As we welcome 2026, I am struck by a simple truth: Nebraska nurses show up. You show up for patients. You show up for your teams. You show up for your communities. And this year, NNA is committed to showing up just as boldly for you.

We are entering a year filled with possibilities. A year where we move from conversation to action, and from intention to measurable impact. Our focus is clear—advocate fiercely, strengthen our foundation, and build a future where every nurse feels supported, valued, and empowered.

Advocacy remains one of our strongest tools for change. This year, we will continue championing full practice authority for midwives and expand access to care across our state. We will stand firm in addressing workplace violence because every nurse deserves to feel safe, respected, and protected in their workplace. And through our partnership with the American Nurses Association, we’ll work to ensure APRNs and nurse educators have pathways to the graduate-level education that fuels our profession’s future.

But 2026 is not only about policy—it’s about people. We are expanding leadership opportunities within NNA, opening more seats at the table, and creating space for new voices and new ideas. We’re setting clearer benchmarks so we can hold ourselves accountable and show you the progress you deserve to see.

You will also see a commitment to connection this year: a refreshed website, expanded communication on topics impacting our profession and communities, earlier details for our annual conference, and the launch of our Health Policy Fellowship Program. Each initiative is designed with one purpose—to elevate and invest in the nurses of Nebraska.

And we’re not doing this alone. Partnerships across our state, including renewed collaboration with the Nebraska State Student Nurses Association, remind us that our strength grows when we grow together.

Nurses are the heart of healthcare in Nebraska. Your courage, your expertise, and your compassion move this profession—and this state—forward.
It is an honor to serve as your president. Together, let’s make 2026 a year of momentum, meaning, and transformation.

Thank you and look forward to a challenging but more importantly….wonderful 2026!