The American Nurses Advocacy Institute

The American Nurses Advocacy Institute is an annual program designed to help nurses gain political competence. Since its launch, more than 108 nurses from 36 states have participated. You must be endorsed by your state nurses association in order to participate and class size is limited to 24 per year.   

What is expected of each ANAI-endorsed candidate?
  • Attendance at the face-to-face sessions held in Washington DC
  • Participation in conference calls held every other month. (Multiple one-hour calls are scheduled to accommodate varying work schedules and time zones.)
    • Topics include: conducting a political environmental scan; bill analysis; preparing and delivering testimony; coalition building; and value of a PAC.
  • In collaboration with your state nurses association, selection of a policy issue and associated legislative / regulatory activities that you will work on during the year Reporting of activities to the state and ANA mentors. 
What are the associated expenses? (*)
The nurse candidate is responsible for transportation and any uncovered meals and incidentals. All but one meal is covered while in DC. ANA covers all other meals and hotel accommodations for two nights.   The registration fee is $ 500. Payment method must be identified at the time of registration: credit card, check or money order. 
(*) Scholarship funds will be available through the ANF. Limited and subject to a match by the state or individual.
Contact Hours are awarded at the conclusion of the program. 

Contact Kathi Koehn ([email protected] or 651-271-5863) for questions or consideration for this year’s class.
 MNORN members who have been ANAI Fellows:
  • 2013: Kathi Koehn (St Paul)
  • 2014: Sara McCumber (Duluth)
  • 2015: Heidi Orstad (Burnsville)
  • 2016: Tracey Armstrong (Minneapolis); Brandi Sillerud (Fergus Falls)
  • 2017: Mary Tanner (Duluth); Molly Maxwell (Minnetonka); Travis Moore (Minneapolis)
  • 2019: Niki Gjere (New Brighton); Stephanie Gingerich (Minneapolis)
  • 2021: Colleen Quesnell (St Paul)
  • 2022: Rachel Kubat (Jordan); Tami Haley (Cosmos)
  • 2023: Mary (Berg) Ellenberger (St Paul); Sunita Eres (Rochester)