The Networking/Public Education Committee was established to keep the membership informed regarding issues impacting on health care at the local, state and national levels and to aide in the recognition of Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) among the public and other health care providers. It is our goal to further educate and convey the role of an Advanced Practice Nurse in the medical profession and in the community.  David LaFevers is the chairman of the networking committee.

As the future roles of Advanced Practice Nurses evolve, it is our responsibility to build collaborative relationships with administrators and other health care professionals to promote our effectiveness and quality of our profession. Our future is rich with possibilities and we possess the knowledge and expertise to be instrumental in promoting our profession.  You can contact David at wdlafevers@gmail.com.

Learn more about APRN's in Missouri on MONA's webpage:

http://www.missourinurses.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=37

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Click here to view a presentation about the need for change in the APRN scope of practice in Missouri.

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A Template for APRN scope of practice change for Missouri Checklist (from the APRN Listserve):

• Call your Senator and Representative today.  Begin the discussion.  Explore the possibility that they might be a sponsor (no specifics yet).
• Leadership group will meet within two weeks to explore the legislation (Kyna will discuss with legislative experts)
• Have your APRN meeting within the next two to four weeks.
• Jill will provide the buttons…..Barrier Free Care.
• Consider a stakeholder meeting at your home with APRNs, legislators, and other supporters.
• Ask for bill sponsors and cosponsors after Kyna gives us direction.
• Post talking points on list serve.
• Post legislator’s cards on list serve.
• Create your two minute elevator talk on what you do as an advance practice nurse.  Simple and clear.
• Jill to create a fund within the foundation to allow contributions of monies for APRN purposes.
• Attend the next APRN-Sig meeting (bring friends).

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From:  The Journal of Family Practice

It’s time to collaborate—not compete—with NPs

Jeff Susman, MD

Editor-in-Chief
jfp@neoucom.edu

It is time—time to abandon our damagingly divisive, politically Pyrrhic, and ultimately unsustainable struggle with advanced practice nurses (APNs). I urge my fellow family physicians to accept—actually, to embrace—a full partnership with APNs.

Why do I call for such a fundamental change in policy? First, because it’s the reality.

In 16 states, nurse practitioners already practice independently. And in many more states, there is a clear indication that both the public and politicians favor further erosion of barriers to independent nursing practice. Indeed, such independence is outlined in “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” published by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in October 2010. Among the IOM’s conclusions:

• Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training.
• Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.
• Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States.

Second, I believe our arguments against such a shift in policy don’t hold up. Despite the endless arguments about outcomes, training, and patient preferences, I honestly believe that most nursing professionals—just like most physicians—practice within the bounds of their experience and training.

Indeed, the arguments family physicians make against APNs sound suspiciously like specialists’ arguments against us. (Surely, the gastroenterologists assert, their greater experience and expertise should favor colonoscopy privileges only for physicians within their specialty, not for lowly primary care practitioners.) Rather than repeating the cycle of oppression that we in family medicine battle as the oppressed, let’s celebrate differences in practice, explore opportunities for collaboration, and develop diverse models of care.

Third, I call for a fundamental shift in policy because I fear that, from a political perspective, we have much to lose by continuing to do battle on this front. Fighting fractures our support and reduces our effectiveness with our legislative, business, and consumer advocates.

Finally, I’m convinced that joining forces with APNs to develop innovative models of team care will lead to the best health outcomes. In a world of accountable health care organizations, health innovation zones, and medical “neighborhoods,” we gain far more from collaboration than from competition.

As we ring in the new year, let’s stop clinging to the past—and redirect our energies toward envisioning the future of health care.

The Journal of Family Practice ©2010 Quadrant HealthCom Inc.

http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=9173&issue=December_2010&UID

2 New Important Publications from MONA

Annotated Guide
The Annotated Guide to Missouri Nursing Laws and Regulations is a
resource every nurse should have! The guide contains explanations of
the Nursing Practice Act, Collaborative Practice Law, Missouri State
Boad of Nursing Rules and Position Statements, and other nursing
related laws and rules with interpretations to facilitate
understanding.

http://www.missourinurses.org/associations/10264/files/ANNOTATEDGUIDEorderform.pdf


APRN Handbook
The APRN Handbook is a manual for Advanced Practice Nurses in
Missouri. The handbook is very informational and includes information
on state laws and regulations governing APRN practice in Missouri
along with information on reimbursement issues. It is the APRNs
resource book for APRN practice. All you need to know at your
fingertips!

table of contents for the APRN Handbook
http://www.missourinurses.org/associations/10264/files/APRNHandbook3rdTOC.pdf

 

Considerations of Professional Improvement 
04-25-10

Below are some links that may be helpful.  If password is required, use your regular APNO website password.

Policy                                                                                  

Governmental links                                                          

 Recent News Articles of Interest to APNs