West Michigan Nursing Advisory Council

WMNAC Meetings

Currently, WMNAC meets on the fourth Thursday of January, March, May, August & October at the Alliance for Health offices in Grand Rapids. Check the calendar for meeting dates/times. If you are interested in joining WMNAC or would like more information, please email alliance@afh.org.

In June 2002, the West Michigan Nursing Summit became the West Michigan Nursing Advisory Council (WMNAC), affiliated with the Alliance for Health. The purpose of the West Michigan Nursing Advisory Council is to provide a collective means for nurses in academia, multiple sites of service and clinical practice to address issues related to the provision of quality nursing care in West Michigan and to assist the Alliance for Health in achieving its goals.

WMNAC Goals:

• Design and implement collaborative strategies to assure a steady, diverse nursing workforce in Western Michigan without negatively impacting other regions or counties.
• Build a network of nursing leaders who can work together with other leaders to redesign health care delivery and nursing educational systems as community health needs change.
• Initiate, participate in and support activities that promote a positive image of nursing as a profession.
• Collect, analyze, disseminate and utilize data regarding the West Michigan nursing workforce.
• Participate with and through the Alliance for Health regarding regional health needs, priorities and policies.
• Promote public awareness about issues important to nursing.
• Maintain inclusive, broad-based membership with adequate structure and participation to accomplish objectives.
• Facilitate networking and collaboration regarding nursing workforce issues with other groups.

WMNAC Structure:

• Officers include: Chair, Chair-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Chairs of Standing Committees and Past Chair.
• The Chair and Chair-elect will serve one-year terms. The Treasurer and Secretary will serve two-year terms, with turnover of each occurring in alternating years. Alternating representatives from service and academia will fill the Chair position. The Chairs of the Standing Committees will be reviewed annually, with election held for the other officer position.
• An Executive committee, including the Officers and the Committee Chairs serving ex officio, will formulate agendas, proposals and deal with urgent issues.
• The Past Chair will represent WMNAC on the Alliance for Health Board of Directors.
• WMNAC will ensure that one of its members will represent the nursing perspective as part of the Alliance for Health Evaluation and Planning Boards.

WMNAC Service Area

Shall coincide with (but not be limited to) the 12 Michigan counties in the Alliance for Health primary service area: Allegan – Ionia – Kent – Lake – Mason – Mecosta – Montcalm – Muskegon – Newaygo – Oceana – Osceola – Ottawa