[ARNPCare] November 2014

[ARNP Care Monthly NewsLetter]

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Care
Official Newsletter of ARNPs United of Washington State
Volume 25(9) November 2014
Articles
Jobs
CE
Service Ads
Meetings
Photo of the Month
Ad & Publication Information
Your Professional Organizations: What We Do and How We Work

ARNPs United of Washington State coordinates legislative and networking activities throughout the state. Our legislative committee monitors actions in Olympia and submits comment on issues affecting NP Practice. We participate in regulatory activities, such as the rule writing to include Clinical Nurse Specialists as ARNPs.

Our Board of Directors, consisting of 9-13 members, meets every other month, by telephone conference call and is open to member participation. The annual membership meeting occurs on the Thursday lunch break of the annual Primary and Acute Care conference co-sponsored with the University of Washington Department of Continuing Nursing Education. Our next annual members meeting will be on November 5, 2015 at the Washington State Convention Center. The Board of Directors holds an annual retreat every January where we select officers and determine our agenda for the coming year.

Help us help you by reading ARNP Care, our monthly newsletter,  and staying informed of current statewide NP issues. Join and keep us financially strong to improve our communications and reach out to state representatives and strengthen their support of NP practices. We now use Facebook and Twitter to reach more of the 5400 ARNPs licensed in Washington. We want parity reimbursement, but until we have strength of support among our members we won’t be able to get it through the legislature.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners is your national organization. Though much of their energy is directed at expanding the number of full practice authority states, we benefit in several critical ways. AANP presses to overcome barriers to NP practice imposed by Medicare restrictions. Already rules on ordering home oxygen and portable X-rays have been revised. AANP facilitates media exposure of NPs, in print, television and radio. AANP is actively working to change the Veteran’s Administration nursing handbook, endorsing independent practice for NPs employed by the VA in states that have not yet acquired full practice authority.

Meeting with regional NP groups, the most consistent complaint I hear (after pay and reimbursement) pertains to Medicare restrictions; ordering Durable Medical Equipment, Home Health Care, Skilled Nursing and Hospice services. Your stories matter.  It’s easy.  Go to the AANP Home Page and click on “Advocacy Center”. Send a form letter or customize a letter to your representative, even if you are not an AANP member. Describe how restrictive Medicare practices have delayed services to your patient or increased health care costs. Joining AANP supports our media efforts and represents you in Washington, D.C. State and Region X representatives to AANP do outreach and communicate to the national organization.

Regional NP groups meet in different ways, for different purposes. All provide an opportunity for you to meet colleagues, share social time and network. Some offer CE, others a meal. Active groups include Spokane, TriCities, Mt Baker/Bellingham, Olympia, Yakima, West Sound and Puget Sound, in Seattle. The East Side NP Association has merged with Puget Sound NPA. I would love to hear from NPs in Southwestern Washington and the Wenatchee areas.

NP specialties have state chapters, NAPNAP for Pediatric NPs, WANA for Nurse Anesthetists, the Washington State Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives and the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Association. Each monitors national and statewide regulatory issues.

Lastly, the Washington State Nurses Association supports ARNPs United with lobbying services, regulatory representation and coordinating a coalition of ARNP groups to anticipate legislation and plan actions protecting and enhancing NP practice.

Your local, state and national organizations work to help optimize your practice environment. Please contact me with questions or updates on your organization, Nancy Lawton, nelawton1 at gmail.com. You need to do your part by joining ARNPs United of Washington State and AANP today.
Nurse Practitioner Week



2015 Election Results: Significant Changes

The 2014 election results will change the political landscape of the next Washington State Legislature and US Congress. One of the biggest changes will be the loss of two of Washington’s nurse legislators who have been staunch advocates for ARNPs. Representative Dawn Morrell lost her House seat in the 25th District while Representative Tami Green lost in her attempt to win the 28th District’s Senate seat.

Although election results will not be officially certified until December 4, 2014, current results indicate the Washington State Senate will be controlled by at least a one vote Republican majority and the House will be controlled by Democrats possibly by only one vote. This will allow nurse legislator Representative Eileen Cody to continue to chair the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.  The next US Congress will be controlled by Republicans in both the Senate and House, the first time since 2007. This will result in new chairs of all Senate committees.

The Washington House and Senate majorities are slim.  Any individual member who decides to align with the opposing party can shift the balance of power. Even though Republicans are eager to overturn the Affordable Care Act, Republican control of Congress is not strong enough to override a veto by the President. The prevailing wisdom is both parties will continue to need to negotiate and collaborate to make much needed progress on difficult issues facing the state and nation. 

ARNPs are encouraged to meet with elected officials to inform them of the important contributions we make to access, quality and cost containment.
Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group Needs Your Help!
 
Background: The Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group (ADWG), formed through recent legislation (SSB 6124), is developing a state plan to address Alzheimer’s disease.
 
The ADWG wants to make recommendations that help not only our citizens impacted by Alzheimer’s or other dementias, but that will help health care providers on the front lines to do their jobs. We are seeking feedback on challenges and practices around cognitive screening, assessment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias – your input will help to frame strategies and recommendations in the plan.

You can help by completing a brief survey or by sharing the survey link with other primary health care providers to complete. All responses on the survey are anonymous.
 
Our target audience for the PRIMARY CARE SURVEY are those below who work in PRIMARY CARE settings: 
 
· Physicians
· Naturopaths
· Osteopaths
· ARNP/Nurse Practitioners
· Physician assistants
· Psychologists
 
All responses are anonymous and will provide the ADWG with key information to shape strategic plans and policies to address the impact of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
 
The attached flyer provides information about the survey. Responses to the survey are requested by the end of December 2014. Please share the survey link in your networks and systems to help us reach out to the target audience.
 
For direct link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PriCareALZHEIMER   
 
For more information on the Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group, go to: http://www.altsa.dshs.wa.gov/stakeholders/ad/
AANP Legislative Priorities for 2015

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) marks National NP Week (November 9-15) with the announcement of AANP's 2015 policy priorities. Chief among them is the goal of increasing the role of nurse practitioners at VA facilities, a commitment AANP reaffirms in advance of Veterans Day, taking place November 11.

National NP Week is held annually to highlight the contributions of nurse practitioners across the health care system. It also serves to emphasize the critical importance of providing patients nationwide with full and direct access to nurse practitioner care.

"More and more policy makers are championing efforts to ease needless restrictions on nurse practitioner practice in recognition of their invaluable role in protecting the health of patients and communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved," said AANP president Ken Miller, PhD, RN, CFNP, FAAN, FAANP. "With countless Americans struggling to access high-quality, timely health services - a problem that tragically extends to our nation's veterans seeking care through the VA system - it is critical that these efforts continue building momentum at the federal and state levels, and within the health care industry."

AANP's complete list of legislative priorities for 2015 is available online, designated by federal and state policies. They include:

AANP 2015 federal legislative priorities:
Increase the role of NPs at VA facilities
Pass the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act
Authorize NPs to Document Evaluations for Durable Medical Equipment
Pass the Ensuring Access to Primary Care for Women and Children Act
Authorize NPs to Certify Medicare Patients for Hospice Care
Authorize NPs to Perform Admitting Examinations and Monthly Patient Assessments in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Provide Opportunity for NPs to be Full Participants in the Insurance Exchange (Marketplace) Program
Enable NPs Patients to be Beneficiaries in Medicare Shared Savings Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)
Provide Stable, Sufficient Funding for Nurse Education Programs
Amend Medicare Conditions of Participation to Require Hospitals to Consider NPs for Appointment to Medical Staffs

AANP 2015 state legislative priorities:
Modernize State Licensure Laws
Streamline Care Delivery with NP Signature
Create Flexible and Sustainable Reimbursement and Care Delivery Methods

AANP has and will continue advocating for these federal and state policy changes throughout the remainder of 2014 and into the New Year.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of over 192,000 NPs, including more than 50,000 individual members and 203 organizations, providing a unified networking platform and advocating for their role as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered and personalized health care. The organization provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NP patients and other health care consumers.
Job Opportunities

Seattle Suburb — New Position for Experienced ARNP

Be part of a dynamic non profit Medical Center, very collegial campus. $200 million remodel recently completed.
Very competitive salary, sign on bonus, excellent benefits
Need is for a primary care or neurology experience to work one on one with a Neurologist, fellowship trained, VERY pleasant gentleman with a great sense of humor. Practice will be 50% inpatient, rounding, 50% outpatient Clinic for Stroke patients. Interest/experience in Education a must.
Please contact: Eva Page evapage at mac.com or call 425-451-8063

Lopez Island — Nurse Practitioner

The Lopez Island Medical Clinic was established in 1974 to provide high-quality accessible healthcare to rural Lopez.  The Clinic was founded with the support of the Catherine Washburn Medical Association and also maintains an affiliation with Island Hospital which provides staffing support, fiscal management and clinical resources. LIMC providers offer efficient, courteous care to Lopez Island residents and visitors, in the sensitive, supportive tradition of island life.  The Clinic is primarily a Family Practice setting, where providers have the opportunity to serve a wide range of patients and healthcare needs. Additionally, LIMC provides emergency care to support patients until transition to other medical services is available.

We are currently seeking applicants interested in a position as a Nurse Practitioner in the Lopez Island Medical Clinic. The position is 36 hours/week (.9 FTE) and the provider works 4 days per week. Island Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit program including medical, dental and vision benefits, retirement plan options and generous paid time off.

An ideal candidate possesses a strong background in a family practice setting and offers experience serving a wide range of patients and providing appropriate assessment, diagnosis and treatment of health issues. The Nurse Practitioner develops and implements plans for acute and chronic illnesses, prescribes appropriate medications and educates and counsels patients and their families. A Washington State Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner license and ACLS and BLS certifications are required for this position.

Lopez Islandis the third largest of the San Juan Islands with a year round population of 2,177 and an increase for the summer. This island is a rural farming community as well as a seasonal destination due to its warm, dry summers and beautiful scenery and beaches. The Washington State Ferry makes numerous daily trips from Anacortes, WA to Lopez, a stunning 45 minute ferry ride. It is an amazing place to live and work!

A more detailed job description and application information are available at www.islandhospital.org.
Service Ads
Interested in Mentoring the Next Generation of ARNPs?

Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA is looking for preceptors in the south Puget Sound area for the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Your commitment requires a minimum of 1 day a week for a semester. We need preceptors Fall (Sep to Dec), Spring (Feb to May) and Summer (May to August) semesters. If interested, please contact Dr. Lorena Guerrero at guerrelc at plu.edu or call (253) 535-7374.
Preceptors Wanted
The specialty tracks within the University of Washington DNP program are seeking preceptor colleagues to work with us to continue preparing future APRNs that are competent clinicians and our future colleagues. We are seeking preceptors in the following tracks: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The average commitment is 1-2 days a week for a 10 week quarter. Autumn quarter (Sept-Dec), Winter (Jan-Mar), Spring (Mar-Jun), Summer (Jun-Aug). If interested, please see our Preceptor page: http://nursing.uw.edu/faculty-support/preceptor-clinical-faculty-affiliate-faculty-support and Introduce Yourself!  
Meetings
Puget Sound Nurse Practitioners Association

Join us! Puget Sound Nurse Practitioners Association is a non-profit
organization supporting ARNPs in Puget Sound since 1998. We meet
every other month and offer a social hour/networking and a speaker presentation.

Annual dues are $60/$20 for students. $20 per meeting for guests. Apply for membership and find meeting information at http://PSNPA.org


West Sound Advanced Practice Association

Meets the second Thursday of the month. Meetings include networking/dinner/educational session. E-mail Fionafnp at centurytel.net for more information.

Photo of Month

Some days it seems you just can’t keep your head above water.
photo by Bob Smithing
Ad & Publication Information
ARNP Care Ad Information

Copy deadline is the second Tuesday of the month prior to publication. Ads may be accepted later than this on a space-available basis. Position Available and Continuing Education Ads of less than 66 words are $45, of 66 to 130 words are $75, 131-180 words are $105, and greater than 181 words are $175. Position Available Ads are priced per insertion. Continuing Education Announcements are per offering for up to three (3) consecutive insertions. New Product Announcements per product for one insertion of 130 words or less are $75, more than 130 words are $175. Ad Inserts are $750 for one issue. All ads are subject to space limitations and editing. Call for detailed rate information. Mail copy to ARNP Care, 10024 SE 240th St, #230, Kent, WA 98031. Phone 253.852.9042. Fax 253.852.7725. Email care at nurse.net. 
ARNP Care Editorial Board

Editors:
   Robert T. Smithing, MSN, ARNP, FAANP
   Madeline D. Wiley, MSN, ARNP, FAANP
Contributing Editors:
   Nancy Lawton, MN, ARNP (President & AANP WA State Representative)
   Louise Kaplan, PhD, ARNP, FAANP (Legislative Chair)
Production Staff:
   Tracy Kiele, Managing Editor
   Sarah Abid, Production Staff
   NP Central, Publisher

Copyright 2014 NP Central 
ARNPs United of Washington State

Website: www.auws.org
Facebook: facebook.com/ARNPsUnited
Email: au at auws.org
Address: 10024 SE 240th St, #230, Kent, WA 98031
p. 253.480.1035   f. 253.852.7725
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