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December 2017 Newsletter

Posted over 6 years ago by Regina Pommer

This announcement has 1 attachment:

Happy Holidays!
We would like to bring you up to date on what’s new in your own backyard of Florida. In this newsletter you will find the following contents:

  • Presidents Message
  • Happy Holidays
  • NP Week
  • FNPN Legislative update
  • 2017 Conference Update
  • Job Announcement
  • News You Can Use
  • Register for “Safe and Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances" course

Quote of the Month

“No matter how devastating our struggles, disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary.”
― Josh McDowell


Presidents Message

Dr. Arlene Wright, President

Happy Fall to all! After a very active summer of Hurricanes, I am sure that we are all looking forward to enjoying holiday festivities with family, friends and colleagues.

We want to thank all that responded to the call for assistance providing aide to the special needs shelters across the state during Hurricane Irma. We also want to acknowledge those who have generously donated to our colleagues and those deeply affected by the destructive hurricanes in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. We prove time and again that Nurse Practitioners rally to the cause and truly "make a difference" at the most difficult and trying times.

In this issue, we will be featuring stories Nurse Practitioners contributed demonstrate their challenging efforts during Hurricane Irma.

We have exciting plans for 2018 as we continue to build partnerships and strengthen the NP presence in Florida! Stay tuned!

New for 2018: A new section encouraging FNPN members to nominate a colleague to be featured in our "who's who of NP's" where we hope to acknowledge these recipients at our annual conference in August 2018.

National NP week was celebrated this year on November 12-18, 2017. This was an optimal opportunity to not only bring recognition of the NP role to our communities but to also showcase the positive impact NP practice has on the populations we serve.

Please share stories of activities in and around the state planned for NP week.
NP's making a difference everyday!
Happy NP week to all!


Happy Holidays to all of our FNPN members!

Dr. Cindy Parsons-Membership Chair

2017 was definitely a busy year. NPs in Florida were finally able to prescribe controlled substances Class 3-5 fully, thereby decreasing the burden on our patients and protocol physicians.

This year’s legislative session was not as productive as 2016, however FNPN continues to work to achieve the goal of allowing NPs to practice to the full scope of their knowledge, skills and abilities. We have worked with the Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses (FLCAPN) and continue that strong alliance as we move into 2018 (see our Legislative update). To achieve full practice authority restrictive barriers will need to be addressed and removed and this will require the talents and time of every NP licensed in the state. This can be as little time as taking a few minutes to drop a line to your state Senator and Representative expressing your views on the need for NPs to be fully utilized to meet the health care needs of Floridians or jumping in and volunteering to work with our legislative team (if you are interested please contact Dr. Doreen Cassarino, through the website).

In June, the annual AANP conference was held in Philadelphia and FNPN had a strong presence there. Our very own Loretta Ford was on hand to present Penny Kaye Jensen, the Loretta Ford award for her work on the VA developing and implementing a plan for APRNs in the VA to have full practice authority. AANP recognizes the state of Florida is large both geographically and in NP numbers; as such we have two representatives who serve the state. Both seats are open for nominations so please do consider running for office. Jean Aertker, DNP, ARNP from Tampa serves as the Region 11 Director and represents the southern states well. Florida was well represented in the Fellows induction and we are proud of the leadership, practice and scholarly activities that these NPs are involved in.

In August, we celebrated 14 years of representing the Nurse Practitioners in this state with a wonderful conference. Our keynote speaker, Jerry Bridges, energized attendees and challenged us all to stay focused and work together to achieve our common goal of providing excellent healthcare as well as caring for ourselves.

Finally, this fall, FNPN took a big step in expanding its leadership team and we now have 4 regional representatives. Local NP groups may invite the regional representative to speak at your meetings or to come and hear what NPs are concerned about.

The representatives are:

  • Julia Pallentino, JD, ARNP –Tallahassee
  • Scott Nickerson, ARNP-Orlando
  • Laura Williams, ARNP-Tampa
  • Vicky Stone Gale, DNP, ARNP-Palm Beach/Miami

Please visit the FNPN website to see what areas each covers and contact them to assist you in supporting your local groups.

As you can see this has been a very busy summer thus far and it is our goal to continue to represent the NPs of Florida well at the state and national level.


NP Week Around the State

Dade county NP's receiving NP week proclamation

Tallahassee CAPN NP WEEK Activities

The Nurse Practitioner Council of Collier County members were congratulated by Governor Rick Scott Click Here


FNPN Legislative Update

Dr. Doreen Cassarino – VP Legislation
2018 Legislative Report submitted by Ramba Consulting

THIS WEEK IN REVIEW:
Week four for the 2018 Florida Legislative Session is over. The final bills are popping out of bill drafting as everyone is looking forward to the last committee weeks next month.

Opioid crisis discussion continued this week. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice met on Wednesday to discuss the criminal justice system’s role in fighting the epidemic. Presentations were made on the current state in Florida as well as how other states are working on the issue.

The House Health Quality Subcommittee heard a presentation on the Nurse Licensure Compact by Joe Baker, Executive Director of the Florida Board of Nursing, on Wednesday morning. Negative comments on expansion to ARNPs were made by Rep. Massullo.
In addition, Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with 40 other states attorneys general, sent a letter to Congress urging them to restore the ability of the DEA to hold opioid drug manufacturers and distributors more accountable

Rep. Byrd filed a Pharmacy bill, HB 689, this week. I have attached it to this email for your review and comments back to us.

There are currently 1394 bills filed for the upcoming Legislative Session, with the final bills coming out of bill drafting in the next few days. The next committee week will begin next Monday, December 4th through Friday, December 8th, and the Regular Session will convene on Tuesday, January 9, 2018.

FNPN SPECIFIC ISSUES
On the following pages you will find a list of the bills we are tracking for you and their current status. Each of these will be updated weekly during session and sent to you.

Sorted by Bill Number

SB 8 Controlled Substances Benacquisto
Controlled Substances; Authorizing certain boards to require practitioners to complete a specified board-approved continuing education course to obtain authorization to prescribe controlled substances as part of biennial renewal; authorizing disciplinary action against practitioners for violating specified provisions relating to controlled substances; requiring certain pain management clinic owners to register approved exemptions with the department; providing requirements for pharmacists and practitioners for the dispensing of controlled substances to persons not known to them; establishing direct-support organizations for specified purposes; requiring a direct-support organization to operate under written contract with the department, etc.

  • Effective Date: Except as otherwise provided in this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2018 
  • 10/23/2017 SENATE Filed 
  • 10/25/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations; Rules 

Compare SB 458 Controlled Substance Prescribing (Bean) 

  • 10/25/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations; Rules 

Similar HB 21 Controlled Substances (Boyd) 

  • 10/26/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Quality Subcommittee 

HB 21 Controlled Substances Boyd
Controlled Substances: Requires practitioners to complete specified board-approved continuing education course to prescribe controlled substances; defines "acute pain"; provides for adoption of standards of practice for treatment of acute pain; limits prescribing of opioids for acute pain in certain circumstances; requires pain management clinic owners to register approved exemptions with DOH; provides requirements for pharmacists & practitioners for dispensing of controlled substances to persons not known to them; conforms state controlled substances schedule to federal controlled substances schedule; revises & provides definitions; revises requirements for prescription drug monitoring program.

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2018 
  • 10/13/2017 HOUSE Filed 
  • 10/26/2017 HOUSE Referred to Health Quality Subcommittee; Appropriations Committee; Health & Human Services Committee 
  • 10/26/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Quality Subcommittee

Compare SB 458 Controlled Substance Prescribing (Bean) 

  • 10/25/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations; Rules 

Similar SB 8 Controlled Substances (Benacquisto) 

  • 10/25/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations; Rules

SB 74 Health Providers Bracy
Health Providers; Requiring that the report to the Department of Health of allegations of sexual misconduct by a licensed health care practitioner be made within a specified timeframe; increasing penalties for violations, etc.

  • Effective Date: 7/1/2018
  • 8/9/2017 SENATE Filed 
  • 8/28/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Appropriations

HB 101 Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers Baez
Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers: Provides for reclassification of certain assault & battery offenses committed on health care providers.

  • Effective Date: October 1, 2018 
  • 9/6/2017 HOUSE Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Justice Appropriations Subcommittee; Judiciary Committee 
  • 9/6/2017 HOUSE Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee 
  • 10/12/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction

Similar SB 490 Health Care Providers (Rouson) 

  • 10/13/2017 SENATE Withdrawn prior to introduction 

Identical SB 742: Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers (Grimsley)

  • 11/15/2017 SENATE Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations; Rules 

SB 112 Involuntary Examinations Under the Baker Act Campbell
Involuntary Examinations Under the Baker Act; Authorizing physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners to execute a certificate under certain conditions stating that they have examined a person and find the person appears to meet the criteria for involuntary examination, etc.

  • Effective Date: 7/1/2018 
  • 8/9/2017 SENATE Filed
  • 8/28/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Judiciary; Rules 

Identical HB 573 Involuntary Examinations Under the Baker Act (Daniels)

  • 11/15/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Quality Subcommittee

HB 177 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs Magar
State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs: Expands eligibility for participation in state group health insurance program & prescription drug coverage program to include water management districts; requires DMS to conduct actuarial analysis to establish premiums.

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2018 
  • 9/22/2017 HOUSE Filed
  • 10/3/2017 HOUSE Referred to Appropriations Committee; Health & Human Services Committee
  • 10/3/2017 HOUSE Now in Appropriations Committee

Compare HB 257 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs (Porter) 

  • 11/08/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction 

Identical SB 364State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs (Grimsley)

  • 11/07/2017 SENATE Now in Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government 

HB 183 Electronic Health Records Russell
Electronic Health Records: Requires contracted vendor to release electronic health care records to another vendor selected by health care provider within specified timeframe; provides for assessment of liquidated damages.

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2018 
  • 9/25/2017 HOUSE Filed 
  • 10/3/2017 HOUSE Referred to Health Innovation Subcommittee; Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Health & Human Services Committee
  • 10/3/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Innovation Subcommittee

Similar SB 578 Electronic Health Records (Thurston, Jr.) 

  • 11/02/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Judiciary; Rules

HB 213 Licensure of Nurse Registries Stone
Licensure of Nurse Registries: Revises provisions authorizing AHCA to impose penalties & fines for failure to cease operation of an unlicensed nurse registry; deletes provisions authorizing agency to deny, suspend, or revoke nurse registry license & impose fines for paying remuneration for patient referrals.

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2018 
  • 10/12/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Innovation Subcommittee 
  • 10/16/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn from Health Innovation Subcommittee; Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee; Health and Human Services Committee 
  • 10/16/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction

Compare HB 597 Health Care Facility Regulation (Yarborough) 

  • 11/15/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Innovation Subcommittee

SB 622 Health Care Facility Regulation (Grimsley) 

  • 11/02/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Appropriations; Rules

HB 257 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs Porter
State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs: Expands eligibility for participation in state group health insurance program & prescription drug coverage program to include Florida College System institutions; requires DMS to conduct actuarial analysis to establish premiums.

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2018 
  • 10/18/2017 HOUSE Referred to Appropriations Committee; Health & Human Services Committee
  • 10/18/2017 HOUSE Now in Appropriations Committee
  • 11/8/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction

Compare HB 177 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs (Magar) 

  • 10/03/2017 HOUSE Now in Appropriations Committee 

SB 364 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs (Grimsley)

  • 11/07/2017 SENATE Now in Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government

SB 364 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs Grimsley
State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs; Authorizing a water management district to participate in the state group health insurance program and the prescription drug coverage program upon the affirmative vote of a district’s governing board; providing that monthly premium amounts be based on an actuarial analysis conducted by the Department of Management Services; requiring small counties, small municipalities, district school boards, and water management districts participating in the programs to bear the costs of the actuarial analysis, etc.

  • Effective Date: 7/1/2018 
  • 10/30/2017 SENATE On Committee agenda - Governmental Oversight and Accountability,11/07/17, 10:00 am,
  • 401 S 11/7/2017 SENATE Favorable by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; 7 Yeas, 0 Nays
  • 11/7/2017 SENATE Now in Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government

Compare HB 257 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs (Porter) 

  • 11/08/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction

Identical HB 177 State Group Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Programs (Magar) 

  • 10/03/2017 HOUSE Now in Appropriations Committee 

SB 458 Controlled Substance Prescribing Bean
Controlled Substance Prescribing; Limiting an initial prescription for a controlled substance that is an opioid to a 7-day supply; providing exceptions to supply limits for certain patients; requiring a health care practitioner who is authorized to prescribe controlled substances to complete a continuing education course as a condition of initial licensure and biennial licensure renewal, etc.

  • Effective Date: 7/1/2018 
  • 10/9/2017 SENATE Filed
  • 10/25/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations; Rules

Compare SB 8 Controlled Substances (Benacquisto) 

  • 10/25/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations; Rules 

HB 21 Controlled Substances (Boyd) 

  • 10/26/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Quality Subcommittee

SB 490 Health Care Providers Rouson
Health Care Providers; Providing for offense reclassification if a person is charged with knowingly committing an assault or a battery upon a health care provider, etc.

  • Effective Date: 10/1/2018
  • 10/10/2017 SENATE Filed
  • 10/13/2017 SENATE Withdrawn prior to introduction

Similar HB 101 Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers (Baez) 

  • 10/12/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction 

SB 742 Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers (Grimsley) 

  • 11/15/2017 SENATE Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations; Rules 

HB 561 Diabetes Educators Plasencia
Diabetes Educators: Revises definition of "health care practitioner" to include diabetes educators; creates part XVII of ch. 468, F.S., entitled "Diabetes Educators"; provides legislative findings & intent; provides requirements for registration as diabetes educator; requires DOH to renew registration; requires DOH to adopt rules for biennial renewal of registrations; requires DOH to establish specified fees; prohibits unregistered person from certain activities relating to diabetes self-management training; provides exemptions; authorizes DOH to take disciplinary action against applicant or registrant for specified violations.

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2018 
  • 11/7/2017 HOUSE Filed 
  • 11/15/2017 HOUSE Referred to Health Quality Subcommittee; Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee; Health & Human Services Committee 11/15/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Quality Subcommittee

Similar SB 758 Diabetes Educators (Gibson) 

  • 11/15/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Appropriations

HB 573 Involuntary Examinations Under the Baker Act Daniels
Involuntary Examinations Under the Baker Act: Authorizes physician assistants & ARNPs to execute certificate under certain conditions stating that they have examined a person & find person appears to meet criteria for involuntary examination.

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2018 
  • 11/8/2017 HOUSE Filed 
  • 11/15/2017 HOUSE Referred to Health Quality Subcommittee; Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Health & Human Services Committee
  • 11/15/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Quality Subcommittee

Identical SB 112 Involuntary Examinations Under the Baker Act (Campbell) 

  • 08/28/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Judiciary; Rules 

SB 708 Performance of Physician Assistants and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners Brandes
Performance of Physician Assistants and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners; Authorizing a physician assistant to sign, certify, stamp, verify, or endorse a document that requires the signature, certification, stamp, verification, or endorsement of a physician; authorizing an advanced registered nurse practitioner to sign, certify, stamp, verify, or endorse a document that requires the signature, certification, stamp, verification, or endorsement of a physician within the framework of an established protocol and under supervision, etc.

  • Effective Date: 7/1/2018 
  • 10/31/2017 SENATE Filed 
  • 11/8/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Judiciary; Rules

SB 742 Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers Grimsley
Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers; Defining the term “health care provider”; providing for the reclassification of certain assault and battery offenses committed on health care providers, etc.

  • Effective Date: 10/1/2018
  • 11/2/2017 SENATE Filed 
  • 11/15/2017 SENATE Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations; Rules 

Similar SB 490 Health Care Providers (Rouson) 

  • 10/13/2017 SENATE Withdrawn prior to introduction 

Identical HB 101 Assault or Battery on Health Care Providers (Baez) 

  • 10/12/2017 HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction

SB 758 Diabetes Educators Gibson
Diabetes Educators; Redefining the term “health care practitioner” to include diabetes educators; creating part XVII of ch. 468, F.S., entitled “Diabetes Educators”; providing requirements for registration as a diabetes educator; prohibiting an unregistered person from certain activities relating to diabetes self-management training; authorizing the department to take disciplinary action against an applicant or registrant for specified violations, etc.

  • Effective Date: 7/1/2018 
  • 11/3/2017 SENATE Filed 
  • 11/15/2017 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Appropriations 

Similar HB 561 Diabetes Educators (Plasencia) 

  • 11/15/2017 HOUSE Now in Health Quality Subcommittee

2018 FNPN Conference Update

Emily Bell, 2nd Vice President Education

The FNPN 2018 conference committee is busy at work preparing for the 2018 conference. We will be sending out a “Save the Date” as soon as we confirm our venue. Stay tuned for further details!


Job Announcements!

There have been many new job postings around the state on our web site at www.fnpn.org for those of you that may have an interest. On our new website, the most recent postings are on the front page. A new feature will allow postings to be visible for 90 days. Please feel free to pass this along to your colleagues who may be interested in it as well, or who may have an interest in finding out more about our network. For those of you that have found jobs on our website, please be sure to let us know!

Do you know an employer who might find the FNPN Job posting a worthwhile site? If so, please be sure to tell them about the website and the fact that on average 20 or more jobs are posted each month. The traffic to our website is incredible and we have more and more folks seeking employment through this site than ever before. Let them know you saw it on the FNPN Website!


News You Can Use

The Florida NP Network has taken the next step to keep our members informed. Keep abreast of changes in your practice around the state and around the nation. You can join us today on Facebook under Florida Nurse Practitioner and Twitter under FloridaNP. We hope to hear from you.

NSO has just published a *NEW* NP Case Study!

  • Nurse Practitioners Medical Malpractice - Case Study with Risk Management Strategies: Failure to obtain an adequate medical history, Failure to establish a differential diagnosis, Failure to order tests and imagery on a stat basis. Click here to read NSO’s new NP Case Study!

FNPN is excited to share the NCSBN National Video

  • CE Broker
  • Did you know that full members can get a discount to CE Broker?
  • Click here to find out more

Register for the "Safe and Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances" course

  1. Below are the instructions on how to register for the online "Safe and Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances" course offered by FNPN and FHA.
  2. Make sure that you create a user ID and password to enter into the "Student ID" area.
  3. You must download the content in order to get to the exam. Once you download the content the exam should appear. 
  4. Please contact CareLearning in the instructions for any questions or technical issues.

Thank you for your continued support of FNPN. We are proud to offer this course for a nominal fee ($5.00) as our way of supporting our members.

First-time Registration – FHA/FNPN Members:

  1. Click Here
  2. Click “New Student Enrollment”, enter the required information and click “Submit”. Create a user ID and password to input into the "student ID" area.
  3. From the Student Main Menu click “Course Catalog (Register for a Course)”
  4. Click the course title “Safe, Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances”
  5. Click the “Register” button and enter your credit card information
  6. Click “Back to Student Main Menu” to access the course

First-time Registration – Non-FHA/FNPN Members:

  1. Click Here then click “Course Catalog”
  2. If you are asked to enter the state in which you are employed, select “Florida”.
  3. Click the category “Safe, Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances”
  4. Click the course title “Safe, Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances”
  5. Click the “Register” button
  6. Click “New Student Enrollment”, enter the required information and click “Submit” (Organization: “Florida Hospital Association”. No enrollment key is necessary.)
  7. Enter the additional optional information and click Submit.
  8. Enter your credit card information
  9. Click “Back to Student Main Menu” to access the course

To Return to the Student Main Menu (Classroom):

  1. Click Here
  2. Click Student Login
  3. Enter your Student ID and Password and click “Enter”
  4. You must download the content in order to get to the test questions.

Need Help? Contact careLearning at 866-617-3904 or support@carelearning.com


Comments

Patricia Perry almost 6 years ago

Thank you all for the hard work and dedication to the advancement of our profession in Florida.


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