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Nurses must use power in legislative arena to affect health care and professional issues
AIJGIJST 1986. VOL. 44. NO 2
AORNJOURNAL
Guest Editorial Nurses must use power in legislative arena to affect health care and professional issues
N
ursing power-fact or fantasy? As nurses in a female-dominated profession, we have traditionally taken a submissive role in relationships with other health care professionals.To many nurses, power sounds militant and overly aggressive. To others, however, power is an avenue for opportunity. One important avenue to exert power is in legislative activity. Our influence is needed not only to affect legislation concerning the nursing profession, but also to improve the quality of health care services available to all Americans. Because we live in a democracy and nurses constitute the largest single group of health care professionals, we have the opportunity to exercise tremendous
Janet A . Lewis, RN,BSN, CNOR, is the director of surgery at Heartland Hospital Emt, St. Joseph, Mo. She received her BSN degree from Northwest Mksouri State University, Maryville, and her diploma in nursing from St Lukek School of Nursing, Kamm Ciiy, Mo. LewB is the chairman of the 1986-1987 AORN Legislative Committee. 144
power. And we are starting to see some evidence of that power in the political arena. Across the nation increasing numbers of registered nurses are involved in the legislative process. In 1984, 37 nurses were serving as state officials, state senators, or members of their state assembly or house of representatives. Approximately 10 nurses were candidates for state ofice for the first time. Many nurses find that the route to political careers begins with involvement on the school board level and eventually leads to becoming a candidate for local office. These nurses are motivated by the desire to make a difference in decisions involving accessibility and affordability of health care. But one does not have to be a candidate for office to become involved. On a grass roots level, nurses are actively working to prevent budgetary cuts in federal programs that involve health care delivery and to support candidates who share a similar philosophy. The Missouri Nurses’ Association is working with other groups to address specific health needs such as mandatory insurance coverage for home health care. In 1984, the political action committee for nurses in Missouri (PAN-M) financially and verbally endorsed candidates for the first time since its inception in 1981. The endorsements were based on investigations made by an interviewing team that indicated the candidates’ knowledge and support of nursing issues, voting records, and leadership abilities. Sixty-nine percent of the candidates endorsed by PAN-M were elected. On the national level, the political action
AORNJOURNAL
AUGUST 1986, VOL. 44, NO 2
committee of the American Nurses’ Association (ANA-PAC) provides campaign funds for candidates through voluntary contributions from nurses. Last year ANA-PAC distributed $302,000 to candidates who favor better health care legislation. Eighty-seven percent of all supported candidates won election. It is important for nurses to support organizations that speak for us in the legislative arena. It is equally important for each nurse to learn about local, state, and national issues and communicate with legislators. Elected represen-
tatives review many bills, and they need our knowledgeable input to assist them in making an informed decision. As a general rule, a state representative can be influenced by receiving the opinions of 15 constituents. Awareness of, communication about, and active involvement in health care legislation is a must for professional nurses. We can no longer be passive. We must be committed to turning our potential power into an opportunity for actual power. JANETA. LEWIS,RN, CNOR
Portable Laboratory Screens for Stress
Hospital Personnel Surveyed About AIDS
A cardiologist has developed a portable stresssimulation laboratory, according to the April 28 Medical World News. The 20-minute test is comparable to 72 hours of blood pressure monitoring. Robert S. Eliot, MD, director of the National Center of Preventive and Stress Medicine, Phoenix, developed a quick test so physicians can identify people whose blood pressures temporarily surge to unhealthy levels under stress. The stress screening tool can spot risks within 20 minutes by using a video game, a mental mathematics test that requires error-free subtraction, and a cold-pressor test that requires immersing a hand into ice water for 90 seconds. The competitive 10-minute video game reflects how a person’s blood pressure changes in response to interaction in the real world. Dr. Eliot said that his screening provides information equal to that of 72 hours of ambulatory, automated blood pressure monitoring. The portable stress laboratory weighs 130 Ibs and is about the size of a television set. Stress in the workplace is a major health problem, costing industry more than $150 billion a year in terms of absenteeism, reduced productivity, and direct medical expenses. Currently, state compensation boards are awarding employees, as well as specifying the awards, for injuries they consider related to on-the-job stress.
Three areas most understood when dealing with victims of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are isolation precautions, infection control precautions, and blood transmission, according to a report in the April American Journal of Infection Control. Personnel at the University of Rochester (NY) School of Medicine and Dentistry were surveyed about their understanding of AIDS. They expressed uncertainty about whether masks, gowns, and gloves were needed for routine use when caring for an AIDS victim, and whether AIDS victims should use public bathroom facilities and common waiting rooms. Many questioned whether AIDS presented a risk to blood donors. Areas where respondents scored best were on the epidemiology of AIDS and how the disease is transmitted. Included in the survey were physicians, house staff, nursing staff, laboratory, and support service personnel. All groups scored more than 80% correct except support personnel, who scored 71%correct. The study showed that respondents’ knowledge of AIDS increased with their level of medical education. The primary source of information on AIDS came from the media, hospital in-service programs, and medical periodicals.
146
AORNJOURNAL
Guest Editorial Nurses must use power in legislative arena to affect health care and professional issues
N
ursing power-fact or fantasy? As nurses in a female-dominated profession, we have traditionally taken a submissive role in relationships with other health care professionals.To many nurses, power sounds militant and overly aggressive. To others, however, power is an avenue for opportunity. One important avenue to exert power is in legislative activity. Our influence is needed not only to affect legislation concerning the nursing profession, but also to improve the quality of health care services available to all Americans. Because we live in a democracy and nurses constitute the largest single group of health care professionals, we have the opportunity to exercise tremendous
Janet A . Lewis, RN,BSN, CNOR, is the director of surgery at Heartland Hospital Emt, St. Joseph, Mo. She received her BSN degree from Northwest Mksouri State University, Maryville, and her diploma in nursing from St Lukek School of Nursing, Kamm Ciiy, Mo. LewB is the chairman of the 1986-1987 AORN Legislative Committee. 144
power. And we are starting to see some evidence of that power in the political arena. Across the nation increasing numbers of registered nurses are involved in the legislative process. In 1984, 37 nurses were serving as state officials, state senators, or members of their state assembly or house of representatives. Approximately 10 nurses were candidates for state ofice for the first time. Many nurses find that the route to political careers begins with involvement on the school board level and eventually leads to becoming a candidate for local office. These nurses are motivated by the desire to make a difference in decisions involving accessibility and affordability of health care. But one does not have to be a candidate for office to become involved. On a grass roots level, nurses are actively working to prevent budgetary cuts in federal programs that involve health care delivery and to support candidates who share a similar philosophy. The Missouri Nurses’ Association is working with other groups to address specific health needs such as mandatory insurance coverage for home health care. In 1984, the political action committee for nurses in Missouri (PAN-M) financially and verbally endorsed candidates for the first time since its inception in 1981. The endorsements were based on investigations made by an interviewing team that indicated the candidates’ knowledge and support of nursing issues, voting records, and leadership abilities. Sixty-nine percent of the candidates endorsed by PAN-M were elected. On the national level, the political action
AORNJOURNAL
AUGUST 1986, VOL. 44, NO 2
committee of the American Nurses’ Association (ANA-PAC) provides campaign funds for candidates through voluntary contributions from nurses. Last year ANA-PAC distributed $302,000 to candidates who favor better health care legislation. Eighty-seven percent of all supported candidates won election. It is important for nurses to support organizations that speak for us in the legislative arena. It is equally important for each nurse to learn about local, state, and national issues and communicate with legislators. Elected represen-
tatives review many bills, and they need our knowledgeable input to assist them in making an informed decision. As a general rule, a state representative can be influenced by receiving the opinions of 15 constituents. Awareness of, communication about, and active involvement in health care legislation is a must for professional nurses. We can no longer be passive. We must be committed to turning our potential power into an opportunity for actual power. JANETA. LEWIS,RN, CNOR
Portable Laboratory Screens for Stress
Hospital Personnel Surveyed About AIDS
A cardiologist has developed a portable stresssimulation laboratory, according to the April 28 Medical World News. The 20-minute test is comparable to 72 hours of blood pressure monitoring. Robert S. Eliot, MD, director of the National Center of Preventive and Stress Medicine, Phoenix, developed a quick test so physicians can identify people whose blood pressures temporarily surge to unhealthy levels under stress. The stress screening tool can spot risks within 20 minutes by using a video game, a mental mathematics test that requires error-free subtraction, and a cold-pressor test that requires immersing a hand into ice water for 90 seconds. The competitive 10-minute video game reflects how a person’s blood pressure changes in response to interaction in the real world. Dr. Eliot said that his screening provides information equal to that of 72 hours of ambulatory, automated blood pressure monitoring. The portable stress laboratory weighs 130 Ibs and is about the size of a television set. Stress in the workplace is a major health problem, costing industry more than $150 billion a year in terms of absenteeism, reduced productivity, and direct medical expenses. Currently, state compensation boards are awarding employees, as well as specifying the awards, for injuries they consider related to on-the-job stress.
Three areas most understood when dealing with victims of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are isolation precautions, infection control precautions, and blood transmission, according to a report in the April American Journal of Infection Control. Personnel at the University of Rochester (NY) School of Medicine and Dentistry were surveyed about their understanding of AIDS. They expressed uncertainty about whether masks, gowns, and gloves were needed for routine use when caring for an AIDS victim, and whether AIDS victims should use public bathroom facilities and common waiting rooms. Many questioned whether AIDS presented a risk to blood donors. Areas where respondents scored best were on the epidemiology of AIDS and how the disease is transmitted. Included in the survey were physicians, house staff, nursing staff, laboratory, and support service personnel. All groups scored more than 80% correct except support personnel, who scored 71%correct. The study showed that respondents’ knowledge of AIDS increased with their level of medical education. The primary source of information on AIDS came from the media, hospital in-service programs, and medical periodicals.
146