AONL members ask House leaders to request investigation of nurse staffing agencies

This week, nearly 200 House members sent a letter to White House COVID-19 Response Team Coordinator Jeffrey Zients, urging his team to investigate reports of nurse staffing agencies taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to increase their profits at the expense of patients and hospitals. As part of an American Hospital Association (AHA) initiative, more than 60 AONL members sent messages or met with their legislators, asking them to sign on to the letter. “Thank you to all the nurse leaders who sent messages to their congressional representatives, sharing their critical insights,” said AONL CEO Robyn Begley, DNP, RN, who is also AHA senior vice president of workforce and chief nursing officer. “Together, we can elevate the voice of nursing leadership.” Last year, the AHA also urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate reports of anticompetitive pricing by nurse staffing agencies.