Highlights from the 2004 ANA House of Delegates and Biennial Convention, Minneapolis, MN

Nevada was represented at the 2004 delegate assembly and convention by Nevada Nurses Association President Pam Johnson, BSN, RN (front left) and elected Nevada delegates (from left) Margaret Louis, PhD, RN; Mary Koithan, PhD, RN; Lisa Black, MS, RN; and Kate Fricke, BSN, RN.

Nevada's delegates considered deliberation, provided input, and voted on important nursing issues ranging from the operational structure of the American Nurses Association to policy issues directly affecting bedside nursing practice.

Delegates also had the opportunity to hear from other leaders, including National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) President John Arce. Arce updated the HOD about NSNA's longstanding campaign to increase the diversity of the nursing profession called "Breakthrough to Nursing." "It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that nursing reflects the population we serve," Arce told the delegates.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, kicked off ANA's Biennial Convention June 27 with a keynote address that spoke to the importance his previous experience as a registered nurse has played throughout his career, including in Ms current federal role, "And I cannot be successful in my job unless I have nurses on my team," he said. Carmona also talked about the important role nurses play in all aspects of health care and their expertise in prevention - from efforts to eliminate health disparities and chronic illness to preparedness for terrorist threats.