The American Nurses Association (ANA) Membership Assembly (MA), the governing and voting body of ANA consisting of almost 400 RNs convened on June 26 and 27, 2025 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. Four elected Maryland Nurse Association (MNA) Representatives to the ANA MA: President Dr. Lou Bartolo, Vice President Dr. Karen Evans, Treasurer Dr. Mary Jean Schumann, and Past President Rosemary Mortimer, participated in multiple pre-hearing meetings hosted by ANA, MNA, and the Eastern Seaboard Regional Executive Council (ESREC). Their preparation before and during the MA facilitated informed decision making to vote on many important nursing issues, proposed ANA Bylaws Amendments, and the election of new leaders to the ANA Board of Directors and Nominations and Elections Committee.
There were informative and inspirational presentations from the ANA President Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, American Nurses Enterprise (ANE) Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Bradley and ANE Chief Executive Officer Angela Beddoe, and ANA Treasurer Joan Widmer on the power of nursing and the future of ANE. Annual updates were provided on the American Academy of Nursing, American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Nurses Foundation, National Student Nurses Association.
The ANA MA, a cross section of almost 400 RNs, approved the three Dialogue Forum proposals as presented by the Professional Policy Committee: Advancing Rural Health, Effective Use of Artificial Intelligence and Revising and Protecting the Role of the RN. ANA MA Representatives engaged in robust debates and some, including the MNA MA Representatives actively voiced their positions on the proposed bylaws changes. The ANA MA voted to allow the C/SNAs’ Chief Staff Officers/Executive Directors a vote in the Leadership Council and to discontinue e-membership. The “one vote, one member” change to how officers and directors on the ANA Board are elected to their positions and that an ANA Board of Directors seat be designated for an APRN were both opposed. Due to time constraints and the need for more information, several proposed bylaws amendments are delayed to an upcoming virtual special meeting of the ANA MA.
A proposal was circulated at the ANA MA on “Defending Nursing’s Principles and Protecting Our Patients” was presented as new business, supported by ESREC and MNA, and approved. It defines a strong opposition to federal policies that conflict with core nursing principles that support access to care, nursing workforce development, science-based public health measures, and equity in healthcare.
The ANA MA elected new ANA Board of Directors: Vice President Dr. Anita Girard, ANA\California; Treasurer, Trish Richardson, North Carolina Nurses Association; Director-at-Large, Dr. Amanda Savage, ANA-Maine; Director-at-Large- Recent Graduate, Nikule Abel, Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses; and new Nominations and Elections Committee: Dr. Sandra Foley, New Jersey State Nurses Association; Gem Priddy, Virginia Nurses Association; Emily Rocha, Individual Member Division; and Joan Widmer, New Hampshire Nurses Association.
The National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition with representatives from Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, presented the Nurses’ Legacy Memorial. One hundred and eight deceased Maryland nurses were among those honored during this impressive and eloquent ceremony, along with the recently deceased ANA leaders former ANA President Eunice Cole and former ANA CEO Dr. Loressa Cole. MNA will also honor Maryland’s deceased nurses at the MNA 122nd Annual Convention on October 16 and 17, 2025, at Bethesda Marriott with its Nightingale Tribute.
