Accessibility Tools

News & Announcements

ANA-NY

ANA Opposes Actions that Prohibit DEI Education and Programs

16 May 2023

The American Nurses Association (ANA) strongly opposes any legislation or effort that would prohibit diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) programs or dictate how history is taught. Prohibiting colleges, universities and health care-related professional institutions and licensing boards from adopting DEI training, education, and programs would pose significant setbacks at multiple levels. These actions and legislative measures set a dangerous and insidious precedent. ANA urges all academic and health care institutions to adopt and aggressively maintain policies, procedures, and practices that embrace inclusiveness, promote civility and mutual respect of nurses and their patients. 

“DEI should be integrated into every aspect of nursing education, from curriculum development to faculty recruitment and retention”, said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy. “These programs should also promote an understanding of our country’s history to help place in context the experiences of our patients, families, and communities. Diversity education and mandatory diversity training in the workplace are non-negotiable tools for the nursing profession to exemplify inclusion and equity resulting in antiracist practice and work environments, and improved health care outcomes.”

ANA urges leaders and policymakers to reject any legislation that would limit DEI efforts in higher education and health care-related professional institutions and licensing boards. Instead, we call on leaders and policymakers to support and invest in programs that support inclusive excellence, promote preserving the dignity of all as well as the human rights for all health care workers, patients, and others within the organization and community.

“These measures and proposed legislative efforts are already having a detrimental impact on the nursing profession, our patients, and the communities that we serve,” said ANA Enterprise CEO Loressa Cole, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Nurses deliver care to diverse patient populations and recognize the urgency of understanding and addressing the unique needs and experiences of all individuals. Therefore, the organizations that employ nurses and the universities that educate the next generation of nurses have an obligation to establish and enforce DEI programs.”

ANA is taking meaningful accountability for its own past actions that have negatively impacted nurses of color through a formal Journey of Racial Reconciliation. Collaborating with leading nursing organizations in the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, ANA is examining the issue of racism within nursing nationwide focusing on the impact on nurses, patients, communities, and health care systems to motivate all nurses to confront individual and systemic racism. All nurses, leaders and health professionals can get involved and find resources for change.

###

About the American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's more than 4 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Shannon McClendon, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Events and Happenings

9 Oct
13th Annual ANA-NY Conference ★
October 9, 2025 10:00 - October 11, 2025 01:00
29 Oct
Empower Yourself with Intuitive Eating Skills ★
October 29, 2025 05:00 - 06:00

Additional Articles

01 July 2025
Last week, more than 500 nurses representing 47 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands descended on Washington D.C. and…
19 June 2025
The Workplace Violence Prevention Alliance thanks Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and Senator Luis Sepúlveda for their leadership and commitment in pass…
27 May 2025
One of the best ways ANA-NY members can get involved with the organization is through committee volunteerism. We have several committees so that you…
22 May 2025
We’re excited to launch the ANA-NY Member Points Program, a new way to recognize and reward members for staying active, connected, and committed to n…
27 May 2025
Join A Nurse’s Journey Virtual Summit — a powerful 14-day online event for nurses ready to grow, lead, and recharge. This summit brings together 28…
12 May 2025
The global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but wide disparities in the availability of nurses remain a…
06 May 2025
On National Nurses Day, we thank the extraordinary men and women who have dedicated their lives to the critical and noble profession of nursing—provi…
30 April 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Recognizing, Honoring, and Amplifying the Impact of Nurses Across the Nation SILVER SPRING, MD – Today, the America…
01 May 2025
The Nightingale Tribute honors late nurses and recognizes their commitment and dedication to science and the practice of nursing.  First designed an…
08 April 2025
The American Nurses Association is aware of the recent personnel changes and organizational restructuring within the US Department of Health and Huma…

Contact Us

  • (518) 949-9254

  • 150 State Street
    4th Floor
    Albany, NY 12207

Connect With Us

Copyright © American Nurses Association of New York. All rights reserved.