Throughout its history the NBNA has been guided by the principle that African American nurses have the understanding, knowledge, interest, and expertise to make a significant difference in the health care status of African American communities across the nation.

The NBNA has moved into a position of national prominence in the health care and public policy arenas. Our National Presidents are invited to participate in discussion with our nation's top policy planners: representatives of the White House, the Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust, The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the National Center for Nursing Research, and many others.

The National Black Nurses Association speaks loudly and clearly about the issue of quality health care for America's most vulnerable populations. NBNA has developed formal Position Papers on many of the most critical current health issues: