Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1531149
RNs in Motion » 51 Nursing Practice Nursing Practice provides continuing education programs and monitors professional practice issues and trends affecting direct-care RNs. The department is a resource for the contract-mandated Professional Practice Committees (PPC) in each facility to ensure that nursing practice laws and patient advocacy regulations are observed. The Joint Nursing Practice Commission, composed of elected RN members, makes policy recommendations to the board of directors on nursing practice issues. Education, Social Justice and Equity, and Research The Education division develops and provides member education workshops as well as continuing education courses that complement courses offered by the Nursing Practice department. Our educators use tools from their research and teaching backgrounds to design classes that explore various aspects of the social determinants of health, health care industry trends, and their ramifica- tions for patient advocacy. The Social Justice and Equity division provides training, resources, leadership development, and coordination of our union's fights for racial, gender, economic, health care, and environmental justice. The division supports nurses in developing our skills and understanding of social justice unionism with the goal of building a healthy and just world for all people. The Research division provides political and economic policy analysis in health care and other industries. In collaboration with CNA and NNU as a whole, the Research division helps develop and articulate strategic approaches in addition to creating reports to illustrate the current health care crisis in this country. Communications Communications ensures that the voice of direct-care RNs is prominently heard throughout electronic, print, and social media on a wide range of nursing, patient protection, and health care policy issues. The depart- ment also publishes National Nurse magazine, and other materials to inform RNs about critical developments affecting members, fellow RNs, and patients. The com- munication department develops and maintains the organization's social media and websites. Executive Office The Executive Office works closely with the board of directors to implement the policies and programs of the organization, including the development of both state and national policy on a number of health care issues, such as worker protection and patient advocacy legislation. The Executive Office provides oversight and ensures integration of all departments. Registered Nurse Response Network The seeds of the Registered Nurse Response Network (RNRN) were planted firmly in the minds of CNA when, in the days following the 2004 South Asian tsunami, our offices were flooded by calls from RNs across the nation frustrated by the scarcity of volunteer opportunities for direct-care nurses. When Hurricane Katrina hit the following year, no time was wasted. By the time the floodwaters were receding, more than 300 RNs were placed in understaffed public hospitals, triage clinics, and other facilities throughout the Gulf region. RNRN was officially launched the following year. When the devastating 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, RNRN's roster of RN volunteers grew to more than 14,000. RNs were dispatched to relieve exhausted nurses aboard the USNS Comfort, which treated the most severely injured. Teams of RNs worked alongside local Haitian doctors and nurses at Sacré Coeur Hospital, located 80 miles north of Port au Prince, in the months following the quake. Other major RNRN deployments include Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the Philippines' Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda in 2013, and missions to the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota, Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Northern California after the Camp Fire, a Tucson border shelter for refugee families, Guatemala for basic medical care, Camp Laurel serving youth with HIV, and a Covid vaccination clinic in South Los Angeles. Today RNRN has a national network of nearly 29,000 volunteers. Sign up to volunteer and/or donate at: www.rnresponsenetwork.org.