2019 NV Nurses Association Yearbook

NNA Legislative Committee
In the spirit of our 2019 Nurses Day at the
Legislature theme, “Advocacy – the Power of
Nursing,” the NNA Legislative Committee embodies
this ideal through empowering individual nurses
to share their knowledge with policymakers to
proactively achieve legislative change for patients and
our nursing-peers alike.
Legislative advocacy is a process that takes time.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made an
indelible impact on nursing advocacy as evidence
that change is possible at a national level. Now that
there is encompassing legislative language about our
healthcare system in federal law, nurse leaders must
advocate for amendments to the ACA language to
Amie Ruckman, MSN,
RN – Northern Nevada
Legislative Co-Chair
Donna Miller, RN/EMSRN,
CMTE – Southern Nevada
Legislative Co-Chair
move it from theory to practice that is truly practicable. We need nurses to engage in the legislative process
to affect positive and lasting change in healthcare, at both the local and the national levels.
The Legislative Committee invites all NNA members to join us in the legislative process even if you are not
on the committee. We encourage you to contact your legislator(s) and provide them with your healthcare
expertise and nursing knowledge. Most legislators are part-time and do not have a healthcare background.
They really appreciate their nursing constituents acting as a resource on these healthcare bills. Please see the
NNA website for details on how to contact your legislator.
Some key points to know and understand about the NNA Legislative Committee and the Nevada Legislature:
• Nevada has biennial legislative sessions that last from January to June in odd years.
• NNA does not endorse candidates for office.
• NNA is a respected authority on legislative issues that affect nursing, our profession, public health, and
patient care.
• NNA pays and utilizes a lobbyist firm, year-round, to guide us and provide direction and strategies for
our legislative efforts.
• The Legislative Committee meets monthly throughout the year and weekly when the legislature is in
session from January to June.
• The committee meets by teleconference at no additional cost to the members.
• Every other year, when the legislature is in session, the Nevada Nurses Association in conjunction with
the legislature hosts a day for the nurses to come to the capitol For many nurses and students this
is a new experience: sitting with their legislator during the session, attending a legislative committee
hearing, seeing and hearing testimony and presentations from our peers.
The Legislative Committee welcomes new members and fostering legislative advocacy in all nurses. You can
make a difference! Please contact us via the information on our NNA’s website.
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www.nvnurses.org