Happy New Year (2003) to
every registered nurse (RN) in Georgia. I wish each of you a very
prosperous and healthy new year. I know all of you have special memories
of 2002. For the profession of nursing, this was a memorable year. Some
events are happy and others more concerning. I will reminisce about
some of the events of 2002 and look at new beginnings, happy endings and
continuing concerns of nursing and healthcare..
One of the more memorial
events occurred in June of 2002. GNA/GNF had the ribbon cutting for
their new home. The location is 3032 Briarcliff. The new building on
Briarcliff Road is an attractive building with beautiful furnishings and
housing many amenities for meetings and education. The Decor is
beautiful and the historical memories of nursing are present in the
showcases. Thanks to the staff, consultants and dedicated GNA and GNF
members who assisted with the purchasing, planning and development of
the property on Briarcliff.
Other memories include the
many opportunities for new beginnings or advancement for RN’s as a
result of additional education. As with the new beginning of the year
2003, it was exciting to see Advanced Practice Nurses graduate in
December to begin another aspect of their profession. They had spent
several years to advance their education to become Nurse Practitioners.
Even though they had been RN’s for a number of years, this was a new
beginning in a new role. This may mean changing institutions and leaving
a position that was comfortable to something more challenging. The
excitement of contracts, offers, and the best fit for the population
that they want to serve is stimulating. Nursing offers many
opportunities for change or advancement for all levels of nursing.
The year 2002 has lingering
memories of the healthcare crisis including a healthcare provider
shortage with RN’s being on the forefront. This crisis with the demand
for more RN’s outnumbering the supply available has brought nursing to
the attention of the media and other organizations such as JCAHO and
Consumers Report. Another effort to assist with the nursing shortage is
the Nurse Reinvestment Act which was signed into law in August of 2002 .
This bill has components that relate to the recruitment of nurses
through scholarships and the stimulation of interest in becoming nursing
faculty, as well as projecting a positive image of nursing in the media.
This bill was signed but the funding has not been appropriated,
therefore the bill needs to be funded so contact your legislators to
request funding for this bill for the amount of 250 million dollars.
There are many aspects of the
health care crisis and budget shortfalls that continue to haunt us as
nurses and citizens who may require healthcare. As indicated in a
previous article, the nursing shortage will not have its maximum impact
until 2020 but all nurses, other healthcare providers and healthcare
facilities, are feeling the impact of the crisis now. In several
newspapers and on a “60 Minute Program”, there was much discussion about
utilizing foreign nurses to aid in the nursing shortage. A nursing
representative from South Africa was interviewed for the “60 Minute
presentation. She related that bringing nurses to the US would only
deprive those countries of nurses from which they were recruited. GNA’s
position /belief is that foreign nurses is not the answer to the nursing
shortage. GNA is not in favor of importation of foreign nurses to work
in agencies in the US. As stated in the”60 Minutes” presentation on
12/29/02, this recruitment effort would only decrease the nurses
available in those respective countries. Agencies continue to recruit
foreign nurses so we must make our position known to “60 Minutes” and
other organizations whenever we have the opportunity.
Another concern is the
increases in the cost of liability insurance for Advanced Practice
Nurses and physicians. Advanced practice nurses and physicians have had
great increases in liability insurance costs for liability . This
increase in cost for coverage which will impact the continuation of
services and many times the continuation of some practices. This will
impact employment of APRN’s and the ability to provide certain services
to patients by physicians and APRN’s..
At the same time, California
and other states have cut the provider fees for Medicare and Medicaid by
10%. It has been noted that Georgia is also expecting a decrease in
provider fees. This will mean decreased services to the elderly, women
and children since the providers will decrease the number of these
patients for which they will provide care. Nursing homes liability
insurance has increased as much as 300%. The nursing homes cannot afford
to pay these fees and many times will not have insurance. Some nursing
homes will have to close their doors. This is of real concern since the
number of geriatric patients are increasing and needing services
provided by nurses and other personnel in nursing homes.
JCAHO and Consumers Reports
have reported the impact on patient care due to the decreased number of
RN’s at the bedside. Consumer Reports surveyed 21,000 readers. Of all
the factors measured in the Consumer Reports survey, satisfaction with
care and attention from nurses, doctors, and other hospital staff
members made the most difference in overall satisfaction. For the
complete report sign on to
www.consumerreports.org. The title is “How
safe is your hospital.”
Johnson & Johnson has
brought the image and duties of nursing to the public through their
commercials. These are all beneficial to nursing and hopefully will
attract more individuals into the profession. In the mean time, we must
stratergize to provide the very best patient care possible with limited
numbers of RN’s and other healthcare personnel. GNA is participating in
groups that are pondering this very complex nursing and health care
situation.
On a more happy note, several
week ago, I attended the retirement of Betty Blake, RN. Ms. Betty Blake
who was the Vice President for Nursing at Grady Memorial Hospital, has
devoted 50 years of service to nursing and Grady. This includes her
attendance at the Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, supervisor
of pediatrics and her long tenure as Vice President for nursing. Thanks
to Betty Blake for her many contributions to nursing. This retirement
had sad moments since Betty Blake will be missed but she has served her
profession and the Grady community well and now she has opportunities
for pleasure and the profession of nursing. The reception for Betty
Blake ended with everyone that was a nurse to wear a paper nursing cap
and to recite the Nightingale Pledge. This really brought back memories.
Below are the words of the
Nightingale Pledge to stimulate your past.
Nightingale Pledge
I solemnly pledge myself
before God and in the presence of this assembly:
To pass my life in purity and
to practice my profession faithfully.
I will abstain from whatever
is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly
administer any harmful drug.
I will do all in my power to
maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in
confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family
affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling of my
profession.
With loyalty will I endeavor
to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of
those committed to my care.
The last statement may
stimulate discussion today.
All of us need to encourage
membership in GNA. We need your help in attracting and keeping GNA
members. Applications for membership are on the GNA web site
www.georgianurses.org .
There has much crisis but
much recognition for nursing over the past year. We must utilize this
crisis and recognition to advance the profession of nursing. Our
profession offers may opportunities for new beginnings and graceful
career endings.
