Workplace Advocacy
ANA with its partners and through its organizational relationships is a leader in promoting improved work environments and the value of nurses as professionals, essential providers and decision makers in all practice settings. ANA protect, defends and educates nurses about their rights as employees under the law – by addressing the growing number of occupational hazards that threaten nurses, such as needle stick injuries, latex sensitivity, back injuries and violence.
These are the position statements from ANA regarding workplace advocacy. For background information regarding each of these statements is available in the Members Only section of the site. Login required.
Patient Safety: Rights of Registered Nurses When Considering a Patient Assignment - 3/12/09
The American Nurses Association (ANA) upholds that registered nurses – based on their professional and ethical responsibilities – have the professional right to accept, reject or object in writing to any patient assignment that puts patients or themselves at serious risk for harm. Registered nurses have the professional obligation to raise concerns regarding any patient assignment that puts patients or themselves at risk for harm. The professional obligations of the registered nurse to safeguard patients are grounded in the Nursing’s Social Policy Statement (ANA, 2003), Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2001b), Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA, 2004), and state laws, and rules and regulations governing nursing practice. Background Info
Assuring Patient Safety: The Employers' Role In Promoting Healthy Nursing Work Hours for Registered Nurses in All Roles and Setting - 12/8/06
Given the well-documented relationship between nurse fatigue and an increased risk of nurse error with the potential for compromising patient care and safety, it is the position of the American Nurses Association that all employers of registered nurses should ensure sufficient system resources to provide the individual registered nurse in all roles and settings with: 1. a work schedule that provides for adequate rest and recuperation between scheduled work; and 2. sufficient compensation and appropriate staffing systems that foster a safe and healthful environment in which the registered nurse does not feel compelled to seek supplemental income through overtime, extra shifts, and other practices that contribute to worker fatigue. Background Info
Assuring Patient Safety: Registered Nurses' Responsibility in All Roles and Settings to Guard Against Working When Fatigued - 12/8/06
The American Nurses Association (ANA) takes the position that, regardless of the number of hours worked, each registered nurse has an ethical responsibility to carefully consider her/his level of fatigue when deciding whether to accept any assignment extending beyond the regularly scheduled work day or week, including a mandatory or voluntary overtime assignment. Background Info
Elimination of Manual Patient Handling to Prevent Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders - 6/21/03
In order to establish a safe environment of care for nurses and patients, the American Nurses Association (ANA) supports actions and policies that result in the elimination of manual patient handling. Patient handling, such as lifting, repositioning, and transferring, has conventionally been performed by nurses. The performance of these tasks exposes nurses to increased risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. With the development of assistive equipment, such as lift and transfer devices, the risk of musculoskeletal injury can be significantly reduced. Effective use of assistive equipment and devices for patient handling creates a safe healthcare environment by separating the physical burden from the nurse and ensuring the safety, comfort, and dignity of the patient. Background Info
Work Release During a Disaster - Guidelines for Employers - 6/24/02
The American Nurses Association, which represents the 2.7 million registered nurses in the United States, recommends that employers adopt the following work release policy to guide the process of releasing registered nurses from work for the purpose of addressing a disaster. A companion position statement entitled: "Registered Nurses' Rights and Responsibilities Related to Work Release During a Disaster" clarifies the role of the Registered Nurse who wishes to participate in disaster relief work. ANA strongly believes that registered nurses should be released as part of organized medical rescue teams during disasters, however individual nurses may still want to respond and should be given due consideration. Background Info
Registered Nurses' Rights and Responsibilities Related to Work Release During a Disaster - 6/24/02
The American Nurses Association, which represents the 2.7 million registered nurses in the United States, recommends that registered nurses use the following guidelines to clarify the process of release from work for the purpose of addressing a disaster. A companion position statement entitled "Work Release During a Disaster - Guidelines for Employers" offers guidance for healthcare employers in establishing work release policies and procedures during a disaster. The American Nurses Association strongly believes that nurses should be released as part of organized medical teams; however, individual nurses may still want to respond and should be given due consideration. Background Info
Polygraph Testing of Healthcare Workers - 12/8/94
ANA opposes the use of polygraph testing for making employment decisions, because it violates privacy, and gives inconclusive results. Background Info
Sexual Harassement - 4/2/93
ANA is deeply committed to the principles of civil rights and opposes any form of discrimination against individuals or groups of individuals based on sex, race, age, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. ANA believes that nurses and students of nursing have a right to and responsibility for a workplace free of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment has an adverse impact on the healthcare environment. Background Info