Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Care
Internet Edition, August, 1996, Volume 7, Number 7
Copyright 1996, Nurse Practitioner Support Services
Official Newsletter of ARNPs United

Table of Contents

National Council of State Boards of Nursing Update

by Susan Caverly

The in-house attorney for the American Nurses Association, Winifred Carson, made an E-mail announcement on June 26, 1996 that the certifying organizations had gone back to the table with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBON) and an agreement was reached. The ongoing concern from the NCSBON has been the psychometric sufficiency of the existing examinations. They have agreed to accept an external review of the certifying organizations examination processes as a determinant of psychometric adequacy. The certifying organizations are preparing for external review to be conducted before the annual meeting of the NCSBON.

At the same time, the NCSBON will continue to work on the initial stages of the core competency project. This aspect of the project is to analyze the job role of advanced practice nurses. Advanced practice nurses who have questions or concerns about the review or the core competency project are directed to contact their certifying organization and the Washington State Nursing Quality Assurance Committee. However, it appears that there is potential for a positive resolution of the recent conflict. It is also possible that by studying the jobs roles of advanced practice nurses across the United States, we all may better understand the breadth of roles and that this may ultimately provide information that will be quite powerful when discussing scope of practice issues with regulators or legislators.

Annual Salary Survey Inside

by Bob Smithing

For the past three years, a salary survey has been published in ARNP Care. As surveys go, it has continued to be very popular and is now an ongoing process of continuous data collection. The survey now extends across the United States and the results have been published nationally. A database of salary information, which cannot be linked to any individual, is available and is used to publish periodic reports on ARNP salary statistics.

Included in this issue is the current salary survey. Please complete it and return it to Nurse Practitioner Support Services at the address preprinted on the survey. A return address is not required.

Washington State statistics will be published in a future issue of ARNP Care.

Nurse Practitioner Heads the American Heart Association

by Susan Caverly

Marty Hill, a nurse practitioner has been selected as the new director of the American Heart Association (national). When one considers the health related priorities of the American Heart Association, it seems only natural that a nurse practitioner has been chosen for this leadership position. Each and every time a nurse practitioner or a nurse attains a national or state health policy or administrative role, it is evidence that nurse practitioners have become an integral part of the health care system, that there is recognition on either the collective or the individual level of the expert knowledge nurse practitioners possess. Ms. Hill, we thank you and wish you well in your new position.

Value of Pharmaceutical Companies

by Susan Caverly

In a survey conducted by Morgan Stanely Capital International, a Geneva-based company, and published in Business Week magazine as the "Global 100" ranking of the most valuable world corporations; 16 health care companies were noted to be among the "top performers."

Pharmaceutical companies are prominent. Drug companies did well in terms of both return on equity (Glaxo Wellcome was #1) and in terms of market value. The 16 companies listed are Merck, Roche Holdings, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Glaxo Wellcome, Pfizer, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Sandoz, Eli Lilly, Abbott Laboratories, American Home Products, Ciba-Geigy, Astra, SmithKline Beecham, Columbia/HCA Healthcare, and Bayer.

Representative McDermott Champions Medical Privacy

by Susan Caverly

Nurse practitioners who have had concerns regarding the degree to which the privacy of medical records has been eroded are encouraged to write in support of the Medical Privacy in the Age of Technologies Act proposed by Representative McDermott. The intention is to protect the rights of persons who wish to keep their records private unless a waiver is signed.

Exceptions would be made in relation to emergency, public health reporting requirements, and law enforcement needs. Computer safeguards would also be mandated to protect this information from being accessed without release from the individual. Genetic testing and the potential consequences of the information about a persons genetic disorders has led to increased concern about the privacy of the medical records. Senator Pete Domenici and Senator Paul Simon have also drafted bills intended to protect individuals from genetic discrimination by insurers and employers.

In the era of managed care, and managed competition, the necessity of federal laws and regulations protecting individual rights to privacy has become increasingly important. Information systems capacity has blossomed in recent years. The reporting requirements for health care providers to insurance companies regarding diagnosis, prognosis and treatment has become more and more specific. Many nurse practitioners and other providers have long wondered about the ramifications of the level of information maintained in computer banks and the manner in which it might later be used. It is a relief to learn that those in Congress have begun to recognize their responsibility to set parameters for access to and use of health information. One caveat however, is the potential for financial burden that might be imposed should a person refuse to sign a waiver for dissemination of health information. As the system currently works, insurers have the option to refuse to cover costs of care unless all the requested information is provided. Therefore, when we hear more about these bills, it behooves us to consider the true effect of the safeguards described. Will there be a clause that prevents insurers from rejecting claims unless consumers agree to sign any and all requested waivers?

Officers Change

The Executive Committee of ARNPs UNITED has held their annual vote for officers. This realigns some of the responsibilities we share. The current officers are:

We wish all the new officers well as they assume their new roles and we thank heartily those who have worked so hard to move this organization forward. All officers will continue their terms as members of the Executive Committee.

Nominations Needed!

A special reminder to all Gerontologic Nurse Practitioners, Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioners and Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Names of candidates for positions on the Executive Committee are needed now. The terms of office for current members of these specialties expire the end of this year. Nominations are needed by August 31, 1996. Self-nominations are welcome. Submit names to Nominations Committee, ARNPs United, 212 Railroad Ave N., Kent, WA, 98032.

In addition, volunteers are needed to serve on the nominations committee.

Classified Ads

Adult Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner positions available in medically managed weight loss clinic. Positions are part-time and hours are flexible. Main office located in Bellevue, WA with future clinics to open in Lynnwood and Tacoma during Summer `96. Compensation starts at $30/hour. Please submit CV to: Laurie Vincent, Weigh of Life Clinic, 1500 112th Ave NE, #100, Bellevue, WA 98004 or fax: 206.453.8756.

Psychiatric & Mental Health ARNP

Private mental health clinic in Edmonds, WA seeks psychiatric and mental health ARNP with prescriptive authority for part-time position. Salary and hours are negotiable. Call 206.744.1744 for more information.

University of Washington Faculty ARNP

One full-time or two half-time faculty positions available for September 16, 1996 - June 15, 1997. University of Washington, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems. Teaching responsibilities include clinical supervision in western Washington locations and teaching in clinical seminars for first and second year Masters degree Nurse Practitioner students. Clinical and classroom focus for one position is on care of adults and older adults with common acute and chronic conditions. Candidates should have excellent clinical skills in acute care and/or adult primary care and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Send resume and application letter to: Michelle Blanchette, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, Box 357266, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7266, phone: 206.543.3064. Application deadline: August 9. The University of Washington is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer.

Clinical Research Position

Part-time (temporary). Duties: Place IVs in fearful young children in a randomized clinical trial or oral premeds before dental treatment. Process blood samples for storage. TV taping and coordination with clinic staff. Requirements: Speak Spanish, have experience with and like children, be open to learning behavioral techniques used to make children comfortable. Trial will be conducted in Yakima 2 days per week October to December. Contact: Peter Milgrom, DDS, Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, University of Washington. Phone: 206.543.2034. Fax: 206.685.4258. E-mail: dfrc@u.washington.edu

Continuing Education

The Healing Power of Music - Practical Applications for Professionals

August 19, 1996. Location: Harmony Hill Wellness Learning Center, Union, WA. A workshop for health care professionals. Participants will explore a musical solution to healing with the body's own natural rhythms. CEUs available. Ms Hoffman's work may be previewed at Harmony Hill's Wellness Festival, August 17, 1996. For information, call Harmony Hill at 360.898.2363.

American Psychiatric Nurses Association 10th Anniversary Conference Celebration, “Waves of Change in Psychiatric Nursing.”

October 23-26, 1996. Location: La Jolla, CA at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The conference will focus on changes in psychiatric nursing, health-care, and technology. Focus sessions will provide an in-depth discussion of each topic. “How-To” sessions will provide nurses with the skills they need most. The exhibit hall will contain displays from major pharmaceutical companies on the latest treatments. For more information, contact: APNA Conference Department at 202.857.1137.

Pacific Northwest Annual Conference for Primary Care Practitioners

October 24-26, 1996. Location: Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Seattle, WA. This conference offers practitioners an opportunity to validate and enhance clinical competencies, acquire new assessment and management skills, examine critical issues in health care at the state and national level for their impact on primary care practice, foster a strong coalition of primary care providers, and learn about new products, services, and pharmacotherapeutic agents. Contact Continuing Nursing Education at the University of Washington, Box 357260, Seattle, WA 98195-7260 or phone 206.543.1047.

Assoc of Reproductive Health Professionals' Annual Reproductive Health `96

November 14-17, 1996. Location: Nashville, TN at the Stouffer Renaissance Hotel. This meeting will be held in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and cosponsored by the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive Health. Sessions focus on interaction of AIDS and other STDs, diagnostics and the consequences of STDs, contraception, cancer prevention and detection, pregnancy management and the latest in primary care therapies. The method will be lecture style. ARHP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. The credit hours earned will be in Category One of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association. All sessions are also approved by ACNM and CNM for accreditation.

Masters of Science in Nursing & Post-Masters NP Pathways in Family and Adult/Gerontology

Earn your Master of Science in Nursing degree at Seattle Pacific University in our evening and weekend program. The MSN Program is a full (one year) or part-time (two year) program meeting one night a week and three Saturdays per quarter. Flexible packaging of courses and individual tailoring of your MSN degree are only a few of the benefits of SPU's Master of Science in Nursing Program. We also have master-post masters NP Pathways in Family and Adult/Gerontology. For more information, visit our web site at: http://paul.spu.edu/, call 206.281.2888 or 800.899.1769, write 3307 Third Ave West, Seattle, WA 98119 or E-mail us at: msninfo@spu.edu

Basic Colposcopy Training, Advanced Colposcopy, Endometrial Biopsy, IUD Insertion Training, Vulvar and Vaginal Lesion ID Course, Gynecology Review and LEEP/Cryo Training Seminar.

CME Solutions, LLC has been approved as a provider by the Washington State Nurses Association. Contact hours are available for every course. Call Karen Taylor at 206.865.9005 for dates and location. Fax number is 206.865.0616.

Editorial Information
ARNP Care Office
212 Railroad Ave N, Kent, WA 98032
206.852.9042 Fax 206.480.0002
care@nurse.net

Editors:
Susan Caverly, MA, ARNP
Robert T. Smithing, MSN, ARNP
Madeline D. Wiley, MSN, ARNP 		Production Staff:
Melanie Finley, Kelly Libby, &
Pete Mullin
Contributing Editors:
Ted Ritter, MN, ARNP 		Publisher:
Nurse Practitioner Support Services
Please print out and mail completed survey to:Nurse Practitioner Support Services
212 RAILROAD AV N
KENT WA 98032

What's your salary?

Since 1993 NPSS has been gathering information from nurse practitioners in order to better answer questions about nurse practitioner salaries. The information is reported as a composite with no identifying information kept. NPSS publishes salary reports semi-annually. For more information call us at 800.467.7701, E-mail us at npss@nurse.net or visit our web site at http://www.nurse.net/np Bob Smithing

1. What is your zip code at work?

1A. What state do you work in?

2. Select the best description for the community you practice in.
[] City [] Rural [] Suburban (anything not city or rural)

3. Select the best description of your work setting.
[] Self-employed [] Government agency [] HMO Primary care (not HMO) [] Hospital
[] College health [] Reproductive health [] Long Term Care [] NP Program [] Researcher []Specialty care ______________________________

4. Select the best description for the specialty you practice in.
[] ANP [] Acute Care NP [] CNM [] Clinical Specialist [] CRNA [] FNP [] GNP [] PMHNP
[] NNP [] PNP [] SNP [] WHCNP [] other (list) __________________________________

5. How many years have you been in practice as a nurse practitioner?

6. What is your highest academic degree? [] Associate's [] Bachelor's [] Certificate [] Diploma
[] Master's []Doctorate

7. Your gross salary (before taxes) without overtime or bonuses is:
(Only one answer is needed.)

hourly ___________every 2 weeks ___________
monthly ___________yearly ___________

8. How many hours are you paid to work in one week?
[] 32 hrs [] 35 hrs [] 37.5 hrs [] 40 hrs hrs

9. How many hours do you actually work in one week?
[] 32 hrs [] 35 hrs [] 37.5 hrs [] 40 hrs hrs

10. What are you considered? [] Full-time [] Part-time

11. Are you personally authorized to prescribe? [] Yes [] No

12. How much of your time, if any, is spent in a formal administrative role?
[] 0% [] 1% to 25% [] 26% to 50% [] 51% to 75% [] 76% to 100%

13. Are you eligible for benefits, such as paid vacation or insurance, in addition to your salary?
[] Yes []No

if yes, what benefits
[] medical insurance [] malpractice insurance [] vacation [] continuing education [] retirement
[] disability insurance [] other (please list): ______________________________________

if yes, how many weeks of vacation would you get each year as a full time employee
[] 1 [] 2 [] 3 [] 4 [] 5 []6

14. Are you on-call? [] Yes [] Yes, telephone only [] No
if yes, do you receive additional payment for your time on call? [] Yes [] No
Briefly describe your payment. ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

15. Do you receive any productivity bonus in addition to your salary? [] Yes [] No
if yes please briefly describe how your bonus works and how much it is. _______________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your help!

© 1996 Nurse Practitioner Support Services /web/arnpcare/9607

Ad Information

Copy deadline is the second Tuesday of the month prior to publication. Ads may be accepted later then this on a space available basis. Position Available Ads per insertion of less than 66 words are $45, of 66 to 130 words are $75. Continuing Education Announcements per offering for up to three (3) insertions of a BRIEF description are $35, sponsoring organizations of ARNPs United may publish CE announcements at no charge. New Product Announcements per product for one insertion of 130 words or less are $75. Ad Inserts are $480 for one issue. All ads are subject to space limitations and editing. Call for detailed rate information. Mail copy to ARNP Care, 212 Railroad Ave N, Kent, WA 98032. Phone 206.852.9042. Fax 206.480.0002. E-mail care@nurse.net

Please Join Us

You may believe that because this newsletter arrives every month you are a member of ARNPs United. That is wrong. Since 1989 ARNP Care has been sent to every ARNP in Washington regardless of membership status. This is in imminent danger of stopping due to a lack of funds. Remember the number of members is what makes an organization strong and credible with the legislature and others. So join us today. Individual memberships are $150 per year. Lifetime memberships are $1000. Student currently enrolled in a ARNP program may join for $50 per year. Make your check out to ARNPs United and mail it to: ARNPs United, 212 Railroad Ave N, Kent WA 98032.

Member Thank You!

Thank you for being one of the ARNPs in this state who have joined ARNPs United. Without your support it would not have been possible to have hired a lobbyist and had such a successful legislative session in 1995. It is also clear that without your support the organization would not have been capable of moving forward in developing a solid framework to build on the grassroots efforts of the ARNPs in this state. ARNPs who are not members of ARNPs United have received ARNP Care printed on lavender paper to let them know they are not members.

Nurse Practitioner Support Services
212 Railroad Ave N, Kent, WA 98032. Phone: 253.852.9042 Fax: 253.852.7725
npss@nurse.net
Copyright 1998 Nurse Practitioner Support Services