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Membership/Application Form | Newsletter
Newsletter
The Tallahassee Area CAPN Newsletter
(This page is updated regularly--please page down for the news.)
If you have an article, story, pearl, announcement, job-opening. etc. that you would like to see in our newsletter, please send it to me at makpnp@yahoo.com and I will present it to the CAPN Board for review. The most recent news and job openings are posted first in the appropriate section of the newsletter. Job announcements are listed just below the news (usually about 1/3 of the way down the Newsletter Page). Political news is at the end of the Newsletter Page. Also, if you have any suggestions related to the development of the on-line newsletter, let me know. Thanks.
NOTE: A new feature we are including under "News" is announcements of programs in the Tallahassee area that are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. (The inclusion of these announcements does not imply endorsement by Tallahassee Area CAPN of the products that may be discussed.)
If you have not yet completed the annual application form and wish to (only) be on the mailing list (and not a member), please copy and paste the form located on the "Membership/Application" page of this website into an email message, complete the form, and email it to the secretary, Deanna Epley, deannaepley@yahoo.com
If you have not yet completed the annual application form and wish to become a member, please copy and paste the form located on the "Membership/Application" page of this website, print it, complete it with your information, include your membership dues, and mail (by U.S. Mail) to Tallahassee Area Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, P.O. Box 15892, Tallahassee, FL 32317. (Membership runs from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.)
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation just announced $92,000 in scholarship and grant offerings for student and practicing NPs through the Scholarship & Grant Program’s 2010 Funding Cycle. There are scholarships and grants available for NP Students, Doctoral Students and Practicing NPs.
Complete details related to the AANP Foundation Scholarship & Grant Program 2010 Funding Cycle, including a full list of offerings, eligibility requirements, application information and deadlines, are available on the AANP Foundation website, www..aanp.org/foundation
Below are the pertinent dates.
Deadline to request Application materials: October 22, 2010
Application Submission Deadline: October 25, 2010
Scholarship & Grant Award Recipients Announced: December 23, 2010
Funding Period: January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010
One of our members, Norine Bardill Labitzke, was a featured guest on the "Mayweather Live" Show. The episode was on the Lighthouse of the Big Bend and was aired on Comcast Cable channel 21 on June 22, 2010.
The show was excellent and was very informative regarding the daily lives of people living with blindness.
You can watch it anytime on the Internet at the link: http://vimeo.com/12740696 The part of the program that featured Norine begins at approximately minute 17.
Congratulations, Norine—great job!
FACT SHEET FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON GULF OIL SPILL
“….(below) please find a (link to a) fact sheet that includes important information and resources for those in the healthcare profession, as it relates to potential human health effects from the Gulf Oil Spill. Please share with your colleagues. Questions are welcome.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/enp-network-assets/attachments/1522/original.doc?1276434079
Ann Rowe-McMullen, PIO
Florida Department of Health
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response
State Emergency Operations Center
Tallahassee, Fl
ESF14 / Public Information Office
ESF14: (850) 921-0217 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 921-0217 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
BB: (850) 274-6658 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 274-6658 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Published in Tallahassee Democrat on May 14, 2010
Boots was very active in our CAPN organization. May she rest in peace.
Tallahassee Area Council of Advanced Practice Nurses is pleased to announce our 2010 Nurse of Excellence recipient, Mai Kung, DNP, ARNP-BC. She will be a Nurse of Excellence honoree at this year's awards ceremony. Capital Regional Medical Center sponsors the annual recognition program. The awards dinner will take place on May 11, 2010. Mai is a recent graduate of UF's DNP program and our President-Elect. Congratulations, Mai!
NPs and the Prescribing of Controlled Substance Article Posted in The Jackson County Floridian
By ASHLEY McKEEN
Floridan Staff Writer
Published: March 4, 2010
A coalition of local advanced registered nurse practitioners, or ARNPs, are gearing up for a “Rally in Tally” set for March 24, with plans to lobby for Florida’s ARNPs’ right to prescribe controlled substances.
Any prescription drug as defined in the five categories of the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 are considered controlled substances.
Florida’s ARNPs have been seeking authority to prescribe controlled substances for more than 15 years.
Florida and Alabama are the only two states in the country which have not granted this authority to their state’s nurse practitioners.
Arlenea Falcon, an ARNP in Blountstown, spoke on this issue last week at a meeting with district legislators.
Rep. Marti Coley,R-Marianna, Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, as well as Sen. Al Lawson,D-Tallahassee, were present at the Feb. 22 meeting.
“It is estimated that every day hundreds of uninsured and Medicaid or Medicare patients must go to emergency rooms to get medications for cancer pain, anxiety, cough or diarrhea medication or even pain medication,” Falcon said.
“And why is this? Because these patients are cared for by ARNPs who are prohibited by an outdated law to prescribe these medications.
“There are 48 other states that have granted permission to their ARNPs to prescribe these more effective medications, and have seen successes within their health care systems. But Florida has been avoiding the issue for 15 years,” Falcon said.
Currently, Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 677, which would allow ARNPs to prescribe, are not as of yet scheduled for a hearing before the health care committees in this legislative session.
Falcon said along with her local efforts, a coalition of ARNPs are now working to educate the public and local legislators on the issue.
Falcon has made public appearances and spoken with colleagues on the urgency of this issue being discussed in this year’s legislative session.
“I don’t want to see this bill be tabled again this year, which is why I will be in Tallahassee this month,” Falcon said.
Falcon also participated in the Feb. 17 rally in Tallahassee for the Hospital Patient Protection Act.
That bill would set minimum hospital staffing ratios and give nurses whistleblower protection. It would set nurse-to-patient ratios for various types of hospital care, which nurses are saying is needed.
“Both pieces of legislation are important to not just nurse practitioners, but to state residents as well,” Falcon said. “Especially to those in our area, with us being rural and having less access to care.”
Falcon says she hopes to see more supporters at the March rally, than were at last month’s.
“Me and one other nurse from the Panhandle were present last month, with other nurses being bussed from all over the state,” Falcon said. “And that’s sad.”
NPs and the Prescribing of Controlled Substance Article Posted in Tallahassee Democrat
Stan Whittaker, ARNP, MSN, president of the Florida Panhandle Nurse Practitioner Coalition, wrote an excellent article published on February 6, 2010 in the Tallahassee Democrat. The article, Antiquated Prescription Laws Must Change, is available at http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102060310 Mr. Whittaker can be contacted at stanwhitt@aol.com . His article references the October 2008 Senate interim report on ARNPs. This is available at www.flsenate.gov/data/publications/2009/Senate/reports
/interim_reports/pdf/2009-117hr.pdf
During this legislative session please pay special attention to SB 188 and HB 677. These bills address the change in the prescribing regulations that would enable us to better serve our patients.
President-Elect Chosen for Tallahassee Area, Council of Advanced Practice Nurses
Congratulation to Mai Kung, our new President-Elect! Mai will serve the Tallahassee Area, Council of Advanced Practice Nurses as President-Elect for one year, then serve for two years as President.
It Is Time to Renew Your Tallahassee Area
CAPN Membership
Please see the information in blue (just above the "News" line for details on renewing your membership. Dues are $50. If you are an NP student or a retiree, membership dues are $25.
H1N1 Influenza Updates
The CDC is tracking H1N1 Influenza; updates and clinician guidance may be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
It is vital that all nurse practitioners stay abreast of the spread of H1N1 influenza and the recommended interventions/treatments.
"AMA looking to amend Scope of Practice for NP's"
“The AMA has developed a new series of 10 documents entitled "Scope of Practice Data Series". One volume in this series is entitled “Nurse Practitioners.” Its stated purpose is to aid physicians to counter advocacy efforts of Nurse Practitioners to expand their scope of practice to allow for direct access to patients without a referral.
145 pages of one sided arguments developed to sway legislators, regulatory bodies, and other governmental decision...”
View the full announcement here. http://www.enpnetwork.com/groups/4-florida-nurse-practitioner-network-fnpn/announcements/519-np-s-please-read-ama-looking-to-amend-scope-of-practice-for-np-s-
NPI Information from FNPN
Posted here 11-18-2009
"A fellow NP shares that her recent prescription caused her concern. The medication refill request from Publix a couple of weeks ago was done with her name on the bottle (yeah!) but had her HOME ADDRESS on it. The pharmacist looked up the source, which was info from her NPI number listing her home address.
Asking all to check your own NPI files and see if your personal and not professional address is being used. Let us know if this information is being made public on your Rx!
Dr. Jean Aertker, DNP, ARNP"
Nurse Practitioner Promotion Video on You Tube
A member sent the video link below. You will find it interesting and very creative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycchGUygK5I
CAPN Dinner Meeting Announcements To Now Be Made by E-Mail
Lane Currington, President, Tallahassee Area Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, has made the following announcement:
As discussed in previous meetings we will not be mailing out flyers to your homes. You will receive notice of meetings by email. This is our attempt at “going green” and trying to save a few trees as well as the cost of stamps. Please circulate (flyer that will be attached to the announcement e-mail) where you work so that other nurses and nurse practitioners may have the opportunity to come to the program. Also if you would like to email me ( LCurington@admin.fsu.edu )your RSVP instead of calling the number listed on the flyer that would be fine and I would be able to add your emails to our membership list.
The Calendar of Events page of our website will continue to list all upcoming CAPN meetings and conferences.
***6-28-10 Tallahassee: Wilson Family Medicine is interested in hiring a part-time ARNP who enjoys female care/well-woman care and is also comfortable with well-child and acute pediatric care. Please send email and/or resume to Dr. Les Wilson, lwilson@wilsonfamilymedicine.com
Also please visit our practice website for information about our practice, http://www.wilsonfamilymedicine.com/home.html
***5-3-10 Tallahassee, FL: Southern Medical Group seeks ARNP-C for busy cardiology practice. Position will divide time between hospital and office. Excellent clinical skills, oral and written communication are essential. Must be well organized and patient driven. Salary is highly competitive with excellent benefits. Cardiology experience preferred, but not required. Practice is located adjacent to 700-bed regional medical center with new, state-of-the-art cardiology services. Tallahassee offers outstanding roots for you and your family with excellent schools and the country’s most beautiful white sand beaches less than an hour away. The community has three universities, is the state capital and is a wonderful place to raise a family.Fax your CV to SMG Administration at (850) 309-8090 or e-mail to papos@southern-med.com AD.4.23.02(G125)
POLITICAL NEWS
Legislative Update
(Posted 3-16-10 from FNPN website)
"Colleagues,
This past week of the legislative session was again dominated by Florida’s budget and deficit concerns. Although the economic forecast projects some improvements in our economy, Florida legislators are still expecting to be facing a 3.2 billion dollar short fall this session. The House is expected to submit a preliminary budget this Tuesday which is likely to result in controversies, concerns and debates for programs that have not been included. As reductions in Medicaid costs are a high priority this session, our lobbyist, Allison Carvajal, is working with Senator Mike Bennett to identify the cost benefits of Nurse Practitioner practice. This is a promising approach for our bill and ongoing professional and practice issues.
In the coming week, Ms. Carvajal will also be meeting with Rep. Nick Thompson, Chair of Health Policy Regulations Committee to encourage the placement of our bill on the agenda this session. This is a strategically important week in which your voice is needed! If you have already called or emailed Rep Nick Thompson….do so again! If you have not yet called or emailed Rep. Thompson on this issue, do so this week! We need your voices to be heard so that our bill can be heard!! Your message can be brief and concise: SB 188/ HB 677 is a priority for improving access to cost effect health care for Florida’s residents.
Controlled Substance Prescribing by ARNPs- SB 188/ HB 677 by Senator Mike Bennett and Representative Juan Carlos Zapata.
Contact Representative Nick Thompson:
Representative Nick Thompson (nick.thompson@myfloridahouse.gov)
Suite 208; 2120 Main Street, Fort Myers, FL. 33901-3010
Phone: (239) 533-2411
Or
1301 The Capitol; 402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL. 32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-1541"
Bills to Watch for Nurse Practitioners During
the Legislative Sessions
(Posted 3-16-2010 from FNPN website)
FNPN Rally in Tally:
Next week brings the Rally in Tally event sponsored by the FNPN. We look forward to seeing many of you at this event. We are excited and energized by the Florida Women’s League of Voters commitment to and support of our Controlled Substance Bill. If you are unable to attend the Rally, please support our cause by donating to the FNPN PAC. Your donation will be used to support our legislative initiatives and efforts in Tallahassee.
SB 0114:
Relating to Nursing Services/Hospital Nurse Staffing Plans - Aronberg
Nursing Services/Hospital Nurse Staffing Plans [SPSC]; Requires that hospitals establish nurse staffing collaborative councils. Requires the council to produce annual hospital nurse staffing plans. Requires the chief nurse executive to communicate with the council to ensure appropriate implementation of the nurse staffing plan. Requires that the council conduct a semiannual review of said plan. Requires such plan to be reviewed with the nurse personnel and made available to the public, etc. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2010.
Current Committee of Reference: Health Regulation
10/5/2009: SENATE Filed
12/9/2009: SENATE Referred to Health Regulation; Health and Human Services Appropriations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB 0188:
Relating to Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners - Bennett
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners [SPSC]; Redefines the term "practitioner" for purposes of the Florida Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act to include advanced registered nurse practitioners. EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon becoming law.
Current Committee of Reference: Health Regulation
10/5/2009: SENATE Filed
12/9/2009: SENATE Referred to Health Regulation; Criminal Justice
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HB 0377:
Relating to Nursing Services - Brisé
Nursing Services: Requires hospitals to establish nurse staffing collaborative councils; requires council to produce annual hospital nurse staffing plans; requires chief nurse executive to communicate with council to ensure appropriate implementation of nurse staffing plan; requires council to conduct semiannual review of nurse staffing plan; requires nurse staffing plan to be reviewed with nursing personnel. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
Current Committee of Reference: Health Care Regulation Policy Committee
11/19/2009: HOUSE Filed
12/18/2009: HOUSE Referred to Health Care Regulation Policy Committee; Health Care Appropriations Committee; Health & Family Services Policy Council
12/18/2009: HOUSE Now in Health Care Regulation Policy Committee--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HB 0573:
Relating to Physician Assistants Kreegel
Physician Assistants: Deletes requirements that physician assistants file evidence of certain clinical experience before prescribing or dispensing medication; authorizes electronic submission of physician assistant license applications & other required documentation. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
Current Committee of Reference: Health & Family Services Policy Council
3/2/2010: HOUSE Committee Substitute (C1) Text Filed
3/4/2010: HOUSE Now in Health & Family Services Policy Council
3/12/2010: HOUSE On Committee agenda - Health & Family Services Policy Council, 03/16/10, 8:00 am, 212 K
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HB 0677:
Relating to Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners Zapata
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners: Redefines term "practitioner" for purposes of Florida Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention & Control Act to include advanced registered nurse practitioners. Effective Date: upon becoming a law
Current Committee of Reference: Health Care Regulation Policy Committee
1/15/201 HOUSE Filed
1/28/2010 HOUSE Referred to Health Care Regulation Policy Committee; Policy Council; Health & Family Services Policy Council
1/28/2010 HOUSE Now in Health Care Regulation Policy Committee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB 1456:
Relating to Physician Assistants Jones (D)
Physician Assistants [SPSC]; Deletes requirements that physician assistants file with the Department of Health evidence of having obtained certain clinical experience before prescribing or dispensing medication. Conforms cross-references. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2010.
Current Committee of Reference: Health Regulation
1/27/2010: SENATE Filed
2/3/2010: SENATE Referred to Health Regulation; Health and Human Services Appropriations
(Posted 2-22-2010 from FNPN website)
Dear Colleagues and FNPN Members:
As we now approach the 2010 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature, which begins on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, it is imperative that our legislators hear from you, their constituents, about the importance of putting HB 677 and SB 188 on the committees agenda and why we need these bills passed this year! We all must take a moment and write/email our bill sponsors, Senator Mike Bennett and Representative Juan Zapata to let them know how much we appreciate their efforts. We must also contact Senator Don Gaetz and Representative Nicolas R. "Nick" Thompson to request that our bill be placed on the agenda this session.
You can go to FNPN website Legislative action page and see how to email legislators.
Our voices must shout out to the legislators to “Give us Parity” on our bills as we bring forth our prescribing bill for the 16th straight year. We have little over 60 days to lobbying for our bill. But rest assured that many of us have been “working” off session to make connections, recruit advocates, and educate others about the impact this bill will have on access to high quality, affordable health care in Florida.
FNPN will also monitor hundreds of bills this legislative session to watch over health care issues to keep you informed. Visit the FNPN Legislative page often to keep up-to-date with the bills that can, or will, affect your practice. Bills frequently include new rules that impact your daily practice or perhaps new cost and fees for your practice. We are very interested in the stopping the pain clinic pill mills and hoping to work with other partners to develop best strategies and solutions to stop this abuse. The next two months will be busy as Bill content changes rapidly during session due to the lobbying efforts to influence decisions.
I will provide you weekly updates during the session, brief and to the point and will use the “NP ALERT” subject line in emails to notify you of problems with our bill or if your attention is needed for urgent action. Last year, ARNPs made hundreds of calls, sent hundreds of emails, wrote letters to the
newspaper editors, and personally visited, or contacted, their legislators. Your continued activism will be our best defense against the huge lobbying effort of organized medicine. Legislators tell us they need to know what their constituents care about, and from our perspective, access to health care is our top priority. NPs offer just that--better access and affordable care.
Please send me your comments and suggestions as we join in solidarity to pass HB 677 and SB 188 in 2010.
Frances M. Rankin (Sahebzamani)
Vice President Legislative Affairs
Florida Nurse Practitioner Network
Representative Nicholas R. "Nick" Thompson
Lee County/Ft Myers: Chair of the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee
Capitol Office
1301 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Phone: 850) 488-1541 (850) 488-1541
Senator Don Gaetz
217 Miracle Strip Parkway SE
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 897-5747
Senate VOIP: 40400
FAX (850) 833-3910
Toll Free:1-866-450-4366
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