Nurses participating in the American Nurses Association’s House of Delegates (HOD) took action to update and streamline governance of the association to more quickly address pressing issues and better meet the needs of nurses. These decisions represent significant change in the association’s governance structure.
At June 15 and 16 HOD sessions, about 450 voting delegates from ANA’s constituent and state nurses associations (C/SNAs) and Individual Member Division (IMD) approved several measures that reflect its focus on updating its governance structure and processes. These measures are part of a larger and continuing effort to position ANA and its C/SNAs to better serve members and the profession at large. Changes will go into effect at various times.
One approved measure — crafted by a broad and diverse coalition of leaders — replaces the long-standing HOD with a Membership Assembly.
Delegates agreed to reduce the size of the ANA board from 15 to nine members, retaining one position specifically for a staff nurse and another for a newly licensed nurse.
They also approved measures to dissolve the advisory body, the Constituent Assembly, and in March 2013, the 60-member Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics (CNPE). Nurses will have new opportunities to serve on ad hoc Professional Issues Panels to address specific, and in some cases, urgent issues important to nurses.
Re-elected ANA President Karen A. Daley, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, thanked delegates for their hard work as they collaboratively determined ANA’s future direction.
All delegates, including voting nurse representatives for the specialty nursing organizational affiliates, also adopted resolutions addressing optimal nurse staffing, the handling of hazardous drugs, workplace violence, and healthier energy choices.
For additional details about actions taken at the 2012 HOD, see the July/August issue of The American Nurse.
2 Comments.
I agree with you. I was a HOD member from the IMD. I am totally opposed to the elimination of the HOD but a good compromise was made with the Member Assembly replacing the HOD but still providing direction to the BOD it hope it will be ok. I am completely opposed a BOD that has no membership oversight.
I read the changes with some ambivalence. We need focus and efficient use of resources. Fewer people involved will decrease expendituees, and possibly decrease representation. In my ideal world, I keep hoping we will control our destiny and get in front of the changes needed. We seem to be responding/ reacting to hostile changes in our environment. If we looked ahead today to twenty years from now, would we be able to sell a new vision to the current leadership and members? Pam P-H