IChooseNPs.com

The TNP (Texas Nurse Practitioners) recently started a petition campaign. The purpose? To illustrate to Texas legislators the state’s NEED for APRNs (advance practice registered nurses) to have the authority to practice to the full extent of their clinical ability (aka scope) and to do so without unreasoned barriers. If you have previously read this blog or are in any way connected to me via social media, you know ALL about this. (I should probably thank all of my non-nursing friends for not unfriending or blocking me. I have got to get around to finishing the blog's Facebook page...)

Well guess what, guys. The TNP campaign is working!

Over 200 NPs (nurse practitioners) gathered at the Capital earlier this month for the TNP Round the Capital on March 4th! The TNP Public Affairs Director (leads lobby efforts, handles press, etc.) reports we are making waves and that legislators are taking notice. We even made the news! You can watch the news story here.

The TNP will hold another Round the Capital Session on April the 8th. You can register here. And you can join the TNP here.

I encourage you to spread the petition’s website www.IChooseNPs.com near and far! You can learn more about the bills (SB 751 and HB 1885), sign the petition, and send an email to your legislator requesting their support.

It is so simple: If APRNs are able to practice to the full extent of their scope, Texans will have greater access to healthcare. Period.

Plus, all the cool states are doing it. Check out this map.

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Thursday Tidbit: Loan Repayment

The 2015 NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program application cycle is now open. The deadline is February 26th! Applications are accepted once a year, so you better hurry! You can find out more information and apply here: http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/repayment/nursing/index.html

Highlights of the program include:

-Offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration

-Both RNs and APRNs can apply

-2 year contract = 60% repayment on unpaid nursing student loans (additional 25% for a 3rd year)

- Must work full-time at an eligible "critical shortage" facility

Hope this helps!

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Don't be Stupid, Cupid

Have no idea what to get your nurse on this most pointless of all holidays? The following 3 items are things any nurse (fellas you're included!) would love to receive this Valentine's Day.

 

#1 Calf compression sleeves

These are not your grandmother's white compression hose. They are unisex, require less washing because they don't cover your feet, and are great for running/training. I love my sleeves. So do my feet.

#2 Wine/Whiskey of the Month Club

If I have to go into detail on this one, you clearly are not on the same page as your partner. They are probably going to dump you after Valentine's Day. Don't say I didn't warn you!

#3 Subscription to a pricey electronic clinical resource, like Uptodate or Epocrates.

Many schools and larger organizations provide access for students and staff. Double check first!

Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day!



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Legislative Day

Today was the Coalition for Nurses in Advance Practice (CNAP) 2015 Legislative Day here in Austin, Texas. Although my feet are killing me (this coming from a nurse), I feel invigorated and empowered. It was an honor to stand (see what I did there?) with advance practice nurses from all across the state to advocate for legislative changes that will directly result in increased access to care for Texas residents. Three cheers for grassroots advocacy!

In a nutshell, CNAP presented the following five legislative priorities to legislators and their staff:

-Improve access to care by ensuring that APRNs have the ability to contract directly with insurance providers and serve as primary care providers whether the delegating physician is in network or a contracted provider. 

-Authorize physicians to delegate prescribing of Schedule II medications to psychiatric APRNs and APRNs providing palliative care. Address prescribing of hydrocodone combination products. Clarify ability of physicians to delegate to APRNs needing to prescribe Schedule II drugs for patients being discharged from a hospital.

(These first two bullet points are in bold as they are the Coalition's highest priorities for this session. Go big or go home.)

-Synchronize issuance of an APRN's license with the issuance of the Controlled Substances Registration (CSR) allowing the CSR to be issued every two years rather than annually.

-Support increased funding for APRN educational programs and faculty.

-Authorize APRNs to sign Death Certificates.

I encourage you to contact your representative and advocate for the above objectives.  Contact Greg Abbott. Start a blog. Hire a sky writer. Do whatever it takes to make your voice, which is a direct extension of your patients', heard.

Helpful Links:

CNAP website:

http://www.cnaptexas.org/

Check the status of any bill:

http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/genInfo/billStatus.cfm 

Premier Legislative Consulting:

http://www.plctexas.com/ 

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"skipping class"

Politics and Practice

 The 84th legislative session is well underway here in Austin, Texas. Nerd alert: I could not be more excited! Word on the street is Representative Cecil Bell, Jr. is to file a full practice bill on behalf of the Texas Nurse Practitioners (TNP). That's right. It's go time.

I will be attending the Coalition for Nurses in Advance Practice Legislative Day on Monday, February the 9th here in Austin. I encourage you to do the same! Why? There's free coffee. Kidding. I mean there will be free coffee, and if that's what it takes to get you there...I'm not one to judge.

Actual objectives for the seminar include: 1) discuss the importance of grassroots advocacy by APRNs 2) identify legislative/regulatory barriers to APRN practice and their impact on health care and 3) practice strategies to influence the Texas Legislature to enact laws that remove barriers to APRN practice and improve access to care. If that doesn't sell you, Representative Donna Howard will be there. You can register here: http://www.cnaptexas.org/?page=2015LegislativeDay 
Online registration ends in 2 days! There is a student discount.

Hope to see you there! Coffee's on me.



Some helpful links:

Find out who your Texas Representatives are: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Address.aspx

Join the TNP (FREE for first year NP students!): http://www.texasnp.org/?page=A4

 Please leave your comments or shoot me an email. And don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @RN2Practitioner #nursemeetspractitioner!

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Let me clear my throat

When I tell people I'm in nurse practitioner (NP) school I receive all kinds of responses. "So you're going to be a physician's assistant?" "Don't have enough letters behind your name already?" And my all time favorite: "Will you go back and get your RN (registered nurse)?" Drives. Me. Crazy. Even though the majority of these responses come from my grandmother's generation, there is without a doubt a lot of confusion and misinformation floating out there regarding advance practice nurses (APRNs). Especially within the medical community. So in the famous words of DJ Kool, let me clear my throat.

In a nut shell an NP is an APRN qualified to provide a range of both primary and acute health care services such as diagnosing,  treating medical conditions, and writing prescriptions. APRN scope of practice varies by state, which I think is why there is so much confusion, but I digress.  Educational requirements include a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), post-master's, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). A PhD is another option, but these nurses focus more on research than clinical practice. There are several specialties available to NPs: acute care, adult, family, gerontology, neonatal, pediatric, psychiatric/mental health, and women's health.

There are four types of APRNs: NPs, clinical nurse specialists (CNS), nurse-midwives, and nurse anesthetists (CRNA). Think of APRN as an umbrella term. Clear as mud? Check out http://www.graduatenursingedu.org/aprn-definition. The site covers everything APRN.

I hope this clarifies things a little bit. Thank you for stopping by! Feel free to comment. And be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @RN2Practitioner #nursemeetspractitioner!

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