FNA Legislative Action Alert-- contact your elected official ASAP

Legislative Action Alert- Contact your Senator ASAP!

Dear FNA Advocate:

We have crafted a message for you to REVISE slightly and send to your Senator regarding two bills that address both Advanced Practice and RN Delegation to unlicensed personnel. We ask that you send a very similar message. (Change the wording slightly to personalize it so that all the messages are not exactly the same but carry the same message. The Bills are HB 607 and SB 1676.

The Issue: The House Bill 607 is being moved forward for passage and has less concerning language. The Senate Amendment add onerous requirements and creates a separate category of APRN that is under supervision of the Board of Medicine. An attached amendment allows RN's to delegate nursing tasks to unlicensed personnel in certain environments. We believe this is unsafe for patients and creates legal risk for the nurse.

Revising the letter: make it more individual-

For example, you might begin by stating that you are a constituent and/or including your role, particularly if it pertains to a certain patient population or if you are an educator and want to weave that in somehow.. You can find your senator AND send your message here: https://www.floridanurse.org/page/FindMyLegislator#/

SEE Message below for your use

Dear Senator __________________

The power to improve access to health care for all Floridians is in your hands by supporting Senate Bill language similar to House Bill 607. Current language in Senate Bill 1676: Direct Care Workers does not improve access to care for Florida's residents. Worse, it threatens public safety. 

First, asking nurses to delegate medication administration to high school graduates with six hours of basic training is risky. Many persons who require the personal care provided by a nursing assistant or home health aide are cognitively impaired. They are unable to recognize their own medications nor to communicate concerns to aides who may offer the wrong treatment.

Second, access to quality health care continues to be an issue driving health care costs for Floridians. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must complete graduate level education from a nationally accredited program and also pass standardized exams (Boards) to be licensed in Florida. The language in SB 1676 adds unnecessary burdens to experienced providers at a tremendous cost to taxpayers. The language of HB 607 removes barriers and, according to all analyses, will decrease overall health care costs in the state. 

In closing, we appreciate the support for our profession and the attention that has been put into these issues and look forward to a positive outcome. appreciate the support for our ae”

Your name/Signature

Florida Nurses Association/

407-896-3261

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