2026: The Year of the Power of Nurses

Celebrating 130 years of leading and advancing the nursing profession

As part of a year-long observance, the American Nurses Association (ANA) kicked off the 130th anniversary of its founding with a special proclamation marking 2026 as “The Year of The Power of Nurses.” This milestone proclamation serves not only to recognize ANA’s pivotal work leading the profession and shaping the future of healthcare delivery, but also to honor the extraordinary contributions of nurses to transform, inspire, and innovate across the healthcare landscape.

The proclamation was formally introduced in Congress, with companion resolutions led by U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood, RN, in the House and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley in the Senate.

“As we celebrate ANA’s 130th anniversary, we honor more than a century of nurses leading with courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to patients and communities,” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “With 2026 officially declared ‘The Year of The Power of Nurses,’ we are elevating the impact nurses have had on health, innovation, and policy for generations, and reaffirming our promise to invest in, protect, and amplify the nursing workforce for many years to come.”

Since its founding in 1896, ANA has advanced the profession through sustained advocacy, congressional engagement, leadership in public health, and the establishment of professional standards that define excellence in nursing practice. From early efforts to promote public health and fight infectious disease to addressing workforce challenges, patient safety, and national health emergencies, ANA has guided nurses through more than a century of change, serving as a trusted, unified voice for the more than 5 million nurses who care for patients and communities nationwide.

“Celebrating 130 years of excellence in service to nurses is a powerful reminder of our enduring strength, passion, and commitment to the nursing profession. We celebrate a legacy defined by influencing healthcare policy, innovation, and driving positive change,” said Angela Beddoe, CEO of the American Nurses Enterprise. “As we mark this significant milestone, we honor our past and the critical role of nurses while looking ahead to imagining ANA into 2040 and renewing our bold commitment to championing nurses and healthcare for decades to come.”

Read the proclamation for The Year of The Power of Nurses.

Nurses named most trusted for 24th year

Nurses have been ranked the most trusted professionals in Gallup’s annual Most Honest and Ethical Professions Poll for the 24th consecutive year.

The poll reflects the sustained public recognition of the compassion, expertise, and integrity nurses bring to patient care and community health. In the most recent poll, 75% of Americans rated nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as “very high” or “high,” outpacing all other professions.

“Year after year, the American public turns to nurses as the most trusted professionals in the nation,” said Dr. Mensik Kennedy. This trust is more than an accolade. It affirms the essential leadership role nurses play on the national stage of healthcare, in policy, in strengthened communities, and in advancing equitable, high-quality care.

“These results also reinforce how essential it is that patients have access to care delivered by nurses in every setting,” added Dr. Mensik Kennedy. “It is critical that we continue to advocate for safer workplaces, sustainable staffing, and policies that support nurses, so they can
provide the high-quality care patients deserve.”

Best in Business accolade for ANA

For the first time, ANA has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best in Business of 2025, an honor awarded to only 50 organizations nationwide and to just two professional associations across the country.

The Best in Business program celebrates organizations that are driving innovation, efficiency, and excellence across the healthcare industry. By spotlighting organizations that are transforming the future of healthcare, the program underscores the pivotal role these organizations play in strengthening systems of care and improving outcomes for patients and communities.

As the nation’s leading voice for the more than 5 million RNs who make up the largest segment of America’s healthcare workforce, ANA was recognized for its policy leadership and advocacy impact. According to Modern Healthcare, ANA’s distinctive edge is its ability to mobilize a unified, national advocacy network that connects nurses across every state and territory around shared policy priorities. By pairing deep professional expertise with data-driven grassroots engagement, ANA translates the collective voice of nurses into measurable policy outcomes that protect the nursing workforce and the patients they serve.

As part of its evaluation, Modern Healthcare cited ANA’s demonstrated advocacy in 2025 as a key factor in its selection. Through ANA’s RNAction.org platform, nurses nationwide took more than 27,000 grassroots advocacy actions, translating engagement into tangible federal outreach. Building on that momentum, more than 500 nurses from 47 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands participated in ANA’s Hill Day, engaging with 337 congressional offices, including 86 meetings directly with members of Congress.

“For 130 years, ANA has elevated the voice of nurses, influenced policy, and advanced standards that improve care for patients and communities nationwide,” said Angela Beddoe, CEO of the American Nurses Enterprise. “Being named a Best in Business honoree reflects not only the impact of that leadership, but also the power of nurses to drive a stronger, more effective healthcare system.”

Beddoe emphasized that the recognition belongs to the people and partners behind the work. “This honor is a direct reflection of the dedication, expertise, and commitment of ANA’s employees, whose work makes this impact possible every day,” she added. “It also reflects the strength of our relationships with our constituent and state nurses associations. We are deeply grateful for their leadership, collaboration, and deep connections at the state level that make our collective voice stronger and more effective.”

ANA calls for action following the death of RN Alex Pretti

Alex Pretti, a registered nurse, was killed in a horrifying shooting at the hands of federal immigration enforcement in Minneap-olis on January 24. The American Nurses Association (ANA) denounces his killing and the circumstances surrounding it. We extend our condolences to Alex’s loved ones, colleagues, and the community at large.

As an intensive care unit nurse, Alex chose a profession devoted to caring for others at their most vulnerable. Nurses have an ethical and professional duty to care for all patients, regardless of background or immigration status. In his final moments, it appeared Alex was providing compassionate care to an individual from the community.

RN Action is encouraging members and the public to sign a petition demanding immediate action (ana.quorum.us/campaign/petitionforalex).

The petition calls for:

• An independent and transparent investigation into Alex Pretti’s killing.
• A full reform of the administration’s strategy that places federal immigration enforcement in our communities.
• An immediate end to federal immigration enforcement efforts that impede a safe workplace environment and/or breach HIPAA requirements, and the ability to provide care in all healthcare settings.
• No further funding of federal immigration enforcement activities until there are robust hearings and congressional over-sight of the conduct of federal immigration enforcement officers within our communities and care settings.

When policies threaten safety, access to care, and the public’s trust, it’s time to speak out. Take action at RNAction.org.