QUAD Council
ACNL |APRIL 2026
QUAD Council Newsletter Introduction
The Quad Council for Nursing was established as a strategic alliance of autonomous California nursing organizations, each dedicated to advancing leadership across education, clinical practice, and research. While each organization maintains its own distinct mission and membership, they are unified by shared values and a collective commitment to strengthening the nursing profession. The Council convenes regularly to foster dialogue, build consensus, and provide coordinated stewardship and leadership across the state.
The Quad Council is comprised of key professional nursing leadership organizations in California, including ANA\C, ACNL, CACN, COADN (North and South), and HealthImpact. Together, these organizations represent a comprehensive cross-section of nursing leadership and serve as a collaborative platform to identify, analyze, and address emerging trends and critical issues affecting the profession.
The primary goal of the Quad Council is to establish a cohesive and influential voice for nursing leadership throughout California. Through this unified approach, the Council actively advocates for policy and system-level changes that advance the nursing profession and promote the health and well-being of all Californians.
In recent years, the Quad Council has demonstrated its impact through coordinated advocacy efforts, including the submission of joint position letters in support of or opposition to legislation, and engagement in policy discussions addressing key issues influencing nursing practice, workforce development, and healthcare delivery.
The QUAD Council Committee Members:
Dr. Alicia Bright
Dr. Garrett Chan
Dr. Jeffery Hudson-Covolo
Dr. Evangeline Fangonil-Gagalang
Dr. Sharon Goldfarb
Dr. Marketa Houskova
Megan Howard
Dr. Kimberly Long - Chair
Dr. Sandra Melton
Dr. Daniel Ortiz Jr
Dr. Chris Tarver
Dr. Ali Tayyeb
California Association of Colleges of Nursing (CACN)
Mission:
Advance innovation, advocacy, and excellence in nursing education and practice.
Vision:
Foster implementation of evidence-based, transformational nursing education programs throughout California.
Goals:
Increase the number of baccalaureate-, master's- and doctorally-prepared nurses in California
Improve nursing education through public advocacy and academic nurse leadership
Inform policy makers and health care stakeholders regarding the current state of nursing education, research, trends, and issues
Support
- Petition to the Department of Education to include nursing in its proposed 'professional degree' program definition.
- Congress to Support Academic Nursing During, specifically:
- Funding all Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research in fiscal year (FY) 2026 at the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee-approved levels.
- Reauthorizing the Title VIII Programs by cosponsoring and passing the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593).
- Cosponsoring and passing the following bills that support our schools, faculty, and students:
Rebranding:
Launched a rebranding of CACN in February 2026 to better articulate our mission through Collaboration, Synergy, Diversity, Inclusivity and Strength to be:
The Voice of California Baccalaureate & Graduate Nursing Education.
Leadership
- President
Evangeline Fangonil-Gagalang, PhD, MSN, RN
egagalang@apu.edu
- President-Elect
Wendy Hansbrough, PhD, RN, CNE
- Immediate Past President
Kim Perris, DNP, RN, CNL, PHN
American Nurse Association California
California Organization of Associate Degree Nursing (COADN)
Purpose
To improve the quality of associate degree nursing education throughout the state and to promote safety and quality of patient care through:
- Coordinating activities designed to enhance and improve student access, curriculum, career mobility, and employment.
- Enhancing communication and networking between various nursing programs at all levels by providing a forum for discussion and sharing of successes, problems, and concerns.
- Developing group positions on current issues from sources including consumers, legislatures, student paraprofessionals having a direct impact on associate degree nursing education and to plan appropriate actions related to these positions.
- Promoting, encouraging, and providing continuing education and staff development activities for Associate Degree Directors, and Faculty.
- Monitoring/disseminating information regarding legislation and appointments to boards, task forces, and similar entities that influence nursing.
- Providing for the socialization and orientation process of new directors.
Membership
Membership is open to those with direct administrative responsibilities for the state approved associate degree nursing programs of California (e.g., Deans, Coordinators, Directors, Assistant Directors, Chairpersons). Directors Emeriti of Associate Degree Nursing Programs are invited to attend group activities and meetings.
Role of the Associate Degree Nurse
The Registered Nurse fulfills a vital role in the provision of health care and health promotion in many and varied settings in California and across the nation. In California, two-thirds of the registered nursing graduates are educated in Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Programs.
The primary goal of Associate Degree Nursing program is to provide the educational preparation of registered nurses to meet the rapidly changing demands for health care in our communities. We believe the following:
- ADN programs represent an accessible avenue to an affordable and high-quality nursing education for many individuals who would not otherwise be able to pursue this goal.
- ADN program graduates have become increasingly reflective of the diverse demographic composition of California.
- The established and proven network of California Associate Degree Nursing programs is essential in providing an adequate supply of nurses to meet community needs.
- Multiple educational pathways to registered nursing education and entry-level employment are essential in order to meet the varied needs and goals of students interested in a nursing career.
Academic Progression
The Nursing Education Plan White Paper and Recommendations for California, August 2016, included a recommendation under Advancing Nursing Education:
Promote academic progression for all Registered Nurses in California to obtain a BSN or higher degree by 2030.
The role of ADN Programs in academic progression:
- Support our colleagues in baccalaureate and higher education as they seek to increase/maintain educational opportunities for students in undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Develop innovative models of seamless articulation for RN-BSN pathways.
- Promote educational advancement in nursing for Associate Degree graduates.
- Contribute to the dialogue as spokespersons for the educational continuum in nursing, advocating for funds to support nursing programs, nursing students, and other resources that promote nursing careers.
HealthImpact
HealthImpact: Transforming Nursing to Improve Health in California
HealthImpact is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the nursing profession as a means to improve health outcomes across California. Founded in 2001 and originally known as the California Institute for Nursing & Health Care (CINHC), HealthImpact serves as the state’s nursing workforce and policy center, fostering collaboration among academic institutions, health systems, policymakers, and professional organizations.
Who HealthImpact Is
HealthImpact is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that works to improve health by supporting a well-prepared, diverse, and resilient nursing workforce across California. It brings together nurse leaders, educators, clinicians, and health leaders to address workforce challenges, share best practices, and plan for the future of nursing in a rapidly evolving health care environment. Its leadership is headed by President & CEO Garrett K. Chan PhD, RN, APRN, FAEN, FPCN, FNAP, FCNS, FAANP, FAAN, a nationally recognized nurse workforce expert, supported by expert staff and advisors.
What HealthImpact Does
HealthImpact’s mission centers on optimizing health through nursing by developing programs, partnerships, and policy initiatives that support and expand nursing capacity and influence statewide health outcomes through the nursing workforce. It serves as a neutral convening force, rallying diverse stakeholders to solve complex challenges in nursing education, workforce planning, and practice innovation.
The organization’s work includes:
- Coalition Building & Partnerships — Collaborating across academia, health care systems, government, and community groups to align efforts and share strategic solutions.
- Workforce Planning & Policy — Conducting analysis of nursing workforce trends, supporting policy development, and advocating for impactful solutions.
- Educational Innovation & Support — Leading initiatives to enhance nursing education, clinical teaching, simulation methodologies, and faculty development.
- Diversity & Inclusion — Promoting a nursing workforce that better reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of California’s population.
Key Areas of Focus
HealthImpact’s core focus areas include several major programs designed to transform nursing and health care workforce and delivery:
- Benner Institute for Teaching and Learning – Dedicated to transforming nursing education and preparing educators for future challenges.
- Western States Simulation Alliance – Enhances patient safety and clinical readiness through simulation education.
- California Registered Nurse Specialty Apprenticeship Program – Supports the implementation of specialty nursing apprenticeship pathways.
- Centralized Clinical Placement System – Connects nursing programs and clinical partners to streamline clinical placements.
- HealthImpact Mentors – HealthImpact Mentors is a mentorship program that provides a unique opportunity for an individual (mentee) to connect with and be supported by an experienced nurse (mentor) to learn and grow professionally.
- New Roles for Nurses – Develops innovative nursing roles to address gaps in care delivery.
- Diversity and Inclusivity Initiatives – Fosters strategies to recruit and retain underrepresented nurses.
These programs reflect HealthImpact’s emphasis on education, workforce readiness, clinical preparation, and equity.
Standard Operating Procedure for ACNL Legislative Tracker
Calendar of Events
HealthImpact
Calendar of Events
- 3rd annual Educating Nurses: A Radical Transformation Conference – A national nursing education summit hosted by HealthImpact’s Benner Institute… Coming 2027. This event convened educators, clinical leaders, researchers, and innovators in nurse education.
- Clinical Faculty & Educator Development Course - Offered by the Benner Institute for Teaching & Learning fortifies the goal of clinical education and teaches nurses educators to teach for the purposes of clinical education. https://healthimpact.org/programs/clinical-faculty-development/
- Western States Simulation Alliance – Check resources and dates for upcoming courses on simulation/ debriefing and more for novice – expert on https://westernsim.org
As we look to the future of our profession, one truth remains clear: our strength lies in our unity. The challenges before us—complex healthcare systems, evolving patient needs, and shifting policy landscapes—cannot be addressed in silos. They demand collaboration, shared vision, and deliberate alignment across all domains of nursing.
When we come together—across education, practice, research, and leadership—we amplify our collective voice and expand our influence. Alignment is not about uniformity; it is about purpose. It is about ensuring that, regardless of our individual roles, we are moving in the same direction with intention and clarity.
Now is the time for nursing to fully step into its authority. We must not only participate in shaping policies, procedures, and practices—we must lead them. We must define the scope of our profession based on our expertise, our evidence, and our unwavering commitment to the communities we serve.
The future of nursing will not be determined for us—it will be determined by us.
And together, aligned and collaborative, there is no limit to the impact we can achieve.
Created by Mariah Gillam, BA - ACNL Project Coordinator
Association of California Nurse Leaders
Email: info@acnl.org
Website: https://www.acnl.org/
Location: 180 Promenade Circle suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95834, USA
Phone: 916-779-6949