National Nurses Week 2014
Theme: Nurses: Leading the Way
Talking Points
(December 2013)
Nurses are leading the way to improve the quality of health care and ultimately, the health
of the nation.

Nurses excel at providing primary care, prevention, wellness, chronic disease
management and care coordination services – major points of emphasis under the
Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the future direction of a transformed health care system.

Nurses are continually developing ways to evaluate and improve the quality of care.
Strategies include research, collaborative learning and development of measures for pain,
pressure ulcers and patient falls.

Nurses are engaging patients in the care process so they can better manage their own
health by educating them about treatment plans, involving them in decisions,
coordinating their care and using easy-to-share electronic health records.

Nurses provide skilled treatment and a healing touch directly to patients, and also conduct
research resulting in improved care, reduced costs, and enhanced quality of life. Nurses
are leading innovators. The American Academy of Nursing’s Edge Runners program
spotlights innovators who have, for example, developed home-based strategies to
promote maternal and early childhood health; and hospital discharge plans that enable the
frail elderly to live independently.
Nurses are leading the way toward creating a health care system that enhances
collaboration, high-performance and positive outcomes.

Nurses are called upon to be leaders and full partners with physicians and other health
care professionals in identifying problems, implementing solutions and shaping health
care policy, as recommended in the 2010 Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing
report.
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
Nurses are working as integral members of health care teams delivering care in
collaborative, performance-based models, such as “accountable care organizations” and
“medical homes.”

Nurses are filling new roles to leverage their knowledge, experience and skills to benefit
patients, such as care coordination specialists, navigators and coaches.

More nurses are ascending to leadership roles as researchers and consultants, managers
and executives, directors of health and wellness companies and operators of communitybased independent clinics.

ANA’s Leadership Institute fosters the development of nurse leaders who can translate
their patient-care experiences into management and boardroom competencies, such as
decision-making, financial planning and business strategy. The goal is for nurses to lead
change that results in better patient care.
Nurses are leading the way in advocating on behalf of patients and the nursing profession.

Nurses are steadfast champions for patients and patient-centric care.

Nurses are increasing their influence to bring about changes and improvements in health
care processes, policies, workplaces and systems, based on evidence of what works best.

The public trusts nurses to protect the best interests of patients and lead changes in the
health care system. (For 12 years, the public has ranked nursing at the most ethical and
honest profession in an annual Gallup poll.)

Nurses show leadership in their daily bedside care practices by determining processes
that are working well for patients, and improving others to achieve better outcomes.

All RNs can be leaders in all aspects of health care, from the bedside to the boardroom, in
their communities and professional associations, and in policy arenas.
Nursing organizations are leading the way by working together to strengthen the work of
the profession and improve patient care.

Nursing organizations at the state and national level work together as affiliates of the
American Nurses Association (ANA). More than 50 constituent and state nurses
associations and more than 30 specialty organizations that are organizational affiliates of
ANA share information and collaborate on a range of strategies to advance shared goals.
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
Nurses are advocating for safer and healthier health care work environments for workers
and patients by promoting safe patient handling and mobility, safe use of sharp devices,
optimal nurse staffing levels, violence prevention, elimination of toxic chemicals and
other measures.
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