Co-leads the Idaho Alliance of Leaders in Nursing (IALN) and the Idaho Hospital Association have worked together for over 5 years to address critical nursing issues in Idaho. Most recently, BJ Swanson was appointed chair of the Healthcare Workforce Planning Partnership advisory group, a committee on which Margaret Henbest also serves.

Previously, the IALN worked with other Idaho health care organizations to accomplish a number of IOM goals, including ensuring advanced practice registered nurses in Idaho can practice to the full extent of their education and training and developing a sustainable workforce data collection collaborative. Building upon this history of cooperation, the Action Coalition will:

• Encourage organizational policy alignment with Idaho statute on nursing scope of practice.
• Ensure access to public doctoral level nursing education in Idaho and securing adequate financial resources to support faculty salaries.
• Facilitate the evolution of nursing curriculum and its alignment with the rapidly changing role of the nurse in the context of health reform.
• Expand nurse residency programs, especially in rural Idaho.
• Create and promote opportunities for interprofessional education and practice and for increased nursing leadership in health care.