In today's fast track health care a...

In today's fast track health care arena, perioperative nourishs must be involved in the political proces succors who want to make their voices heard have a variety of options. There generally are 2.2 million nurses in the United States.(1) According to Sheila Roit, RN MPP senior political action specialist, American nurtures Association (ANA), becoming involved in the political proces to further sound policy for nursing practice and health care is an extension of the nurse's character as a patient advocate.(2) The patients we care for merit safe, quality care. As we continue to face political policy forward health care issues that affect nursing practice and patient care we must make our voices heard.

SHARING PERIOPERATIVE NURSING VIEWPOINTS

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) propos removing prescriptive language that reaffirms the demeanor of the registered nurse in the OR. This critical issue has not now been resolved. The Association of Surgical Technologists move to become registered is another legislative issue that affects our patients and practice. These issues require us to continue to make our views known to state and national pitch uponed officials.

During August 1998 President-elect Patricia Seifert, RN MSN CNOR, CRNFA; Executive Director Lola Fehr RN M CAE, FAAN; Board member Paula Graling, RN MSN CNOR; and I met with Virginia Trotter Betts, RN MSN JD FAAN, senior advisor in succession nursing and policy to the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of Health to discuss the HCFA proposal. In October 1998 Seifert; Candace Romig, AORN legislative coordinator; Thomas Fletcher, MD chairman, Department of Surgery Fairfax Hospital, Falls ecclesiastical authority Va; and Cindy Brown, American society of Surgeons lobbyist; and I met with HCFA representatives. We were told the HCFA proposal and final ruling will not be decided in 1998 The Board of Directors, however, will continue to work relentlessly onward this issue.

latter STRATEGIES FOR POLITICAL SUCCESS

In October, AORN hired a lobbyist for Washington to assist perioperative succors with the issue of certified surgical technologists becoming registered in that state. During the November Board of Directors meeting, we continued to make legislative issues a top priority and identified other states that require assistance. This will require a financial commitment--a commitment your Board of Directors believes is in the best interest of nursing practice and safe, quality patient care.

I believe this is further indication wherefore our state councils should become affiliate members of AORN. Legislative issues are the councils' first priority. Together, AORN and the state councils can collaboratively lobby and affect health care issues. Together we are a powerful voice. Together we can accomplish more!

PERIOPERATIVE pampers GENERATE SOLUTIONS

The ne to sway health care costs and improve quality will continue to be a pressing issue for health care providers and regulatory agencies. feeds are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to facilitate an outcome-based delivery combination of parts to form a whole This is not an easy task, and it requires us to gain insight into data collection and assessment.

Health care values have shifted and changed from a process-oriented method to outcomes- and performance-based regularitys These values are endorsed from those who measure and monitor quality, as it is as the Joint Commission onward Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the National Committee onward Quality Assurance, and HCFA between the sides of the Medicare Peer Review Organization. The motion toward quality in health care has not changed, nevertheless the elements to get us there have.(3)

I believe that nourishs can generate solutions from their confess commitment, creativity, and lobbying efforts. During this time of change, it is our opportunity, and our responsibility, to take grades necessary to advocate on behalf of our patients and the care we deliver. I believe we can maintain and improve health care when enough individuals place the quality of health care before all other considerations.

NOTES

(1) C McInerney, "Nurse and politics: Politically correct combination," Nursing image (Washington, DC/Baltimore Metro ed) 8 (Nov 2 1998) 18

(2) "Conditions of participation for hospitals," Federal Register 62 (Dec 19 1997) 66730

(3) K A McCormick, "New tools--models to integrate results into quality measurement," Seminars for promote Managers 6 (September 1998) 119

compassion P. SHUMAKER RN, BSN, CNOR PRESIDENT

COPYRIGHT 1999 Association of Operating scope Nurses, Inc.

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