Representative Capps (2006) from California submitted a bill to the U.S. House of Representatives in March titled: National Nurse Act of 2006. Among the bill cosponsors are Ohio Representatives Sherrod Brown and Ted Strickland.

If the bill would become law, the Office of the National Nurse would be established within the Office of Public Health and Science. There would be four primary responsibilities of the National Nurse: (1) provide public education about nursing as a health profession and address issues such as public safety, staffing levels, working conditions, and patient input, (2) encourage nurses to become faculty at U.S. nursing schools, (3) encourage nurse volunteerism where the volunteer activities are promoting public health, and (4) become a national spokesperson for the nursing profession.

The National Nurse would be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). To give you an idea about the structure of the DHHS, reporting directly to the Secretary of the DHHS are the Assistant Secretary for Health and a variety of Directors including those with the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and the Office for Civil Rights.

The Assistant Secretary for Health has two departments: the Office of Public Health and Science and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The Office of the National Nurse would report directly the Office of Public Health and Science along with eleven other offices including the Office of Minority Health, National Vaccine Program Office, and Regional Health Administrators.

Confused yet? The take home message is that our Congress is working proactively to recognize nursing on a national scale. If the law is passed, the National Nurse will be filled by a registered nurse and separated by layers of bureaucracy from the Secretary of the DHHS. However, the function is vital to having registered nurses further recognized as a professional health discipline in the country. Resources would be more readily available to promote nursing and improve the health of the public from a nursing perspective. If you support the Office of the National Nurse, please contact Representatives Brown and Strickland or other Congressional representatives in Congress.

Respectfully submitted,

Gordon Lee Gillespie, RN, MSN, APRN, BC, CEN, CCRN

References

17 June 2006

Gordon welcomed everyone and asked for a review of the agenda. Dee made a motion to accept agenda, seconded by Carol K. and motion passed. Then everyone introduced themselves.

Gordon asked for motion to accept minutes from April meeting and motion passed.

Debbie Schwytzer gave the Treasurer’s report and that we will look at possibly changing banks or accounts within the bank for better interest rate.

Columbus – Deb Zang – having a meeting this next Wed.

Cleveland – Carol Klekota – last meeting was last Wed. with a speaker on infant delivery in ED and looking at having a Symposium and planned a TNCC that had minimal applicants and had to be canceled.

Eastern OH - report to Gordon - having 6 meetings per year, alternating between eve/afternoon, doing fund raising to support members to National conference. Oct 11 Nurses NIGHT OUT and developing Nurses Hero award

Cincinnati – Debbie Schwytzer/Marie - Fort Hamilton completed their participation in the Lunar III study, Symposium was on May 17, about 40 in attendance.

Greater Miami Valley - NR

Heart of Ohio - NR

Lakeshore - NR

Seagate – per Gordon - sending someone as delegate to National, having meetings and latest speaker on infectious disease.

Southern Ohio - NR

IAFN – Deb Zang - meeting in Mayfield Hgts. In April Jamie Farrell spoke about going to India to teach SANE, the group is planning a Symposium in Oct.

EMS Board – Kathy Haley resigned from position in July, looking at replacing her. Gordon submitted two names of ENA members Sherri Kovach and Vicki Graymire.

Trauma Committee on EMS – Nancie Bechtel – NR

Trauma Registry – Vicki Graymire – NR

ONA – Debbie Schwytzer - Nurse Practice committee meeting on July 10; Vicki Graymire and Sherri Kovach’s names were submitted as ONA members by ONA for the Governor to assign a replacement for Kathy Haley on EMS Board.

Trauma – Dee reported that there will be a meeting immediately following this meeting, to address DICE members, some issues from classes, etc.

Communication – Dee - Marie motion to looking into getting web site voting put on our site second by Carol, unanimously passed. Discuss – sending out postcards to notify people that it will be available if we are able to get it established in time this year, if not we will look into getting it provided next year. Gordon will investigate. We will hardcopy the August Newsletter with this information and the Ballot for November election to all members.

Education and Research - Debbie – report on Symposium with income of $5600 and expenses $15,600 - lost 10,000 the major expenses were the speakers from out of town, and pre-conference speaker and giving away ENA memberships. We did meet our goal of giving back to the members. Need new education chair dates for next April 4-5, 2007 at Shriners in Columbus.

Research – Connie/Debbie Schwytzer - NR

Government Affairs - NR

Nurse Practice – Marie – NR

Membership – Marie - 1012 member as of June report, with 5 no chapter assignments probably have about 22 delegate positions, we have 11 signed up with partial reimbursement, looking to have some others who can go

ENCARE – Dixie – 6 Gun safety programs, no one sending her reports. Dee will email her about putting something in the next hardcopy NL.

Deb Schwytzer - Connie needs correct addresses for officers to be able to send out checks, Gordon will get her Treasurers and President’s addresses.

Marie – CEN Grant – she reviewed the requirements, when to get application in and getting the application itself posted to the website. There are no applicants at this time.

Ohio Senate Bill 304 – Gordon reviewed the issues related to education and meeting National Registry certification that is being addressed to the education sites for EMS personnel.

General Assembly delegates – discuss, number of delegates – we have 11 registered by deadline and several others who may be interested to fill the empty positions. We should have about 22 spots. Deb Zang made a motion to give $700 to delegates that pre-registered and seconded by Debbie. Motion passed.

Scientific Assembly Conference Call – Gordon reported on several states who have the most people to attend Scientific Assembly were asked to give input into how we get so many people there, he discussed.

Office of the National Nurse – Gordon discussed, and showed news release.

Deb made a motion we get a piece of jewelry into Foundation for Silent Auction that costs at least $100 - $400. Seconded by Carol. Discuss – unanimously passed.

ENA WEB Stickers – ENA announced that they will provide a link on our website (if so desired) that would allow persons accessing our site to have direct link to National site and enable connections regarding legislative issues and how to contact your legislators to address your concerns/support of these issues

Open Forum –

Ohio Party at National Conference – Gordon will investigate having a site, and notifying Ohio attendees.

Deb Z. made a motion to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,

Dee Hart, R.N, BSN, CEN

President – Gordon Gillespie

Gillesgl@yahoo.com

President-elect – Debbie Schwytzer

Deborah.Schwytzer@UC.edu

Secretary – Dee Hart

deehart185@yahoo.com

Treasurer – Connie Dishon

cdishon@shp-dayton.org

Members-at-Large

Marie Garrison

Don’t Forget our Website:

www.ohioena.org

Visit us often!

Ohio State Council Meetings

Dates for 2006

August 26

November 11

Location: ACEP Offices,

Suite 100, 3510 Snouffer Road,

Columbus, OH

Meeting at 10 a.m.

614-792-0349

Deadline for articles to be submitted

to Buckeye Beat for 2006:

November 24

National ENA Conference

General Assembly September 13-14, 2006

Scientific Assembly September 14-16, 2006

San Antonio, Texas

Greater Akron Area ENA Presents

their Annual Seminar

Strength, Commitment, Compassion

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

At The Wellness Center

of Akron General Medical Center

Fairlawn, OH

Contact: Berni Martin, RN at MartinBt@summa-health.org for a flyer

Or Dee Hart, RN, at deehart185@yahoo.com for more information