The Importance of One Voice

By the time you read this, the 2006 Georgia Legislative Session will be in progress, and there is much to still be discussed and decided.  Therefore, now is the time to make YOUR voice heard.  Many nurses forget that our practice is regulated by laws; that the decisions of where (and how) the health care dollar will be spent is in the hands of our elected officials.  It is extremely important that these elected officials understand the issues, the nuances of the decisions and what you (the professional nurse and voter) would like their vote to be.

Most nurses have heard the discussion over the need to update Georgia’s Nurse Practice Act to allow the advanced practice nurses the authority to write the prescriptions that they currently can give via the telephone!  This important legislation is Senate Bill (SB) 313 and House Bill (HB) 935.  If you need more information on this (and all other) legislation, please go to the Georgia Nurses Association Web site, www.georgianurses.org.  Information is located in the “Legislative” section.  Here, you may read the legislative platform for our organization in addition to bills that are pending.

You may not feel like this is an issue of which you can take personal ownership, but I assure you it affects us all.  This is an access to care issue.  It is a patient safety issue.  Georgia is the ONLY state that does not have this important right for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).  This limits where and how APRNs can practice in a state where the health care providers in many regions are already stretched far too thin.

What other issues are of interest to nurses?  Probably more than most nurses are aware of and far too many to mention now.  What is crucial to understand is that the state of Georgia ranks 45 out of the 50 states in 2004 (the lowest ranking in 15 years) in health status!  Of all Georgia counties, 65 percent have a “fair” health status and 19 percent have a “poor” health status (per the Georgia Health Policy Center, December 2005).  Georgia is also ranked by the United Health Foundation in the following categories:

            Cardiovascular Deaths – 40^th

            Infant Mortality – 43^rd

            Infectious Disease – 47^th

            Graduation – 49^th

            Obesity – 43^rd

            Premature Death – 42^nd

            Public Health Spending – 50^th

Is it not appalling to be a health care worker in a state with these horrible statistics? 

What can be done?  We (the nurses of Georgia) must collectively work together to influence the decision-makers that health care, particularly of our children, must be a top priority.

The Governor and his staff, along with many of the state departments, are working diligently to update, renovate and modernize many of the different programs in Georgia.  Countless concerned and dedicated people have spent many hours reviewing and reworking programs and issues like the state’s Medicaid program.

Do you know your local state representative?  Who is your state senator?  If you do not know, please go to the following web site and find their name and email address.  Add it to your list of important names.

www.congress.org/congressorg/state/main/?state=GA  

These individuals have the power to affect health care and the practice of nursing, but they need our help.  With very few health care experts in the Georgia Legislature, we need to make sure all the facts are heard—not just the ones that paid lobbyists give to them.  Your elected officials, from the Governor down, are up for re-election this November.  They need to understand how their decisions affect the citizens of Georgia (whether it is the APRN authority to write prescriptions or the need for expanding school health programs to include providing Registered Nurses in all schools).

There are many issues, but the elected official needs to hear them from you—the voter.  A simple email (short and to the point—not a mass mailing viewpoint) or a phone call stating your name, occupation, issue and position can make a difference.  Always make sure that they know you are a Registered Nurse and how to reach you for more information.  Most importantly, thank them for their time and efforts on your behalf.  This takes about 2 minutes of your time, but could change the way health care and nursing is practiced in Georgia.

Follow the issues on which your local elected officials are working.  Make YOUR voice heard, and when they vote favorably for an issue that is of concern to you,  thank them.  Oftentimes, legislators say that they just do not hear from the nurses “back home,” so they assume that the nurses do not care about the issues.

We know that is not true.  We all know life is busy, and it is easy to assume others are looking out for our profession.  There are a few hard-working people who think about and represent the professional Registered Nurse at the Capitol every day, but it is ALL of our responsibility to make OUR legislators aware of the impact of their decisions. 

A prime example is that the funds for the “school nurse” program do not actually fund nurses.  The legislation was written so that the schools could hire anyone to fulfill the role of “health care” provider for a school facility.  These individuals have big hearts and a huge responsibility, but in most cases are not licensed.  There are many outstanding Registered Nurses in our schools who are not there because of the laws of our state but because of the forethought of the local Boards of Education.  Not all legislators understand that each school in our state does not have a Registered Nurse to provide care for our children.  Not all legislators think it is important.  Not all legislators have heard from you.

The Georgia Nurses Association’s 2006 Legislative Platform is included in this issue.  Check the Web site for bills that are pending.  Like me, you will be amazed at the many different areas where we, as a statewide community of nurses, can have a major impact. 

Remember, OUR profession is listed as the most respected profession!

Now is the time for each of us to make OUR voice the one that changes the health care status of the citizens of Georgia.  There are more than 100,000 nurses in our state; we are the largest profession in health care.  We cannot expect others to stand up for our profession and our families.  This is our responsibility, and I know we can and will do it.  Please contact me at leasterly@hhc.org if I can be of help or assistance to you! 

Remember: your voice and your vote are very important!

Easterly is President of the Georgia Nurses Association and currently serves as the Director of Occupational Health and Wellness for Houston Healthcare.