Nurse: Can I Have a Socket Wrench?

[pickledpepperRN]

http://arnoldwatch.org/

ArnoldWatch Web Log: - Jan 26, 2005 - 05:05 PM

Nurse: Can I Have a Socket Wrench

by: Doug Heller and Jamie Court

Arnold's head honcho on consumer issues said today that in order to save money, California should "cross-train" its consumer protection investigators. In fact, Secretary of State and Consumer Services Fred Aguiar specifically testified before a state commission today that the state's automotive repair shop investigators could be cross-trained as medical investigators. So, the people who check what's under your hood also check what's, well, under your hood.

Of course, having auto mechanics doubling as the state's medical watchdogs might not be the best public protection strategy. It turns out that inspecting tailpipe emissions requires an entirely different skill set than following up on colonoscopies.

Under Arnold's plan, Aguiar would be the final word on the policing of all professions and industries, rather than the existing public protection boards made up of citizens and professionals who meet in public, according to open meeting laws. Giving these powers to a bureaucrat who thinks oversight of anesthesiologists and brake guys should be done by the same person, would be hazardous to your health.

Read more at http://ArnoldWatch.org

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

Girl, I have no idea what you just said ! :offtopic:

[prmenrs, RN]

Well, I do. Just so darn scary!

[live4today, RN]

Ya know...I really liked Arnie's movies. I went to see just about all of his movies, too. But since he's entered "real politics"........I'll never go see another anything he is involved in. I do believe he thinks his role as governor is just another script he's acting in because he surely doesn't get the BIG picture of how people's lives are affected by his dumb decisions and proposals. He's ruining my favorite state of California! :angryfire

[pickledpepperRN]

http://www.calnurse.org/?Action=Content&id=616

CNA Blasts Governor's Plan to Eliminate Independent Role of BRN

Schwarzenegger appointee attacks BRN, says auto repair investigators could be cross trained to oversee medical fields.

Governor Schwarzenegger's plan to eliminate the BRN along with 87 other state professional boards and commissions faced overwhelming resistance at the Little Hoover Commission (LHC) public hearing on January 26th in Sacramento.

Under the proposed restructuring, the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs would be making final decisions about nursing practice without knowledge of the profession and without input from a consumer perspective that is accountable to the public.

LHC Chair Michael Alpert criticized the Governor's desire to eliminate 11 medical boards, saying he feared investigators of auto repair shops would also take on medical malpractice cases in a spirit of efficiency. To Albert's visible dismay, Fred Aguiar (who would inherit many of the responsibilities from the endangered panels) responded that: "there is no reason why you couldn't cross train investigators to deal with medical related issues."

Only an independent BRN can protect our patient advocacy role

One of the most severe effects the change will have on staff nurses is that there will no longer be an advocate for direct-care RNs in the regulatory arena. The BRN now has three direct-care RNs whose function is to advocate for consumer protection from the standpoint of a staff nurse. Currently there is due process if an RN is reported to the BRN for errors related to unsafe staffing. Management can be held accountable rather than allowing direct-care RNs to be the scapegoats. The BRN has saved the licenses of many good RNs who have been put in dangerous circumstances.

Take Action

■ Save the Date -- CNA Lawsuit against Gov's ratio rollback

Friday, February 25

Sacramento Superior Court

■ Send letters to Little Hoover Commission by Jan. 31

at [email protected] and cc CNA at [email protected]