretionary funding is $305.5 million—dwarfed by the $17.8 billion in mandatory spending for graduate medical education. It’s time nurses received proportional investment as the largest segment of the healthcare workforce.
I gained valuable insight into the power of collective advocacy, the legislative process, and the critical role nurses play in national healthcare conversations.
ANA Membership Assembly: Guiding the Voice and Vision of Nursing
The ANA Membership Assembly is the governing and policy-setting body of the ANA. It convenes nurses from constituent member organizations like the Texas Nurses Association (TNA), affiliated associations, and individual members to deliberate on the profession’s most pressing issues.
As an observer, I had the privilege of joining our Texas delegation and witnessing firsthand the dynamic and deliberate process that drives ANA’s strategic decisions. The Assembly is responsible for electing ANA board members, voting on bylaw amendments, and setting the organization’s direction through formal dialogue and debate.
This Year’s Highlights
Bylaw Amendments: Proposed changes addressed membership categories, board elections, and procedural clarity. While not all amendments were finalized during the in-person session, ANA will reconvene virtually to complete voting.
Dialogue Forums
- Three timely and critical issues were brought forth for Assembly endorsement:
- Advancing Rural Health: Strengthening nurse-led models to improve care access in underserved areas.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nursing: Developing ethical and legal guidance for integrating AI into practice.
- All three proposals received strong support, signaling ANA’s commitment to bold, future-focused leadership.
Revising and Protecting the Role of the RN
Updating the Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice to reflect modern challenges and ensure professional sustainability.
Legislators respond not only to data, but to the emotional truths of our day-to-day experiences...
Lessons from a First Timer
On the Hill
I’m deeply grateful for the foundational advocacy experience provided by TNA’s Nurse Day at the Capitol. It gave me the confidence to step onto Capitol Hill prepared and ready. During Hill Day, I saw firsthand how nurses’ stories provide the heart behind the policy. Legislators respond not only to data, but to the emotional truths of our day-to-day experiences, whether facing workplace violence, fighting for practice autonomy, or navigating the consequences of budget cuts.
Texas is a leader in workplace violence prevention. The I CAN Act offers a path forward, not by altering scope, but by removing federal barriers to practice. Medicaid is more than a budget line; it affects every facet of patient care and workforce sustainability. And the disparity in workforce development funding between nursing and medicine is staggering. We must continue to push for equitable investment.
At the Membership Assembly
As an observer, I had a unique seat at the table. Although I did not vote, I was fully engaged in pre-meeting briefings, discussions, and deliberations. The depth and rigor of dialogue among nurse leaders across the country was both humbling and invigorating. Thoughtful preparation is key—having background on bylaw proposals and dialogue topics made our contributions stronger. The conversations were complex, spirited, and always grounded in a shared vision of excellence in nursing.
Nurses as Advocates, Now and Always
Participating in ANA Hill Day and the Membership Assembly reinforced what I’ve always believed: nurses are not just caregivers; we are catalysts for change. From state legislatures to the nation’s capital, our voices matter. TNA offers multiple opportunities to engage in advocacy, from policy council, government affairs committee, Nurse Day at the Capitol events to running for Membership Assembly representation.
If you're a nurse in Texas looking to expand your impact, start here. Show up. Speak out. Your voice can shape the future of our profession and the health of our nation. TN
