Legislation/Practice

3rd District Nurses strives to keep you informed about current legislation affecting APRNs as well as keeping you up to date and asking your participation in APRN concerns regarding practice that may require legislation. Currently the MN-APRN Legislative Coalition Committee is actively preparing for the next legislation session.

MN-APRN Legislative Coalition Committee Update

The mission of the MN APRN Legislative Coalition is to improve patient access and choice to cost-effective health care by removing barriers that prevent advanced practice registered nurses from practicing at the highest level of their education and training

The MN APRN Coalition was created following the last legislative session when it was recognized that all APRN groups had similar practice issues but did not have a mechanism to communicate and collaborate at a desired level. All four APRN specialties are represented in the Coalition-nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists. At the initial meeting, a mission statement was developed and group compact rules were established. The rules included creating a mechanism for voting. Each APRN clinical specialty area will have one voting member so that all four groups are represented equally.

The Minnesota APRN Legislative Coalition convened its monthly meeting on June 14, 2010 at MNA Headquarters in St. Paul.  The following is a brief synopsis of important issues discussed at the meeting: 

• The Coalition and the MN Board of Nursing continue to explore next steps to collaboratively work on recommendations for incremental implementation of the national APRN Consensus Model in Minnesota.  The Board’s primary focus is related to Consensus Model components that ensure public safety.  The Coalition’s interest is not only to ensure public access to safe APRN care but to advocate for APRNs being able to practice to the fullest extent of their scope of practice.

• The Coalition steering committee voted to work toward becoming a 501c6 organization so that the Coalition can raise funds for future lobbying efforts.

• The Coalition’s Grassroots Subcommittee presented their plan for setting up an action-alert type of communication system that connects to all MN APRN organizations and informs them of needed membership legislative activity to support future Coalition efforts.

• The Coalition’s PR Subcommittee discussed ideas for increasing APRN visibility in media in order to increase public awareness of advanced nursing practice.

The MN APRN Legislative Coalition considers all APRNs in Minnesota as its constituents and members.  All are cordially invited to come to monthly meetings to hear what’s happening in the state and share your opinions for charting our future.  Meetings are held at MNA Headquarters at 345 Randolph Avenue in St. Paul.  Upcoming meetings are scheduled for Monday, July 12, 2010 and Monday, August 9th.  For more information please contact Mary Chesney, Coalition Chair (chesn009@umn.edu).

Committee meetings are open to all advanced practice nurses and to consultants to the Coalition.  For the date of the next meeting please contact Therese Daniel at 3rd District Nurses 952-920-9860.