Hundreds of nurses from SEIU, CNA and UAN convened in Washington, DC today for a national RN day of action. Nurses attended a morning full of workshops and panels on issues such as building the national nurses movement and banning mandatory overtime, before proceeding to a mid-day march and rally in Upper Senate Park to emphasize the need for comprehensive health care reform.

From the rally, the nurses headed to Capitol Hill to advocate for their larger legislative agenda, which includes increased quality of care, healthcare that's accessible to all Americans and the need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to strengthen the ability of nurses and other employees to fight for improved patient care standards.

Speakers for the event included CIR/SEIU Healthcare president Dr. L. Toni Lewis, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who announced she would introduce a bill addressing items on the national nurses legislative agenda including minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, whistle-blower protections and increased funding for RN education.