Volunteer Spotlight! Margaret Brew, Director at Large, Commission on Government Affairs!

Posted 3 months ago by Carlene Ferrier

I joined NHNA in December of 2021, to become involved with the Healthcare

Workplace Violence Prevention efforts. This team developed an education

program that was provided by Rutgers University. Further work continued

and I was actively involved in testifying at the State Legislature, in support of

SB 459 FN, which directly addressed healthcare violence. I contacted the NH

Senators and Legislators through email to encourage their support of this bill.

Governor Sununu signed SB459FN into law on July 22, 2022. I am also a

member of the Commission on Government Affairs Committee for NHNA.

In October 2023, I attended ANAI in Washington, DC. The Advocacy Institute

provided the opportunity to enhance my knowledge related to the workings

of our government in passing legislation. As part of the New Hampshire

team, we met with the staff of Senators Hassan and Shaheen, Congressional

Representatives Kuster and Pappas. We were pleased to learn that after our

visit, Senator Shaheen signed on as a co-sponsor of S. 1176 Workplace

Violence Prevention for Healthcare and Social Service Workers Act. She

joined Senator Hassan, and Representatives Kuster and Pappas in this. The

bill has been endorsed and passed by the Congress twice. However, the

Senate has not worked on it in either time it has been introduced. The safety

of those who work in healthcare is critical to the wellbeing of all New

Hampshire citizens.

In 2022, I was elected Director-At-Large and have appreciated the

opportunity to support the efforts of NHNA.I see the role of NHNA as one

where we champion all nurses in all stages of their careers. This includes the

retired nurses of New Hampshire, who are highly valuable for their

experience and wisdom related to nursing care. You may be retired however

you are always a nurse.

I appreciate the professional growth I have experienced through my

engagement with NHNA / ANA and look forward to what NHNA will bring to all

of us in the years to come.  Margaret W. Brew, MSN, RN