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AONL members were among the hospital leaders  how COVID-19 has accelerated longstanding health care workforce challenges, including worker shortages and mental health fatigue, during a Capitol Hill briefing this week sponsored �Ӱ�ԭ�� (AHA). “We’re seeing some backlogs and increased waiting times, particularly in our emergency rooms,” said Mary Beth Kingston, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer at Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee, an AONL past president and current AHA board member. She said the near-term focus is on worker well-being, compensation and other needs such as childcare, but “getting to the root cause of that supply and demand” and prioritizing worker safety are key. AONL CEO Robyn Begley, DNP, RN, who is also the AHA chief nursing officer and senior vice president of workforce, moderated the briefing. An AONL action alert outlines key messages on legislation to support nurses and urges members to contact their representatives in Congress. (AHA News , 11/2/21)