July 2022: After thorough discussion and review of historical data, the NOA Board of Directors made the difficult decision to sunset the Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI).

NIWI was a three-day conference held annually in March in the Washington D.C. area that provided nurses and nursing students the opportunity to learn how to influence health care through the legislative and regulatory processes. Participants learned from health policy experts and government officials, network with other nurses, and visit members of Congress. NIWI was inherited by NOA in 2001, when NOA formed, and has seen over one thousand passionate individuals attend the conference over its tenure.

In recent years NIWI attendance has declined, securing speakers/panelists has become increasingly difficult and due to rising hotel and lodging costs near Capitol Hill, NIWI must be held in nearby cities (Crystal City, Alexandria, Arlington) to keep the registration fees and lodging expenses as accessible as possible. NIWI has been operating at a financial loss for a number of years and given waning attendance is not a sustainable program for NOA.

NOA recommends any NOA members seeking advocacy information refer to the Nursing Community Coalition. The Nursing Community Coalition includes 63 member organizations that are the cross section of education, practice, research, and regulation within the nursing profession. The NCC believes that the healthcare delivery system should be one that promotes wellness, advances research through scientific discovery, and provides timely access to care across the continuum. To see the advocacy and engagement efforts of the NCC at the federal level, click here. Also visit the NCC website for further Resources and Events.