Future of Nursing™ Campaign for Action
Wisconsin Action Coalition

In October, 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched its landmark report on the nursing workforce in America, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. This historical report, developed by the committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the Institute on Medicine has as its focus the role of nursing and nursing education to address the needs of rapidly changing, diverse populations with complex health care needs and increased demands for care. In response to the report, The Future of Nursing™ Campaign for Action is a collaborative effort to implement solutions to these challenges, and to emphasize the part that nursing can play to improve quality health care in the United States. The campaign is organized by RWJF in collaboration with AARP and the Center to Champion Nursing in America.

As part of the implementation at a statewide level, the Campaign for Action invited states to apply for Action Coalition status to go forward with IOM recommendations. Criteria for this application was partnership with a ‘non-nursing’ entity to enhance collaborative networking efforts and the opportunity for synergy. WCN is proud to lead the efforts for IOM implementation in our state and submitted its proposal to become an Action Coalition in partnership with the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) in summer of 2011.

On September 6, 2011, WCN and RWHC were notified that we had been awarded the designation of being an official Action Coalition for the Campaign. This important distinction will provide technical assistance and national networking to go forward with recommendations from the IOM Report.  A generous grant from the Faye McBeath Foundation will enable us to begin regional activities in our state to accomplish this work.