Arizona Nurses' Association position statements

Arizona Nurse,  Nov 2002  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

Tobacco Products Tax

August 23, 2002

Summary: The Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) believes that all Arizonans should have access to quality health care services which provide effective patient outcomes.

AzNA Supports:

1. Proposition 303 to increase tobacco product taxes and improve access to health care services.

2. Collaboration with other agencies, organizations and institutions to educate the public and disseminate information about the merits of Proposition 303.

3. Laws, rules and incentives to increase access to affordable, basic health care especially for underserved/vulnerable populations; and

4. Nursing representation by professional registered nurses on health policymaking, oversight and advisory boards.

Mandatory Overtime

Date Approved: October 18, 2002

Summary:

The Arizona Nurses Association opposes the use of mandatory overtime as a staffing tool. Overtime and extra shifts will continue to be a voluntary option of the nurse. Mandatory overtime is defined as the hours worked in excess of an agreed upon, predetermined, regularly scheduled full-time or part-time work schedule, as determined by contract, established work scheduling practices, policies or procedures (ANA, 2001). After a regularly scheduled shift, the nurse has the option to accept or decline a patient assignment. Declining a patient assignment after a regularly scheduled shift should not be deemed as patient abandonment, be grounds for disciplinary action, or result in action against a nurses license. According to the Arizona Nurse Practice Act "Abandoning or neglecting a patient requiring immediate nursing care without making reasonable arrangement for continuation of such care" only applies during a nurses' regularly scheduled work hours and should not prohibit a nurse from refusing to stay for additional hours. Mandatory overtime should only be used to address a crisis and when the hospital or healthcare organization declares a disaster in an emergency situation.

Scope of Nursing Practice

Date Approved: October 18, 2002

Summary: The Arizona Nurses' Association supports the definition of the scope of nursing practice as helping individuals, families, and communities to maintain their health, meet their health care needs, and to treat the human responses to illness, disease, or injury. Nurses assess, plan, provide or coordinate treatment, and evaluate the outcome of treatment. Nursing care uses the specialized skills of assessment, communication, education, and collaboration with other members of the health care team. For background and rationale or for a list of references please visit our website aznurse. org or call the AzNA office at (480) 831-- 0404.

Copyright Arizona State Nurses Association Nov 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved