NACNEP submits 18th annual report to HHS Secretary, Congress

The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP) of the Health Resources and Services Administration recently submitted its 18^th Report to Congress via Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who appoints all NACNEP members. The report, Preparing the nursing workforce for future public health challenges, outlines recommendations to support retention, replenishment and expansion of the public health nursing workforce. Emphasis was placed by the council on preparing all nurses to be able to respond to future public health emergencies regardless of their level of education or workplace.

“A lot of time and energy goes into deliberating the timely priorities that should be raised to the Secretary and U.S. Congress regarding nursing education and practice. These recommendations, if acted upon with investments informing policy change, and rapid cycle innovative macro- and micro-efforts led by academia and practice, have potential to yield positive outcomes that benefit all of us,” says Professor Carolyn Porta, PhD, MPH, RN, SANE-A, FAAN, FNAP, who is an appointed member of NACNEP.

Recommendations encouraging funding initiatives focused on:

• Preparing nurses with the necessary competencies to pivot into public health oriented nursing practice in the event of a public health emergency
• Sustaining initiatives that support recruitment, retention, and expansion of the public health nursing workforce
• Strengthening interprofessional public health education and practice