JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Nurses Association (MONA) held their annual advocacy day on Wednesday, bringing in over 750 registered nurses (RNs).
The daylong event at the Capitol Plaza Hotel began with exhibits from schools of nursing, hospitals, nursing associations and health care groups. The keynote address will be delivered by Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association (ANA), who began the day’s events highlighting a few of the issues ANA is advocating for on behalf of nurses at the federal level and discuss ways nurses can become involved and influence the legislative process. Rebecca McClanahan, MSN, RN, MONA VP of Advocacy, and Kyna Iman, MONA Lobbyist, will then share why legislative advocacy is important, and share with participants what is needed from each nurse in the state to be successful at the Capitol.
MONA is monitoring many healthcare related issues during this year’s legislative session. MONA CEO Jill Kliethermes, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, identifying MONA’s 2016 Nurse Advocacy Day priorities, which include safe texting and driving, the Narcotics Control Act, implementing the Nursing Education Incentive Program and gathering data on Missouri’s health care workforce.
Participants then went to the Capitol to observe the legislative process in action and meet with legislators about nursing-related legislation and health care in the state of Missouri.
Following the nurses’ visit to the Capitol, MONA members presented the 2016 Excellence in Health Care Legislation Awards to Rep. Craig Redmon, R-Canton, and Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, during the luncheon. MONA VP of Advocacy Rebecca McClanahan, MSN, RN, wrapped up the day with a closing address encouraging nurses and nursing students to remain engaged in the legislative process.
There are over 100,000 nurses in Missouri.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
