Prescriptive Authority...need your help!!!

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!