Do you know what your state legislature is up to that could affect your License?

[DogWmn]

Today, there was a post about a new law in NY narrowing the scope of practice for LPN's to keep them from hospital work.

Also, today I got an email from a friend about new legislation here in Georgia that is being considered. RN's will train CNA's to give shots and take care of vents in the home health care setting:eek:. (no offence to CNA's). In other words you as RN's will be responsible for minimally trained people at remote locations taking care of fairly high acuity patients - are you willing to do that? Have some un-licensed person work under your license in that capacity.

And why are they doing this, it states right in the artical to save a buck.

RN's ADN vs BSN and LPN's have had a political love hate relationship for decades - it's time to stop and gather together, to have a powerful single voice. They've come after us, the LPN's, now they are starting on RN's, if we as nurses don't come up with something soon, we will ALL be in jepardy. We are already working under stress due to un-safe patient ratios, buried in paperwork, required designer "customer service care" on and on.

What I find most interesting, is I was not aware of this legislation in my state until a non-nursing friend sent me the article.

I'd love to hear suggestions on how we can ALL work together to stop this type of legislation, become a force to be reckonded with nationally. I belive it will continue to get worse as big insurance companies buy politicos to save a buck at our expense.

[THAT Nurse., MSN, RN, APRN]

Nursing will continue like this until we actually join an organization, and that organization is run effectively.

In Tennessee, we have a rather poor nursing organization (mentioned earlier), the TNA. I was somewhere between utterly dismayed and absolutely appalled by the TNA when I went to their 2008 legislative summit.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Studies have shown that patient outcomes are tied to whether or not RN is managing the care of patients.

When I see messages like this, I think this is part of the master plan of reducing costs when a new healthcare plan is implemented. Nurses are under the impression that a new plan will mean more nurses, I think that legislators will develop cheaper models of care that don't include Nurses.

[nyteshade, BSN]

Well, it's all a good idea until someone gets hurt...

[Moogie]

Studies have shown that patient outcomes are tied to whether or not RN is managing the care of patients.

When I see messages like this, I think this is part of the master plan of reducing costs when a new healthcare plan is implemented. Nurses are under the impression that a new plan will mean more nurses, I think that legislators will develop cheaper models of care that don't include Nurses.

And that's why nurses, regardless of political affiliation, need to be involved with health care reform.

[silentRN]

Nursing will continue like this until we actually join an organization, and that organization is run effectively.

In Tennessee, we have a rather poor nursing organization (mentioned earlier), the TNA. I was somewhere between utterly dismayed and absolutely appalled by the TNA when I went to their 2008 legislative summit.

I wish we actually had a organization that supports its nurses. The Arizona State Board of Nursing's modo is we protect patients from nurses.

It would be nice to have an organization that actually says, "Hey, if you need someone to have your back, we got it!"

I guess that's a dream world. I recently joined AACN just cause I'm a critical care nurse and I like their journals and their free CE's. But I know they don't have anyone's back. I'm really unsure about the American Nurses Association. I haven't joined. They seem really political and not that strong. If I am wrong please correct me. But I am still reluctant to join them.

[helikias]

This is a little OT, but here in Ohio the state is getting ready to levy a huge tax on all the hospitals in the state. The hospitals are on the record saying that they simply cannot afford to pay yet another tax, especially one so big at such a bad time in the economy, and they are planning to lay off a ton of nurses, admins; basically everyone except doctors. This is EVERY hospital; they are all liable for the tax.

This article is from last year, but right now the tax is in the process of being implemented: http://blog.cleveland.com/pdopinion/2009/04/stricklands_sneaky_tax_on_ohio.html

Here's a more up to the minute article: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/11/23/daily3.html

And one talking about action: http://shotsonthehouse.com/?p=1695

[Moogie]

I wish we actually had a organization that supports its nurses. The Arizona State Board of Nursing's modo is we protect patients from nurses.

It would be nice to have an organization that actually says, "Hey, if you need someone to have your back, we got it!"

I guess that's a dream world. I recently joined AACN just cause I'm a critical care nurse and I like their journals and their free CE's. But I know they don't have anyone's back. I'm really unsure about the American Nurses Association. I haven't joined. They seem really political and not that strong. If I am wrong please correct me. But I am still reluctant to join them.

Every state BON has, as its mission, to protect patients from unsafe nurses.

I have to wonder if the ANA is, as you say, "not that strong" because most nurses aren't members. And you're right; they are political and tend to favor Democratic candidates. Being a Democrat, it sounds like a good fit for me. I don't know if a Republican or Libertarian nurse would feel comfortable in the ANA. I do know of a Republican nurse who was complaining about the liberal political agenda of the ANA but was challenged by someone active in the state nurses' association to join and try to make a difference---to be a voice for the conservative nurse---and not just sit back and complain. Interesting notion!

But honestly, the reason I have not joined until now is because of the cost. In my state, goodness, I think it costs around $600 a year to be a member. I am not sure if that's the exact figure but it was extremely high. I couldn't afford to join and could not justify paying that much to be a member. Now that I'm a full-time grad student I can join at a reduced rate so as soon as I hear back from the president of my district, I'm sending in my check. The ANA is not perfect but if we don't get involved and don't try to make some changes, then do we have the right to complain?

[silentRN]

Every state BON has, as its mission, to protect patients from unsafe nurses.

I have to wonder if the ANA is, as you say, "not that strong" because most nurses aren't members. And you're right; they are political and tend to favor Democratic candidates. Being a Democrat, it sounds like a good fit for me. I don't know if a Republican or Libertarian nurse would feel comfortable in the ANA. I do know of a Republican nurse who was complaining about the liberal political agenda of the ANA but was challenged by someone active in the state nurses' association to join and try to make a difference---to be a voice for the conservative nurse---and not just sit back and complain. Interesting notion!

But honestly, the reason I have not joined until now is because of the cost. In my state, goodness, I think it costs around $600 a year to be a member. I am not sure if that's the exact figure but it was extremely high. I couldn't afford to join and could not justify paying that much to be a member. Now that I'm a full-time grad student I can join at a reduced rate so as soon as I hear back from the president of my district, I'm sending in my check. The ANA is not perfect but if we don't get involved and don't try to make some changes, then do we have the right to complain?

Ya, I figured they were Democrat when they back Obama's health plan. I just don't want to join an organization that I disagree with. I believe what we need is a strong union like I hear California has for their nurses.

but...I am now looking at the AMA website to see what they are about. Thanks