Wyoming Nurses Association in Cheyenne to Meet the Legislators

[nightingale, RN]

We had a great time in Cheyenne this week for Legislative Day 2002. Here is the article in the local paper:

Nurses to discuss state health care woes

By Becky Orr

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

CHEYENNE - Wyoming's nurses are trained to save lives.

On Wednesday, nurses learned how to improve their industry's health.

Nearly 300 nurses from across Wyoming attended Legislative Days, sponsored by the Wyoming Nurses Association.

Low pay, long hours and shifts, mandatory overtime, and too many patients for each nurse to care for are among the reasons for the severe nursing shortage, they said.

The shortage is so severe that the state Department of Employment predicts that registered nurses will be the second-most needed job by 2008.

But it is a nationwide problem, not specific to Wyoming.

Gov. Jim Geringer outlined the problems in health care when he spoke to the group. Geringer said there is a "critical shortage of just about every type of medical profession."

Wyoming will need 895 more registered nurses by 2008, he said. The state is short 160 licensed practical nurses.

The problem is compounded because the current workforce is getting older, he said.

The average age of a nurse in Wyoming is 48, he said. The age is old enough that Wyoming could lose half of its nurses within the next few years due to retirement.

"We want and appreciate nurses at every level," Geringer said.

The governor advocated efforts to mentor and support beginning nurses to better help them deal with the pressures of the job.

Keeping up with advancements in technology through training is a challenge, he said.

The state now has a workforce training program that provides grants to hospitals to help upgrade skills of their employees, he said.

One woman in the audience asked Geringer how to retain existing nurses. She said the 12-hour shifts many hospitals require are too hard for some older nurses.

"We haven't found a way to directly intervene with hospitals, with the providers that are out there," Geringer said.

To get an idea of Wyoming's health care picture when it comes to nurses, student nurses who plan to leave the state were asked to hold up their hands.

A surprising number of hands went up throughout the large room. Geringer estimated that as many as half of the students raised their hands.

Jill Trevino, 27, is a student nurse at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. "I love the medical field," she said during a break in the meeting.

But she added that she probably would move out of state after she gets her degree because other states pay more.

Nancy Jansa is a senior educator at the University of Wyoming. She told Geringer that there needs to be innovative methods to keep people in nursing.

Contacted after the meeting, Jansa said she advocated job sharing or providing day care at the nurses' jobs.

"There should be something to help graduates stay here," she said.

Loretta Wolf is a lobbyist for the Wyoming Nurses Association. She said there are several legislative bills this session that deal with health care and nurses.

Key among them are Senate File 38, aimed at nursing education, and House Bill 60, which would increase Medicaid funding to nursing homes. The bill would increase salaries for health care workers there.

SF38 would loan money to people to get their nursing education. Those who get the loans would not have to pay them back if they agreed to work in the state for a certain number of years.

Nursing teachers also could get loans for higher education. And they would get paid while they went to school.

The bill would cost about $7.7 million for two years.

"I know exactly what you're saying that this does not solve the nursing shortage in Wyoming," Wolf said to the nurses.

But it is important because it addresses future staffing needs.

Without such a measure, the state's economic development would be affected, she said, because health care is an important factor people consider when they decide where to live.

SF38 has passed out of committee and will be rereferred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In the future, Wolf said the nurses association will talk to legislators, hospital association members and others about addressing workplace issues.

"We're going to expect some changes in the workplace because this change needs to happen," she said.

HB60 deals with increasing funding for Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes.

Among other things, the proposed bill would increase salaries for direct care providers who work at nursing homes.

Legislators also met with the nurses during a panel discussion.

Rep. Anne Robinson, D-Casper, said she hopes the nursing education bill would keep nurses in Wyoming.

B.:roll

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Glad you enjoyed yourself. Legislative days can be invigorating----300 together in Wyoming, WOW. PA with 10x as many nurses ddn't draw that number in the past, but timing and conditions are everything. Great networking time.

From last years Nursing rally in Philly, I still get and send emails to a nurse from upstate PA very involved in union organizing for SEIU and two travel nurses from outside PA who are anti-union. We need to be able to dialogue on COMMON areas of our profession: safe staffing, no mandatory overtime except emergency's, retaining currrent staff, promoting the nursing profession and increasing our ranks.

Legislative Day is a great time to learn about conditions within your state, how to be able to contact your legislators on your views regarding proposed legislation. Letter writing/email can be done from the comfort of your home, in your pj's too!

[nightingale, RN]

Yes, we drew a large crowd. 4,000 flyers were sent out. Most of the representatives in attendence were student nurses.

Of the 5,000 nurses in the state, we had 270 attend the Conference. We obviously, need to work on some better participation of nurses.

Yes, you are right. It was invigorating. The best part, for me, was meeting and getting to know nurses in Wyoming. I have felt so out of the loop! It was grand meeting such fine nurses and hearing about the concerns and problem solving strategies. The issues are not specific to Wyoming, as you all know.

Being united with a strong voice is, in my humble opinion, is paramount in finding solutions. The Legislators did take notice of "us". We made it clear what we wanted. Do we have a struggle ahead of us? Oh yes....

There is so much that needs to be attended to. I am glad to say I am moving to Cheyenne so I can add to the list of volounteers at our capitol. I am humble and have sporadic freee time but I am now on the list of volounteers in hopes of making a difference.

And for now... it is a start.......

Bonnie

[-jt]

And didnt you just join that state association??? What a way to begin! Congratulations.

Have fun!

[nightingale, RN]

Yes.. I did just join... lol.... throwing both feet in the pool! Come on in.. the water is fine!

jt.. you, Karen and the other positive influences to ANA on this BB are truly inspirational.... and you know who put me over the edge? Wild... boy do I NOT want to end up like him..... biter, negative, spinning his wheels and dragging everyone down with him because he is anagry and frsutrated with the road he is on...

I got my WNA card the other day... I carry it in my wallet and it is purple and so cool! lol

:D Bonnie

[-jt]

lol. youre too funny. (my card is a drab white)

Im glad we were able to give info that was useful. Of course no one likes everything about something all the time & not everything is for everybody. I have had my frustrations with the organization (and other organizations) on certain things too. But I prefer to do something to change things that I can change besides just complain about it.

Also, I think many times we form opinions and perceptions about things based on old informaton and lack of knowledge. If I can share some accurate info & it does nothing else but educate, then Im happy.

Doesnt it feel great to get busy with all those other nurses from all over your state & not feel so powerless about our situation? And know that we can actually do something about it?

Good luck in your new home. ; )

[nightingale, RN]

It does feel good to be involved.. and that is so important. You are so right... no one organization, group, or ideal is the answer but we must be part of the solution or WE become the problem.

It was wonderful meeting other Wyoming Nurses.... there is so much to do... and it is invigorating...

:) :) :)

Bonnie