Since 2011, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 218,000 registered nurses (RNs) in the Commonwealth, has had the pleasure of spearheading the Pennsylvania Action Coalition. After four years of focused work to create comprehensive health care change, the Coalition has grown into a successful network of professional colleagues. To maintain the Coalition’s evolving initiatives, PSNA announces that effective January 1, 2015, the oversight and management of the PSNA co-lead position will be assigned to the National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC), Philadelphia.

“PSNA is honored to have played a lead role in the movement to maximize the contributions of the nurses who deliver health care in our state and nation. We look forward to seeing this campaign continue to thrive with the leadership of the NNCC,” stated PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “After a successful year with 14 pieces of legislation having passed the General Assembly, PSNA will continue to advocate on behalf of all nurses in the Commonwealth. In September 2014, we launched the Pennsylvania Young Nurse Professionals, a group that encourages new RNs to build a community of peers and discuss career-related concerns. In addition, PSNA will continue to lead the discussion on medical cannabis, an issue that is at the forefront in our Commonwealth. As always, we are committed to our patients, the public and to collaborating with other health professionals to promote efforts determined to meet health needs and to shape health policy.”

PSNA was selected as the Coalition co-lead by the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, coordinated through the Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA), an initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). With the leadership of PSNA, the Coalition has garnered support from organizations including Geisinger Health System, AARP, Capital BlueCross and the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Statewide meetings were held to discuss health care reform and health care goals based on the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 recommendations. PSNA also spearheaded the development of collaborative work groups to support the multi-faceted work of the Coalition, such as the PA Coalition for the Advancement of Nursing Education, PA Congress of Nursing, Alliance for Advanced Practice Nurses and multiple governmental agencies. Likewise, nine regional action coalitions (RACs) were created across the State to ensure that the recommendations translate into actions that result in improved patient-centered care. With PSNA’s guidance, these RACs have succeeded in getting more RNs into leadership positions at the state level. Additionally, PSNA and the Coalition were focused on: increasing the number of nurses with a bachelor of science through seamless articulation models; increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce through the work of the nursing diversity council; and developing nurse residency programs throughout the Commonwealth.