“Following our recent celebration of Nurses Week, I found myself reflecting on how far we have come as a profession as well as all the many best practices nurses have developed that enable safe, quality patient care around the globe. From handwashing to mitigating falls to establishing infection reduction techniques, nurses have been at the forefront of positive change.
Earlier this year, I had the great privilege of attending the ANA-Ohio Nursing Leadership Summit where more than 20 organizations had the opportunity to come together to discuss the most pressing health needs of Ohioans.
This experience, plus my Nurse’s Week musings, leaves me wondering how much more the healthcare community could accomplish simply by inviting nurses, especially advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), to the table, so that we all might collaborate on issues that benefit patients.
As you know, Ohio SB 196 has passed out of the Senate and moves onto the house where it will continue to move through the legislative process. As you also likely know, this effort included the support of our grassroots coalition members and was done in partnership with the Ohio State Medical Association. Contrary to the divisive “us” vs “them” narrative playing out in other circles, OAAPN continues to do what nurses have done since the mid-19th century: collaborate on commonsense initiatives which keep patients first, always.
In our minds, there is no such thing as “us” and “them.” There is only a multidisciplinary team leveraging unique skills who are ready and willing to support the equally unique needs of their patients. That sentiment is not driven by a state-mandated contract requiring collaboration between an APRN and a physician, but rather, is woven into the very fabric of nursing and will continue long after such contracts are a thing of the past.
Looking ahead, I am excited to continue OAAPN’s partnership with like-minded organizations such as AARP Ohio, Ohio Children’s Alliance, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers, and Ohio Council of Home Care and Hospice, among many others. Together, patients will get the best healthcare available to them when they need it. Together, we will continue to move the needle on legislation that allows all of the above to come to life.
The question I will leave you with is this: will you join us in our efforts? Nothing shows your support of this work more than joining our organization and donating to the cause. Your OAAPN board, region directors, and chapter leaders will continue to pull up a chair to various tables to share the many benefits of APRN-led care, but just imagine how well we could amplify our voice if yours joins ours. Together, we are better.”