Your professional association advocates for you all year long!
AAPPN’s advocacy efforts are not limited to the legislative session. Our lobbyists and volunteers follow the rule-making process once bills are passed, attend Nursing Commission meetings, follow participate in stakeholder work groups, and much more!
The Volk Decision: Next Steps
The Bree Collaborative work group on “Risk of Violence to Others” released its final report in January. Among its conclusions, the work group recommended the State legislature clarify the Duty to Protect.
AAPPN’s legislative outreach will join with other behavioral health stakeholders to talk with key legislators to see if there is a viable path to work on this issue during the 2021 legislative session. This will be a provider-led campaign to share the recommendations of the Bree Collaborative and gauge the interest and willingness of key legislators.
Sunrise Review: Psychologist scope of practice regarding prescriptive authority
The Washington State Legislature requested the Department of Health consider a Sunrise Review application under chapter 18.120 RCW for a proposal that would change the scope of practice for psychologists, namely giving this profession prescriptive authority for those with appropriate training.
AAPPN joined with the ARNPs United of Washington State (AUWS) to submit comments on this Sunrise Review application. Our comments included:
- Correcting misinformation regarding ARNPs and other health professionals in Washington State on the application submitted by the Washington State Psychological Association (WSPA).
- Providing clarification to WSPA’s response to questions from the Department of Health. WSPA’s responses displayed a limited understanding of advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) education and practice.
Read the comments submitted by AAPPN and AUWS.
Nursing Commission Subcommittee Meetings
Highlights from the Advanced Practice Subcommittee meetings in June and July.
Nursing Compact
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing will hold its annual meeting in August. At this meeting, changes will be proposed to the current APRN compact to require practice hours for ARNP practice under the compact. It appears that this change is designed to appeal to the states that do not have independent practice by allowing them into the compact.
It is expected that at the annual meeting Washington delegates will propose a motion to exclude these changes and instead create a work group of at least four full-practice states to develop recommendations for a discussion at the mid-year meeting. Oregon has agreed to second Washington’s Motion. Washington wants to be a part of the work group.
Advisory Opinion on Opioid Prescribing
There is confusion as to what “confirm” means in the opioid prescribing rule (WAC 246-840-4980).
The Advisory Opinion will state that “confirm” means both that the ARNP is prescribing naloxone and that the ARNP is providing information to the patient that a prescription is awaiting the patient under the State Health Officer’s standing orders.
The Subcommittee approved that the opinion go to the Nursing Commission for their consideration at their meeting in September 2020.
Procedure B 09.05 ARNP Application Exemption Requests
This outlines a procedure for exemption requests from prescriptive authority requirements, educational requirements, and emergency and permanent rules changes that may have had unintended consequences.
A panel of ARNPs will be developed from the subcommittee to look at applicants who are seeking an exemption. The panel would meet in a closed meeting. This procedure does not require Commission’s approval.