Prescriptive Authority...need your help!!!

[mtnmom]

Administrators, I respectfully ask that this thread be left in the general nursing forum so it will get more visibility. Although it does pertain to Georgia, it is a highly crucial issue and I hope that I can reach not only Georgia nurses but nurses who may have friends/relatives/colleagues that practice in Georgia.

As you may or may not know Georgia is the ONLY state in the union without any type of prescriptive authority for nurses. Numerous times the issue has been before the legislature and always it is fought by (Medical Association of Georgia - the VERY powerful doctor's lobbying organization) There are two bills before the Georgia legislature this year that have been introduced in an effort to change that.

This year we actually have a growing number of physicians who are in support of us, but we need to show the legislators how important this is. Giving APRN's this authority will greatly improve access to care for the millions of rural, poor and underserved Georgians.

I ask that if you are in Georgia, please write a letter to your state senator and representative for your district. If you do not know who they are, then find out. The letter does not need to be fancy, just to the point and businesslike. These guys need to know that their constituents (the ones who elected them) mean business on this issue. A strong grass-roots lobby is the only way that we will prevail. Friends and relatives are also encouraged to write.

If you are not in Georgia but know someone who is then please pass this info along. The bills are House Bill 935 and Senate Bill 313.

If you need more info, there is an article in todays Atlanta Journal and Constitution, http://www.ajc.com - you can also do a google or other search. If all else fails, pm me.

thanks for your support!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

nurses may get ok to write prescriptions

by patricia guthrie

the atlanta journal-constitution

published on: 01/26/06

free registration required.

after more than a decade of lobbying, georgia nurses say they may finally win the "right to write" prescriptions...

,,,house bill 935 and senate bill 313 would give georgia's 5,000 advanced practice nurses and nurse midwives the legal authority to write patient prescriptions...

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2006 legislative events

ce/rally day & evening reception

thursday - january 26, 2006

this year will bring exciting changes to the georgia nurses association’s annual legislative event. we are partnering with the united advanced practice registered nurses of georgia to offer a day-long legislative activity.

"empowering georgia nurses in the legislative process”

for more information and registration

click here

what you will learn:

this program will enable you to better:

understand the process of how a bill becomes a law

• 
  

• understand how lobbying can help get your point across

  
  

• recognize committees that impact health care

  
  

• recognize legislative issues that impact nursing

  
  

hb 935 - advanced practice registered nurse; controlled substances; provisions

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/hb935.htm

sb 313 - advance registered nurses; revise definition; execute drug orders; ga. registered professional nurse practice act http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/sb313.htm

united advanced practice registered nurses (uaprn) of georgia has more info on their website re who to write re legislation---impact greatest from georgia nurses and constituents: http://www.uaprn.org/

web site links to selected ga officials to facilitate contact

finding your ga voting district/legislators:

http://congress.org/congressorg/officials/state/?state=ga&lvl=l

governor perdue

http://www.gov.state.ga.us/document.asp?doc=contacts

georgia representatives

http://www2.state.ga.us/legis/2001_02/house/mail.htm

georgia senators

http://www2.state.ga.us/legis/2001_02/senate/mail.htm

power now in your hands to write and help pass this legislation.

[clee1]

I am a GA LPN student.

I heard the most OUTRAGEOUS radio ad the other night from the MAG: basically, they compared APNs to FAST FOOD WORKERS!!!! (talk about ticking me off!)

I have already contacted my State representation. I was a little more forceful with my instructions: "Keep backing the Good Ole Boy MAG - lose my vote and my campaign contributions."

[SharonH, RN]

I am a GA LPN student.

I heard the most OUTRAGEOUS radio ad the other night from the MAG: basically, they compared APNs to FAST FOOD WORKERS!!!! (talk about ticking me off!)

Whoa, really??? I haven't heard that one.

I was surprised at the hopeful tone of the AJC article about RX privileges. They made it seem as if it had a good chance of passing. On the other hand, they are hopeful every year and it never gets out of committee. I did contact my state rep also and hopefully this year will be different since a Republican is pushing it. Maybe her colleagues will rubberstamp it just because there is an ® after her name, but who knows MAG is very powerful they were instrumental in getting the malpractice reform legislation passed.