Alaska Nurses Association
3701 E Tudor Road, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507 Phone: 907-274-0827 Fax: 907-272-0292     aknurse@aknurse.org

2008 Statewide Nurses Convention

Conference features educational programs on issues such as environmental health, domestic violence, wilderness medicine, and disaster preparedness.

UAN (United American Nurses) National union for nurses, VP Joan Craft joins us for her first trip to AK. Joan is VP of the Hawaii Nurses Association, as well as the VP for the UAN. Joan was the guest speaker at nurse's night out, sponsored by the AaNA Labor Council. The theme of the night was " An Octoberfest of Nurse's feeding their young". That is what we did.

Joan Craft

Joan Craft, RN VP HNA & VP UAN in AK

The student nurses enjoyed a buffet dinner and time talking with experienced nurses as they begin their nursing careers. Joan spoke to the nurses about becoming involved with the AaNA, which supports all nurses in their careers. Joan also was able to experience on of our first snowfalls here in Anchorage.

Joan Craft and Donna Philips

Donna Phillips, RN AaNA Labor Council chair and Joan Craft enjoy an evening at the nurse/student nurses mentoring night.

The student and nurses also enjoyed the music provided by local band, Eveready and a silent auction of various baskets donated by nurses around the state. Thanks to all who attended and made this a fun evening for all

Representative Don Young assists nurses by signing on to HR 2122 and HR 2123

Representative Don Young has signed on to assist nurses in Alaska and across the country by backing the Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act (HR 2122) and Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Act (HR 2123). These acts help restrict mandatory overtime and set nurse to patient ratios for the highest quality patient care potential. At the same time, they insure a well staffed nursing workforce by offering an improved working environment for those interested in the public's most trusted profession. For more information please visit www.uan.org and click under legislative action.

Congressman Don Young Co-Sponsors RESPECT Bill

Alaska nurse leaders Kathleen Gettys and Donna Phillips visited the offices of Congressman Don Young, R-Alaska, as part of the United American Nurses lobby effort, March 22, in Washington D.C.  Gettys and Phillips also met with the Congressman's wife Lou who took them as her guests to a D.C. Republican luncheon.

Congressman Young, at the request of the two Alaskan nurses, agreed to co-sponsor an important piece of national legislation: The Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradeworkers (RESPECT) Act.- Congressman Young introduced the bill along with Reps. Robert Andres (D-New Jersey) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut), making the bill a bi-partisan effort.

The bill (HR 1644 and SB 969) would reverse a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that slashed long-time federal labor law protection of workers' freedom to form unions. The ruling essentially enabled employers to designate as "supervisors" any worker - including nurses - who has the authority to assign or direct another and uses independent judgment. This ruling, in many cases, would have applied to charge nurses. Under federal labor law, supervisors are not protected against retaliation for forming unions.

The NLRB ruling has the potential of negatively impacting Alaska's 6,000 nurses and their patients. During the meeting, Young agreed that the NLRB decision undermined workers' ability to form unions and was a form of "union-busting"; With Congressman Young's support, the UAN and American Nurses Association are optimistic about the newly introduced legislation's chance of becoming law.

AaNA Position Paper Re: Registered Nurse Supervision of EMT/Paramedic Student Training in Alaska

AaNA Report & Position Paper - Administration of Dietary Supplements by Registered Nurses in Alaska
(Be patient; it is a large document).

Online Continuing Education:
CEs from the comfort of your own home.

2007 General Assembly Resolutions and Minutes: Currently updating

American Nurses Association: Join, renew or inquire about your membership: www.nursingworld.org

Scenic photos of Alaska by Mark Hickey