Kansas State Nurses Association annual reports 2003

Kansas Nurse, Sep 2003 by Johnson, Terri, Barrett, Patricia Kohls, Putnam, Julie, Ternus, Jean, Et al

Cheryl Giefer President

Committee Reports

Day at the Legislature

On February 13, 2003, KSNA hosted this 27th annual event at the Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC) for 681 nurses and student nurses. This educational conference focused on policy issues of interest to nurses and student nurses with the idea of raising political awareness about current legislation that would effect Healthcare. RN's and LPN's who attended received 5.6 contact hours. Barbara Blakeney, President of ANA and an expert in public health policy and leadership development, was the keynote speaker. Some of the attendees had the opportunity to interact with their own stale legislators after observing legislative sessions at the Capitol. This was the second year a box lunch was served in the lower level of TPAC to those who had pre-paid along with their conference registration fee. As a fund raising activity, since it was the day before Valentine's Day, various sizes of flower arrangements were sold. The evening before the event, 36 nurses attended a reception and dinner in honor or Barbara Blakeney. These two events netted KSNA approximately $9,000. As Chairperson for this committee, I would like to thank the committee members, volunteers, and KSNA staff for their time and expertise to make this day an annual success.

Kay Bachus, Chairperson

Editorial Board

The Editorial Board met via conference call three times over the past year with an orientation meeting held in February. Themes for the 2002-03 issues of The Kansas Nurse were planned and issue coordinators assigned. A wide variety of topics were presented including popular diet trends, emerging pathogens and the nursing shortage. Positive feedback was received from the membership regarding articles that included Independent Study CNE. Brainstorming has begun to set themes for 2004. A document to guide the use of APA format in manuscript writing and avoid plagiarism was adopted. A copy of the document will be given to all individuals from who manuscripts are solicited. The committee evaluated competing district newsletters using established criteria and made award recommendations. Thanks to all of the committee members for their creativity and commitment.

Penny L. Chura, Chairperson

Legislative Committee

The KSNA Legislative Committee met January 25, 2003 to review proposed legislation and discuss policy issues that have been brought to our attention. Because neither KSNA nor the Kansas State Board of Nursing requested introduction of any legislation, the efforts early in the session were directed towards monitoring the state agency budgets. Through serious shortfall of income, huge cuts were proposed in the budgets that would greatly affect Kansas citizens. Although not supported by KSNA, the Nursing Home liccnsure and inspection activity was transferred from the Dept. of Health and Environment to the Dept. of Aging. A House Concurrent Resolution to make school nurses one of the groups who would be first responders in times of disaster was a bill to which we could rally with affirmative energy. Although it does not carry the weight of law, it has brought to public attention that nurses are in a position to perform that measure. Other successful legislation has been reviewed in the Legislative Update that comes out weekly during the session and in The Kansas Nurse. KSNA testimony opposing required mandatory CE for nurses (and other disciplines) on child abuse recognition, pointed out to one committee the complexity of the implementation logistics. This included the detail and cost of mandating, teaching, and maintaining records for CE related to reporting child abuse for 27,000 RN's in a two year period, a topic taught in undergraduate nursing education. The bill was not successful. SB 108, a bill that would be very restrictive to those who may need workman's compensation, was brought to KSNA's attention. Terri Roberts, Executive Director, testified against some of the issues for nurses (and others). The concern surrounding this issue continues and will likely surface again in the coming Session, cither in a modified version of the bill, or a new bill that addresses some of the issues.