ANA Joins the National Academy of Medicine Collaborative to Kick-Off Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness
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SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) has joined TheNational Academy of Medicine (NAM) Collaborative and over 90 founding partners—including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation— to kick off a series of events to recognize health workforce well-being from March 11, and announced March 18 as the annual, national Health Workforce Well-Being (HWWB) Day.
On March 11, ANA leaders joined the NAM collaborative for a special event on Capitol Hill to celebrate the kick-off. The event was attended by the Surgeon General, members of Congress, founding partners, and public participants. Additionally, a bipartisan resolution to designate March 18, 2024, as the nation’s first Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness has been introduced by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) to recognize the seriousness of widespread health care worker burnout in the United States and the need to strengthen health workforce well-being. HWWB Day aims to recognize the importance of protecting health workers’ well-being to sustain our health system and ensure quality patient care.
“We are proud to be among this stellar group of founding partners who demonstrate meaningful movement, action and collaboration to strengthen health workforce well-being,” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Now is the time to act through not only solutions and resources, but also leadership. ANA thanks NAM for leading the way and applauds U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) for their unwavering commitment to prioritizing and protecting the well-being of our nation’s health care workforce.”
HWWB Day is also a day for action—learning from one another on the progress to advance the movement to support health worker well-being and expand evidence-informed solutions to make system-wide changes to improve health worker well-being and transform cultures.
The nursing profession for decades has been particularly vulnerable to the stress and strain of a demanding and complex health care delivery system along with unchecked challenges in the work environment. A 2023 survey of over 7,400 nurses in the U.S. found that 56% of nurses report feeling symptoms of burnout, such as emotional exhaustion. Despite sustained and high levels of burnout, approximately two-thirds of surveyed nurses indicated they were not currently receiving mental-health support.
“ANA urges all leaders to continue examining the unique challenges that impact nurses and all health care professionals, including addressing the stigma that all too often is a barrier to asking for help,” said ANA Chief Nursing Officer and Acting CEO Debbie Hatmaker, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This collaborative and national action is a tangible step to reduce burnout and support the well-being of those who provide care. Building and sustaining a healthy workforce ultimately benefits the health of our patients and communities across the nation.”
More details on how health leaders, policymakers, health workers, and patients can participate in Health Workforce Well-Being Day, as well as take further next steps in the movement are available at nam.edu/HWWBDAY.
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About the American Nurses Association (ANA)
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's more than 5 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.
About the NAM Clinician Well-Being Collaborative
The NAM’s Clinician Well-Being Collaborative is a network of leaders and representatives of many major health organizations and health systems across the United States. The Collaborative is co-chaired by Dr. Dzau; Dr. Murthy; Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, 29th President, International Council of Nurses and Past Dean, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Thomas J. Nasca, MD, MACP; President and CEO of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; and Darrell G. Kirch, MD, President Emeritus of the Association of American Medical Colleges. All Collaborative members are founding partners of the Health Workforce Well-Being Day. Since 2017, the Collaborative has identified evidence-based strategies to improve clinician well-being at both the individual and systems levels. Learn more about the NAM Collaborative at nam.edu/CW. Register to receive updates at bit.ly/NAMListserv. For questions, contact ClinicianWellBeing@nas.edu.