The National Black Nurses Association celebrated our 20th Annual National Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill, Thursday, February 14, 2008. NBNA Day on Capitol Hill provides an opportunity for NBNA members to learn about federal health care initiatives that may have an impact on the profession of nursing and consumers. It also allows our members to educate public policy makers about their concerns, particularly in the areas of nursing practice, health care financing, nurse education and research.

This year's theme was " The Power and Politics of Nursing: The Impact on the Delivery of Care."

National Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill: Thursday, February 14, 2008
NBNA Dr. Debra Toney welcoming over 200 attendees Topic:
"Black Nurses and the Presidential Health Agenda"

Dr. Debra Toney, President, NBNA, Jatrice Martel Gaiter, JD, Interim Executive President of External Affairs: Volunteers of America, Leecia Eve, JD, MPA, Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Hillary Clinton and Dora L. Hughes, MD, MPH; Health Policy Advisor to Senator Barack Obama.

Dr. Debra Toney, President of NBNA, Barbara Hatcher, Ph.D., MPH, RN, Moderator; Director, Center for Learning and Global Public Health American Public Health Assoc., The Honorable Shirley Nathan Pulliam, Delegate; State of Maryland, Caroline Powers, Acting Director in Governor Deval Patrick's Washington Office of Federal-State Relations.

Leecia Eve, JD, MPA, Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Hilliary Clinton and Gwen Watford-Miller, BSN, RN, President of CBNN.

Dora L. Hughes, MD, MPH, Health Policy Advisor to Senator Barack Obama and Gwen Watford-Miller, BSN, RN, President of CBNN.

Tammy Holmes, BSN, RN, LMT, Licensed Esthetician, CBNN 2nd. VP and Health Liaison, Dr. Debra Toney, NBNA President and Gwen Watford-Miller, BSN, RN, CBNN President.

Patricia McManus, PhD., RN; NBNA New Jersery Liaison and Gwen Watford-Miller, BSN, RN, CBNN President.

Veronica Clarke-Tasker PhD., RN, MBA, MPH, NBNA Board Member in center with Howard University Nursing Students.