UAN held its first National Labor Assembly annual meeting—made up entirely of staff nurse delegates—in 2000. There, delegates elected the first UAN Executive Council officers and launched a year-long public awareness campaign on the nurse staffing crisis, vaulting the issue to national attention.

Staff nurses direct this union, at every level. Every registered nurse represented for collective bargaining by UAN or a state affiliate participates in the democratic processes of the UAN. For many members, this happens through the annual National Labor Assembly, generally held in March.

Delegates to the NLA discuss the major issues facing staff nurses and determine policy positions to be taken by the national union. Delegates are elected by union nurses in their states. (See the UAN Constitution to read more on the responsibilities of a UAN delegates.)

Learn about submitting NLA agenda items and resolutions