On June 14, 2009, after nearly 30 years of serving in leadership roles within the nursing profession, Marla Weston, Ph.D., RN, moved into the top spot of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a multi-faceted organization that works to represent the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses. Weston was named chief executive officer (CEO) of the organization by the ANA board of directors, replacing Linda Stierle, MSN, RN, who, in late 2008, announced her plans to retire following a nine-year tenure at the ANA helm.
Collectively, ANA and its constituent organizations represent nearly 200,000 members; with approximately 250,000 more represented by the 21 specialty nursing organizations that connect to ANA as affiliates.
During her nursing career Weston has served in senior management roles in various health care organizations, notably as executive director of the Arizona Nurses Association and as program director for workforce development, Office of Nursing Services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Most recently she served as the deputy chief officer of the VA's Workforce Management and Consulting Office.
Weston, who earned her BSN from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, her MSN from Arizona State University and her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, became active in nursing organizations early on, beginning with the Student Nurses Association. She later joined the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and eventually raised her level of interest and involvement in policymaking organizations about 10 years into her career.
"It was then that I began to understand that my little practice in my one little hospital was framed by decisions that were made at a national level," Weston explained. "That sparked my curiosity to learn how we as nurses work together at the state and national levels to make things happen."
Weston moves into the position of CEO at a time when the nursing shortage and health care reform are hot button topics.
"The nursing shortage has been around for about 10 years, and off and on for many years prior," Weston explained. "There will be strides made toward solving the problem, but I believe that for the remainder of my career we will be dealing with some aspect of a shortage of nurses."
Weston stated that a confluence of factors has helped create the shortage, including fewer nurses being educated, an increased need for care of a large aging population, and faculty salaries not keeping pace with those of other areas of nursing, therefore resulting in a decrease in the numbers of faculty.
How might the nursing workforce be expanded?
"Faculty can be increased with the development of programs that fund nurses who are interested in teaching by paying for and fast-tracking their education, providing stipends and using them as teaching assistants while they are in school, so they are seasoned by the time they graduate," Weston said. "The use of adjunct faculty—those who don't want to teach full time but would teach one or two classes—would also boost the number of instructors."
Health care reform is a priority of the new administration and Weston aims for the ANA to be in the thick of it.
"As reform is discussed and planned for, it is important that nurses are part of the conversation. Nurses must have input concerning safe staffing and how to have the proper numbers of nurses in order to give optimum care. We must push for increased funding for programs that will produce greater numbers of nurses.
"The ANA will make sure that, as nurses, we will be participating in shaping decisions and ensuring that decision-makers understand the role of nurses and advanced practice nurses, and the importance of using caregivers appropriately," she continued.
"Nurses are a pragmatic group," Weston said. "They see where they want to go and how to get there. If they hit a bump in the road they figure a way to get around it and keep moving.
Weston, described as a visionary leader, will be managing a staff of approximately 200 who will carry out initiatives put forth in the ANA platform, as set by the organization's board of directors.
© 2009. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Marla Weston Assumes Leadership of the American Nurses...
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