College of Nursing Faculty Member Testifies on Capitol Hill
University of Kentucky College of Nursing Professor Sheila D. Melander, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC, FCCM, FAANP and president of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), presented testimony to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Committee for the Evaluation of the Impact of the Institute of Medicine Report: The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, on May 28 in Washington.
“It is essential that the IOM gets this report right, as it is the blueprint for the future of nursing,” said Dr. Janie Heath, dean of the UK College of Nursing. “I feel a great sense of confidence and gratitude that one of our own faculty members is helping to ensure that the nursing profession is a key driver in rebuilding our health care system.”
Dr. Melander presented NONPF’s concerns about including nurse practitioner graduates in the report’s Recommendation #3 – “Implement Nurse Residency Programs,” which reads:
State boards of nursing, accrediting bodies, the federal government and health care organizations should take actions to support nurses’ completion of a transition-to-practice program (nurse residency) after they have completed a prelicensure or advanced practice degree program, or when they are transitioning into new clinical practice areas.
Dr. Melander and her colleagues in NONPF believe that nurse practitioner graduates are prepared to be fully licensed providers at graduation and that there is no data to support the need for added academic, clinical or supervisory hours to ensure safe patient care. “Requirement or broad promotion of a formal program after graduation is not necessary and would create higher costs and new additional barriers to building the provider workforce.”
“I fully support NONPF’s stand on this issue,” said Dr. Heath. “These are powerful and bold words that will help ensure that there are no unintended consequences for nurse practitioners in the IOM Report.”
According to the IOM the U.S. has the opportunity to transform its health care system. “Nurses are fully capable of having a fundamental role in this transformation with their unique knowledge set and unique point of view. However, the power to improve the current regulatory, business, and organizational conditions does not rest solely with nurses; government, businesses, health care organizations, professional associations, and the insurance industry all must work together. These many diverse parties can help ensure that the health care system provides seamless, affordable, quality care that is accessible to all and leads to improved health outcomes.”
A Webcast of the May 28 meeting in its entirety is available here.
The NONPF testimony is available to read here.
