Get Involved

I am a member of my state's Bar Association. I'm not an attorney, but I maintain a "paralegal" membership, especially because I am a legal nurse consultant. The membership provides me with access to legal interpretations of important matters that could (and do) affect my professional practice, and my personal life.

Every year, my bar association organizes a health law institute, put on by the health law section of the bar association. I try to attend this every chance I can...and as a matter of fact, I was able to attend this year's session yesterday.

Of course, there is a great deal that does not apply directly to me, as a nurse. However it is very valuable to spend the day in a room full of health law attorneys, discussing state and federal law that has a potential to affect my practice. It should be no surprise that this year one of the topics covered was the Affordable Care Act, and what that means to health law. Additional time was spent talking about Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). I won't go into these issues here, as they would require much more time than I have...and besides, I can't say that I completely understand them myself right now. But what I can say is that I took that important step toward learning about these things. No matter what your role is in nursing: staff nurse, clinic nurse, school nurse, you are all nurses. We all have a professional responsibility to make ourselves aware of anything that might impact our practice, and our ability to care for patients. You don't want someone who has no clue about nursing to make policies and procedures that may negatively impact your licensure or ability to practice to fullest extent of your education. The old saying goes, "you don't know what you have until it's gone."

So I ask each one of you to spend a few minutes reading about health care reform, state and federal legislation proposals, and anything else that may impact your practice. Trust me, putting your head in the sand is neither acceptable, nor responsible. Your state nurses association (if you have one) is an excellent place to start. If you don't have one, visit the American Nurses Association's website for a good list of resources.

I have been guilty of not really understanding the importance of bring represented legally and politically when these issues are being debated in the legislature. Recently, however, I have gained a whole new respect for the importance of this process, and how dangerously close we can come to not having representation when decisions are made on our behalf. But not everyone wants to be involved at that level. If you want to keep it "closer to home", then get involved at the level of your employer. Join a committee or perhaps a journal club; anything that will get you more involved in your practice and your profession.

We are where we are, professionally, because of those nurses before us. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Whose shoulders will support the next generation of nurses? We cannot afford to stagnate our progress, and thereby reducing nursing to a "job", instead of a profession. Do what's right; do what's responsible.

Thank you.

Steve