From Susan’s Desk: Membership Enables Legislative Advancements

The 103rd General Assembly of Illinois is in session, and ISAPN is working hard on legislation that will make Illinois a true full practice authority state. We took baby steps when baby steps were necessary, and now there’s nothing left to give but to get rid of these last few pieces. We’re so close, and it’s exciting!  

Along with APRN-specific work, we’re partnering with ANA-Illinois on several pieces of legislation to address the nursing workforce challenges in Illinois, including increasing funding related to nursing education and allowing multi-state licenses.

Legislation Advancing APRNs in Illinois

Here are the three APRN pieces of legislation we’re working on.

Senate Bill 199: Remove Consulting Physician Requirement for Schedule 2 Drugs

One of the main pieces of legislation is Senate Bill 199. This bill would remove the requirement for a consulting physician for APRNs with full practice authority and prescribe Schedule 2 narcotics and benzodiazepines.

We know that the consulting physician is really, truly unnecessary. Not only have we proven the safety of APRNs providing care in Illinois since we were first licensed in 2001, but prior to 2018, the APRNs who provide mental health services, especially our psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, have been prescribing Schedule 3 benzodiazepines without routine requirement for physicians to review for years prior to this.

Plus, a peer review process is already in place with the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), which is an effective safeguard for determining if providers need more education on best practices for Schedule 2 narcotics and benzodiazepines.

Big bill. Big win. We need every APRN plugged in and helping to get this done.

Senate Bill 1785: Update Medical Practice Act on Collaborating Physician Specialty

Senate Bill 1785 makes a small change to the Medical Practice Act to align it with the Nurse Practice Act.

This is for APRNs who don't have full practice authority and who have to have a written collaborative agreement. The Medical Practice Act said that a physician collaborating with an APRN must work in the same specialty area. That's not true any longer. It's causing some issues for hospitals. It's a cleanup item, and we need to take care of it.
 

Tax Credit for Preceptors for APRNs

A lack of preceptors is delaying education and increasing the cost of education for APRNs. We need to incentivize individuals to be preceptors.

We’re looking to develop a tax credit for individuals who agree to precept APRNs. These preceptors can be APRNs who precept. This can be physicians who precept APRNs. It’s just saying that if you agree to precept, we’re going to have a tax credit for you. We’re excited about that.
 

Growing Membership Is Critically Important

In full transparency, as an organization, we treaded water like everybody else during the pandemic. We kept doing what we’ve always done, even though our membership fell. We understood that members were making hard choices during a really hard time.

When I look at the numbers, though, I know that we can’t keep offering this level of service and this level of dedication without membership increasing.

Pushing pieces of legislation with 200 fewer members means that we are doing that work without sustainable funding. We are doing it because it’s the right thing to do, but we need nurses to understand that if APRNs don’t financially support this level of work, this level of work can’t continue.

At ISAPN, we feel the duty to do this, and we need APRNs to understand their role in helping get this work done.

If you aren’t a member of ISAPN, please become a member today.
 

Nurses Day at the Capitol on March 7, 2023 (Virtual available)

This one-day event is designed for registered nurses in any capacity—APRN, LPN, RN. The advocacy-focused event is hosted by the Illinois Nurses Grassroots Coalition, founded in 2015 by ISAPN and ANA-Illinois. 

Learn more about the 2023 legislative priorities to advance nursing in Illinois during this critical event and receive in-depth guidance on how to advocate for nursing priorities with Illinois Representatives and Senators.

Finally, spend time at the Capitol meeting with Illinois legislators and implement what you learned earlier in the day.
 

Register today!
 

Getting legislation passed is a team effort, and I hope APRNs take advantage of opportunities to become more involved in the political process.

When nurses join together, we are a powerful force for change. The political work we do improves not only nurses' lives but also the state of healthcare in Illinois. Your involvement through membership and advocacy makes a real difference!