indrn

I have been an IC for approx. 5 years and I love it. Not only more money but more control over my work life and home life. I learned much of the how-to info from the National Association of Independent Nurses. It can be daunting getting started but is well worth it in the long run

In the first place, non-profit is an accounting sham to trap the naive. If they were truly non-profit why do they charge as much and sometimes more than so called for profit facilities. Clever accounting can make the books say anything they want. In the second place, nurses should not join unions because unions can be controled by any number of means; bribery, intimadation, colusion etc.etc. Nurses should be true professionals and be Independent contractors/business people offering their services to facilities and patients as such, with terms dependent on economic laws such as supply and demand and their individual negotiating skill.

I Copied this article from th online version of a California newspaper. I thought it would be of interest to nurse entrepreneurs: Evolution or Revolution? by Debora Jesse RN BSBA From Florence Nightengale to Gabe Fokker, the nurse character played by Ben Stiller in the movie Meet the Parents. From starched white caps to “scrubs”. The image of the nursing profession in the United States has undergone dramatic transformation. The stereotype of the starched white “angel of mercy” is no more. Today’s registered nurse in the U.S. is likely to have a college degree, average age mid- to early forties, routinely working 12-hour shifts, chronically fatigued, a member of the “sandwich generation” caring for his or her own family while assuming caretaking duties for their elderly parents, and so dissatisfied with their employment situation that they are leaving the profession altogether. What does this mean to the U.S. healthcare consumer – anyone seeking treatment in a hospital emergency room, having surgery (elective or emergency), undergoing treatment for chronic illness, having a baby, or recuperating from injury? The well-documented shortage of nurses in the U.S.A. today means hospitalized patients will have to wait for pain relief, wait for assistance with toileting or turning over in bed, wait to have their bandages changed, to have their questions answered, their fears allayed. There is little or no time for patient teaching – one of the nursing profession’s hallmarks of professionalism. Frustrating for professional nurses; dangerous for patients. Nurses in California are taking bold steps to correct this situation. A dedicated group of professional registered nurses is in the process of forming the country’s first Professional Practice Group for RNs. Tentatively known as California Nurses, Inc., the new business venture will be owned and operated by licensed professional registered nurses possessing expertise in a variety of specialties. With headquarters in California, the group will provide nurses to fill staff positions in hospitals primarily within the state. A travel division is planned, to provide hospitals outside of California with temporary staff nurses. All nurses will hold a valid RN license in the state(s) in which he/she practices. Long range plans for the company include establishing a home health division to provide in-home nursing care for patients. Assisting the company in its start-up phase is the National Association of Independent Nurses (http://www.******************), headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. According to L. Ward James, RN, Membership Director, NAIN has grown from 8 original members in 2001 to over 1800 members, all of whom are registered nurses who currently practice, or are transitioning to practice as independent contractors. The primary goal of the National Association of Independent Nurses, as stated in their quarterly publication ‘Nurses notes’ is to inform and educate registered nurses about the concept of practicing their profession as self-employed business owners or independent contractors. James, also the author of ‘A Pocket Guide to Independent Nursing’ asserts that the nursing profession will be more effective in recruiting the best and brightest students and retaining highly qualified RNs when nurses take control of their profession by being truly independent. California is the first state to enact nurse to patient ratios, which took effect January 1, 2004. Now, California can claim another ‘first’ – birthplace of the first major step in the evolution of nursing.

You have both a legal and a moral duty to file a report to the state Board of Nursing. Call them and they will give you guidance.

The latest Issue of the BON newsletter has an article about a program to pass a law that would allow a study to be made regarding CNAs being trained to pass some meds (supposedly under the supervision of a Nurse). The title of this bill is HB2256. Supposedly there will be limits and safeguards to protect the patients but you all know how that works. If this is allowed to pass we will have UAPs passing meds with our being responsible for the outcomes. This is just another attempt by the healthcare industry to increase their profits at the expense of our patients and at the risk of licensed Nurses. Conditions in LTC are bad enough now with out adding this burden to the population of our state's LTC facilities. They will cry shortage but they have intentionally created the nursing shortage by making conditions so bad that many have left the profession. This gives them the excuse to pass laws like this which will dramaticaly lower their labor costs even if it endangers our patients. I urge you to contact your state representative as well as friends and family and let them know how dangerous this bill is. In case anyone dosen't know the AZ BON is run, lock, stock, and barrel, by the healthcare interests.

In the course of reading the previous posts I have seen good information mixed in with half truths and a few down right incorrect statements. If you are serious about being an IC, I suggest that you get your information from the people who started the independent movement, the National Association of Independent Nurses, I have been an IC approx 2 years and have found it to be very rewarding both financially and in other ways, but you MUST learn to do it right!

The following was taken (with permission) from the Newsletter of the National Association of Independent Nurses ER SLAMS REGISTRY NURSE By L. Ward James RN On a recent episode of the popular TV show ER Health care interests flexed their considerable muscle to portray registry Nurses in a bad light. This character was portrayed as more interested in her break than in the patients and it was subtly suggested that she was incompetent. This is just another example of how powerful entities can use the media to advance their agendas and influence public opinion. As a former registry nurse, I am offended an intend to make my views known. If you feel as I do please join me. Unfortunately some of the public think if something is on television or in print it must be so.