2019 Alabama State Nurses Association Yearbook

2019 Alabama State Nurses Association Annual Convention
the Governor and several legislators and attendance set a new record of over 700. Our president, Sarah
Wilkinson-Buchmann spoke at the rally and our president-elect, Lindsey Harris spoke to hundreds on the
topic of “professionalism in nursing.”
In response to resolutions from recent ASNA conventions, we were able to have the Secretary of the
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency speak at FACES on the subject of “human trafficking.” Hal Taylor, the
state’s chief law enforcement officer, and his staff have started the Alabama Fusion Center – a one phonecall
resource for people, like nurses, to call when they encounter possible trafficking. The confidential
service “fuses” information from many sources, investigates and conducts coordinated interventions, if
warranted. Additionally, the ASNA Executive Director was recently appointed to serve on the Alabama
Health Care Human Trafficking Training Program Commission (created by HJR244 in 2019).
Legislatively, we saw the culmination of several years of work in supporting the passage of the Enhanced
Nurse Licensure Compact bill and joint resolution HJR37 (sponsored by Representative April Weaver)
related to the Felony status of attacking a nurse. These and other bills are featured in the ED’s 2019
Legislative Report which is available on the ASNA website. Regarding advocacy at the federal level,
ASNA officers and ED visited all of Alabama’s legislative delegation in Washington, DC at the ANA “Day
on the Hill.” Title VIII funding, safe staffing, full scope of practice and reasonable Medicaid expansion
were among the topics discussed with our elected officials. We also expressed concerns over access to
healthcare in underserved rural counties, the floundering mental health system and the need for more
humane conditions in Alabama jails, prisons and detention centers.
COLLABORATION:
A focus of ASNA’s strategic plan includes collaboration with other nursing and health care stakeholders.
Our environmental committee worked in conjunction with the University of Alabama in Huntsville
regarding ground water pollution in Uniontown, Alabama. Lab tests raised concerns over water table
pollution from a nearby plant that had, at best, suspect disposal methods. The Alabama Coalition of
Nursing Organizations participated in the planning and success of Nurses Day at the Capitol. ASNA
worked with the Alabama Health Action Coalition to promote Health Literacy and other workforce
improvement projects. ASNA was at the table with the Alabama Board of Nursing when their leadership
finalized their strategy regarding the Enhanced Compact Licensure State Legislation. We wrote letters of
support for their bill and for a bill supporting the work of nurse anesthetis. ASNA supported home health
and school nurse in legislation that involved transportation liability and more funding for schools to hire
nurses.
When the Alabama Board of Nursing has open positions, ASNA by statute, is the facilitating organization
that assembles an ABN Nominating Committee, advertises the open position(s), processes applications
and hosts the interview day for candidates at the ASNA office. In 2019, three slots will be filled. Last, but
not least, ASNA will serve as the facilitating organization for the establishment of the Alabama Advanced
Practice Consensus Council. The ASNA president will serve as chair and leaders of APRN groups,
stakeholders such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the ABN, the Alabama Hospital Association, ADPH and other
organizations will be invited to participate. The goal will be to present a consensus model for legislation/
policy changes necessary to bring Alabama in line with full-scope models in other states.
VISIBILITY:
As one of the pillars in our strategic plan, “visibility” should not be “overlooked!” Many organizations
are working away…and their members are in the dark about what is being accomplished. ASNA added
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