Arizona Nurse - October 2021

October, November, December 2021 Arizona Nurse • Page 3
CEO’S MESSAGE
AzNA PAC
The Arizona Nurses
Association continues to be
hard at work advocating for
Arizona Nurses to promote
a Healthy Arizona. Through
legislation we contributed
to many bills, however
of significance is HB2454
which allows health care
providers to utilize telehealth
on an expanded basis as
was allowed by Governor’s
Executive Order during the
pandemic. SB1377 ensures
Dawna Cato,
AzNA CEO
providers are given appropriate consideration for
emergency care during COVID-19, including acts
or omissions because of a lack of staffing, facilities,
equipment, supplies or other resources that are
attributable to the state of emergency and that
render the health provider unable to provide the
level or manner of care to a person that otherwise
would have been required in the absence of the
state of emergency. HB2633 is a major success for
AzNA as it accomplishes something the Arizona
nursing profession has been waiting on for 30 years!
HB2633 allows Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse
Specialists to order home health care for Medicaid
patients. A full 2021 legislative report can be found at
2021 Leg Report AzNA (ymaws.com).
In addition to advocacy at the state level, we
engaged with many local news, radio, and print
media to address current issues and trends amongst
our profession in the state. We are thrilled that the
AzNA is viewed as the voice of Arizona nurses. Our
media presence includes, Arizona Family, Phoenix
Business Journal, Arizona Republic, and AZ Central
to name a few. The work of the AzNA Board of
Directors, members and staff is a continuous cycle
of proactive and reactive responses to current and
emerging demands. The collective representation of
our members within and amongst a variety of practice,
academic and regulatory settings demonstrates that
nurses in Arizona are highly engaged and active within
the healthcare industry. This was recognized by a
report indicating Arizona as the best state for nurses
in 2021. 1 Finally, the Arizona Nurses Association was
ranked within the top 10 Associations for number of
paid members. 2 Clearly nurses within our state and
AzNA members are more engaged, informed, and
active in the professional community. Now is our
time to shine and propel the profession forward with
innovation, energy and commitment to the patient,
populations, and communities we serve.
To this end, over the past several months we
have invested in rebuilding the Arizona Foundation
for the Future of Nursing (AzFFN). AzFFN is
the philanthropic arm of the Arizona Nurses
Association. The Mission is to “Ensure Arizona has
a sustainable nursing workforce to provide quality
care for the health and wellness of our diverse and
growing population.” Overseen by the Board of
Trustees (BOT), the AzFFN is a 501c(3) focused on
scholarships, workforce development and support,
and leadership. Initiatives such as RNconnect
(text RNconnect to 60298) provide tools, tips and
resources for psychological well-being. Partnerships
with organizations such as Better Place Forest,
who generously donated a garden for a “Heroes
Memorial” 3 and AZ Cactus Pine Girl Scouts who
generously donated approximately 120,000 cases
of cookies that were distributed across the valley!
We are not done, more innovative and creative
partnership are being established everyday to help
us meet our strategic goals under the focus areas of
workforce, scholarship and leadership. 4
Although we have had many challenges over the
past several months, our profession has continued
to grow stronger, more resilient and demonstrate
an increased capacity to care for Arizona residents.
Arizona Nurses have engaged in leadership from
the bedside to the boardroom by supporting our
emerging professionals, our colleagues, and our
interdisciplinary teams. We have heard stories
of hardship as well as stories of true selflessness
and heroism. Nurses remain the backbone of
the healthcare industry and as the most trusted
profession and the largest segment of the healthcare
industry, we have a moral and ethical obligation
to continue to lead, advocate and advance the
profession. For further information on how you can
get involved visit www.aznurse.org.
Resources:
The best (and worst) states for nurses in 2021,
according to WalletHub (advisory.com) Arizona
named best state for nurses - State of Reform |
State of Reform
Arizona Association of Realtors No. 1 on Professional
Associations List - Phoenix Business Journal
(bizjournals.com)
Arizona Nurses Association and Better Place Forests
Partner to Recognize Fallen Nurses, Healthcare
Workers in Arizona | Business Wire
Scholarship Opportunities - Arizona Nurses
Association (aznurse.org)
A Message from
the AzNA PAC
The purpose of the AzNA PAC is to endorse
candidates for the Arizona Legislature based upon
the principles of the AzNA Public Policy Agenda.
AzNA-PAC encourages nurses to become active
and effective in shaping public policy through
the electoral process. With the legislative session
approaching, one way nurses can begin to get
involved with AzNA-PAC is through donations.
The AzNA PAC raises money for a variety of causes
including the education of nurses about politics and
contribution to selected campaigns.
Our elected legislators make laws and now, more
than ever, we need laws that not only help us manage
and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
but laws that enhance a culture of health that will
enable the people of Arizona to live the healthiest
lives possible. That is just what nurses do.
The PAC is gearing up for 2022 elections and
needs your donations now. Save the date for our
Spring 2022 Casino Night Fundraiser in April or
don’t wait and become a PAC subscriber today by
going to https://www.aznurse.org/page/PACdonate.
Don’t miss out – become a monthly subscriber and
know your donations are going towards electing the
right people at the right time for the right job.
CORRECTION:
The article, “Courage in Everyday Practice” by
Carol Dobos, PhD, RN-BC, NEA-BC, printed
in the July 2021 edition was not accompanied
with the correct reprint permissions. Reprint
permission should read:
Copyright © 2021. HealthCom Media.
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
myamericannurse.com/
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