Serve as Nurse of the Day

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Nurse of the Day Program, 2007 General Assembly Long Session

When serving as Nurse of the Day, the role of the nurse: Is just that, a nurse. This is a valuable service to members of the General Assembly and the legislative staff. Many of our members who have already served as Nurse of the Day have expressed that the experience has validated their choice of the nursing profession. These nurses have certainly enhanced the positive image of nursing.

A FAQ, should the Nurse of the Day serve in a lobbyist's role? The answer MUST be NO. By all means, if asked, give an honest response to any questions asked by legislators. But remember, while you are serving in this role, you are representing nursing as a whole. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to answer a debatable question, make it known that the response is your personal opinion. If for some reason you are asked to speak at a Committee hearing, it is appropriate to simply state that you are not prepared to speak on the issue.

Nurse of the Day possible interactions: [Most of the time there will be a Doctor of the Day recruited by the NC Medical Society.] Your role as Nurse of the Day might include obtaining patient information, taking vital signs, assisting the doctor as needed, and recording required information. You may see legislators, legislative staff members and/or visitors to check blood pressures, dispense OTC drugs for headache, upset stomach, allergies; or occasionally something more serious such as stroke or heart attack victims. Rarely, is there neither a doctor nor a nurse practitioner present. If that happens, the nurse then functions within his/her own scope of practice.

When the Nurse of the Day is NOT treating patients: You are free to attend committee meetings, sit in on the deliberations in the House of Representatives and the Senate and/or go to the cafeteria. In fact, one of the highlights of the day is when the Nurse and Doctor of the Day are introduced on the floor of each house. Legislators rise to acknowledge these health care professionals who are voluntarily serving members of the General Assembly. You will then be able to remain on the floor and watch the legislature in action.

General schedule for Nurse of the Day: The legislative week begins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday and runs through Thursday afternoon. Therefore, a nurse is needed from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Monday evenings and from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. You should arrive fifteen minutes early and go to the lobby of the Legislative Building to be escorted to the Health Room (1417) by Security personnel.

Nurse of the Day Procedural Information