The Volusia Flagler Advanced Practice Nursing Council
Group Started:04.15.08
Our Association and Mission Statement
The VFAPNC is an association of advanced practice nurses organized to advance, foster, encourage, promote and improve the care given to patients by Advanced Practice Nurses. The Council identifies the advanced practice role as a specialty that is essential to the delivery of high quality and cost effective health care. The Council believes that continuing education is essential to professional growth, excellence in clinical practice and optimal patient outcomes. The provision of opportunities for continuing education is an integral activity of VFAPNC. The Council further believes in educating the community as to the role of the Advanced Practice Nurse. The Council supports efforts to assist community organizations in the delivery of health care to the public.
The Council is involved in legislative reform to ensure optimum healthcare for their community and fosters awareness of such legislation that may affect the people they serve. The Council members serve as role models for all nurses in their community and encourage mentorship and preceptorship of advanced practice students and novice nurses within their district.
Letter from the Executive Board
Dear Members,
It is our pleasure to announce the exciting launch of our new web site. In an effort to provide all of our loyal advanced practice nurses with the finest possible tools, resources and user experience available on the web today, we have joined forces with ENP Network. By utilizing their very secure, professional social networking platform and its continuously evolving resources we have created a site well beyond the industry standard. Upon visiting our new site you will be required to join the network, joining is free, very simple and only takes a few minutes of your time.
Thanks for your support,
Marifrances - Association VP
Monday, December 11, 2008, Senate professional staff presented the findings of President Atwater’s interim study on ARNP controlled substance prescribing to the Senate Health Regulation Committee. As you are aware the study findings were very positive and recommend:
that the Legislature consider extending authority to Florida-licensed ARNPs who have attained certification in a nursing specialty from a nationally recognized certifying entity to prescribe controlled substances under protocols and within the scope of practice for their specialty.
The Florida Nurses Association, The Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and the Florida Hospital Association all put in speaker cards in support of the issue. There were about 15 ARNPs in white coats present to show their support for the issue. I would personally like to thank all of those ARNPs who took time out of their busy lives to come to the Capitol yesterday. They came from Tallahassee, Panama City, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Orlando.
Initially, it appeared as though there would be a committee bill on ARNP controlled substance prescribing. This is where, based on the staff's recommendation, the committee as an entity files a bill. Despite obvious support on the issue from Senators Bennett and Jones and Minority Leader Lawson, there were clearly some members of the committee, Senator Sobel and Senator Altman, who were not supportive of the issue. Senator Gaetz and Senator Gardiner were silent and Senator Aronberg expressed his concern regarding ARNPs prescribing schedule II drugs.
Senator Bennett had originally made the motion that there be a committee bill, but when it became obvious to him that there were insufficient votes to get a committee bill, he announced that he planned to file the legislation individually. We appreciate his clear and enthusiastic support and look forward to working with him during session.
We now have two strong sponsors for our bill, Senator Mike Bennett and Representative Juan Carlos Zapata. We also have some other clear allies. We have an uphill battle ahead of us, but stay alert for further legislative updates so you will know how to help in this important cause.
Recently the Senate staff conducted a study on whether ARNPs should be permitted to prescribe controlled substances.The results of this study were published last month and reflected a very positive outcome for us. These results will be formally presented to the Senate Health Regulation Committee on Tuesday December 9, 2008 from 3:30-5:30 in room 412 of the Knott building in Tallahassee. For those of you that may be interested, the written report can be found by clicking on this link: Florida Senate Interim Report 2009-117hr
The Florida Nurse Practitioner Network in cooperation with the Coalition for Advanced Practice Nurses needs your participation now! There are several ways you may help our cause. They include:
1. Plan to attend the meeting of the Senate Health Regulation Committee. Please come and show your support of this important issue. Dress professionally and consider wearing your white lab coat in order to be easily identifiable. Attendance of a large number of ARNPs and friends will show the legislators how important this issue is to us. Please email Allison Carvajal at allison@carvajal-tally.com or Anna Small at asmall@broadandcassel.com if you are able to attend.
2. Contact your Senator who serves on the committee and let them know your thoughts on ARNP controlled substance prescribing. The members of the committee are as follows:
On behalf of the Nurse Practitioner HealthcareFoundation, I am delighted to send you the attached information regarding 2 scholarships and 15 awards for the 2008-2009 academic year that are available to nurse practitioner graduate students (master's, post-master's, DNP, or PhD). The attached press release may be forwarded to your students, giving them information and the website link to the applications. The applicationdeadline for these is November 28, 2008. Please urge yourstudents to apply!
Additional questions may be directed to:
Elaine Bergman, Scholarship/Awards Program Manager,425-861-0911 (office)
Havea great holiday season! Phyllis
Phyllis Arn Zimmer, MN, FNP, FAAN President Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation 2647 - 134th Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98005-1813 425-861-0911 office 425-503-8911 cell
