Legislative Issues and updates...

May 1, 2009

Subject: Announcement from your AANP FL State Representative
Dear Colleagues,
The Clinical Labs Bill was passed today! In a unanimous House vote, Representative Luis Barcia’s bill was passed.
The bill amends the statute which requires Clinical Laboratories to accept human specimens on the order of an
allopathic or osteopathic physician, physician assistant, dentist, naturopath, podiatrist, or chiropractor to include
orders from advanced registered nurse practitioners. This new law will facilitate the flow of healthcare for Florida's
citizens and permit ARNPs to deliver the best care possible to their patients. The Senate bill was passed by
Senator Fasano on April 14, 2009 on the Senate floor. The bill will now be presented to Governor Charlie Crist.

Subject: Legislative Update - Florida Center for Nursing bill passes
FNA
Legislative Update
Florida Center for Nursing bill passes
Just a few moments ago, the Florida Senate voted unanimously to approve HB 1139 by Representative Yolly
Roberson, RN and Senator Nan Rich. The bill strengthens the language regarding voluntary donations to the Center.
Nurses renewing their licenses online will be provided with additional information about the Center and with a link to
the Center's website. Nurses will be reminded that the Center's existence is dependent, in part, upon their
donations.
We thank Senator Rich and Representative Roberson for going above and beyond on this bill and for their tireless
advocacy for nurses.
The House passed the bill earlier this month, so the bill will now be presented to Governor Crist for his approval.

April, 2009

Feds Designate NP as Unique Occupation
The nurse practitioner profession has finally been recognized as a unique occupation by the federal
government. The Office of Management and Budget announced its 2010 Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) rulemaking in January. In the final document, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives
and nurse anesthetists are each given an occupational designation separate from "registered nurse."

These revisions, the first made since 2000, are in response to nurse practitioners' requests that they be
listed separately from other registered nurses. This is an important milestone for nurse practitioners
because it further defines the uniqueness of advanced practice nursing. To read the SOC document,
click here .

Mary Jo Goolsby, director of research and education for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners,
described how NPs were instrumental in bringing about this change: ". for several years, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics has heard from individual NPs, as well as other APNs, concerned that our
'occupations' were not visible within the broader 'RN' classification." She also explained that AANP has
advocated for this change wherever possible, such as partnering with a contractor to the Department of
Labor to define the NP occupation.

All federal agencies use the SOC for statistical purposes when comparing and publishing occupational
data. State and local agencies also use the SOC, so a common language is more likely to be used, and
the NP role will become more visible among health care roles. Goolsby said she hopes that with time,
the media will consider NPs when compiling data on the fastest growing or best careers for health care
providers.

"It is a very positive change and one that has been in the works for a couple of years, so it's great that it
is now in place," Goolsby said.

2000 Designation by SOC:
29–1111 Registered Nurses ...................................................................