This was not the year of the nurse

Connecticut Nursing News, Sep-Nov 2001 by Williams, Mary Jane

With nurse shortages already apparent in a number of areas of practice and facilities, as well as ongoing and anticipated shortages considered a public health crisis, the legislature listened but there is little to show in this session for what was hoped to be the year of the nurse.

During this legislative session, which was a long session, the Government Relations Committee reviewed over 114 bills and tracked over 60. The committee developed, monitored, provided information, testimony and status to other agencies and organizations. While we considered over 150 pieces of legislation, many affecting nursing, most of the several thousand bills introduced this session actually died.

The Government Relations Committee tracked, supported and provided testimony for a number of significant issues and bills. The following bills passed:

* HB 5701 An Act Restricting the Use of Psychotropic Drugs by Children-Passed on May 30 becomes Public Act 01-124.

* SB 546 An Act Concerning Case Planning Information--To allow school administrators and service providers to access Juvenile Justice Information. Passed by Senate on June 6, became Public Act 01-176.

* HB 5882 File #41 An Act Concerning the Regulation of Youth Camps-Allowing single physical exams for Youth Camp and School -- Senate passed May 24, now Public Act 01-94.

* HB 5933 An Act Concerning Pediatric Nurses in Investigations of Infants at Risk of Abuse or Neglect-Inclusion of nurses prior to discharge from a hospital to determine if an infant can be safely discharged-Passed June 6 and became Public Act 01-190.

* SB 694 File #313 An Act Concerning the Definition of a Licensed Health Care Provider -- Senate Passed May 10, House passed, now Public Act 01-11.

* SB 1024 An Act Concerning Certificates of Need Issued by the Office of Health Care Access -- Senate passed May 10, House passed May 25 and signed by the governor, now Public Act 01-- 50.

* HB 6574 An Act Concerning the Certification of Emergency Medical Service Personnel; signed by the governor, now Public Act 01-01

* SB 175 File #296 An Act Concerning the Licensing of Professional Counselors-license does not apply to unpaid counselors-Senate passed May 17, House passed May 29, now Public Act 01-109.

* HB 6941 An Act Concerning Medical Errors -- Plan to reduce or eliminate medical errors by hospitals, out patient surgical facilities and out patient clinics and to establish related reported reporting requirements-House passed May 30, Senate passed June 4, now Public Act 01-145.

The Public Health Implementor Bill did not include any finding for nursing scholarship and or education as anticipated. There were some movies allocated in the budget for Capital Community College and St. Joseph's College for a joint program and to Southern Connecticut State University for new on-line programming and also development of a new program in southern Connecticut.

The Government Relations Committee provided testimony for the Work Force Development Committee. This committee was called as a result of the study conducted via the Department of Public Health. It was the hope of the nursing community that this committee would support initiatives that funded nursing with a variety of non-traditional mechanisms and would provide a commission to help to coordinate and plan Connecticut's efforts related to the healthcare workforce shortages.

GRC introduced the following legislation:

* SB 433 File #361 An Act Establishing a Nurse Intervention Program. This bill would have established an alternative voluntary nurse intervention program for rehabilitating nurses with a chemical dependency, mental illness or physical condition

SB 433 was introduced, supported and pulled off the calendar due to a conflict over the need for anonymity. This legislation represented 10 years of research, education and consultations. It is essential that this bill be moved again in the upcoming session (2002). Connecticut is one of only 14 states that does not have an alternative program available to nurses.

GRC met with and supported school nurse regulations. The Association of School Nurses of Connecticut wants qualified nurses in each district/ region and wants to phase in education requirements and certification requirements. The plan is to meet with the commissioner and to change regulations versus legislation.

by Mary Jane Williams, PhD, RN

Government Relations Chairperson