As we move through the second quarter of the year, one message continues to guide our work at the Iowa Nurses Association: we hear you.

Across conversations with members, committee work, events, and day-to-day interactions, we continue hearing a common theme—our members want meaningful connection, greater visibility, stronger engagement opportunities, and a more active nursing community. I want you to know that your feedback is not only being heard—it is shaping our priorities and driving our work.

One of the ways we are strengthening engagement is through our Beyond the Bedside podcast, which continues to grow as a platform to highlight the many ways nurses are influencing healthcare beyond traditional roles. Through stories of leadership, innovation, advocacy, education, and career growth, we hope to create additional opportunities for members to connect with one another and with the profession. We are excited about the momentum surrounding the podcast and encourage members to continue sharing ideas for future topics and guests as we expand this initiative.

We are also preparing for our Fall Conference in Ames with the theme Stronger Together. The theme reflects what we believe at INA: nursing is at its best when we learn from one another, support one another, and work together toward common goals. We are excited to create opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration that strengthen our nursing community across Iowa.

I also want to recognize and thank the members of the Education Committee for their tremendous efforts in planning this robust event. Dawn Bowker, Misty Brooks, Ginny Wangerin, and Bonnie Davidson have been working diligently behind the scenes to develop a meaningful and engaging conference experience for attendees. Their commitment, leadership, and dedication are helping bring this vision to life, and we are grateful for the time and energy they continue to invest on behalf of INA and our members.

Your voice also remains essential in helping determine where we go next. During the month of June, INA will launch a membership engagement survey developed at the direction of the Board of Directors and formulated by the Nursing Practice Committee. This initiative reflects our commitment to listening intentionally and understanding how INA can better meet the needs of nurses across practice settings and career stages. We encourage all members to participate and provide honest feedback. Your insights will help guide future initiatives, strengthen member value, and inform our continued efforts to elevate engagement and expand INA’s presence throughout Iowa.

Building stronger connections also means showing up consistently and strengthening our partnerships across nursing organizations throughout the state. To help enhance communication and visibility, Greg now has a standing agenda item with the Iowa Organization for Nursing Leadership (IONL) Board each quarter. He will also be attending the upcoming IONL District A meeting in Jefferson to share INA initiatives and engage directly with nursing leaders across that district. These intentional opportunities allow us to increase awareness of INA’s work and strengthen collaboration across Iowa nursing communities.

Advocacy remains central to our mission as well. On Tuesday, May 19, I had the privilege of joining Sam Wu, Chair of INA’s Public Policy Committee, at the Iowa State Capitol for the signing of SAFE Center legislation. Moments like these serve as a powerful reminder that nursing voices matter and that meaningful change happens when advocacy is paired with action. We are proud to continue supporting initiatives that strengthen healthcare and improve outcomes across Iowa communities.

There is still work ahead, but I want you to know that we are committed to heightening engagement, increasing visibility, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring INA remains responsive to the needs of its members. We are listening. We are showing up. We are building stronger connections and creating more opportunities for nurses to engage with INA in meaningful ways. We are working hard to elevate the presence of INA throughout Iowa—and every step forward begins with hearing and responding to the voices of our members.

Thank you for your continued support, your engagement, and your commitment to nursing. We are stronger together.