ANA-Michigan - 2020 Annual Book of Reports

2020 ANNUAL BOOK OF REPORTS
Executive Director Report
Tobi Lyon, MBA, CAE
To Remain Silent is to be Complicit. – President Ernst Grant, ANA President
The year 2020 was an unexpected and unprecedented challenge for many, and
when it began we had no idea to the extent of how it truly it would be the, “Year
of the Nurse.” It will forever be remembered as a year that made history and
changed life as we knew it, not only as nurses but as a country. On March 10, 2020,
in accordance with Governor Whitmer’s first “Stay-at-Home” Executive Order, ANA-
Michigan strategically pivoted operations to fully support the needs of nurses during
this time of great uncertainty. ANA-Michigan’s innovative approach and ability to proactively switch
gears to respond to COVID-19 was nationally recognized for establishing new modern practices and
has expanded our outreach and engagement to include more front-line nurses and potential members.
Due to the nature of the nursing profession and the frontline position nurses took from the very
beginning of the pandemic, an obvious top priority for ANA-MI was support as a direct response to
the fight against COVID-19 and the effect it was having on nurses. Tools and educational offerings
included a COVID-19 resources webpage, multiple webinars including, “Mitigating the Effects of
Trauma in Current Crisis” and “Psychological First Aid for Nurses,” strategically positioned “Thank
You” Nurse billboards and over 5,000 KN95 masks donated to members, nurses and health facilities in
need. I remain both humbled and in awe of the sacrifice nurses made in 2020 to fight this pandemic
and throughout the year.
Throughout the year, ANA-Michigan also continued its mission to advance nursing practice in Michigan.
ANA-MI developed position statements on Mitigating Implicit Bias, Telehealth & Connected Health,
the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, Nurse Title Protection and Safe Nurse Staffing. Moving
forward, ANA-MI is in-progress of finalizing position statements in regard to the COVID-19 vaccination
and whistleblowing that aligns with the nurses’ code of ethics.
Advocacy was another key initiative in 2020, as dedicated nurses were tested to their personal limits.
For the first time ever, ANA-MI contracted its first lobbying firm, Muchmore Harrington Smalley &
Associates, LLC (MHSA). MHSA has earned the reputation as one of Michigan’s leading lobbying firms
and has a sterling reputation. ANA-MI was proud to provide our Strengthening the Voice of Nursing
campaign, featuring a webinar series, social media toolkit, tips on reaching out to Legislators and
a virtual town hall event with Representative Mary Whiteford. Our goal for this campaign was to
help decision-makers recognize the essential voice of nursing in current healthcare debates and
discussions. Because the ideals and mission of ANA-MI come to life through the real nursing stories
of our members, we know it’s critical for the voice of the nurse to be heard and ANA-MI is there to
support those voices every step of the way. ANA-MI in partnership with the Michigan Council for
Nurse Practitioners, held a virtual Town Hall with U.S. Senator Gary Peters as well.
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