AONE Legislative Priorities for 2012
Protect Vital Nursing Programs – in this austere fiscal environment it is critical to protect Title VIII Nursing programs from devastating cuts. Work to ensure that a balanced approach is taken to critical nursing education programs that are housed in the non-defense, non-security discretionary portion of the federal budget. Advocate for Title VIII Nurse Education Act appropriations and the retention of the nursing workforce through innovative loan forgiveness programs for clinical nurses and faculty providing clinical nursing education. Support efforts to redesign the work environment to allow wisdom workers to remain productive through retention efforts such as tax incentives, flexible work policies and safe patient handling strategies. Work to increase diversity and cultural competencies. Collaborate with AHA and other partners to address the overall shortages within the larger context of health workforce shortages.
Promote the Value of Nursing to Healthcare –advocate for the role of the nurse as a full partner in healthcare redesign with delivery of nursing services in a team driven and patient centered environment. Provide nursing leadership to articulate Value of Nursing in improved patient outcomes, care coordination, quality, safety and delivery of cost effective care through an emphasis on wellness, prevention of disease, and management of complex and chronic conditions. This includes support of the advanced practice nurse (APRN) in demonstration programs within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); the continued expansion of nurse managed clinics; and support of provider nondiscrimination provisions with the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure parity for nurses and other classes of healthcare providers to be able to practice to their full scope of licensure and professional competence. Support the executive development of nurses through the expanded acceptance and use of AONE leadership competencies and the promotion of these competencies across care settings.
Support Data Gathering and Research Activities of Nursing - articulate value of nursing in improved patient outcomes, care coordination, quality, safety and delivery of cost effective care through data driven research. Work to ensure nursing’s involvement at all levels of policy development and healthcare delivery. Continue to support the role of nursing in the design, development and implementation of health information technology (HIT), the electronic medical record and “Meaningful Use”, as it relates the role of nursing in the capturing data to improve patient care and safety.
For further information contact Jo Ann Webb, RN, MHA, senior director, federal relations and policy at jwebb@aha.org.
