Published October 26, 2022 
2022 Academic Nursing Leadership Conference: AACN’s Advocacy and Policy Recap
This past weekend, AACN hosted its 2022 Academic Nursing Leadership Conference. Thank you to all our AACN Advocates and members for your thoughtful engagement throughout the past few days. Below are highlights reflecting the government affairs and policy initiatives and perspectives on the conference:
- On October 23, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Dr. Rahul Gupta spoke about the importance of substance use disorder education and training, including for our nursing workforce, as a critical strategy in combating the overdose epidemic in the United States.
- The 2022 AACN Lois Capps Policy Luminary Award was presented to Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) for her outstanding leadership in nursing policy. Rep. Bernice Johnson has been a long-time champion of nursing though her introduction of resolutions to recognize National Nurses Week, her support of our Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, and being an original supporter of the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act. We are grateful for the Congresswoman’s leadership and for her enduring legacy on Capitol Hill.
- Thank you to our AACN Advocates for sending 229 messages to Capitol Hill urging Congress to support our top priorities including:
- Cosponsor and pass the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (S.246/H.R. 851) in any year-end legislative package to ensure nursing education pathways remain strong.
- Cosponsor and advance the Stop Nurse Shortages Act (H.R.9200) to aid schools of nursing in addressing the nursing shortage via support of new and existing accelerated nursing degree programs.
- Support at least $324.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, as included in the House Appropriations Committee passed bill.
- If you missed our Fall Virtual Advocacy Day, you can still take action by clicking here!
- Thank you to the 118 participants who have made a pledge to vote this year as part of AACN’s nonpartisan initiative Nursing Voices, Nursing Votes. To view voting resources in your state ahead of the midterm elections on November 8 and to pledge to vote, click here. Your voice and vote matters!
Looking Ahead: Registration for AACN’s 2023 Student Policy Summit is Now Open
Registration is now OPEN for AACN’s 2023 Student Policy Summit! Our two-day summit, to be held March 26-27, 2023, is going BIGGER and BOLDER. The Summit brings baccalaureate and graduate students enrolled at AACN member institutions to our nation’s capital for sessions focused on the federal policy process and nursing’s role in professional advocacy. Two students per AACN member school can attend, with more student slots available to schools who sponsor this event. Spaces are limited so register your students today! To register, click here and to sponsor the Summit, click here.