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Robyn Begley, CEO of AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership, yesterday attended a White House meeting with President Trump, Vice President Pence, members of the Coronavirus Task Force and leadership from national nursing organizations to discuss nursing’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.    

“The top priorities for nurse leaders are to ensure nurses have the supplies and equipment they need to treat patients, allocate nurses so we have enough staff to safely care for our patients and communities, and keep our nurses and their families safe,” Begley said, stressing the critical need to increase the production of N95 respirators and ventilators.  

She also advocated for removing licensing barriers; using creative strategies to maximize the workforce, such as roles for recently retired nurses and furloughed school nurses; and underscored the importance of caring for nurses and their families during this unpresented time.  

“It is important they know we are committed to their safety,” she said. “We depend on nurses coming to work while their families, including children and elders, are at home. Child and elder care are essential.