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

[nurz2be]

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

All I can say is good grief!!!!!

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Here's a list of who donated to Grimsley's latest campaign:

http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=107318

It's not exactly a smoking gun. Scroll down to see the top 20 contributors.

Why doesn't she want nurses in charge of regulating nursing education? Why did she write legislation that in effect reduces nursing education requirements? Nursing is only getting more complex - if anything nursing education requirements should be increased.

[GeauxNursing]

I'm sorry but I don't see anything on there about the DOH taking away clinical hours and "dumbing down" the nurse education in FL. However confusing all that legislative jargon is, I only saw a requirement that nurse programs shall be 50 percent clinicals.

Maybe it's just way over my head. Point me in the right direction?

[elkpark]

She's a Republican -- big surprise. Looks, from the website, like she's mostly a business person -- under "Affiliations," she lists herself as a member of the FL Hospital Foundation and a bunch of business organizations, but nothing about any nursing organizations.

Also from the website, here's another bill she introduced (twice! 2006 and 2007) that, fortunately, died in process both times (emphasis mine):

HB 1387 - Health Profession Education

GENERAL BILL by Grimsley

Health Profession Education: Exempts certain licensees under ch. 458, F.S., relating to medical practice, from continuing education requirements; revises requirements for instruction on domestic violence; removes alternative continuing education provisions; removes requirements of certain boards to report compliance with continuing education provisions; revises requirements for certain licensees for instruction on HIV and AIDS; exempts certain licensees under ch. 464, F.S., relating to nursing, from continuing education requirements; limits the authority of the Board of Nursing to adopt rules relating to nursing program faculty qualifications.

Looks like she's been a fan of watering down nursing standards for a while now ...

[GilaRRT]

Almost everything, clinicals, class time, practicum time, time with actual patients versus time on "simulations," is all being cut back tremendously.

Do you have a source for this information? I am curious to see what type of curriculum requirements will be instituted? Regardless of state, for a program to have NLN accreditation, certain educational criteria must be met. While programs do not necessarily have to have accreditation, nurse candidates are not going to be keen to attend such schools.

[nurz2be]

Do you have a source for this information? I am curious to see what type of curriculum requirements will be instituted? Regardless of state, for a program to have NLN accreditation, certain educational criteria must be met. While programs do not necessarily have to have accreditation, nurse candidates are not going to be keen to attend such schools.

The dean of academic affairs is going to send me a copy of what the FBON and DOH has sent the schools so far outlining the exact cuts in curriculum. Luckily my school is NLN accredited, but what about ALL these schools who aren't? It isn't right that the student nurses work their butts off, for what now? Only for it to be blowing up in their faces? Basically for someones, this woman mentioned above that I REFUSE to call a nurse, political ambitions?

As SOON as I get that from my dean I am going to post it. I did find the Extended version of the "bill" I am going to post it here in a second.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Grimsley, an RN, has an ADN, BA in Organizational Management, and an MBA. It would appear she doesn't see the importance of nurses with graduate degrees in Nursing teaching future nurses:

http://www.nursingshortage.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6

Denise Grimsley, who was one of two nurse legislators in attendance, expressed reservations with the Florida Administrative Code provision that by 2009 will require 60% of nursing faculty to have PhD or Masters degrees in nursing. She remarked, “In the State of Indiana, someone like me with 17 years of clinical experience and an advanced degree in another field, can take a 45 hour course to obtain a teaching certificate and teach. That’s not currently available in Florida.”

I noticed in the extended version of the new law that only 50% of nursing instructors have to hold graduate degrees in nursing. So sad for this to come from a nurse.

[nurz2be]

Here is the extended version....As stated above NOW only half the staff has to be a "nurse." Seriously what can someone with a Bachelors or Masters degree in Law or any other degree outside nursing honestly teach nursing students ABOUT nursing?

loaddoc.pdf

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

The extended version states that the committee estimates the reduced regulation will result in approximately 15 new program applications a year from private nursing programs.

Wonder what the quality of these programs will be like.

[nurz2be]

I just wonder how many states are going to follow in this mess? I hope that none do.... I hope that students in other states take notice of this and MAKE SURE that something like this doesn't happen in their states without them knowing about it.

[GeauxNursing]

Would never happen in TX, the super-regulated state.

[Moogie]

Sounds to me that this is all money-based and that some for-profit schools have successfully scammed the powers that be in Florida.

If the situation is as grim as the OP states, don't take it lying down! An earlier poster suggested writing to the politicians, holding rallies, bringing the students' concerns to attention of the lawmakers. Why not take it a step further? Go directly to the stakeholders. Florida has a large elderly population. Can you convince the seniors that their care WILL be compromised by less-than-qualified nurses? Can you get the AARP to see your point of view on this issue?

How about the news media? Can students, instructors, deans of nursing contact the newspapers and TV stations, particularly the stations that have special consumer alert programs? Why not go as far as contact the national media? Surely someone's got to be interested in this story. Blog about it. Spread the word to other nursing forums. Have your Dean write about this on the school website. Have your Dean, your instructors, your fellow students inundate the media with letters to the editor. Even write out and distribute a short form email to have individuals send to your legislators and governor. I know people say that form emails aren't effective, but the sheer number of emails would have to have an impact somehow.

There are also some national advocates for nursing. If influential people like the editors of AJN and journalist Suzanne Gordon have time to comment on "Nurse Jackie" surely they have time to address an issue like this. Go to the ANA. Complain to the AACN. Even if you're not a member of Sigma Theta Tau, involve them. Of all organizations, STT should be involved in ensuring quality nursing education for the future.

If you're a member of a political party, bring this issue up at the county level. Find out who the county leaders are and mail them about your concerns. Get involved at the grass roots level to get this issue the visibility it deserves.

Educate your fellow students about these programs, and warn them to look closely at brand new for-profit nursing programs that spring up overnight because of this legislation. Urge other students NOT to attend these schools. If the fly-by-night schools didn't attract nursing students, they would be OUT of the business of nursing education in a hurry.

Get your student nurse associations ACTIVE on this measure. Network. Make sure other students are AWARE of what's happening. Make sure they realize that their licenses may not necessarily transfer to other states. Again, go national with your concerns. If this can happen in Florida, certainly some other rocket scientist politician will try it elsewhere.

Work against the idiots who voted this in. Find out---is Grimsley still an active registered nurse? If her license has lapsed, she really can't be calling herself a registered nurse now, can she? Work actively against her in her next re-election campaign. (BTW, her credentials scare me. I can see permitting someone with a nursing background and a BSN being allowed to teach SOME nursing courses with a master's in education---but not a graduate degree in some other field altogether. To call herself up as an example of someone who isn't "permitted" to teach nursing----ridiculous. Seriously, find out what her credentials REALLY are. Did she get an ADN and never work? Very different from someone who got an ADN and worked the floors for twenty years before getting her other, non-nursing degrees.)

Be loud, be forceful and do what you must. I know this is a commitment of time and energy but this is YOUR future. Just don't lie down and let the Florida legislature screw you---or the profession---over.