Published January 27, 2021 
Rounds with Leadership: New Year, New Congress, New Administration

Every January, Washington, DC welcomes a new Congress along with new opportunities to impact federal policy. On January 3, the 117th Congress was installed, including 60 freshmen members of the House of Representatives and seven new Senators. (On January 20, three additional new Senators were sworn in.)
To help orient the new Congress and members of the Biden Administration to academic nursing’s priorities, AACN leaders have been reaching out to individual offices and agencies to make connections and add nursing’s voice to the national dialogue on improving health and health care. Though COVID restrictions prevented us from being there on day one to greet the new members, we have engaged in other activities and virtual meetings to ensure that academic nursing’s voice is heard.
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Weekly Digest
On January 21, 2021, Johnson & Johnson announced the release of a new white paper on The Impact of COVID-19 on the Nursing Profession in the U.S.:2020 Quantitative Survey Summary. In collaboration with the American Nurses Association and the American Organizational for Nursing Leadership, Johnson and Johnson commissioned a market research study, which revealed that despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the crisis has resulted in some progress within the profession, accelerating changes in attitudes and expectations regarding nurses. The study also uncovered several areas for further investigation to help nurses continue to expand their role in the delivery of high-quality health care, including nursing education, health disparities, innovation, and leadership among others.
On January 22, 2021, Dr. Shannon Idzik, associate professor and associate dean for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, posted a new commentary in The Baltimore Sun titled Condescension Over Use of ‘Dr.’ Title ‘Reeks of Misogyny and Paternalism.’ In response to challenges to the first lady Jill Biden using the title “Dr.,” the author details the struggle faced by many doctorally prepared nurses to rightfully use the title that corresponds with their level of educational preparation. “In a nation where health care is so inexorably tied to justice, we should advocate for equality: equal rights, equal pay, equal judgment, equal success, and, most importantly, equal ability to use the Dr. title, as earned.”
AACN Updates
Register Now for the Deans Annual Meeting
AACN Congratulates RADM Susan Orsega on Her Appointment as Acting U.S. Surgeon General
CCNE Call for Comments on Proposed Revisions to the Standards for Accreditation of Entry-to-Practice Nurse Residency Programs
AACN's Gallery of Leadership
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Combating Racism and Fostering Inclusive Learning Environments
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Recently Added Videos
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Dr. Nilda Peragallo Montano and Dr. Shielda Rodgers
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Dr. Stephen J. Cavanagh and Dr. Piri Ackerman-Barger
University of California, Davis
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Dr. Joan M. Vitello-Cicciu
University of Massachusetts Medical School
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Find out what your colleagues are saying about how the academic nursing community can help end racism and foster equitable change at AACN's Gallery of Leadership.
View the Gallery
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The Social Pulse
American Society of Addiction Medicine Celebrates Success with AACN Collaborative
To address the gap between the number of patients who need addiction treatment and qualified healthcare professionals available to treat patients using evidence-based approaches, the American Society of Addiction Medicine and AACN joined together, with the support of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration “Expansion of Practitioner Education” Grant, to increase addiction treatment training for nurse practitioners. Learn about the success of this pilot program by reading the blog post here.
IPEC to Host Webinar Promoting Health and Well-Being Across the Health Professions
Student health and well-being is increasingly identified as a needed area of focus in health professions education. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative's (IPEC) first 2021 webinar, on February 23 at 2:00 PM (ET), will focus on the mental health and wellness needs of interprofessional learners. This event will be held in collaboration with the American Psychological Association and co-hosted by AACN. Learn more and register here.

Washington Weekly
Inside this edition of Washington Weekly: Biden Administration Update: New Executive Orders on Equity, Immigration, Student Financial Aid, and COVID-19; Take Action: Welcome your Senators and Representative to the 117 th Congress; and Webinar: Learn More About Funding Opportunity for Nurses Specializing in Women’s Health.
Read AACN's Washington Weekly >>

To support the information needs of nursing school deans, faculty, students, and other stakeholders, AACN has developed a resource center to highlight key information sources found on the Web regarding COVID-19. The following information and opportunities are currently featured.
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Latest Resources
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National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness – January 21, 2021
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
COVID-19 Resource Page
Health and Human Services – Office of Emergency Management and Medical Operations
Rush COVID-19 Community Response Playbook
Rush University
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School News
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Boise State University – January 5, 2021
Idaho college students help healthcare workers administer COVID-19 vaccine
Rush University – January 13, 2021
Op-Ed in The Washington Post with Liz Brockland, Community Health Nurse Faculty
Nurses can be more rational with patient health care than their own. I’m no different, but I got the vaccine and feel great.
Mount Saint Mary College of Nursing – January 20, 2021
Nursing Majors Administer COVID Vaccinations
Washington State University – January 20, 2021
WSU Nursing Students and Faculty Giving COVID-19 Vaccinations
University of Hawai’i – January 22, 2021
UH Department of Health Vaccinate Healthcare, Post-Secondary Essential Workers
Georgia Southwestern State University – January 22, 2021
GSW students and faculty step to the frontline by volunteering at vaccine clinic
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire – January 25, 2021
‘All hands on deck’: Local college students pitching in to roll out COVID-19 vaccine
UMass Medical School – January 25, 2021
UMass vaccination effort, a sign of what might be
Marquette University – January 26, 2021
Nursing students, faculty share their outlook on COVID-19 pandemic
Eastern Kentucky University – January 26, 2021
EKU nursing students prepare to help administer vaccines
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See Past Issues of AACN News Watch