ANA president recognized on TIME100 Health list

ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, has been honored by TIME as one of the 100 most influential leaders shaping the future of health worldwide. This year’s honorees include innovators, advocates, and system-level leaders advancing bold solutions to strengthen care delivery and improve health outcomes for communities around the world.

Dr. Mensik Kennedy was recognized in the Titan category for her national and global leadership, elevating the role of nurses as essential drivers of access, quality, and equity in healthcare. During her tenure, ANA has advanced policies that protect nurses and expand access to care, including building a coalition of more than 90 organizations to support the reintroduction of the ICAN Act in 2025. This legislation seeks to expand access to care services, particularly in areas facing critical provider shortages, by removing federal barriers that prevent advanced practice RNs from practicing to the full extent of their training.

TIME also cited Dr. Mensik Kennedy’s leadership in mobilizing nurses and allies to oppose policies that would have restricted access to nursing education by excluding nursing from the federal definition of professional degrees. ANA’s advocacy efforts, including a national petition to Congress, drew international attention and support while reinforcing the United States’ role as a global standard-setter for advanced nursing practice.

“This recognition reflects something nurses have always known to be true,” Dr. Mensik Kennedy said. “Nurses are the connective tissue of healthcare systems, showing up every day to meet patients where they are and close gaps in care. Being included on this list is not about one individual. It is about the power, leadership, and impact of nurses everywhere who are shaping the future of health.”

Angela Beddoe, CEO of the American Nurses Enterprise, congratulated Dr. Mensik Kennedy on the honor.

“Dr. Mensik Kennedy’s inclusion on the TIME100 Health list is both well-earned and deeply meaningful,” Beddoe said. “Her leadership has helped reframe how the world sees nursing, not as a supporting role, but as a driving force in health policy, innovation, and care delivery. This recognition affirms The Power of Nurses™ and the impact of the work they do every day.”

Read the full 2026 TIME100 Health list and tributes at time.com/time100health.

2026 Individual Membership Division election: Call for nominations

The Individual Membership Division of the American Nurses Association provides the organizational structure to permit members who join the association directly at the national level only to participate in the governance and programmatic work of the association, as expressed in the association bylaws. The division was established by an amendment to the bylaws on June 26, 2003.

The Individual Member Division is soliciting nominations for the following positions within the division:

• Chair
• Secretary
• Member-at-large/2nd Membership Assembly representative
• Member-at-large/5th Membership Assembly representative

To review in detail the roles and responsibilities of each position, please access the Individual Member Division Operating Policies and Procedures, under the resources tab at the QR code below or at bit.ly/4hdHtvI. The term of office for the chair and secretary positions is 2 years, commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. The term of office for the member-at-large and Membership Assembly representative position is 1 year, commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

This is the official notice of election and request for nominations for these positions. To qualify as a candidate for office, the nominee must be a member of the Individual Member Division. Emails with information about the nomination process and criteria will be sent starting April 10, 2026. If you don’t have an email on file with the association,
you will receive print notifications.

The Year of The Power of Nurses™—National Nurses Week 2026

The American Nurses Enterprise (ANE) is proud to celebrate The Power of Nurses™ May 6–12 in honor of National Nurses Week. This annual celebration is dedicated to elevating nurses’ voices and recognizing their unwavering commitment to patients, communities, and better healthcare outcomes for all.
Many opportunities exist to recognize nurses in your community and elevate the “Year of The Power of Nurses,” in honor of the American Nurses Association’s 130th year.

Check out the National Nurses Week toolkit, which includes:

• Guidance for pitching stories to press, reaching out to local politicians, and asking for local landmarks and buildings to Light Up the Sky for nurses
• Social media assets for an engaging campaign
• Customizable and printable posters, thank you cards, and certificates of appreciation
• Paths to up-level local events

Nurses light up the sky

Last year 206 buildings were illuminated in honor of nurses during National Nurses Week. This year our goal is 250 in honor of America’s 250th birthday—and you can help! If you have suggestions for buildings, landmarks, monuments, or healthcare hubs in your state, please let us know by emailing nursesweek@ana.org.

Support nurses and nursing initiatives

During National Nurses Week, ANE invites individuals and organizations to donate to the American Nurses Foundation to support crucial work including mental health support for nurses, new care solutions, and health equity initiatives. Visit nursingworld.org/donate.

NNW webinar: The Economic Value of Nurses

In this webinar, you’ll join experts in nursing economics to learn how to clearly articulate the value of nurses. Through innovative research, current evidence, and alignment with the Nursing Human Capital Value Model, you’ll explore how you can recognize, communicate, and demonstrate your value as a nurse—far beyond a line item on a budget. Check the NNW webpage for free registration information.

Explore the complete schedule of National Nurses Week events and download the toolkit at pages.nursingworld.org/nursesweek26

ANA’s formal comments on graduate student loan rulemaking

In an official comment letter to the Department of Education, the American Nurses Association (ANA) strongly urged the department to classify post-baccalaureate nursing degrees as “professional” degrees as it implements federal graduate student loan provisions in H.R. 1.

ANA called on the Department of Education to explicitly recognize that post-baccalaureate nursing programs—Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing—are professional degrees so that nursing students pursuing these crucial programs have access to higher federal graduate loan borrowing limits.

Federal graduate student loans are essential for nurses seeking to advance into critical roles across advanced practice, education, and research. Access to post-baccalaureate nursing programs enables entry into advanced nursing professions, which millions of Americans rely on for high-quality healthcare. Nursing faculty play a central role in educating and preparing the next generation of nurses to meet current and future healthcare demands and to prevent worsening of the national nursing shortage.

Excluding nursing degrees from professional degree eligibility jeopardizes workforce sustainability, limits access to care, and directly contradicts the administration’s stated investments in strengthening the nursing pipeline and recognizing the indispensable role nurses play in the nation’s healthcare system.

ANA called on the Department of Education to not finalize a rule that would make it harder for the American public to have access to highly educated and trained, licensed, and deeply committed advanced practice registered nurses.

Read the full letter at bit.ly/4u4bKDZ