Nursing Role in Healthcare Policy & Politics

Updated October 2015

Nursing’s Role as Educator and Influencer

Key Initiatives

Kitchen Cabinet Nursing’s Visibility at the Capital Grassroots Advocacy Nurses on Boards Continuing Education Programs

Nursing’s Public Policy Platform

#1Enable Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

(APRNs) to contribute to the health care solution by practicing to their full scope of education

and training. While Virginia has enabled collaborative agreements for APRN practice, it’s essential that we continue to remove the barriers that restrict their full scope of practice.

IOM Recommendation 1Remove scope-of-practice barriers

ObjectiveAll nurses should practice to the fullest extent of their training

ObjectiveEducate stakeholders, legislators and the public about APRN regulatory barriers that prevent full practice authority to continue efforts to  reform outdated scope-of-practice regulations

…Nursing’s Public Policy Platform

House Bill 346 passed and signed by Governor Eliminates supervisory language Emphasizes collaboration and consultation between

NPs (LNP & CNMs) and physicians to practice in teams

Increases from 4 to 6 number of APRNs physicians can collaborate with

HB 346 manifested in 2013

…Nursing’s Public Policy Platform

Next Steps… Explore how the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist can help

advance this initiative

Explore billing opportunities for specialty nursing forensics; diabetic educator; wound care specialists - in order to promote the value of autonomous nurse practice in these areas

Examine the culture of the work setting

…Nursing’s Public Policy Platform

#2Increase educational capacity and faculty salaries at the

state’s schools of nursing in order to ensure an adequate supply of registered nurses to meet the future needs of

the residents of the Commonwealth.

An influx of millions of patients in our health care system in the next several years will result in a nursing shortage. To mitigate this problem, it is imperative that our schools have the capacity to accommodate a growing number of nursing students.

Nursing’s Public Policy Platform

#3Ensure efficient regulatory process for the

Board of Nursing and support excellence in nursing education through effective regulations.

Timely action by the administration will ensure a timely turn-around on regulations.

Nursing’s Public Policy Platform

#4Increase the number of nurses on public policy and regulatory boards.

Nurses are pivotal to addressing the challenges we will confront with implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and their voice should be part of public policy discussion as a voting member of key boards and councils.

Nursing’s Public Policy Platform

IOM Recommendation 7Prepare and enable nurses to lead change to advance health

ObjectiveDetermine strategic boards to which nurse could be appointed and work with stakeholders to identify, mentor, and recommend individuals for those appointments

Nurses on Boards

Nurses on Boards

Identifying Emerging & Advanced Leaders Positioning Nurses for Voting Board Seats

Focus on Government & Hospital Boards Database of nurses and nurse mentors Toolkit available at virginianurses.com Served as exemplar at recent Leadership in Action:

Models & National Strategy conference

What do these professions have in common?

Grassroots Advocacy

Special education teacher Nurse Civics teacher Farmer TV Reporter

Grassroots Advocacy

Delegate “Dickie Bell” – Special education teacher Delegate Rosalyn Dance – Nurse Delegate Kirk Cox – Civics teacher Delegate Mathew Farris – Farmer Senator John Miller – TV Reporter

Nursing’s Visibility at the Capital

Teams of nurses and student nurses greeting & meeting legislators twice weekly during the legislative session.

Purpose is two-fold: Ensure nursing is top of mind with legislators Educate legislators re: Nursing’s Public Policy

Platform Educate & influence legislators on issues before the

General Assembly

Grassroots Advocacy

Be Your Own Lobbyist!

Get to know your legislator!

Building a relationship is worth its weight in gold During session is not the best time to do this Legislators love having someone with area expertise they can call on

You have two things legislators need:

Expertise Votes

Grassroots Advocacy

Building the relationship In office visits after session.

Invite legislators to your workplace.

Invite legislators to your professional meetings.

Knowledge is power; online resources:

Who's my legislator? (Use the link on the GA main page)

General Assembly main page (http://legis.virginia.gov)

All the information you could ever want

(http://leg1.state.va.us)

Grassroots Advocacy

Government Relations Commission 1-2 Legislative Ambassadors from each

Chapter Focus on grassroots advocacy Partnerships with area nursing schools CQ Roll Call

Annual Conferences & Events

Annual Legislative Day – Held each February in downtown Richmond

Fall Legislative Receptions – Northern VA, Central VA… ANA Lobby Day – Each July

Kevin M. Shimp, Legislative Chair804-828-1684 / Kevin.Shimp@.com