NDNA 2018-2019 Advocacy Platform

The North Dakota Nurses Association (NDNA) is the only professional organization representing all registered nurses (RNs) in North Dakota. NDNA is involved in the shaping of public policy about health care in line with the goals of nurses, nursing, and public health. NDNA promotes legislation, policies, and strategies that help meet North Dakota’s most pressing needs.

Workforce Development:
• Support efforts to attract and retain more nurses to the profession and to the state (Workforce Development).
o Support efforts to improve Workforce Development including improved Loan Reimbursement, Faculty Loan Forgiveness, and growth of Educational programs.
Population Health:
• Support Population Health focused legislation and activities including, but not limited to, Obesity Prevention & Treatment, Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment – including drugs, alcohol and tobacco, Access to Behavioral Health Services, and Access to Early Childhood Preventative Interventions – including increased access to School Nursing
• Address the Opioid Crisis
o “Dealing with opioid addiction is one of the most significant issues the US health system faces today, and nurses are playing a key role in our nation’s efforts to deal with the crisis.” (ANA, 2018)
o Support expanded access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), allowing APRNs to prescribe MAT to patients.
o Support provider education and training and continued utilization of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and increasing access to Naloxone and prescription drug disposal in our communities.
• Advocating for increased access to School Nursing.
o Students’ health and health needs must be addressed in schools to achieve optimum learning. Supports the assignment and daily availability of a registered school nurse for the central management and implementation of school health services at the recommended ratio of one nurse for every 750 students, with an ultimate goal of at least one nurse in every school (ANA, 2007).
o On any given weekday, as much as 20% of the combined US population of children and adults can be found in schools (AHA, 2004). To best serve the health needs of students and staff in educational settings, ANA supports a collaborative school health model which requires the cooperation and participation of the school nurse, students, families, teachers, school administrators and staff, other health care professionals, and the community.
Nursing Education, Practice and Licensure:
• Continue to advocate for increased access to professional nursing education and Nurses working in the full authority of their practice.
o Support higher education for nurses. We need fundamental wide-range planning for changes in the education and deployment of the nursing workforce.
o Reduce regulatory barriers, enabling Registered Nurses (RNs) to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Support compact licensure for Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
o Revise scope-of-practice laws that discourage full use of advanced practice nurses, pharmacists, and other allied health professionals (collaborative practice agreements, supervisory requirements, prescribing limitations).
Care Delivery:
• Promote programs that support improved Care Delivery across the state of North Dakota.
o Continue support of technologies, including Telehealth to support expanded access to services.
o Support new and evolving roles as long as there is role clarity, appropriate education and training, appropriate oversight and that nurses are recognized for their role as care coordinators, which may necessitate removal of the delegation rules in the Nurse Practice Act that limit nurse’s ability to exercise their judgment.
Funding:
• Ensure adequate funding for vital health care related services, including direct care, illness prevention, and health outcomes
o Shortfalls in funding for health and behavioral health services will increase costs in other areas of the budget, and will lead to negative consequences for individuals, families, and communities.