The Administration’s proposed $4.8 trillion 2021 budget cuts med-surg nursing funding priorities – and AMSN and The Nursing Community are working to restore the funding. In its 2021 budget released Feb. 10, the Administration proposed:

• Eliminating all Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, except the Nurse Corps;
• Reducing Nurse Corps funding by $5.5 million for a total of $83.135 million;
• A nearly $3 billion or 10% cut to the National Institutes of Health;
• Reduction in National Institute of Nursing Research for a total of $156.804 million; and,
• Lowering funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) by about a quarter, to $355 million.

Who will deliver health care today and tomorrow if the need for nurse workforce development, research and innovation is not met now? AMSN and nurse groups were successful in 2019 reversing major cuts – but this is a new year with a new challenge.

In response to these deep cuts, AMSN and the Nursing Community Coalition to which AMSN belongs are communicating with Congress this clear message: Reverse the cuts and support nursing priorities for better health and access to care. 

Watch your email inbox and the AMSN Med-Surg Nursing Advocacy Hub community for opportunities to take action and be heard!

What are AMSN’s advocacy plans and how can med-surg nurses engage? AMSN Legislative Team chair Yalanda Comeaux, MSN, MJ, RN, CMSRN, and legislative consultant Frank Purcell conducted a live webinar on this topic last fall, titled “Be Heard for Your Patients: Health Policy & Advocacy for Med-Surg Nurses.” 

Now it’s available for AMSN members through our online library! This one-hour program will educate you as a med-surg nurse about the fundamentals of advocacy, AMSN’s agenda, and AMSN’s advocacy plans for now and the future that invite your engagement and support your profession! Visit the online library.