This is what happens when politics wins over nurses

[nurz2be]

Well, they have done it again! The politicians have stepped in and mucked it all UP!

In Florida HB 1209 goes into affect. This bill NOW takes all but two things regarding nursing programs away from the state board of nursing and places it in the hands of the department of health. Why does this matter you say...WELL they require LESS hours, LESS clinicals, LESS hands on experience, LESS LESS LESS.

What that could mean for Florida graduates, who graduate after July 1, 2009 when it goes into effect, is that due to these LOWERED standards, when and if we try to apply for licensure in another state, it may very well be declined! So all this money, all this time, and there is a large posibility that we cannot move from Florida if we want to practice nursing.

Nurses are in an uproar, we as students, already have an overwhelming feeling of "not knowing anything" when we graduate, but to DUMB IT DOWN is an INSULT!

I am one of those who will graduate after July 1, actually July 21 go figure, and this is horribly disturbing. Why can our voices not be heard? There are millions of nurses yet these yahoos in the political arena make decisions like this that affect so MANY!

I am outraged..... I am insulted.... I am worried about the future nurses

[Cherybaby]

The fact that established nurses, I know, are upset. They are upset because THEY are the ones who will have to "work with" an already troubled group of people, new graduate nurses. Yes, we know things, but there are WAY more things we don't than do.

Our patients are in the near future going to be exposed to new graduates who know even less than those of us who have graduated or will graduate soon.

I don't see who is winning in this WHOLE situation, but it isn't ANYONE it is actively affecting.

We, the students at my school, had NO IDEA about this. I posted this topic in the Florida section, but like someone said, had we known sooner we could have done something.

It is INFURIATING to me that just like that, something so significant as this, is just brushed under the rug, so to speak.

I assure you, the quickest I can get OUT of Florida, I will. I don't want ANY part of a state who shows blatant disregard for such an important profession. I think they might be surprised when nursing students declines, nursing shortage increases, and they have NOTHING to offer to draw in nurses.

I feel SORRY for the people who need health care here in Florida.....

What a mess

You still CAN do something about it. It's not too late. Instead of just deciding to get out of Florida, become proactive and rally against it. You can write letters, make calls, arrange protests...don't sit idly by.

And more unfortunately, don't expect nursing student declines. If anything, this is opening the market to become flooded with nursing students and others who thought in the past that they couldn't make the grade. There will likely be an influx of people going to nursing school now. The shortage won't occur because these people are going to inundate our profession. This is going to make it very easy for people to become nurses and sadly, their work is going to reflect that.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

This tidbit from your cousin sounds like misinformation wrapped in urban legend with a dollop of hysteria.

sure hope so... i really do ... she's been a nurse for 20 years . i hope she's wrong .. time will tell ... i hope you are right. i don't live in florida so i don't know... but she was talking about this on the phone last night.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

sure hope so... i really do ... she's been a nurse for 20 years . i hope she's wrong .. time will tell ... i hope you are right. i don't live in florida so i don't know... but she was talking about this on the phone last night.

I'm wondering where such a bill came from. What was the motivation? Who initiated it? Why? Where any other licensing boards in Florida stripped of their authority related to approving educational programs? Was this a move to save $$$ to help with the state budget? Aren't licensing fees paying for board operating costs?

I'd love to see a paper-trail of donations to politicians in Florida from corporations/individuals associated with private for-profit technical colleges. What was the motivation to lower educational standards and why get rid of the Board of Nursing when the board knows the most about nursing education? This is very fishy.

Has Charlie Crist already signed the bill into law?

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

The fact that established nurses, I know, are upset. They are upset because THEY are the ones who will have to "work with" an already troubled group of people, new graduate nurses. Yes, we know things, but there are WAY more things we don't than do.

Our patients are in the near future going to be exposed to new graduates who know even less than those of us who have graduated or will graduate soon.

I don't see who is winning in this WHOLE situation, but it isn't ANYONE it is actively affecting.

We, the students at my school, had NO IDEA about this. I posted this topic in the Florida section, but like someone said, had we known sooner we could have done something.

It is INFURIATING to me that just like that, something so significant as this, is just brushed under the rug, so to speak.

I assure you, the quickest I can get OUT of Florida, I will. I don't want ANY part of a state who shows blatant disregard for such an important profession. I think they might be surprised when nursing students declines, nursing shortage increases, and they have NOTHING to offer to draw in nurses.

I feel SORRY for the people who need health care here in Florida.....

What a mess

i agree with you . but if it happens in florida it will happen all over. nursing is a wonderful profession , and i just can't see nurses giving up so easily. we worked hard to become nurses and we give the job all we have. i have been a nurse for 25 years this july, and i have seen many changes in nursing . i just can't see nurses sitting back and letting this happen, we are fighters by nature. nursing would be set back 20 years if this happened. i send you prayers and don't give up !! is there anything i can do? i didn't go through 4 years of RN school for this to happen. i am going to contact my BON and se what they say about this article. please keep us updated....

[nurz2be]

I'd love to see a paper-trail of donations to politicians in Florida from corporations/individuals associated with private for-profit technical colleges. I would to What was the motivation to lower educational standards and why get rid of the Board of Nursing when the board knows the most about nursing education? This is very fishy.

Has Charlie Crist already signed the bill into law?

Yes, it was signed UNANIMOUSLY..Not 1 legislator said No.. I don't understand that part...it goes into effect on July 1,2009

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I'm wondering if there is some bureaucratic aspect of this that we do not know, and this isn't as nefarious as it appears.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

I'm wondering where such a bill came from. What was the motivation? Who initiated it? Why? Where any other licensing boards in Florida stripped of their authority related to approving educational programs? Was this a move to save $$$ to help with the state budget? Aren't licensing fees paying for board operating costs?

I'd love to see a paper-trail of donations to politicians in Florida from corporations/individuals associated with private for-profit technical colleges. What was the motivation to lower educational standards and why get rid of the Board of Nursing when the board knows the most about nursing education? This is very fishy.

Has Charlie Crist already signed the bill into law?

i wondered the same thing. that's why my cosuin shelly called me last night. she said" the craziest thing is happening here , and she told me. i couldn't believe it... she said " why would they do this?" i just hope it's wrong... i am calling her next monday to see what else she heard. what exactly would the BON be in charge of if this stupid idea goes through? it makes no sense... and i hope you are right... but shelly is a MSN of 20 years and seems to know these things.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

I'm wondering if there is some bureaucratic aspect of this that we do not know, and this isn't as nefarious as it appears.

yes i agree... 100% and i hope you are right !! it just makes no sense...

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=41499&SessionId=61

Revises provisions for approval of nursing programs by Board of Nursing; requires institutions wishing to conduct certain nursing programs to submit program application & pay program review fee to DOH; specifies that program application is deemed approved if board does not act within specified timeframes; provides standards for approval of nursing programs, etc.

I'm wondering this is a procedural change (or something else we are not aware of), and if the BON retains the ability to authorize or reject nursing programs.

[nurz2be]

i what exactly would the BON be in charge of if this stupid idea goes through?

The BON is only responsible now for two things

1... the initial approval of "new" nursing programs in Florida

2... They are responsible for watching that the NCLEX pass rates of established schools do not fall 10% below the national average...if a school does for,I think it said 1 year, it is placed on some type of probation status through the DOH.

EVERYTHING else, the DOH is responsible for. Our dean of academic affairs and I had a long talk today, the Chancellor of our school is a very political person here in Florida, and he was taken aback by all of this, as are we all. Our dean said that the information they are receiving from the DOH is stating the "new" program requirements and they are at best "a joke." Almost everything, clinicals, class time, practicum time, time with actual patients versus time on "simulations," is all being cut back tremendously.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Here's the politician who sponsored this bill:

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4345&SessionId=42

She's a nurse.

http://www.denisegrimsley.com/index.htm

[madnurse2b]

Here's the politician who sponsored this bill:

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4345&SessionId=42

She's a nurse.

http://www.denisegrimsley.com/index.htm

Did you notice in all of her Groups That Endorsed or Recognized her no sign of Florida Nurses, or some Operating Room Nurses (her original certification) or anything? Hmmm I wonder what that means?