About IPHNA
The purpose of IPHNA is to promote quality public health nursing services in the State of Illinois through:
● communication and information exchange on local, state, and federal levels,
● participation in state planning and decision making for public health services, including promotion
of public health nursing roles at the state level
● educational activities directed to the needs of Public Health Nurse Leaders
● advocating for Public Health Nursing in Illinois Bylaws: IPHNA Bylaws Revised 2019
● communication and information exchange on local, state, and federal levels,
● participation in state planning and decision making for public health services, including promotion
of public health nursing roles at the state level
● educational activities directed to the needs of Public Health Nurse Leaders
● advocating for Public Health Nursing in Illinois Bylaws: IPHNA Bylaws Revised 2019
History
Almost 50 years ago, public health nurses began recognizing that the political climate was such that minimum nursing standards were being determined by an Illinois Department of Public Health committee without any nursing representation. The Illinois Association of Local Health department Nursing Administrators was organized in 1972 by a group of determined nursing administrators in response to concern surrounding the minimum standards and practices of public health nursing in Illinois. Nurses needed to have a voice at the table that was determining their future!
On September 18, 1972, an organizational meeting was held at the Ramada Inn in Champaign. Marcia Cruthis from Tazewell County was elected president, and a Bylaws committee was appointed with the purpose of developing proposed by-laws to be presented at the next meeting. The Constitution and Bylaws were adopted on November 28, 1972.
Since that time, the journey has been full. In 1983 the name of the group was changed to Illinois Public Health Nurse Administrators (IPHNA). A formal agreement naming IPHNA Associate Members of the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) was signed in May of 2013. IPHNA became a recognized organization to issue credit for Continuing Education (CE) and issued the first CE credit approval in May of 2012.
Today, the IPHNA leadership continues to advocate for public health nursing, encouraging nursing leadership through the communication and exchange on local, state, and federal levels; participating in state planning and legislation for public health services including promotion of public health nursing roles at the state level; participation at the tables of Board of Directors to always keep the voice of nursing clear; and by creating a solid vision through strategic planning.