Action Proposals

Arizona Nurse,  Sep 2005  

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Baccalaureate Education for Nurses

Introduced by: Professional Issues Steering Committee

Referred to: Professional Issues Hearing

Whereas, the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) is committed to the educational preparation necessary for professional registered nurses to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patients and families being cared for in all Arizona communities and in any organization or setting, and

Whereas, Arizona continues to experience a nursing shortage in spite of increasing registered nurse student enrollment by 22% between 2001 and 2003, and

Whereas, associate degree programs increased admissions by 17% from 2001-2003, while baccalaureate programs increased by 5% from 2001 to 2003, and

Whereas, several recent studies have reported a relationship between the proportion of registered nurses with baccalaureate and higher degrees with lower hospitalized patient mortality and with higher nurse satisfaction, and

Whereas, AzNA is committed to encouraging access to entry level education and advanced education in all Arizona communities,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED

That the Arizona Nurses Association will:

* Support associate degree, baccalaureate degree, and advanced degrees as entry into practice

* Strengthen programs for educational advancement from associate to baccalaureate and higher degrees

* Advocate for baccalaureate education for nurses in community colleges

Promote development and pilot testing of new models and demonstration projects for educating nurses

Leadership Development for Direct Care Nurses

Introduced by: Professional Issues Steering Committee

Referred to: Professional Issues Hearing

Whereas, the Arizona Nurses Association is committed to the leadership development of direct care Registered Nurses, and

Whereas, the Arizona Nurses Association supports leadership education of direct care Registered Nurses in any health care environment, and

Whereas, improved Registered Nurse job satisfaction increases with autonomy in their role, and

Whereas, patient outcomes are improved with increased education of the staff Registered Nurse, and

Whereas, knowledge and understanding of the components of leadership enhance effective delivery of nursing care to patients/clients

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED

That the Arizona Nurses Association supports:

* Input and involvement of Direct Care Nurses to determine their leadership educational needs.

The Arizona Nurses Association will work collaboratively with hospitals and health care organizations to develop and promote leadership education for Direct Care Nurses in the area of leadership.

Registered Nurse Practitioner Empanelment by Health Insurance Plans

Introduced by: Professional Issues Steering Committee

Referred: Professional Issues Hearing

Whereas, the Arizona Nurse Practice Act recognizes Registered Nurse Practitioners as Healthcare providers who have the knowledge and skills to obtain a health history, perform physical assessment, order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions, prescribe medications and other treatments, and

Whereas, Registered Nurse Practitioners are educationally qualified to manage a patient's care, and

Whereas, Registered Nurse Practitioners are nationally certified in their specialty area, and

Whereas, patients report satisfaction with the level of care received from Registered Nurse Practitioners, and

Whereas, the Arizona Nurse Practice Act further recognizes Registered Nurse Practitioners as autonomous healthcare providers who are not in a supervisory relationship with physicians, and

Whereas, the Institute of Medicine has asserted that the health interests of the public are best served when people have unencumbered access to the full spectrum of health care providers, and

Whereas, denying Registered Nurse Practitioners empanelment in health insurance plans creates a barrier to access to health care for patients, and

Whereas, the Arizona Nurses Association supports and advocates for full access to health care from the provider of their choice for all Arizona citizens

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED

That the Arizona Nurses Association will:

* Support the efforts of the Registered Nurse Practitioners and representatives of health insurance groups with enrollees in the state working collaboratively to create processes to empanel Registered Nurse Practitioners with all of the associated rights and privileges of that status.

Introduced by: Professional Issues Steering Committee Referred to: Professional Issues Hearing

Whereas, the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) is committed to ensuring safe patient care by professional registered nurses, and

Whereas, patient safety and medical errors remains problematic and of concern to the public and to nurses, and

Whereas, nurses are instrumental in creating a safe patient care environment, protecting patients, and preventing harm, and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED

That the Arizona Nurses Association will:

* Educate nurses and the public on the role of nurses in patient safety

* Support initiatives by health care facilities that support the creation of patient safety practices