National Nurses United (NNU) is the largest organization ofregistered nurses in theUnited States.[2][3][4] With more than 225,000 members,[1][5] it is the farthest-reachingunion andprofessional association of registered nurses in the U.S. Founded in 2009 through the merging of theCalifornia Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, theUnited American Nurses, and theMassachusetts Nurses Association, the NNU focuses on amplifying the voice of direct care RNs and patients in national policy. The union's policy positions include the enactment of safe nurse-to-patient ratios, patient advocacy rights at the Executive and State level, and legislation for single-payer health care to secure "quality healthcare for all, as a human right."[6] The organization's goal is to "organize all direct care RNs into a single organization capable of exercising influence over the healthcare industry, governments, and employers."[6]
The executive director of the national organization, which is affiliated with theAFL–CIO, is labor leaderBonnie Castillo, who also heads the 90,000-member California Nurses Association.[7] The former executive director isRoseAnn DeMoro, who serves as National Vice President and Executive Board Member of the AFL–CIO.
The organization backs aMedicare for All single-payer healthcare plan for the United States.[8][9]
To support a single-payer system, NNU leadership mobilized large-scale demonstrations demanding single-payer healthcare be included in the platform at the2016 Democratic National Convention.[8]
National Nurses United has held numerous protests, including one in front of theU.S. Chamber of Commerce and another onWall Street,[3] to protest privatization and profiteering in the health care industry.
February 21, 2020, Las Vegas. One Day Before Nevada Caucus. NNU with former Ohio lawmakerNina Turner, advisor toBernie Sanders for President2020 campaign.
InThe New York Times on January 28, 2016, Nicholas Confessore reported, "According toFederal Election Commission records [NNU's] 'super PAC' has spent close to $1 million on ads and other support for Democraticpresidential candidateBernie Sanders".[11] The NNU spending was classified as "Expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate."[12] In 2019, NNU officially endorsed Sanders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.[9]
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) voted to join NNU as an affiliate in October 2022, increasing NNU's total membership to nearly 225,000.[5]
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