Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the public view of the scientific and health communities has seemed to focus on little else. Because of the danger and contagiousness of COVID-19, ways to slow the spread of the virus and mitigate its severity have eclipsed most other health issues. At ANA-Illinois, we believe the effects of COVID-19 on…
News
Our Voice: Tamara Bland talks about diversity in nursing education and practice
“You will never make it through this program.” Tamara Bland, RN, MSN, Ed.D. is a Southside Chicago girl and proud of it. Her passion for diversity started as a student while attending Concordia University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. One of four students of color in her cohort, Bland expressly remembers walking into…
Our Voice: Nurse staffing based on patient needs means better care and safety
It is Thursday afternoon and in my medical intensive care unit there are twelve critically ill patients. I am one of six nurses scheduled for duty that day. Normally we would have a 2:1 ratio, a nurse for every two patients. However, like most days, this is not a normal day. Difficult decisions will need…
Why be an American Nurses Association — Illinois Member?
What is the American Nurses Association? There are a variety of professional organizations for both student and full-time nurses. So, what makes the American Nurses Association (ANA) different? The ANA is the only comprehensive professional organization that represents the interests of the nation’s 4 million registered nurses. According to the National Health Council, the American…
Our Voice: Atoya Troy Brewster, new BSN grad, on NCLEX
Why, amid a pandemic, do we not have new nurses hitting the floors and providing care? Testing, testing, testing. We have heard about the desperate need for COVID-19 testing. There is another type of testing that we also need to increase: Nurse licensure testing for new graduates to become registered nurses. Currently, many nurses cannot…
Enough is Enough. Take Action: Protect Black Lives
ANA President, Dr. Ernest Grant, shared a crucial community message. In Racism, Brutality, and Senseless Violence Against Black Communities, he stated, “I have a deeper moral vision for society, one in which we have a true awareness about the inequities in our country which remain the most important moral challenge of the 21st century.” To…
Our Voice: Financial support would allow more potential nurses to become registered nurses
Wanted! Registered nurses ready to work in COVID-19 isolation units that look like a set from the movie ET. Must be willing to perform life-saving care for thousands of sick individuals. Must be able to have tough conversations with patients and families. Must be willing to take on thousands of dollars in student debt. It…
Our Voice: Nurse staffing is about emergency response
COVID-19 has unveiled something nurses have known for a long time….for the best possible health outcomes, we need hospital environments that support nurses. Empowering nurses to guide staffing decisions may, even in the midst of a crisis, make this terrifying experience better and safer. We have heard about the critical issue of PPE shortages. I…
Tell Us Your COVID-19 Story
NURSES! Please Tell Us Your COVID 19 Story Your nursing experiences with the COVID 19 pandemic demonstrate the nursing profession at its best. Your stories are of great interest to fellow nurses, as well as to the general public. Are you working with COVID 19 patients on an acute inpatient unit? What has the experience…
Our Voice: Illinoisans are being inconvenienced, not oppressed
The World Health Organization (WHO) extends COVID-19 pandemic as the effects of this virus still warrants a public health emergency of international concern. This is our reality and the American Nurses Association – Illinois wants everyone to be as safe as possible. The safety and well-being of our children, families, and communities is paramount. Furthermore,…