Is there a nursing representative/lobbyist in washngton??

I don't understand your hostility. I only brought up the fact that so many of the posts/nurses COMPLAIN about the work environment. It's coming from within... not from the public.

I work in Texas, and the majority of the nurses with whom I've worked are fiercely opposed to unionization. They'd rather go through the motions without any protection or improvement in working conditions. Many, if not most, of the nurses who work in Southern states would oppose union representation if offered to them right now. It is deeply ingrained in their working culture.

I am originally from California and am shocked to see the lack of progressiveness in the workplace cultures around here.

To date through February 2, 2009, state legislators responded with the establishment of laws / regulations / resolutions as follows:

Elimination of Mercury in the Health Care Setting



Prohibit use of mercury in thermometers in 16 states:

• CA, CT, IL, IN, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NH, NJ*, NY, OR, RI, WA
  NJ legislation does not apply to thermometers used in health care

Prohibit the sale and distribution of mercury in medical products in 9 states:

• LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, NH, NY, VT, WA

Restrict the use of Thimerosal in vaccines in 4 states:

• DE, IL, NM, WA

Restriction in Use of Mandatory Overtime—in 15 states:

• CT, IL, MD, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, WA, WV (legislated)
• CA, MO, TX (regulations)

NursingEducation a number of funding initiatves are enacted each year in several states; refer to the full report for specifics

Mandatory Continuing Education for RN licensure renewal required - 31 states
AL, AK, AR, CA, DE, DC, FL, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MI, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, VI, WV, WY

The RN to BSN in ten years initiative is described in the full report.

Nursing Quality Indicators—in 5 states:
CO, CT, ME, RI; TX [regulations] ; FL passed legislation to study (1996)




Nurse Staffing Plans and Ratios—enacted legislation/adopted regulations in 13 states plus DC:

• CA, CT, FL, IL, NJ, OH, OR, RI, VT, WA; TX [regulations];
• states requiring staffing plans include: CT, IL, OH, OR, RI, TX, WA
• states requiring disclosure: NJ, VT
• DC and ME* - changed from orginal intent; currently without a staffing mandate
• NV - legislation required a study

Nursing Workforce Data Collection—in 40 states:

• AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, ME, MA, MI, MS, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI

Safe Patient Handling and Movement — enacted in 8 states:

• MD, MN, NJ, NY, OH, RI, TX, WA; plus HI [resolution]

Title "Nurse" Protection— statutory protections in at least 25 states:

• AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, KY, ID, MD, MN, MO, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WV, WI, WY

Whistleblower Protection—in 20 states:

• AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, ME, MD, MI, NV, NJ, NY, OR, TX, UT, VT, VA, and WV
  * refer to the report for specific protections.

Workplace Violence—in 14 states:

• IL, ME, NJ, NY, OR, WA, WV ; HI (resolution)
• AL, AZ, CO, HI, IL, NV, NC, and NM each responded with increased penalties for violence affecting nurses

Agency for Health Research and Quality-(AHRQ) sponsors and conducts research that provides evidence-based information on health care outcomes; quality; and cost, use, and access. The information helps health care decisionmakers-patients and clinicians, health system leaders, purchasers, and policymakers-make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-(CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services- (CMS) The HHS agency responsible for administering the Medicare program and parts of the Medicaid program. CMS has historically maintained specifications for various certifications and authorizations used by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. CMS is responsible for oversight of HIPAA administrative simplification transaction and code sets, health identifiers, and security standards. CMS also maintains the HCPCS medical code set.
The Department of Health and Human Services- (HHS) is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services through more than 300 programs which are administered by 11 HHS operating divisions, including eight agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service and three human services agencies.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Anti-trust Division exists to promote and protect the competitive process - and the American economy - through the enforcement of the antitrust laws. The antitrust laws apply to virtually all industries and to every level of business, including manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and marketing. They prohibit a variety of practices that restrain trade, such as price-fixing conspiracies, corporate mergers likely to reduce the competitive vigor of particular markets, and predatory acts designed to achieve or maintain monopoly power.
Department of Labor-(DOL) is charged with issues relating to workplace safety and health, pensions and benefit plans, employment and other issues related to the American workplace.
Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) provides information on VA programs, veteran benefits, VA facilities world wide and VA medical automation systems.
Drug Enforcement Agency-(DEA) enforces the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States.
Food and Drug Administration-(FDA) is the federal agency responsible for ensuring that foods are safe, wholesome and sanitary; human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices are safe and effective; cosmetics are safe; and electronic products that emit radiation are safe. FDA also ensures that these products are honestly, accurately and informatively represented to the public.
The Health Resources and Services Administration-(HRSA) HRSA's mission is to improve and expand access to quality health care for all by eliminating barriers to care, eliminating health disparities, assuring quality of care and improving public health and health care systems.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-(NIOSH) is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related disease and injury. The Institute is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The National Institute of Nursing Research-(NINR) supports clinical and basic research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span-from management of patients during illness and recovery to the reduction of risks for disease and disability, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, promoting quality of life in those with chronic illness, and care for individuals at the end of life.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration-(OSHA) is the government agency that establishes protective standards, enforces those standards, and reaches out to employers and employees through technical assistance and consultation programs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration-(SAMHSA) is the Federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service-(INS) transitioned into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). The BCIS is responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities.

I am in my final pre-req. and plan on applying to RN program this fall. I am male, single and making a career change.

Why do nurses (non-union states) allow the poor work environment, no breaks, no lunch, etc. situation to continue? Isn't there enough of us to do something about it? Has anyone contacted their state legislator, senator to propose a bill to mandate better working conditions for nurses? If it's a problem and detrimental to the patients health, shouldn't we speak up?

Just my humble opinion.

I'm not lobbying in Washington, but in a week I'll be lobbying at my state capitol. For free-- lobbyists in my state for nursing rights don't get paid; we get listened to and shot down. But still we persevere.

I don't "allow" the poor work environments to continue; however, until state AND federal laws change, nurse working environments will be poor.

Here's an idea. Instead of being critical of working nurses (who because of family, work schedules, student loans, workplace repercussions; cannot take time off from work to lobby), how about YOU as a student completing prerequisites work in a lobbist fashion and send letters to congressmen/ senators; attend rallys; etc.

Fighting for change is hard, and as one in the "mix", this posting was offensive. I am doing all I can do, financially and professionally, and face ire from coworkers against my movement every time I'm at work.