Nursing & Healthcare News
Meet Chris Tarver of the ANA\C
Talking with the president of the California affiliate of the American Nurses Association
Another in our series spotlighting influential nursing organizations.
The Voice for California Nurses
Founded in 1996, the American Nurses Association\California (ANA\C) is our state’s ANA affiliate, and the leading voice of California nurses.
The ANA\C focuses on advocacy, education, and lobbying on issues affecting the nursing profession. Chris Tarver, RN, DNP, CNS, NEA-BC, was recently re-elected for her second (and final) term as ANA\C president.
What the ANA\C President Does
If you haven’t worked in a nonprofit organization, the distinction between leadership positions can be confusing. While Tarver is the current ANA\C president, the organization also has a CEO, Marketa Houskova, RN, DNP, MAIA, who is responsible for day-to-day operations.
“The role of the president is much more vision and strategy,” Tarver explains. As the highest elected official of the ANA\C, she leads strategic planning at the board level. She also represents the California affiliate in the national ANA organization, and in partnerships with other organizations, such as the California Hospital Association.
12,000 Members
During her tenure, Tarver has sought to reach out regularly to ANA\C members. “It’s important that the nearly 12,000 members of ANA\C know what their organization is achieving for them,” she says.
The ANA\C wants to equip all members — including nursing students — to become effective advocates for nursing and healthcare, offering resources like the new Advocacy Institute Guide, which has tips and templates for nurses looking to make their voices heard on public policy.
Big State, Different Needs
We asked what she considers the biggest challenges facing nurses in California.
“We are a large state with differing, diverse needs,” she says, “so understanding the unique needs in different regions of California is essential.”
For example, in some parts of the state, large numbers of new grads vie for the same handful of jobs, while in other areas, healthcare organizations struggle to find enough staff.
Those varied needs present many unique challenges for professional organizations. Tarver says the ANA\C is dedicated to creating resources that can “reach the most nurses in the most affordable ways.”
If you’re not already an ANA\C member, you can learn more at anacalifornia.org.
AARON SEVERSON is the associate editor of Working Nurse.
In this Article: ANA\C, Leadership and Management
