HHS Actions to Protect Conscience Rights of Americans Following comments submitted by NACN-USA and many other organizations in November and December (see below), in January 2018 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced: Two major actions to protect life and conscience rights of Americans: New guidance to state Medicaid directors restoring state flexibility to decide program standards. The letter issued rescinds 2016 guidance that specifically restricted states' ability to take certain actions against family-planning provider that offer abortion services. HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a new [...]

HHS Removing Barriers to Participate in HHS Programs Carolyn Laabs, PhD, MA, FNP-BC, RNChair, Ethics & Spirituality Committee NACN-USA in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop and other organizations provided comments on Removing Barriers for Religious and Faith-Based Organizations to Participate in HHS Programs and Receive Public Funding. The HHS sought comments from faith-based organizations and other interested parties to inform HHS on how it may best identify and remove regulatory or other barriers in order for these institutions to participate in HHS-funded or regulated programs, [...]

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Participants in the 32nd International Conference on the "Addressing Global Health Inequalities. In attendance at the Dicastery meeting were NACN-USA members: Marylee Meehan, RN, MA, NACN President (1996-1998), CICIAMS President Emeritus and Member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers (2011-2017); Dr. Patricia Sayers, DNP, RN, CICIAMS United Nations Representative; Maria Arvonio, BSN, MA(HCE), RN, Northeast Regional Director and Ellen Gianoli, BSN, PHN, RN, Pacific Regional Director. Read the full message here. XXXII International Conference, 16-18 November [...]

HHS DRAFT Strategic Plan FY 2018-2022 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) solicited input to the HHS DRAFT Strategic Plan FY 2018-2022 with this message.  Comments are due by October 27, 2017. Carolyn Laabs, PhD, MA, FNP-BC, RNChair, Ethics & Spirituality Committee Thank you Dr. Carolyn Laabs, PhD, MA, FNP-BC, RN, Chair, Ethics and Spirituality Committee for your excellent work drafting the NACN-USA comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) draft Strategic Plan. 10/23/2017

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect for the Dicastery from Promoting Integral Human Development, message on October 12, 2017 for the 30th Annual World Sight Day. Read full message here. "The celebration of the 30th World Sight Day, promoted by the World Health Organisation, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the World Blind Union, which takes place on 12 October 2017, is for me an opportunity to address a fraternal and cordial greeting to all those in the world who are engaged in the fight against blindness."

NACN-USA Comments regarding the draft ANA Position Statement "A Call to Action: Cultivating Moral Resilience and A Culture of Ethical Practice" The ANA received comment on its draft revision on their position on the Cultivating Moral Resilience and A Culture of Ethical Practice. Carolyn Laabs, PhD, MA, FNP-BC, RNChair, Ethics & Spirituality Committee Thank you Carolyn Laabs, PhD, MA, FNP-BC, RN (Chair) and the Ethics and Spirituality Committee for formulating our comments. Read the NACN-USA comments on the ANA Position on Cultivating Moral Resilience and A Culture of [...]

NACN-USA Joins the USCCB and 32 other Organizations in a Joint Letter to Congress to Urge the Passage of Conscience Protection Act of 2017 The National Association of Catholic Nurses, U.S.A. joined the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and thirty-two other major pro-life, religious, and health care organizations on September 6 urging the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to pass the Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 644/S. 301). Signatories include numerous medical groups representing tens of thousands of health care professionals who object to abortion and are [...]