AzNA legislative agenda 1999-2001

Arizona Nurse,  Sep 2001  

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HEALTH CARE POLICY ISSUES

To assure that all Arizonans have access to quality health care services appropriate to their level of need, AzNA supports laws, rules, and initiatives to:

* increase access to affordable, basic health care especially for underserved/vulnerable populations;

* foster ethical decision making within the health care delivery system;

* appropriate adequate funding of state health care programs including those providing mental/behavioral health services;

* allow accessibility to women's health care services, information and education;

* allow accessibility to high quality, affordable perinatal care;

* foster the design and implementation of programs directed toward health promotion and disease prevention;

* support placing professional, certified registered nurses in all elementary and secondary schools;

* recognize the right of individuals and their families to make informed health care decisions and choices including, but not limited to, selection of health care providers and facilities, the release of personal health care information, and appropriate execution of living wills or advance directives;

* recognize the right to privacy by assuring confidentiality of health information and records;

* promote client access to personal health care information and records at a reasonable cost;

* foster the right of consumers to seek redress for incompetent or illegal health care;

* emphasize HIV prevention, education, voluntary testing, and confidentiality for both health care workers and the public;

* assure the delivery of safe and competent nursing care services under the direction and supervision of a registered professional nurse;

* support the right of individuals and families to be free from abuse;

* be consistent with the will of the electorate regarding use of tobacco tax funds;

* promote public health and safety;

* insure that health care payers provide quality, ethical and cost-effective care.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ISSUES

To assure that all Arizonans have access to safe, competent, and professional nursing care services appropriate to their level of need; AzNA supports laws, rules and initiatives to:

* enable direct third party reimbursement for services provided by registered professional nurses (certified in their specialties) and for nurses in extended and advanced nursing practice;

* produce modifications in the Nurse Practice Act and the practice acts of other health care providers that promote and ensure public safety;

* provide for representation of nursing on health policy-making and advisory boards by registered professional nurses;

* appropriate funding of undergraduate and graduate nursing education programs to assure an ongoing supply of adequately prepared registered professional nurses;

* protect health care professionals from frivolous legal action;

* safeguard the ability of registered professional nurses to practice within the confines of the Nurse Practice Act and make informed and responsible decisions concerning the delegation of nursing tasks;

* maintain the Arizona State Board of Nursing as an independent autonomous body to regulate the practice of nursing;

* address workplace safety issues of particular

Motivation! Motivation! Motivation! Motivation!

Copyright Arizona State Nurses Association Sep 2001
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