www.nnbanow.com

www.nysna.org

www.pcna.net

https://www.discovernursing.com/

AACN News for Clinical Practice

Prof says nurses spur healthcare changes

With more than three million nurse professionals in the United States alone, nursing is the largest segment of the healthcare industry and touches every facet of care from the doctor's office to home care to hospitals. And as the nation continues its historic effort to overhaul healthcare, nurses have been implementing their own brand of healthcare overhaul as well, according to Dr. Courtney Lyder, dean and professor of the UCLA School of Nursing.

"Over the past decade, nurses have been quietly working to redefine and expand their roles to the point where today they are impacting healthcare in ways most consumers aren't even aware," says Lyder. "Nurses have been championing quality-of-care improvements, spearheading research innovation, advocating for patient rights and generally challenging the status quo. Simply put, their impact has been enormous and will continue to be so over the coming decades."

In the area of clinical research, for example, Lyder points out that much of the care patients receive in a hospital is based on research by nurses. "Nurse research is influencing every aspect of care, from infection control and epidemiology to pain management and end-of-life care. Nursing research provides the basis for clinical care practices that are widely adopted as best practices by physicians, hospitals and insurers," Lyder says.

Recognizing nursing's growing influence, organizations such as the National Institute on Health, the National Cancer Institute and many leading foundations have bestowed grants to nurse researchers at major nursing schools around the country.

Nurses are impacting national healthcare policy as well. Led by national nursing associations, nurse academicians and nursing leaders, nurses are strong advocates in the support of patient rights and over the last decade have had their voices heard on key issues such as staffing levels, patient satisfaction, patient safety, affordability, access to care and quality of care.

So, too, nurses are increasingly working with the patient and their family when it comes to complex ethical issues such as end-of-life care, holistic, alternative or natural medicine, and legal and policy issues impacting care. "Nurses are dedicated to treating the whole person and easing their suffering," says Lyder. "They are the patients' greatest advocate; and they understand and respect the patient's desires and fears, demonstrating unbiased compassion for every patient's rights."

One of the reasons for nurses' impact can be attributed to the changes in the profession itself. Years ago most nurses could only earn an LPN (licensed practical nurse) designation, but today nurses enjoy greater opportunities for advanced education. Many nurses today hold a bachelor's, master's or a doctorate degree. In addition, today's nurses are more specialized than ever before and, like physicians, are choosing to specialize in such areas as geriatric medicine, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, intensive care, labor and delivery, and psychiatric nursing.

"Nurses continue to be the heart and soul of medical institutions across the U.S. and around the world," says Lyder. "They are changing healthcare for the better and are having a direct, positive impact on the lives of individuals and families."

Feb 21, 2012
By: Healthcare Traveler Newsletter Staff
Healthcare Traveler Mobile News

Moving Up

Nov 01,2011 NYC

The Nursing Office.Com has been selected by New York University (NYU) School of Business Management and Information Technology to participate in their Applied Project Program and was awarded 250 hours of service from masteral student, Shantae Hugh, starting this Fall Term.

This Applied Project will move The Nursing Office. Com to the next level as it kicks off its program for the community as one of its Nurse Driven Healthcare Solutions.

Nurses “G.P.S.” to Healthcare Challenges and Opportunities

The Philippine Nurses of New Jersey held a successful conference at the Marriot Hotel in Newark last April 30, 2011. The full day event which included exhibits and luncheon was well attended.

The conference started with a keynote presentation on The Future of Nursing: Leading Change and Advancing Health by Patricia Bennett, JD, RN who is the current CEO of New Jersey State Nurses Association. Maureen Schneider, PhD (c) Chief Nurse Executive of Somerset Medical Center spoke on Meshing Finance, Quality and Safety as Triad to Healthcare Success.

Joyce Johnson, PhD, RN was all smiles to teach nurses on Initiatives to Improve Patient Experience and Nurses Customer Service. Kathryn Collins, BS, RN, MPA spoke on The Perfect Match of Coupling Human Caring and Technology. Laughing out Loud (LOL), Lorraine Micheletti, RN, MA, Enjoyed the Ride to Progress with her fun experiences in healthcare.

Cheryl Lovell, MBA, presented a Visit from Lilian Wald on The Home Care Experience, while Dino Doliente III, MBA, RN discussed Beyond the Hospital Walls, presenting Alternate Healthcare Settings.

Congratulations PNA-New Jersey. Well done!

Violence against Nurses is Punishable by Law

New York, August 16, 2010

Violence against Nurses is now a law in New York as signed by Gov. David Paterson, making it a felony to assault a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) while on duty.

Nurses who report to work each day face acts of violence as a result of just doing their job. Hospitals

have characteristics that create an unsafe working environment, such as unrestricted movement by the general public through facilities and gang members, drug or alcohol abusers, trauma patients, mentally ill patients, and distraught family members. Understaffed units lead to isolated work with patients during exams or treatment. Shift work often requires nurses to arrive and leave hospitals during darkness, increasing the risk of assault. Nursing is a female-dominated profession that has not been considered as dangerous as traditionally male-dominated professions such as law enforcement or emergency medical response.

“Providing for a felony charge against those who assault an RN or LPN at work will encourage employers to take action to address violence that occurs in the workplace and signals nurses that it is time to speak up about the violence they experience on the job”, said Tina Gerardi, RN, Nurses Association CEO. “Any deterrent that encourages a potential attacker to think before they assault a nurse on duty is a positive step towards increased safety for everyone”.

Source:

New York State Nurses Association ( www.nysna.org)

Heavy Visa Demand Puts Nurses in U.S. in Tight Spot

By Reuben S. Seguritan

May 19, 2010

The heavy demand for visa numbers in the employment-based 3rd preference category (EB-3) has resulted in the slow movement of its cutoff date. The June 2010 cutoff date is June 22, 2003. This means that only those beneficiaries whose priority date is before that date may be scheduled for an immigrant visa interview at a US Consulate abroad or may file for adjustment of status in the U.S.

The slow movement has created difficulties particularly for nurses currently in the U.S. who wish to adjust their status to permanent residency. They usually fall under one of three situations.

There are those who were able to file their adjustment applications before the retrogression but their applications were denied because they could not submit their Visa Screen certificates before the deadline set by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These nurses cannot lawfully remain in the U.S. and the employment authorization granted to them when they filed their adjustment applications is no longer valid.

There are those who have passed their licensure exams and have found employers willing to sponsor them for I-140 petition. Their I-140 approval will register them on the waiting list but once their nonimmigrant visa status expires, their presence in the U.S. becomes unlawful.

Then, there are those who have just arrived on a nonimmigrant visa, usually B-2, that is still valid. They may change to another nonimmigrant visa status such as F-1 student which is valid for the duration of their studies. They may also change to H-1B if they are certified as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or are upper level Nurse Managers, and they may be able to stay here for another six (6) years, or longer if they have an approved I-140 petition and a visa number is not available.

Unfortunately for those who have overstayed their temporary visas, if they leave the U.S. because they cannot file their adjustment of status application, the 3-year/10-year bar will kick in and they can kiss their dreams of getting a job in the U.S. goodbye.

Under immigration laws, those who have overstayed their temporary visa for over six months but less than a year will be barred from reentering the U.S. for three years, while those who have overstayed for more than a year will be barred from reentering for ten years.

No one can determine how long nurses will have to wait for visa numbers. The formula for allocation of visa numbers is rather complex. We can only make an estimate. Nurses fall under the EB-3 category but this category also includes other professionals and skilled workers. EB-3 is allotted 28.6% of the 140,000 annual worldwide quota for all employment-based preferences.

There is also a per country limit of 7% of the 140,000 visa numbers. A country’s yearly allotment is increased if other countries do not use up their numbers. Each country is allotted 2,800 visas per year.

It is still hard to say at this point when Congress will get around to passing the immigration reform law that would ease the visa backlog. The Nursing Relief Act that has been introduced every year in the last several years and which would create a separate nonimmigrant visa category for RNs engaged in temporary work has not garnered enough legislative support. And the comprehensive immigration reform bill that would exempt nurses from the immigrant visa quota is still bottled up in the Judiciary committee.

PRESS RELEASE
May 26, 2010

REFERENCE: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON),
email: info@nafconusa.org


SENTOSA NURSES' CIVIL CASE WON A PEOPLE'S VICTORY, BUT MANY MORE BATTLES AGAINST ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT AHEAD-- NAFCON

NEW YORK – On May 20, 2010, the New York Supreme Court through Judge Stephen A. Bucaria denied Sentosa Care’s motion for summary judgment for breach of contract against the Sentosa 27++ nurses and physical therapist. This gives the Sentosa 27++ nurses and a physical therapist an opportunity to be heard in a full blown trial.

Another highlight of the order was the decision of the court to nullify the enforceability of Sentosa Care’s claim for liquidated damages in a whopping fixed amount of $25,000 should the employee pre-terminates the contract. While US laws generally considers the liquidated damages clause valid, the anticipated damages must not be “plainly or grossly disproportionate to the probable loss” otherwise, the “liquidated damages clause is deemed to be a penalty designed to secure performance by compulsion and is, therefore, unenforceable”.


Ask for his reaction on the recent order, Mark de la Cruz, one of the beleaguered Sentosa 27++ nurses exclaimed: "This is definitely a 'gold' news to us, a big relief for our families as well, and a victory for all Filipino nurses aspiring to work here in the US".

The biggest winner in the same court order is none other that Fil-Am lawyer, Felix Vinluan.  His motion for summary judgment dismissing his case was granted. In 2006, it can be recalled that Atty. Vinluan, by taking the case of the health workers pro bono, was later charged criminally and civilly by Sentosa Care LLC for “tortious interference with contract claim” by allegedly advising the nurses to resign to favor another client of his.  In the absence of a physical contract between Vinluan and a third party as claimed, Judge Bucaria dismissed the allegations and “noted the attorney’s constitutional right to provide legal advice to his clients within the bounds of the law”.

“I would like to thank all those who persevered to support us/me. Our crusade is far from over. Let us continue to be together in this long fight until justice is fully served” said Vinluan.

Vinluan also made an appeal to the new Philippine government, “please put in place a monitoring system whereby all those contracts that pass the POEA are actually followed to the letter by the foreign employers”.

Rico Foz, the Executive Vice President of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), congratulated the health workers and Atty. Vinluan for their respective victories as he calls on all foreign educated nurses (FENs), regardless of nationality or former employers, who paid these onerous pre-termination penalties, to contact them through Atty. Felix Vinluan at (212) 643-2692 for a possible class action suit against their unscrupulous recruiters/employers and totally end this illegal practice.

"What the former Sentosa nurses faced at the hands of SentosaCare LLC is unfortunately a common practice—human trafficking-- that the Philippine government turns a blind eye towards because it is quite profitable," Foz continued. "But the example that the Sentosa 27++ nurses have set in courageously struggling for justice teaches all of us the true meaning of collective action beating unspeakable odds. Kudos." ###