Nurses Day at the Capitol is just around the corner.  We have reached a maximum registration of 250 attendees and have closed registration early to ensure we are able to seat and accommodate everyone who registered.  This event is a big deal every year and has lead to some incredible outcomes.  In 2024, nurses were in chambers as HB 159 decriminalizing healthcare errors in Kentucky passed through the state house.  That bill would ultimately go on to pass and be signed into law, protecting nurses and other healthcare workers from being criminally prosecuted for mistakes made in the course of their employment.

In what has become an annual tradition, Governor Beshear will deliver remarks in chambers to nurses in the House Chambers. In 2024 he even took a few questions. We will also be joined by other Kentucky lawmakers including State Senator Max Wise and Representative Patrick Flannery.  We are grateful to these lawmakers for their time and commitment to supporting the nursing profession and KNA's advocacy work.

A full list of the KNA's Legislative Priorities are below:

The leadership, staff, and volunteers with the KNA are always working on ways we can support Kentucky Nurses.  While the KNA collects dues, that alone is not enough to sustain the organization and accomplish the goals we have set to support nurses and improve the image of nursing.  There are many other ways that the KNA is working to increase non-dues revenue.  Some cost you nothing at all, while we hope others provide you with value.  Here are some of the ways you can support the KNA and/or the Kentucky Nurses Foundation (KNF) as we work in tandem to support all nurses in the Commonwealth.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 15, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear recognized the accomplishments of the Louisville-based nonprofit Future Healers Kiddo’s Medical Program. The program introduces students to the fields of medicine and science.

“The Future Healers program is introducing Kentucky kids to the world of medicine and inspiring the next generation of health care heroes,” said Gov. Beshear. “By prioritizing our kids, and introducing them to medical students, we’re showing our young people if they work for it, they can reach their dreams.”

The Future Healers program began in 2021 to help Louisville youth affected by violence. In 2024, the Future Healers program announced it was expanding into three schools in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). The program results from a partnership between 2X Game Changers, UofL Hospital’s Trauma Institute, students at the UofL School of Medicine and the UofL Department of Surgery. Gov. Beshear presented acclamations to all partners to recognize their work and was joined onstage by some of the children in the program.

“It’s amazing to see how far this program has come in just a few years,” said Chris 2X, executive director of 2X Game Changers. “We’re now expanding into three schools, and our program is impacting over 400 kids. We appreciate the support of Gov. Beshear as we continue our work to inspire our youth and change the lives of these kiddos.”

“The purpose of the field of medicine, at its core, is to help people,” said Dr. Keith Miller, trauma surgeon at the UofL Health Department of Surgery. “This program is helping these kids learn about a new and exciting career path. It also serves as a reminder to our medical students and medical staff that we all have a responsibility to give back and help these young kids realize their dreams. It’s amazing to be joined by Gov. Beshear today, and it sends a powerful message to the healers, and the helpers, of tomorrow.”

Since its inception in 2021, the Future Healers program has offered free monthly lessons on topics covering nutrition, mental health, anatomy and first aid, as well as mentorship opportunities with medical students, physicians and other members of the health care community. Last year, the program released the Future Healers Journey to Wellness Personal Journal, an activity and educational book for kids focused on wellness and the medical field.

In 2023, the Future Healers Program won the Kentucky Medical Association Service Award. Earlier this year, a study on the program was published in The American Surgeon, a national medical journal. The study showcased how the program positively influences youth at risk for gun violence.

The Future Healers program has also partnered with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center & School of Medicine, furthering the program’s reach to Nashville, Tenn.

The Kentucky Nurses Association will follow this model, rebranding our logo and color palette to mirror our parent organization. Re-branding is expensive and labor intensive and won't happen overnight, but over the next 6 months to a year you will begin to see these changes implemented and we look forward to sharing our rebranding implementation with you.

THE KNA SUPPORTS ALL NURSES