IOWA NURSES ASSOCIATION 2004 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

1. SAFE PATIENT CARE: Pass whistleblower protection, which would establish protection from retaliation due to whistleblower activities engaged in by registered nurses to maintain standards of care for the clients for whom they are responsible for caring. Licensed individuals who recognize whether clients are being neglected or receiving inadequate care. Pass limitation on the use of mandatory overtime as a staffing measure similar to that passed in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas and Washington State which bans or severely and which is defined as being compelled or forced to work hours beyond agreed upon assignments by threat of discrimination, dismissal, licensure discipline and/or other sanctions.

2. MENTAL HEALTH PARITY: Pass legislation providing for parity in health insurance for mental health to be no different than physical health coverage, with recognition for children and adolescents including services for chemically dependent and appropriate housing for individuals with persistent mental illness.

3. FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NURSING FACULTY: Appropriate funds for scholarships for graduate studies to replace the loss of nursing faculty in Iowa.

1. CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECKS: Pass legislation requiring DCI and FBI criminal history felony background checks to be conducted on all applicants for a nursing licensure.

2. FUNDING FOR CENTER FOR WORKFORCE PLANNING: Target resources to address the impending nursing shortage.

3. FUNDING FOR IOWA BOARD OF NURSING: Continue to appropriate funds to achieve funding of the Board of Nursing with 100% of license and renewal fees collected.

4. ADEQUATELY FUND schools to assure School Nurses will be employed for the purpose of coordination, planning, provision and assessment of school health services.

5. REMOVE CERTIFICATE OF NEED FOR BIRTH CENTERS as long as the birth center is 1) free-standing, 2) costs under $500,000, and 3) has three beds or less.

6. ASSURE HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES FOR ARNPS to resolve the restraint of trade imposed on ARNPs in Iowa by discriminatory rules/privilege criteria promulgated by hospitals and physicians/medical staffs.

7. FUND ADEQUATELY PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING so that Iowans can stay in their own homes longer and not be unnecessarily institutionalized.

8. PASS THE TOBACCO REDUCTION INITIATIVE: Pass an increase of the cigarette excise tax by $1.00 per package to reduce tobacco use by Iowa's youth and strengthen the state tobacco use prevention and control program.

9. ADEQUATELY FUND the Medicaid and Hawk-I programs.

10. SUPPORT changes in the state Assisted Living administrative rules and regulations to be Dementia-Specific.

1. Quality of Care Issues
   a. Educate Iowans about protection of the title of "nurse" and nurse delegation responsibilities.
   b. Educate Iowans about the needed reduction in unnecessary duplicative documentation.
   c. Educate Iowans about incentives that can make the workplace attractive for registered nurses by using proven best practices to grant Magnet Status designation to health care institutions.

2. End-of-Life Issues
   Promote understanding of End-of-Life issues through dissemination of information on advanced directives and living wills, information on treatment choices and documentation and communication of end-of-life options and preferences.

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