Why Nursing Is Political: A Candid Conversation With ANA Leader Katie Boston-Leary

On this episode of the Love n’ Leary Nursing Podcast, hosts Marion Leary and Rebecca Love welcome Katie Boston-Leary, Senior Vice President at the American Nurses Association, for a powerful conversation on advocacy, leadership, and the future of nursing. Katie shares why political and social advocacy are core to nursing’s identity and how the ANA is taking bold action in response to national events impacting health, human rights, and democracy. The discussion also explores the Department of Education’s proposed reclassification of nursing degrees and what it means for education access, workforce development, and the profession at large. This episode is a call for nurses at every level to use their voices, engage in policy, and lead meaningful change.

>>From Bedside to SVP of Equity and Engagement at the ANA

Jump Ahead to Listen: 

[1:02] Meet guest Katie Boston-Leary (ANA)
[1:27] ANA’s stance: advocacy as core nursing work
[3:04] Alex Pretti case in Minnesota and ANA’s first response
[4:08] Petition to Congress and “nursing founded in struggle”
[6:03] DOE letter: nursing left off the professional degree list
[7:32] Stereotypes about nurses and how they shape policy
[8:12] Nursing roles: bedside, leadership, security, even space
[9:31] Public comment on DOE rule (through March 2) and aid impact
[11:29] “Where nurses go, society goes”: power of advocacy
[12:02] How you can plug into ANA’s advocacy work
[13:38] RNAction.org: quick tools to reach your lawmakers
[14:02] Start local: policy in your workplace and community
[15:21] Political advocacy as nursing’s lane
[16:52] Report for Duty Rally in D.C. (May 7) and next steps

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