President's Message:
Dear Members,

I know that this is a little late - but it is still Spring! We have had excellence programs this season and look forward to the next meetings.

The February 4, 2008 meeting focused on "Planning for the 2008 Legislative session," with FNA member Barbara Lumpkin preparing District 8 members about informing their state elected legislators about the FNA Priority Legislation for 2008.

District 8 members participated in FNA Lobby Days on March 11 & 12. Several members continued to do grass roots lobbying while they alos experienced the excitement of being in the Capital. This was a return to our roots in tradition of Political Action Days, a much loved FNA activity. Anna Small and Bob Levy, FNA lobbyists, coordinated an excellent program that benefited the veteran legislative district coordinators (LDCs) as well as the novice nurses who are interested in being part of the FNA advocacy process.

Hope that you will be able to join us in our planned activites and for your to become involved on one of the District committees. Our nomination of officers for the next two years is in progress. Our current officers are:
-President: Jean Kijek
-Vice-President: Mike Jolly
-Secretary: Patricia Stuart
-Treasurer: Kevin Metzing
-Directors: Eileen Moken, Liz Rash, Peggy Stickkney and Karen Yerkes
-Nominating Committee: Linda Hennig, Michele Pedulla, June Robinson and Darleen Stevens
-Program Committee: Mike Jolly
-By-Laws Committee: Linda Hennig and Mary Lou Brunell
-Membership Committee: Loydda Rose Baxter, Darlene Stevens and Eileen Moken
-Public Relations Committee (website and newsletter): Peggy Stickney and Jean Kijek
-Awards Committee: Karen Yerkes and Liz Rash

DATES TO REMEMBER
May 5, 2008
Nurses Week Dinner and District Awards

Nursing Legislation
Anna Small, Esq., FNA Legislative Counsel, reports that our priority bills are filed:

Safe Patient Lifting - SB508-HB471 - FHA, FNA and SWIU worked together to support this legislation which will protect our direct care nurses from injury.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Bill - SB736/HB285 - This bill addresses alternate criteria for CNS licensure fromthe bill introduced last year.

Clinical Laboratories Bill - SB716/HB695 - This bill will add ARNPs to the list of providers from whom clinical laboratories are mandated to accept specimans from.

Improving Patients' Access to Care - SB972/HB515 - ARNPs whose practice location is in medically underserved areas will be permitted to prescribe controlled substances.

HIV/AIDS Education Requirements - HB153/SB646 - Clarification for healthcare providers in certain types of facilities.

School Nurse Services - HB495 - School nurses would be allowed to have certain numbers of epi-pens on hand for use in case of emergency in schools.

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