When skilled organizations fail to maintain up with nurses’ needs – AJN is off the charts

The views expressed on this post are those of the writer and don’t represent the views of his employers or affiliated institutions, or AJN and Wolters Kluwer.

One of the numerous lessons my experienced father taught me was this: actions let you know what an individual believes, and it is best to imagine people once they show you what they imagine. This principle applies not only to individuals, but additionally to organizations run by groups of like-minded people.

Many of our national nursing support organizations, resembling the American Nurses Association (ANA), the National League for Nursing (NLN), and others, have been complacent for too long in lots of areas of nursing support. Nurses are more burned out than ever before, and so are bedside nurse pay stagnationthe prices of each health care and education proceed to rise, and there may be an ongoing epidemic of violence against health care employees and residents. I find myself reflecting by myself efforts to resolve any of those issues that my colleagues or community are facing, and I am unable to help but have a look at the biggest and strongest nursing organizations with disappointment at their inaction on even the only of issues.

When skilled organizations fail.

Sure, nursing organizations are good at issuing reports and proposals. For example, in 2025 a new edition of ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses has been published. Commitment to society and social justice is one among the provisions, encompassing the moral obligation of each nurses and their skilled organizations to work to implement practices, policies and laws to advertise social justice and facilitate human flourishing. Perhaps the least ambiguous social justice issue on the time of writing was the killing of one among our own, nurse Alex Pretti, by a Customs and Border Protection officer. But ANA statement missed the event. After a temporary call for a transparent investigation and “answer” into his murder, an apparent non sequitur, the discussion moved to the separate and urgent issue of workplace violence. The NLN’s temporary statement was little higher: aside from calling for an investigation, theirs statementt also calls on federal authorities to “take necessary steps to de-escalate the potential for violence.”

Although it is typically emphasized that giant skilled organizations operate under legal, financial and membership constraints that limit their positions, the statements of the ANA, NLN and others are as devoid of meaning as they’re of motion. Where is our call to motion from our largest and strongest advocacy organizations? Why don’t they follow the moral principles they themselves outlined and confirmed within the 2025 Code of Ethics?

National Nurses United (NNU), the nurses’ trade union and skilled advocacy organization, called removing immigration agents from local communities and called for a “no” vote on upcoming laws that will provide additional funding and manpower to the federal office accountable for the murder of Alex Pretti. They took place every week demonstrations and candlelight vigils in 15 states. It’s still not an entire solution, but it could actually be worked on. NNU has been energetic for years providing nurses with guidance on activities that promote positive change within the occupation and community. Their actions speak volumes.

Small efforts make a difference.

If you’re as concerned as I’m concerning the recent or long-term issues we face, there are various ways you’ll be able to defend yourself. You can show up in person at an event or protest. You can join social service organizations to learn and assist of their efforts to enhance the community. You can donate food, hygiene products, money or time to an aid organization you think in that uses these resources to serve your community.

Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Christianson, FNP-C

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You can write to your representatives (in government, but additionally in skilled organizations of which you’re a member) and tell them what to encourage them to do with their resources. You can start a dialogue along with your local unions about methods to make your workplace higher for everybody. These are only just a few examples. One of my favorite ways to assistance is to crochet winter gear for those in need in my community. Small efforts make a difference.

Unfortunately, the response to the murder of Nurse Pretti is a very harsh example of the long history of inaction by our largest skilled nursing organizations, resembling the ANA. Attorney is a verb. It is time for us as nurses to acknowledge inaction as an indication of what organizations imagine in and reconsider which organizations deserve our support and a spotlight. It’s time to take advocacy into your individual hands.

Jacqueline Christianson, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor at Marquette University – College of Nursing. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.