UNM nurse educator set to become first representative from New Mexico on national council

Barbara Damron, a nurse educator from the University of New Mexico College of Nursing, is set to make history as the first representative from New Mexico on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Health Policy Advisory Council (AACN HPAC). The announcement was made by UNM Health Sciences on September 11, 2023. This is a significant milestone for New Mexico, as it will now have a voice on a national council that offers strategic direction for health policy at the federal level.

The AACN HPAC focuses on identifying and examining policies that impact academic nursing, as well as advocating for a stronger presence of nursing within legislative matters. Damron and her fellow council members will work towards advancing these objectives and ensuring that the interests of nursing professionals, educators, and patients are represented.

In a press release, Damron expressed her commitment to representing New Mexico and addressing the unique challenges faced by the state's nursing workforce. She hopes to bring attention to the cultural and geographical specificities of New Mexico, as well as the diverse student population that the University of New Mexico educates. Damron believes that nursing, especially in rural and underrepresented states like New Mexico, requires increased support and representation in policymaking.

By joining the AACN HPAC, Damron aims to elevate the influence of nursing academics and policymakers, ultimately driving impactful changes in healthcare. She believes that diversity should not only define communities and patients but also the education and training of future nurses. Damron's appointment to the national council is a step towards ensuring that the voices of New Mexico and UNM are heard in policymaking decisions that affect nursing education and practice.

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The AACN HPAC's primary aims encompass offering strategic direction for the health policy department at the federal level, recognizing current and emerging policies influencing academic nursing, and examining AACN's position on these policies. Barbara Damron and her peers in academic nursing who have joined the council will utilize their tenure to advance these objectives, striving for a stronger presence of nursing within legislative matters according to a press release.

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“I want to represent New Mexico well and ensure our state’s cultural and geographical specifics are heard and served. I hope The University of New Mexico, the state’s nursing workforce and our nurses’ patients will all benefit from having someone with their best interests in mind in legislation,” said Barbara Damron, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, according to a press release.

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Barbara Damron aspires to elevate the influence of nursing academics, especially in diverse, rural, and underrepresented states like New Mexico, by incorporating seasoned nurse educators and policymakers into the AACN HPAC. Unlike other healthcare disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, and biomedical science, nursing often requires enhanced representation and support from legislators to drive impactful changes according to a press release.

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“My goal is to bring New Mexico and UNM’s voice to this council, because diversity doesn’t just define our communities and patients, it defines our students. We educate diverse students with specific curriculum requirements that properly prepare them to treat our populations. This must be spoken for in policymaking,” said Barbara Damron, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, according to a press release.

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