So Many Bills So Few LawsJodie Curtis Government Relations Director Drinker Biddle Reath Washington DC

In a story appearing on Time magazinersquos websiteldquoIf a Health-Care Bill Passes Nurse PractitionersCould be Keyrdquo author Kate Pickert wrote ldquoEvenwithout healthcare reform experts on the health-care labor force estimate there is currently a 30shortage in the ranks of primary-care physiciansThere is an existing group of providers that healthreformers are hoping can help fill this gap nursepractitionersrdquohttpwwwtimecomtimenationarticle08599191422200html

The Washington DC Examiner reportsldquoDepending upon whose estimates are acceptedthe doctor shortfall will be between 40000 and

300000 physicians Because of the time it takesto train a doctor the situation will likely persist formore than a generation One possible pathwaythrough the shortage [of primary care physicians]may be two relatively new categories of providersPhysician Assistants and Nurse Practitionersrdquo httpwwwexaminercomx-5968-DC-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Doctor-shortage-may-be-mitigated-by-Nurse-Practitioners-and-Physician-Assistants

Nurse Practitioners Attain National Press

In the last session of Congress over 14000 billswere introduced but only 3336 bills were passedand became law Often we are asked ldquoWhywerenrsquot bills that support nurse practitioners (NPs)approved by Congressrdquo As you can see there area lot of competing bills introduced each sessionPolicymakers are hearing from all sorts of individu-als and groups on issues of importance to themfrom transportation to education to health care Thesame holds true for NPs Without hearing directlyfrom NPs about priorities problems and recom-mended solutions policymakers either will fail toaddress these concerns or use information andexpertise that are provided to them by othersUnfortunately some of their sources may not sharethe same views as NPs

Much of what NPs do and experience in theirpractice on a daily basis is a direct result of currentlaws regulations and other policies Policymakersand elected officials frequently make decisions thathave an impact on patients physicians nurses hos-pital administrators and researchers and thesedecisions may be made with limited knowledge andunderstanding of the people and systems they areaffecting Lawmakers must have your input so theyare aware of the needs in their communities and

the subsequent actions of changes in policy thatcan impact NPs ability to deliver high-quality care

The legislation that NPs care about needs to bebrought to the attention of Congress Because pass-ing a bill is such a lengthy process it is important toknow when your voice can be the most influential topolicymakers Once a bill is introduced it goes to thecommittee that has jurisdiction over the subjectMost of the work is done at the committee levelCommittees have a great deal of power to decidewhich bills will receive the most attention This isthe best time for action by NPs so your voices areheard This is when you want to contact your legis-lator and express your concern Indicate why yousupport or oppose an issue affecting NPs and stresshow the issue affects you and your patients Yourvoice matters and your action is really important

Contact your members of Congress by going towwwsenategov or wwwhousegov In the top leftcorner enter your zip code and click ldquoGordquo This willbring up a link to your senatorsrsquo or representativersquoswebsite Under the ldquoContact Merdquo section of mostmembersrsquo web pages you can locate the localoffices for your Senators and Representative

Itrsquos just like sending an emailmdashfast and easy andso IMPORTANT

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1555-4155$ see front mattercopy 2009 American College of Nurse PractitionersDOI hurpra200909001

The American College of Nurse Practitioners(ACNP) hosted its very successful 2009 NationalClinical Conference Nurse Practitioners

Shaping Policy Improving Practice October 7-11 in Albuquerque New Mexico The city offeredan exciting venue for the more than 1100 atten-dees The abundant opportunities for networkingwith colleagues from differing clinical specialtyareas and geographical locations were a highlightof the conference

The conference began with immensely popu-lar clinical skills workshops such as suturingtechniques coding and administration thoracicradiology and ECG interpretation In total theconference offered over 100 clinically focusedconcurrent sessions on acute care dermatologydiabetes mental health pain managementwomenrsquos health and an extensive list of otherclinical topics Industry-sponsored ProductTheaters afforded attendees the latest develop-ments on topics including bacterial RTIsfibromyalgia GERD multimodal analgesic therapyand treating OAB symptoms

Three plenary sessions covered a broad scopeof issues of interest to nurse practitioners (NPs)The conference opened with the leadership ofACNP providing key insights into the currentpolitical climate related to NP practice ACNPPresident Dr Thad Wilson presented anoverview of the associationrsquos activities andaccomplishments during the past 12 months Heemphasized ACNPrsquos member-driven focus andthe organizationrsquos desire for participation byevery member Immediate Past President DrJulie Stanik-Hutt presented cutting edge infor-mation about recent research validating the highquality care provided by NPs President-elect DrMarsha Siegel provided a comprehensiveoverview on the current legislation addressinghealthcare reform and how NPs are or are notincluded in proposed plans

In an exciting update to their previous confer-ence session Executive Vice President MichaelLoughran for Nurses Service Organization (NSO)and Vice President of US Specialty Lines BruceDmytrow at CNA (the parent company to NSO)offered findings from their recently updated 10-year

study of malpractice cases involving NPs The speak-ers shared never-before-seen data combining NPclaims data with results from a national NP surveydeveloped by NSO after significant input from NPsaround the nation Some elements of the reportelicited a pensive response at other timesresounding ovations were heard To say the datawas fascinating would be an understatement andACNP looks forward to sharing the published reportin the upcoming weeks

The third plenary session An Update on theNovel Influenza A H1N1 Outbreak featured up-to-the-minute information regarding H1N1 ACNP wasfortunate to have Catherine Dentinger from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)speak at the conference The background on thedevelopment of the novel H1N1 flu combined withthe past and current activity of the virus helpedeveryone appreciate the importance of followingCDC guidelines for prevention NPs will play animportant role in suppressing the spread of thisvirus An online copy of this presentation may befound by visiting the ACNP homepage(httpwwwacnpweborg)

Nearly 100 attendees participated in the firstannual ACNP-PAC Fun RunWalk with runnersand walkers meeting in the crisp desert air ofAlbuquerque eager to tackle the 2-mile circuitThe return stretch took participants on historicRoute 66 offering them the chance to travelalong a key piece of American history while pro-viding much appreciated funding to PAC effortsfor the upcoming year

This yearrsquos Clinical Conference was planned tocoincide with the 38th Annual International BalloonFiesta affording attendees the opportunity to par-ticipate in a host of fiesta activities More than 650conference attendees traveled to Balloon FiestaPark in the early morning hours on Saturday to wit-ness the Mass Ascension of 600 hot air balloonsAs the sun rose over the mountains scores of bal-loons gently lifted off to paint the sky in every imag-inable color and shape

The 2010 National Clinical Conference will beheld in Tampa Florida October 20-24 ACNP looksforward to another dynamic clinical conference inthe beautiful city of Tampa

ACNP Hosts Successful National Clinical ConferenceA

CN

PFO

RU

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American College of Nurse Practitioners

Advanced Public Policy Institute for Health Professionals

February 24ndash26 2010Th e Westin Grand Washington DC

National Nurse Practitioner Summitand Leadership Conference

February 26ndashMarch 1 2010Th e Westin Grand Washington DC

Reserve your room at The Westin Grand in Washington DC the site of the

American College of Nurse Practitionerrsquos 2010 Advanced Public Policy Institute and

Nurse Practitioner Summit and Leadership Conference

Situated in the stylish West End district of the nationrsquos capital it has an unbeatable location

Take advantage of ACNPrsquos preferred rate of only $179 per night

which is available until January 21 2010

To make your hotel reservations call toll-free 1-800-937-8461 or visit wwwacnpweborg

Plan now to attend these exciting events

TJNP NOV DEC ACNP 2010 summitindd 1 101909 959 AM

Nurse Practitioners Shaping Policy Improving Practice

CALL FOR ABSTRACTSThe American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) invites abstract submissions for the 2010 ACNP National Clinical Conference ndash Nurse Prac-titioners Shaping Policy Improving Practice The conference will be held October 20-24 2010 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa Florida

ACNPrsquos National Clinical Conference has con-tinued to grow strong over the years In Tampa we are anticipating that more than 1200 Nurse Practitioners will be in attendance for the premier educational and clinical event Consistent with ACNPrsquos mission of providing professional and

political advocacy the ACNP National Clinical Conference provides curriculum that will develop and enhance the skills of nurse practitioners The conference abstract submission process features a technology-based interface designed for the convenience of the speakers The simplicity of this online system facilitates easy participation in the conference

To submit an abstract please visit the ACNP website at wwwacnpconferencecom and click on the link for the 2010 ACNP National Clinical Conference

Deadline for submission February 1 2010

ACNP 2010 Call for Abstracts TJNP adindd 1 101909 1251 PM