The Oklahoma Board of Nursing

On November 1st, 2016 I had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Katherine M. Sawyer RN, BSN of Owosso, Michigan. Katherine, a female nurse who has worked in the nursing field for thirty-six years began her nursing career at Ingham Medical where she was a full-time staff-nurse for three years; then worked as a per-diem staff-nurse for eleven years. After working at Ingham for a total of fourteen years, Katherine obtained a position at Memorial Healthcare in Owosso where she worked as a nurse educator for fifteen years. Shortly after this she became a Basic Life Saving (BLS) instructor as her main role as a nurse educator was to provide nursing orientation and this additional role fit in perfectly. After some time she became involved in Quality Improvement for four years, and she has now switched back to the nurse educator role where she once again has the role of nursing orientation for Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Patient Care Techs (PCTs). The number of staff she teaches and orientates each month varies between one and ten individuals. She also teaches BLS and First Aid at Baker College of Owosso. Her contact information is as follows: Phone number (989) 413-1974 and e-mail address kmsawyer521@gmail.com. The purpose of this paper is to inform the reader of Sawyer’s role in the nursing profession as a nurse leader. Individuals will learn of Sawyer’s many different roles, responsibilities, and the organizational structure of Memorial

The Professional Nursing Organizations and Regulatory Agencies for Nursing are what nursing professionals look to for standards, guidance, support, rules and regulations, along with licensure and discipline if necessary. One example of a professional nursing organization (PNO) would be the American Nurses Association (ANA). The role of the ANA includes: promotion/ development of the nursing profession, involvement with legislation and policy making, supporting the nurse in order for the nurse to provide quality care for the those receiving care. The mission statement of the ANA is simple and direct... "nurses advancing our profession to improve health

Nursing is a health care practice that is more directed onto care of individuals by ensuring their recovery and quality assurance in health. Their scope of practice is differentiated by their approach methodologies. Nursing has diversified and in response to the rise of practice, prior education and training is now effected in many states in America. One of the states, Kentucky, has well-established schools, frontier schools, and colleges to facilitate the dependability of nursing practitioners. In conjunction to the status requirements of nursing and certification of the American nurses Association, the state of Kentucky has formed the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a Commonwealth agency of Kentucky. The board is a distinctive entity in the nursing profession whose objective is to protect the public's health welfare through the development and reinforcement of laws and regulations that govern safe health practice through nursing.

This organization was designed to secure the services of prominent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters relating to the health of the public. “The Institute acts to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education” (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010, p. 5) In October 2010, The IOM (Institute of Medicine) released the report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. This report examines the changing roles of nursing in healthcare, changes in nursing education and

Professional organizations play important roles in regulating professional practice and supporting, the role of State Boards of Nursing in their roles. Professional organizations and associations in nursing are critical for generating the energy, flow of ideas, and proactive work needed to maintain a healthy profession that advocates for the needs of its clients and nurses, and the trust of society (Matthews, 2012). The characteristics and role of the history of professional nursing organizations, is the advocacy activities, of professional nursing organizations, directly related to the State Boards of nursing and practice (Health Care Reform, 2017 and Matthews, 2012)

The Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report on The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health acknowledges the changing healthcare sector in the US and describes future vision of healthcare and the role of nurses to fulfill that vision. The United States always strives to provide affordable and quality healthcare to the entire population of the country. In order to achieve this goal an overall restructuring of the healthcare system was necessitated. Nurses are considered to be the central part of the healthcare system to provide high quality and safe patient care. Nursing in the US is the single largest segment of the healthcare workforce with almost 3 million nurses working in different areas across the county. The changing

Nursing satisfaction has criteria for change; as documented in the Future of Nursing’s report, by the Institute of Medicine in cooperation with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations’, Campaign for Action. (IOM, 2010) (RWFF, 2010) Both reports lay the groundwork that influences NC current nursing shortage. At the same time; to make health care more affordable, the Affordable Care Act was entered into law (ACA, 2010). Additionally, hospitals and other health care facilities are applying for, and meeting criteria for accreditation and is very clear about implementing a mandatory, entry level, BSN

The Virginia Board of Nursing has one main purpose: to keep the general public safe. There are twelve volunteer board members who carry the responsibility of giving a defendant a chance to explain the motive for their actions that merited the Formal Hearing. The board takes the time to listen to witnesses, investigators, and other pertinent persons that are involved in the case. They will then go into a closed session and make a collaborative decision whether the defendant is safe and competent to practice under their nursing license.

Registered nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, and make up the largest number of healthcare professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) “The employment rate for registered nurses is expected to grow by 16% between 2014 and 2024”. This is more than double the average rate of growth for a profession. The rapid growth rate can be attributed in part to better management of chronic diseases and the baby boomer generation. The growth in the nursing profession is paramount, however the demographics of the nursing population does not mirror the demographics of the population served.

Nurses join professional nursing organizations to “have a voice in issues that affect nursing practice and to stay current in their field of specialty” (UC Davis Medical Center, 2016).

Healthcare systems and the way safe, quality health care is delivered are continually changing to better serve patients and communities. Professional nursing practice is a large component in the healthcare system today. Back in the 1960s, professional nursing leaders tried to adopt the bachelor degree programs as the only educational track to become a registered nurse (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Due to nursing shortages and demands this motive did not hold fast. Individuals entering the nursing profession today must first decide which educational pathway to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

The meeting I attended was the Arizona State Board of Nursing via livestream on September 17, 2015. This meeting is open to the public to attend or watch online livestream which is what I did. The members of attendance were: Board President Randy C. Quinn, RN, MSN, CRNA, Board Vice President Carolyn Jo McCormies, RN, MS, FNP-BC, Board Secretary Terri Berrigan, LPN, C-AL, and Board Members Lori A. Gutierrez, BS, RN-C, DON-CLTC, CBN, Jana Machesky, LPN, Kathryn L. Busby, J.D., Dr. Kimberly A. Post, DPN, MBA/HCM, RN, NEA-BC, M. Shawn Harrell, RN, MS, and lastly Melinda Pheanis Preston, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC. According to the Arizona Board of Nursing mission statement their organization protects and promotes the welfare of the public ensuring that each person holding a nursing license of the practice of nursing license or certificate is competent to practice safely (“Mission Statement,” n.d.). The purpose of these board meetings is to discuss any regulations that need investigating so they keep the nursing standards to protect the public. This involves bringing forth nurses to discuss any disciplinary actions that have been brought up against them or that needs further review.

There is a shortage of all health care professions throughout the United States. One shortage in particular that society should be very concerned about is the shortage of Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses make up the single largest healthcare profession in the United States. A registered nurse is a vital healthcare professional that has earned a two or four year degree and has the upper-most responsibility in providing direct patient care and staff management in a hospital or other treatment facilities (Registered Nurse (RN) Degree and Career Overview., 2009). This shortage issue is imperative because RN's affect everyone sometime in their lifetime. Nurses serve groups, families and individuals to foster

The College of Nurses of Ontario’s mission statement is to “protect the public’s right to quality nursing services by providing leadership to the nursing profession in self-regulation” (CNO, 2012). The College of Nurses recognizes that self-regulation is a privilege granted by proving that they are capable of putting the interests of the public before their own. By establishing a number of requirements for entry to practice, articulating and promoting practice standards, administering quality assurance, and enforcing standards of practice and conduct, the College fulfills it’s

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a full-service professional organization that symbolizes the interests of registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations. The ANA implements the nursing profession by raising high standards of nursing practice, honoring the rights of nurses in the work field, promoting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by pushing the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. Their mission statement is, “Nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all.” Some of ANA’s main focuses are reformation of the health care system so that it delivers primary health care in the communities, growing roles for