Dear ACHNE Members,
It is with profound sorrow that we recognize the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. His loss reverberates across the nursing profession and the communities we serve. We stand with his family, friends, colleagues, and the broader nursing community in grief, and we reaffirm the core values of our profession: care, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the well‑being of all people. May Alex’s final actions inspire us to embody the principles of human caring and social justice in the way we live and practice each day.
The Association for Community Health Nursing Educators unequivocally denounces his killing and the circumstances surrounding this tragedy. As community/public health nurses and educators, our work is rooted in advancing health, preventing harm, and protecting the safety of entire communities. We are guided by a responsibility to uphold human dignity and to support those who experience injustice. Our ethical and professional obligations compel us to care for every individual, regardless of background, identity, or immigration status.
ACHNE rejects violence or fear in any form. When policies or actions undermine safety and erode public trust, nurses have a responsibility to advocate for change. We remain steadfast in that responsibility as we mourn the loss of one of our own.
As part of that commitment, we urge our members to take action. The American Nurses Association shares these sentiments and issued a call to demand transparency, accountability, and justice in the investigation of Alex Pretti’s death. We encourage ACHNE members to add their voices by visiting the ANA’s call to action: Demand Truth for Alex Pretti
In solidarity,
The ACHNE Executive Committee
Heide Cygan, RN, President
Joy Hoffman, RN, President-elect
Jody Spiess, RN, Vice President
Scott Harpin, RN, General Member-at- Large
Lisa Turner, RN, Secretary
Charlotte Armbruster, RN, Treasurer
Krista Jones, RN, Immediate Past President