National Nurse Leadership Council - Charter

Refer to: OCPS

1. PURPOSE.   The Indian Health Service (IHS) National Nurse Leadership Council (NNLC) serves as a permanent advisory body to the IHS Director, Division of Nursing Services (DNS), and other IHS leaders on nursing issues. The NNLC will ensure that IHS Federal nursing programs participate in the establishment and implementation of Agency strategies to achieve the IHS mission through contributing a collective nursing voice and promoting professional standards, practices, competencies, and evidence-based approaches to healthcare.
2. AUTHORITY.   The NNLC functions under the guidance and authority of the IHS DNS and the Director, Office of Clinical and Preventive Services.
3. MEMBERSHIP.  The NNLC is a permanent IHS National Council consisting of Federal IHS employee representatives with knowledge and expertise of matters relating to nursing within the Indian Health System, and who work at IHS Headquarters (HQ), Area Offices, and/or Federal Service Units. For membership selection and decision-making authority and process, see the NNLC Bylaws web page. The NNLC membership has three components as described below: Officers, Executive Committee, and General Board.
   1. Officers. The NNLC Officers includes elected representatives from the NNLC Executive Committee. Officers must be Federal employees. The NNLC Officers includes the following positions:
      1. Chairperson;
      2. Chairperson-Elect;
      3. Secretary; and
      4. Parliamentarian.
   2. NNLC Executive Committee. The NNLC Executive Committee is comprised of a maximum of two voting nurse members from each of the 12 IHS Areas (up to 24 members total). The voting members will have equal standing within the NNLC Executive Committee.
   3. General Board Members. General Board members will not have voting privileges and will not hold office. General Board members include:
      1. The IHS DNS Program Consultants, including:
         1. Division Director;
         2. Senior Public Health Nurse (PHN) Consultant;
         3. Women’s Health Nurse Consultant;
         4. Emergency Medical Services Nurse Consultant;
         5. Public Health Nurse Grant Program Consultant; and
         6. Other Nurse Program Consultants.
      2. Other HQ Nurse Consultants not within DNS whose program responsibilities interface significantly with the work of the NNLC as determined by the NNLC Executive Committee.
         1. IHS Clinical Support Center Nurse Educator(s); and
         2. IHS Chief Clinical Consultant Advance Practice Nurse Representative.
      3. Other Area Nurse Consultants not included under the NNLC Executive Committee.
4. COMMITTEES.   The NNLC may establish standing or ad hoc committees to perform specific projects or tasks. This may include additional HQ Office, Area Office, and Service Unit staff who are able to contribute to the work of the committee.
5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITTES.  
   1. The NNLC.   The primary roles and responsibilities of the NNLC are to:
      1. Provide nursing leadership for IHS through advocacy, accountability, communication, and integrity;
      2. Provide vision, influence, clinical knowledge, and transformational leadership that contributes to culturally competent, individual, family, and community-centered healthcare; and
      3. Work collaboratively with internal and external partners, within and across professions and disciplines, including but not limited to the various IHS National Combined Councils.
   2. NNLC Officers.   The NNLC Officers are responsible to perform the duties prescribed by this Charter, NNLC Bylaws, and such other duties applicable to the Officers.
      1. Officers of the NNLC include the Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect, Secretary, and Parliamentarian.
      2. Officers must be Federal employees.
      3. Officers are current members of the NNLC Executive Committee.
   3. Chairperson.   The Chairperson of the NNLC shall:
      1. Preside at all meetings of the NNLC and be responsible for coordinating content of the monthly NNLC agenda in cooperation with other officers and DNS;
      2. Serve as liaison for the committee in all communications with the IHS Director, through the Director, DNS and key management staff as appropriate;
      3. Coordinate the development of NNLC reports, position statements, and recommendations;
      4. Report HQ-specific information and issues of Agency-wide significance to NNLC; and
      5. Represent NNLC at IHS Leadership meetings or functions as appropriate, and sit on Agency committees as assigned or requested.
   4. Chairperson-Elect.   The Chairperson-Elect presides in the absence of the Chairperson and shall:
      1. Assume the duties of the NNLC Chairperson in the event of their absence; and
      2. Serve in any capacity as requested by the NNLC Chairperson or the NNLC Executive Committee.
   5. Secretary.   The Secretary shall:
      1. Assume the duties of the NNLC Chairperson in the event both the NNLC Chairperson and the Chairperson-Elect are unavailable;
      2. Coordinate the preparation of meeting agendas and communicate information to the NNLC;
      3. Record, maintain, and distribute the NNLC meeting minutes within 30 days of the meeting;
      4. Provide operational/technical support during meetings; and
      5. Serve in any capacity as requested by the NNLC Chairperson, Chairperson Elect, and NNLC Executive Committee.
   6. Parliamentarian.   The Parliamentarian shall:
      1. Be the immediate past Chairperson, who will remain involved as a consultant to the Chairperson and Chairperson-Elect for a one (1) year period immediately following their term;
      2. Act as Parliamentarian for all NNLC meetings; and
      3. Review Bylaws triennially ensuring content and purpose remain relevant to the NNLC. Activates revision process as needed.
   7. Executive Committee.   The Executive Committee will assume individual accountability for leadership and professional practice by:
      1. Attending and actively participate in meetings;
      2. Supporting the NNLC decision-making processes to address quality and safety of patient care issues, as well as address professional matters;
      3. Serving in NNLC elected or appointed positions;
      4. Engaging in the actions and initiatives of DNS, as well as other IHS Divisions and Offices;
      5. Maintaining knowledge of advances and changes in nursing and healthcare; and
      6. Representing nursing on Agency interdisciplinary collaborative initiatives.
   8. General Board.   The General Board shall:
      1. Maintain and share knowledge of advances and changes in nursing and healthcare;
      2. Attend NNLC meetings to provide information and support on collaborative initiatives; and
      3. Support the NNLC decision-making processes by providing consultation on issues that address quality and safety of patient care, as well as professional nursing matters in their areas of expertise.
6. DECISION MAKING.  All matters requiring approval by the NNLC will be determined by a quorum of the NNLC Executive Committee members that requires a minimum representation of six IHS Areas voting. There will also be a maximum of two votes per IHS Area.
7. MEETINGS AND SUPPORT  
   1. Scheduled Meetings. The NNLC will meet monthly.
   2. Concurrent Meeting. One NNLC Executive Committee meeting each year will be concurrent with the IHS National Combined Councils meeting, at which time NNLC members may collaborate with members of other National Combined Councils.
   3. Additional Meetings. Additional meetings will be scheduled if the need arises or as requested by the NNLC Officers, Executive Committee, or DNS, to achieve the goals of the NNLC.
   4. Any guest speakers or non-members in attendance must seek prior approval of the NNLC Chairperson in order to attend; if the NNLC Chairperson does not grant approval, the individuals must leave the meeting.
   5. Meeting Minutes. Meeting minutes will be maintained in accordance with IHS records management policies and procedures.
8. SUPERSEDURE.  This circular supersedes the Indian Health Manual Part 3, Chapter 4, “Nursing,” Section 3-4.1 H.
9. EFFECTIVE DATE.  This IHS Circular is effective upon the date of signature.

Distribution IHS-wide
Date 08/03/2023