On June 26, 2025, nearly 500 nurses from 47 states gathered in Washington, D.C., for the American Nurses Association (ANA) Hill Day. These nurse leaders participated in meetings with members of Congress and their staff, collectively advocating on behalf of more than 5 million registered nurses across the United States.
Among the attendees were Rick Bassett, President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), and Jackeline Iseler, NACNS President-Elect, who joined hundreds of nurses in bringing key legislative issues to the forefront during a time of unprecedented staffing shortages and workforce challenges. Their presence underscored the importance of strong advocacy to advance policies that support the nursing profession and improve health outcomes for patients nationwide.
This year’s advocacy agenda centered on four critical legislative priorities:
Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act
This bipartisan legislation seeks to remove outdated and arbitrary restrictions within Medicare and Medicaid that prevent Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training. Modernizing these policies is vital to improving access to high-quality care and addressing persistent healthcare workforce shortages.
Protecting and Stabilizing Medicaid
Nurses voiced opposition to proposed Medicaid reforms that could negatively impact patients and the providers who care for them. They called for policies that ensure stable, long-term financing for Medicaid to protect access to essential health services.
Reauthorizing Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs
Participants advocated for the reauthorization of Title VIII programs through Fiscal Year 2030 and urged Congress to support at least $530 million in funding for nursing workforce development, along with $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in FY 2026. These programs are crucial to sustaining and strengthening the current and future nursing workforce.
Preventing Workplace Violence Against Nurses
Nurses advocated for legislative measures that protect healthcare workers from violence in the workplace, recognizing that a safe work environment is essential to both nurse retention and patient care quality.
These legislative priorities directly impact the work environment, education, and practice authority of nurses—especially Clinical Nurse Specialists—who are uniquely positioned to lead quality improvement, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes across care settings.
As noted in the ANA Hill Day 2025 press release, the collective voice of nursing was powerfully represented at the Capitol. By uniting behind common goals, nurses including leaders from NACNS continue to influence national policy and dismantle long-standing barriers to practice.
These four topics all relate to improving nurses’ working environment and practice barriers that have existed for decades. Participants of Hill Day collectively focused on these topics, working together to make their voices heard. The positive impact that Hill Day brings will benefit all registered nurses, including CNSs, by improving work environments and removing practice barriers.