The Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) is a left-of-center labor union representing nurses at hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout the state of Ohio. The union is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, the American Nurses Association, and the Ohio AFL-CIO. The union was formed in the early 1900s along with many organized nurses’ unions and has long advocated for credentialing policies and other labor union-friendly policies at the state and federal levels. The union lobbies the state legislature on topics including workplace violence, staffing ratio requirements, and loan forgiveness programs. The union conducts collective bargaining activity under a specific division of the organization, the Ohio Nurses Collective Bargaining Program. ^{1 2 3 4}

Background and History

The Ohio Nurses Association was established in 1904 as the Ohio State Association of Graduate Nurses. The primary objective of the organization at its founding was “to secure legislation for the advancement of the nursing profession.” In 1909, the union became an affiliate of the American Nurses Association, and in 1915, the association was successful in lobbying for the passage of the Nurse Practice Act after multiple failed attempts, setting up a credentialing system for nurses in the state. ⁵

In 1940, the group lobbied for an independent nursing board, and in 1968, supported the passage of legislation requiring all nurses to be licensed. During the 1990s and 2000s, the ONA was involved in efforts to secure prescribing authority for advanced-practice nurses. In 2012, ONA-backed legislation aimed at protecting healthcare workers from workplace violence, a topic the group has continually lobbied on since. ⁵

Unlike many labor unions, the ONA only collectively bargains on behalf of a small number of the 160,000 nurses it claims to represent, representing just over 8,000 nurses through its collective bargaining program. The ONA negotiated its first collective bargaining contract for nurses at the Youngstown Hospital Association in 1966. By the 1990s, it represented over 7,000 nurses in 30 healthcare facilities. In the 1980s and 1990s, it opposed the introduction of registered care technicians, stating that the role could lower patient care standards. ⁵

Activity

The Ohio Nurses Association conducts a small amount of collective bargaining on behalf of members, and mostly functions as a lobbying organization. The group states that it has both collective bargaining and non-collective bargaining employees, and collectively bargains on behalf of just over 8,000 of the 160,000 nurses the union claims to represent. ^{6 4}

The legislative platform updated by the Ohio Nurses Association in 2023 centers on workplace violence legislation as well as legislation regulating staffing ratios at all hospitals in the state. The union’s legislation platform also described the union’s efforts as “Recognizing the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in nursing and fostering an inclusive environment that embraces and celebrates individuals from diverse backgrounds.” ³

The union has also stated support for the broader labor movement, stating that “Union rights are important for all workers, fighting against income inequality and promoting job security and access to healthcare, education, and social services.” ³

1. “Collective Bargaining Nurses are Empowered Professionals.” Ohio Nurses Association. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://ohnurses.org/ohio-nurses-cbp/
2. “About.” Ohio Nurses Association. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://ohnurses.org/about/
3. “Legislative Platform.” Ohio Nurses Association. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://ohnurses.org/advocacy/legislative-platform/
4. “Ohio Nurses Association Fact Sheet.” Ohio Nurses Association. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://ohnurses.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ONA-Fact-Sheet_Final-2.pdf
5. “A Glance at ONA’s 100+ Year History.” Ohio Nurses Association. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://ohnurses.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/A-Glance-at-ONA_8.15.13.pdf
6. “Advocacy.” Ohio Nurses Association. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://ohnurses.org/advocacy/