NEW YORK NURSE: October/November 2007
WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 Americans die each year because they cannot afford health insurance;
WHEREAS, the United States healthcare system continues to treat proper and adequate health care as a commodity doled out according to the ability to pay, rather than as a social service to be provided according to need;
WHEREAS, access to comprehensive, quality, affordable, culturally competent, community-based health care is a basic human right, not a privilege;
WHEREAS, an efficient equitable healthcare delivery and payment system is needed to eliminate health disparities related to gender, age, race, ethnicity, education and income levels, disability, geographic location, and sexual orientation;
WHEREAS, basic comprehensive health care for all must include, at a minimum, preventive and screening services, primary care, acute and outpatient hospital services, mental health care, rehabilitative services, palliative care, long-term care, and prescription drugs;
WHEREAS, H.R. 676 would protect patient safety by providing to every person in the United States all necessary medical care through a government-supported, single-payer system: therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the New York State Nurses Association expresses its support for H.R. 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act; and be it further
RESOLVED, that NYSNA develop an action plan including the following:a comprehensive program to educate its membership regarding single payer through the various organizational mechanisms at its disposal;
ongoing work that engages the membership to rally around and advocate single payer in work settings and communities; and
an intensification of activity and leadership in the legislative arena where possible and in our affiliations where applicable to organize and mobilize around single payer and universal quality health care.
that NYSNA increase the NYSNA Political Action Committee (NYSNA-PAC) contribution from $5.00 to $10.00 effective Fiscal Year April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009.
(Note: The PAC contribution is a voluntary designation not a dues change, so the increased contribution will not increase members’ dues but will come out of current monies collected by NYSNA.)
Amend Article VIII – Clinical and Functional Practice Units, by striking out Article VIII – Clinical and Functional Practice Units, and inserting the following language:
Article VIII – Practice Focus Groups
Section 1.
a) Practice focus groups are established by the Board of Directors to assist individual members to improve professional practice and development within a specific clinical or functional area.
b) Practice focus groups may be established by the Board of Directors in any area of specialty nursing practice for which the Board determines that there is need and sufficient interest of members.
Section 2.
Each group shall:
a) provide a forum for members for discussion of relevant issues and concern;
b) serve as a source for consultation and expertise;
c) develop positions and policies for recommendation to the Board of Directors;
d) promote adherence to approved standards of nursing practice;
e) maintain communications with other units and councils.
Section 3.
The composition of practice focus groups shall be limited to members employed in or, in accordance with established group policy, directly concerned with the respective groups.
Section 4.
The activities, policies, and pronouncements of each practice focus group shall be in accord with those of this association.
Section 5.
a) Each practice focus group shall have an executive committee composed of a chairperson, vice chairperson, and three members at large. The chairperson and two members at large shall be elected at the annual meeting in the even year to serve for a term of two years; the vice chairperson and one member at large shall be elected at the annual meeting in the odd year to serve for a term of two years.
b) Each executive committee shall be responsible for the business of the group.
c) Executive committee members will serve as the group’s representatives on the NYSNA Council on Nursing Practice.
Section 6. Terms
No member of the executive committee of a practice focus group shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office nor a total of more than eight consecutive years.
Section 7. Vacancies
a) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of chairperson of a practice focus group, the vice chairperson shall serve as chairperson for the remainder of the chairperson’s term.
b) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of vice chairperson or members at large, the vacancy will be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors.
c) Absence from two consecutive regular meetings of an executive committee or the Council on Nursing Practice shall be cause for declaring a vacancy in the position. Such vacancy shall be declared by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 8.
Practice focus groups may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors;
a) upon agreement by the Board of Directors and the respective group that there is no reason for its continuance; or
b) upon determination by the Board of Directors of failure of the group to carry out its objective or to conform to the principles and requirements of this association.
Proviso: Amendments to Article VIII shall be effective at the 2008 NYSNA Annual Meeting.