CONSUMER ADVOCACY

As Georgia Registered Nurses, we affirm the basic worth and dignity of individuals. We endorse legislation, programs and funding which promote and enable individuals to achieve optimal quality of life across the continuum.  This includes the basic needs of nutrition, shelter and safety as well as comprehensive health care, education and a clean and smoke-free environment.

Georgia Registered Nurses support: 

v      Efforts aimed at health promotion, early intervention, treatment and referral.

v      Ability of all citizens to select an appropriate health care provider of their choice.

v      An accessible, affordable and equitable health care system that is monitored to insure that quality of care, quality of life and patient safety are not compromised.

v      Civil justice reform that would ensure appropriate, cost-effective health care without the constant threat of litigation and loss of malpractice insurance.

v      A health care system that treats with dignity and respect those individuals with mental illness, substance abuse, mental retardation and developmental disabilities. 

v      Prescriptive authority for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.

v      Continued funding for services provided to patients and families served by the state of Georgia.

FAMILY AND CHILDREN ADVOCACY

GNA believes that all children and families in Georgia should have accessible, affordable, quality health care.   

Georgia Registered Nurses support:

v      Health Education to promote family stability.

v      Health promotion, preventive care, disease prevention and health management for all.

v      Improved access and funding for health care coverage for children, pregnant women and their families, and seniors.

v      Expanding school health programs for all children, which includes providing Registered Nurses in all schools.

v      Continued funding for health care coverage for children including screening programs that detect and prevent birth defects and chronic conditions.

v      Promoting the expansion of physical education in our schools, educating our children on proper nutrition and facilitating new behaviors that promote healthier life styles for future generations.

WORKPLACE ADVOCACY

GNA believes that workplace safety of nurses warrants special attention and supports programs designed to prevent job-related injuries, illnesses and deaths, including identification and correction of workplace hazards. 

Georgia Registered Nurses support:

v      Promotion of health and safety programs in the workplace including: ergonomics, safe patient handling, infection control, and prevention of workplace violence and work-related accidents.

v      Safe levels of staffing, no-fault error reporting, protection from retribution for nurses reporting unsafe patient and work conditions.

v      Adequate rest and number of hours between shifts to prevent medical errors and promote physical and mental health of the nurse.

v      Appropriate access to substance abuse treatment for impaired nurses.

v      An environment in which nurses are supported and appreciated, both professionally and financially for the work they do.

PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

GNA believes that all nurses should adhere to the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics.

Georgia Registered Nurses support:

v      Funding for undergraduate and graduate nursing education.

v      Funding for qualified nursing faculty.

v      Nursing salaries that are competitive in the marketplace.

v      Recruitment of a diverse group of qualified students into programs of nursing education.

v      Addressing issues in the supply, demand and retention of nurses in the state.

v      Promotion of a positive nursing image.

v      Nursing research and scholarship.