California continues to move forward with the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action initiatives within the state, and in so doing is also providing leadership to other Action Coalitions around the country. Twenty one new Action Coalitions were just announced (Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming), and that ...

Last week, the Future of Nursing/Campaign for Action, AARP and the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing hosted a town hall in Sacramento to discuss steps being taken by the California Action Coalition, as well as work needed in the future. The meeting was very well attended by nurses and consumers alike, and there was standing room only for this important discussion. Helen Thomson, RN and Kim Van Ysseldyk, RN, NP gave moving examples of nursing practice beyond traditional boundries and ...

The California Action Coalition is moving forward with great enthusiasm to develop and implement strategies associated with the 8 recommendations in the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing Report, and there is an event coming up that will allow nurses and consumers to identify the necessary actions needed to improve health in California and the role nurses should take to advance this vision. The discussions at this event will align with the recommendations contained in the report and should ...

California was chosen as one of the first five states in the nation to form an Action Coalition with the express directive of implementing the recommendations included in the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Initiative on the Future of Nursing (IFN). This report, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which remains active in the implementation stage, outlines changes needed in practice, education, policy, data collection, and involvement at all levels of decision making related to nursing and ...

A unique opportunity is coming your way to participate in a National Day of Dialogue on June 29, 2011 from 1 PM - 3 PM (Eastern Daylight Time) regarding the Institute of Medicine/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's landmark report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health". During these two hours, a panel of nurses in practice, education, government, as well as nursing students, will discuss the report and its implications for future nursing education.
Please plan ...

Almost every week I am asked my opinion regarding healthcare reform (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA). Frequently the person asking me also has an opinion and this has led to some lively discussions, particularly if the individual thinks the PPACA is a bad idea. I happen to believe health care reform is not only a good thing, but it is also long overdue. It is astouding to me that a progressive country, such as ours, has not had a planned healthcare approach for all its citizens, ...

When people ask me what’s on my mind about nursing these days, my thoughts invariably turn to new graduates and the challenging job market they are facing.
The story of Susan is a good example. Susan had a 10-year career as a teacher but always wanted to be a nurse, so when she was getting ready to re-enter the job market after her children started school, she went back to school to realize her lifelong dream. To finance her education, she used all her savings, took out student loans and ...

I was dismayed and alarmed at the prosecution of a nurse living in Texas, who had reported a physician to the state's medical board because of her concerns regarding his care of patients. Last week, after a four day trial, the nurse was found not guilty of the third-degree felony charge of "misuse of official information" charge brought against her. It is gratifying that the jury took less than one hour acquit Anne Mitchell of the charges, and in fact the jury foreman said members of ...