Ediforiul

Nursing again unites for action

Still rebounding from the shock of having their own State board of nursing attempt to make changes in the rules and regula- tions of the Nurse Practice Act, Colorado nurses are being threatened again. This time, unbelievably, by an outside organiza- tion.

In an attempt to solve the nursing short- age in rural areas, the Colorado Hospital Association has asked the Governor to place a resolution on his agenda for the next legislative session which will alter the Nurse Practice Act. The resolution, i f passed, would eliminate the requirement for grad- uation from an accredited school of nursing as a prerequisite for application for li- censure. Specifically, it will allow foreign (alien) nurses and medically trained military service men and women to apply for li- censure as professional nurses.

This questionable-inadequate effort to solve a rural nursing shortage ignores the fact that Colorado has an over-supply of nurses in the larger urban areas of the state. It does not give consideration to the redis-

tribution of nursing, or the concomitant dic- tate as to geographic location of those li- censed; or to the fact of dilution, perhaps even destruction, of nursing as a profes- sion.

We know similar changes were made in the California Nurse Practice Act. So far, 150 persons in that state have taken the state board of nursing exam without ob- taining formal nursing education. Report- edly, 102 of that 150 failed the exam, but 48 passed and are now registered nurses duly licensed to practice.

Such changes in nurse practice acts bring many interesting questions to mind.

Consider please: How relevant i s an exam designed to test the knowledge of graduates from accredited schools if a significant num- ber of people can pass that exam without receiving the necessary education? Is it pos- sible that someday the prerequisite of com- pletion of medical school may be lifted and perhaps nurses or others so motivated may take that exam, become MDs and be li- censed to practice medicine? Could the

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same thing happen in law? How relevant i s the whole issue of licensure? Does it pro- tect the public as it was designed to do or does it instead sanction and perpetuate mediocrity?

Of particular interest to AORN - since we were astute enough to strongly recom- mend certification for the ORT, should we not consider such a recommendation for nursing? Should not nursing actively con- sider implementing a career ladder concept with proper challenging exams for entrance into primary nursing programs and re-en- trance into subsequent secondary levels. The Lysaught Report makes such recommenda- tions. Would not nursing in this way strengthen rather than weaken i t s standards while increasing i t s potential number in a more credible and acceptable manner? Is it

possible such policy might also eliminate the continual need and increased flood of sub- specialty groups into the Health Care field?

One further question - Why is nursing so vulnerable - so unique among profes- sions that it i s constantly subjected to out- side dicta relative to i t s practice?

Positively, Colorado Nurses are prepar- ing for action. The president of CNA has called for united effort and support of all nursing specialty groups toward resistance of such interference into the foundation of our profession. It is the beginning of mean- ingful liaison between al l nursing groups. It i s the beginning of a power potential for

nursing . - Betty Thomas, RN Editor

AORN member welcomes Presidenf Nixon

Margaret Shier, RN, welcomes President Nixon t o the operat ing room at the Eisenhower Med i - cal Center in Palm Desert, Ca l i fo rn ia . Miss Shier is coordinator fo r the operat ing and re- covery rooms a t the Center. She is a member of the Los Angeles chapter of AORN.

President Nixon io ined Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vice President and Mrs. Spiro Agnew, Governor and M r s . Ronald Reagan, and Bob H o p e in dedicat ing the new health complex.

The Eisenhower Med ica l Center is situated on 80 acres, donated fo r the construction by Mr . and Mrs. Bob Hope , in the Palm Desert- Rancho M i rage area of Riverside County , C a l i f . The Center's Memor ia l Hosp i ta l Building has 116,000 square feet which houses some 140 beds and f i ve operat ing rooms on its four floors. The hospital has a medical staff of 50 and an ad- ministrative and service staff of 150. Cost of construction t o date has been $7.5 mill ion.

The hospital started adrni f t ing patients in December and i s the in i t ia l stage of a mult i - mi l l ion do l la r complex tha t w i l l include research and feaching facil i t ies.