Oklahoma Nurse - February 2021

4
The Oklahoma Nurse February, March, April 2021
CEO REPORT
Inhaling…Building Momentum
Jane Nelson, CAE
CEO Oklahoma Nurses
Association
“Make the most of yourself
by fanning the tiny, inner
sparks of possibility into
flames of achievement.”
- Golda Meir
2020 has been a rough
year, and it looks as if 2021 Jane Nelson
is off to a rocky start. There
seems to be some light with the release of the
COVID vaccine, but time will tell. We need to take
these tiny sparks and fan them into achievements for
nursing. I love this quote by Golda Meir as it requires
us to take what is within us and build something in
return of which we can be proud. This also means
that we need to be strong so how we respond to
2021 is up to each of us. Part of this includes our
ability to breath, inhale and exhale.
I recently listened to Brene’ Brown’s Unlocking
Us podcast on Strong Backs, Soft Fronts and Wild
Hearts. While the podcast is focused on having
a strong back and a soft front, what was more
profound to me was the essentialness of inhaling.
We can exhale all day long but at some point, we
need to inhale. If we don’t inhale, we can’t continue
to exhale and if we don’t inhale, we can’t brave
the wilderness! So, as we walk forward into 2021,
we need to inhale! My sense is that we all need to
remember to be inhaling as we have spent most of
2020 exhaling. So let’s practice it right now. Take a
deep breath…Inhale…now slowing release the air to
exhale. Feel how you are rebuilding your body, your
soul and your emotions. Remember that sensation!
Don’t let it go.
Now let’s talk about moving into 2021! ONA is
continuing its work to advocate for nurses with both
the Governor’s office and the Legislature. We know
you need more staff, that patients both COVID and
non-COVID continue to need care in hospitals, long
term care and clinics. ONA has worked to develop
tools for you to use that include COVID Resources
including ones on the vaccine, along with position
statements specifically on the COVID Vaccine
(included in this paper), and Moral Distress in
Times of Crisis. We continue to work on our nursing
shortage and its effects on nurse staffing during
this pandemic. ONA has been convening nurse
leaders from acute care and nursing education
to discuss ways to build Academic and Clinical
partnerships. The result of this partnership work
includes sharing and replication of a model across
the state, utilizing nursing students in clinical sites
to not only work as techs but also work during their
clinical experiences and be paid for that experience.
Other sharing opportunities include job descriptions
and other innovations to extend the arms of the
ICU/CC nurse. The Nurse Refresher Course was
also updated in a timely manner as a result of this
partnership. As we worked to discuss mutual issues,
it became abundantly clear that we need help from
the Governor, so ONA sent a letter addressing our
concerns, work and suggesting solutions. After an
initial conversation and a media event, we have been
in continued conversation with the Governor’s Team
on solutions to our overflowing hospitals and the
need for more nurses.
The State Legislature begins meeting the first
Monday in February. We are working to ensure that
they hear nursing voices as well. We need your help
to ensure that Legislators hear your voice. There are
issues we know that are coming forward that include
Managed Care, Immunizations, funding for Nursing
Education and other issues that may affect patient
care and the nursing profession. ONA’s legislative
priorities for 2021 are listed below and reflect these
issues:
Nursing Practice and Workforce
Nursing is vital to the survival of a quality
health care system. Competent nursing
practice improves the health, safety and state
health rankings for all Oklahomans.
Promoting the role of the nurse and the
profession of nursing to ensure the best health
for all Oklahomans.
Consistently ensuring adequate numbers of
nurses to care for patients in hospitals, long
term care and other healthcare settings is of
critical importance in alleviating our longterm
nursing shortage. Nursing education is
a critical component in the development of
Oklahoma’s nursing workforce.
Providing sufficient quality care to
Oklahomans year-round, ensuring enough
nurses to provide testing, immunizations
and quality care needed during a Pandemic
is of vital importance to both the short-term
and long-term health and well-being of all
Oklahomans.
Removing barriers to safe practice such
as inadequate amounts of PPE, necessary
equipment, testing and treatments ensure that
RN’s............ $63.00/hr
LPN’s........... $51.00/hr
CNA’s...........$30.00/hr
CHHA’s.........$23.25/hr
• Pay Cards
bridget.bridger@rollinghillshospital.com
Ada, Oklahoma
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