Politics can be defined as the allocation of scarce resources and in health care, this seems to be a constant state of affairs. It is for this reason that the Florida Nurses Association (FNA) and its members are very active in political advocacy. The political program of FNA began many years ago as we learned that many of the issues we were most concerned about were directly influenced by politics. Paula Massey, the former Executive Director of FNA asked Barbara Lumpkin who at that time was involved with our bargaining units to develop the FNA political program. Since that time, FNA has become a recognized force in nursing and health policy issues in the state of Florida. Barbara Lumpkin served at the FNA Lobbyist for 34 years.

FNA has a political action committee, The Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FN-PAC) which is funded by donations from the members of FNA. The PAC interviews candidates based on the FNA legislative agenda and decides whether or not to endorse them. Candidates either come to our headquarters or call into headquarters for these interviews.

FNA also has a Legislative District Coordinator (LDC) program which matches a nurse with a legislator in their districts. These nurses are encouraged to develop relationships with their legislators and to create an open line of communication that allows us to make contact and promote the issues we are interested in during the session and also during the rest of the year. These members serve as grassroots lobbyists who make sure our issues are at the forefront.

We also have a fulltime lobbyist in Tallahassee. Anna Small, FNA legislative counsel is an attorney who also happens to be a Certified Nurse Midwife. She understands nursing issues but is well versed in the political process as well. She is assisted by Robert Levy, another registered lobbyist in Tallahassee who has been with FNA for many years. They monitor legislation and intervene when necessary to move our bills forward or to stop or make changes to bills that may be detrimental to patients or to nursing practice.

We also encourage nurses to be active in political campaigns and to be visible with their legislators. Several of our local chapters have legislative forums designed to network with their legislators and to share the issues that are important to nurses.

While nurses often address issues related to nursing practice, we also advocate for the public good. Some of our proposed legislation affects both nurses and the patients they serve such as a bill that is being considered this year on Safe Nurse Staffing. This bill would require hospitals to form collaborative committees with nurses working with nurse executives to help determine safe staffing patterns for individual nursing units within those facilities.

The ability for advanced registered nurse practitioners( ARNPs) to prescribe controlled substances (which include narcotics) under protocol with a physician has been an issue we have lobbied for over the past 14 years. We have met significant resistance from the Florida Medical Association (FMA) on this because the FMA sees it as an expansion of our practice. They oppose the bill based on several issues, one being increasing prescribers could lead to greater drug abuse. They also question the qualifications and preparation of ARNPs to take on this role. Earlier this year, a Senate Study recommended passage of this bill supported by the fact that 48 other states allow this practice. At this point, only Florida and Alabama prohibit their advanced practice nurses from performing this function. Florida ARNPs contend that they are well educationed at the Master’s Level and have adequate clinical education and experience to take on a role that the majority of nurse practitioners across the country can perform.

Historically, one of FNA’s greatest accomplishments was passing legislation that protected the title of “nurse”. We believe that it is important that the public knows that the person using that title has met certain stringent requirements and is licensed and recognized by the state. Often people working in offices or other settings would refer to themselves as a nurse. With the passage of this legislation, that is no longer acceptable.

Three years ago, the Florida Nurses Foundation formed the Barbara Lumpkin Institute to support the education of nurses as it relates to their involvement in public policy. We believe it is important for nurses to understand that their political advocacy can be just as valuable as their everyday patient advocacy and in some cases, is one and the same.