The American Nurses Association (ANA) urges all registered nurses (RNs) to get the seasonal influenza vaccination and to advise their patients to get vaccinated.
Flu vaccination coverage rates have steadily increased, particularly over the past five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the 2013-14 and 2014-15 flu seasons, vaccination rates for RNs were 90.5 percent and 89 percent, respectively, an increase from 69.8 percent in 2010-11.
“As the nation’s largest healthcare workforce, nurses must be true advocates, educators and role models of health and wellness,” says ANA president Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “This includes setting the standard for immunization to protect ourselves, our families, our patients and our communities.”
ANA has adopted a new position on immunization that aligns with the CDC’s guidance calling for all people age 6 months and older to get vaccinated every season, with certain exceptions based on a person’s health and other factors. ANA’s position allows for exemptions for medical reasons or religious beliefs.
ANA’s position on immunization for healthcare personnel also aligns with the statements, which states RNs have an ethical responsibility to “model the same health maintenance and health promotion measures that they teach and research,” including immunization.
Source: ANA
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.