September 2025

Advocacy & Engagement 

NCC Congressional Briefing on Ways to Support our Current and Future Nurses

On September 4, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) hosted a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill on the top three ways to support nursing education, the workforce, and research at the federal level. Together, the NCC welcomed a panel of expert speakers as well as more than sixty stakeholders and Congressional staffers. For additional photos and information, see below and visit the NCC’s Events page. 

Events & Meetings

• The Nursing Community Coalition held a virtual monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
• On Thursday, September 4, 2025 the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) hosted a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. For additional information visit the NCC’s Events page.

Federal Funding Opportunities: Apply Today

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA):
  • National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program: This program provides loan repayment funds to students who are in their final year of study in various health professions, including Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse Midwives. Apply by November 6, 2025 at 7:30 pm (ET).

NCC Connections

• The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) is holding its 28th Annual NPWH Women’s Healthcare Conference in Las Vegas, NV from October 1-3, 2025. For more information and to register, click here.
• The Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA) is holding its 2025 Urologic Conference in Louisville, KY from October 10-13, 2025. For more information and to register, click here.
• Join the Emergency Nurses Association in celebrating Emergency Nurses Week from October 5-11, 2025, and Emergency Nurses Day on October 8, 2025. For more information, click here. 
• On October 15, 2025, several NCC organizations are hosting a reception in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of NINR. This reception is only open to those who attend the NightinGala on the same day. To RSVP to this reception, click here.
• Join the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) in celebrating Pediatric Nurses Week from October 6-10, 2025. For more information, click here.
• The American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) is holding its annual conference from October 15-18, 2025, in Aurora, CO. For more information and to register, click here. Please also join ASPMN in recognizing September as Pain Awareness Month.
• The American Public Health Association (APHA) is holding its Annual Meeting from November 2-5, 2025, in Washington, DC. For more information and to register, click here.

In Case You Missed It…

• On September 5, Becker’s published an article titled, “A rare nurse role that is eliminating hospital pain points.” To read the article, click here. 
• On September 10, the House Appropriations Committee advanced their FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill by a vote of 35-28. See the NCC’s updated FY 2026 appropriations funding chart here. For more information on the House FY 2026 funding bill, please see below:
  • House FY 2026 LHHS-ED Bill Text
  • House FY 2026 LHHS-ED Bill Report
  • House Majority FY 2026 Appropriations Press Release
  • House Minority FY 2026 Appropriations Press Release
• On September 16, Higher Ed Dive published an article highlighting new research showing a projected shortage of 5.3 million college-educated workers, including nurses, by the year 2032. To read the article, click here.
• On September 23, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA-44) introduced H.Res.757, which recognizes September 22, 2025 as National Hispanic Nurses Day.

Post of the Month

We were pleased to host a congressional briefing on the top 3 ways Congress can support nursing education, the workforce, and research. Thank you @RepBonamici for your opening remarks and steadfast support of our nation’s nurses!

HPASC Purpose and Objectives

To promote awareness within the DNA of issues and concerns in the area of Health Policy and Advocacy that assists DNA and it’s members to achieve their strategic goal of effectively advocating for members, patients, and the general public by:

1. Increasing membership involvement and understanding in health policy and advocacy efforts.
2. Acting as a resource for information on issues related to health policy and advocacy.
3. Working with members to investigate, consider, report, and act on advocacy issues commensurate with DNA’s Strategic plan.
4. Facilitating membership awareness, discussions, and activities.

HPASC Projects

• Support nursing within the Nursing Community
• Support cancer research, prevention, and education with One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC)
• Support State  Legislation to  prohibit tanning bed use by Children with The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network ACS CAN
• Support The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association SUNucate

Health Policy Advocacy Scanning Council

Elizabeth Jonas, LNP -Co-Chair
Karrie Fairbrother, BSN, CDE, DNC
Maura Flynn, MPP, RN, DNC
Krismarie Marrero, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Gayle Peterson, RN-BC

HPASC Official Advocacy Toolkit

Advocacy is hard to describe because it’s so very personal. That is because advocacy just means your voice. Whether a local school board or your states senator in D.C., you are the voice that can affect change but if you remain silent, your voice will not be counted for.

The DNA wanted to create a toolkit for all dermatology healthcare providers to be able to affect change where they see fit. We encourage you to look for small wins, these realistic achievements snowball into bigger wins through collaboration and visibility.

We encourage you to find a way to start down a path for change today. Learn about the political process, send an email to a representative, download a calendar of events, volunteer for a committee, join a patient advocacy group. Together, we will have our voices and our patient’s voices heard.

DCAN’s Advocacy Toolkit – DCAN is excited to release its new advocacy toolkit. It’s an extensive guide on how patients and clinicians can overcome payer resistance.