Act Now: Contact your legislator through MNA’s Grassroots Action Center
Last night the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard the National Nurse Licensure Compact Bill. In 2011, Gov. Mark Dayton removed or vetoed the National Nurse Licensure Compact language from the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill. When asked “What’s different this year? What concerns of the Governor’s have been resolved?” the chief author, Senator Chris Gerlach (R) from Apple Valley, responded by stating there are more supporters this year. At first glance, one can tell that the growing number of supporters is corporations as this would make it possible for corporations to bring in nurses from other states who have differing, or lower standards for nursing care than Minnesota nurses.
The Minnesota Nurses Association opposes the National Nurse Licensure Compact because:
- It will offer Minnesota nursing jobs to non-Minnesota nurses.
- It forces Minnesota to relinquish local control of nursing practice to an appointed National Board of compact administrators.
- It puts patients safety at risk in multiple ways.
MNA President Linda Hamilton, Vice President Bunny Engeldorf and NNU President Jean Ross all testified last night in opposition to this bill.
Minnesota Nurses stand ready and willing to work with the Minnesota Board of Nursing and employers to explore Tele-health/Tele-nursing issues to address patient continuity of care. However, MNA nurses remain firm in their belief that National Nurse Licensure is NOT the answer for Minnesota.
The committee voted and passed the bill out of committee on a party line vote. The bill now moves to Senate Finance. If the bill moves to the Senate floor you will be contacted to call your legislator and ask them to vote “no” to protect Minnesota jobs, our state’s rights and to protect patient safety.
Finally, the audio/video archived hearing information and link with be posted as it becomes available. Stay tuned to the MNA Blog for more updates!