Legislators and officials need to hear from nurses on the issues that matter to nurses.  UAN is the national voice of staff nurses on Capitol Hill and to our federal government.   UAN nurses are lobbying to pass federal legislation on safe and enforceable nurse-patient ratios … leading the fight to end dangerous mandatory overtime … testifying on the right to form a union and bargain a first contract … and speaking out to protect important health and safety rules like the tuberculosis respirator standard.

Nurses see frontline decisions made every day that have a negative impact on patients and want to be part of the solution. The UAN has worked with Congress and the Administration to improve patient care, and shape the future of all staff nurses and the health care system for the better by improving the economic and general welfare of nurses, providing a quality work environment, protecting nurse and patient safety and influencing nursing practice standards.

Nurse activists have established an aggressive list of legislative priorities for our work with the 111th Congress, with the UAN Legislative Committee and National Labor Assembly delegates targeting RN staffing ratios, health care reform, the Employee Free Choice Act and safe patient handling among the top issues. To review UAN's legislative agenda for 2009, click here. Read the resolution on legislative priorities passed by UAN NLA delegates here.