UAN Nurses

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	UAN Resolutions
Who We Are UAN History UAN Executive Council Constitution Resolutions UAN Affiliates UAN Staff National Labor Cabinet National Labor Assembly Running for Office UAN Calendar Union Member Rights & Officer Responsibilities	2000 Resolution - 001 back to Resolutions Archive Subject: Resolution on Continuing Competence Introduced by: District of Columbia Nurses Association Action: Adopted June 21,2000 WHEREAS, The profession of nursing has demonstrated its commitment to competence through a code of ethics, a comprehensive certification program and continuing professional education, and WHEREAS, Multiple surveys have documented the public trust that nurses enjoy, and WHEREAS, The ANA Board established continuing competence as an ANA core value for 2000, and WHEREAS, The ANA Board's expert panel has proposed a portfolio development process for demonstrating continuing competence, WHEREAS, The Executive Council of the United American Nurses objects to the proposed portfolio process because it disregards the interests of practicing nurses and establishes a burdensome paperwork model, and WHEREAS, The proposed process is incompatible with the desired outcome to promote "self reflection and guidance for maintaining and advancing ongoing professional competence" because the portfolio could be incorporated into discipline investigations, and WHEREAS, The portfolio process blurs the line between professional association and regulatory agencies' roles and responsibilities, and WHEREAS, The involvement by registered staff nurses in this process was inadequate, and WHEREAS, ANA is already in the process of negotiating with external organizations prior to agreement among the membership and the ANA House of Delegates, therefore be it RESOLVED, THAT the ANA Board of Directors be requested to defer all action on continuing competence for at least one year, and be it further RESOLVED, THAT the ANA Board of Directors establish a task force with representation from the UAN and the Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics to develop and propose policies, positions, and plans regarding continuing competence, and be it further RESOLVED, THAT the task force submit an interim report to the UAN Executive Council and the ANA Board of Directors by December, 2000, and be it further RESOLVED, THAT the task force make a final report no later than 90 days prior to the UAN National Labor Assembly, and be it further RESOLVED, THAT no action on continuing competence be considered until the UAN National Labor Assembly and the ANA House of Delegates act in 2001, and be it further RESOLVED, THAT no action on continuing competence be considered until the UAN National Labor Assembly and the ANA House of Delegates act in 2001, and be it further RESOLVED, THAT the task force consider the following questions in preparing its report: What are the consequences for the nurse of either not having a portfolio or having an inadequate or incomplete portfolio? Will the nurse lose her license? If so, what would she have to do to be reinstated? What regulating body will monitor the portfolios to assure compliance - the Board of Nursing, by having a random selection of portfolios submitted to the Board, or will the agency that licenses the health care facilities be required to review portfolios, as they do licenses, to assure compliance? Will ANA become a regulatory body through the portfolio process? How will the peer review requirements apply to the many nurses who work without peers in home health, clinics and community centers, rural health and as independent practitioners? How will the health care facility be required to facilitate this process for the nurse? Will the facility allow time for the nurse to attend CE activities? Establish a peer review process? What will the costs be to implement this new system in direct expenses and loss of patient care time? This project will establish a new regulatory system. Who will pay these costs? Will the RN pay through assessed fees passed on through the Board of Nursing? Or will citizens pay through higher taxes? Many nurses maintain their license but are not currently practicing. How will this affect them? Patient safety is assured by providing clinically competent clinicians. Will amassing a portfolio enhance clinical skills?

2000 Resolution - 001