Ohio Nurses Association Legislative Platform
2009-2011 Biennium
The purposes of the Ohio Nurses Association are to (1) work for the
improvement of health standards and the availability of health care
services for all people; (2) foster high standards of nursing; and (3)
stimulate and promote the professional development of registered nurses
and advance their economic and general welfare. These purposes shall be
unrestricted by considerations of nationality, race, religion, creed,
lifestyle, color, gender, disability, sexual orientation, health status
or age.
Human Rights
To support basic human rights in Ohio to equity under the law.
ONA Supports:
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Equal rights of all individuals.
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A person's right to dignity in all stages of the health care
continuum.
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Improved quality of life for all.
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Protection of the consumer and health care provider from infectious
diseases.
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The right of consumers to make informed choices about health
care.
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The rights of victims in cases of abuse and provision of needed
care for those individuals.
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Equal access to quality health care for all.
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Safe nurse staffing for all patients.
Funding Basic Needs
To support state policies and programs that meet the fundamental
needs of individuals, families and groups.
ONA Supports:
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Appropriations providing all persons with adequate housing,
nutrition, education and a safe environment.
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Cost containment incentives in the health care delivery system that
apply to all providers, all payers and vendors. These incentives are
based on continued review of appropriateness of health care services and
that serve to eliminate significant waste or inefficiency.
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Appropriations assuring essential health care as defined in
ANA’s Health Care Agenda 2005 for all populations.
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Making affordable prescription medications available to all
Ohioans.
Occupational, Environmental, & Public Health Hazards
To maintain standards that protect the environment and public
health.
ONA Supports:
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Assurance of safe water, air and food supply.
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A unified effort against smoking and substance abuse.
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Protection of the public and health care providers from
environmental and occupational health hazards, including
environmental/medical waste.
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Emergency preparedness initiatives in the state of Ohio.
Access to Quality Care
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To promote access to quality health care services for all;
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To promote the role of nurses as qualified providers of health care
services including prescriptive services;
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To promote access to all nursing care services with emphasis on
adequacy and appropriateness of nurse staffing as provided in the
American Nurses Association's Staffing Principles
ONA Supports:
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Utilization of nursing sensitive quality indicators for improved
health care outcomes.
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Direct access by consumers to services of registered nurses.
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Direct reimbursement to nurses in advanced practice roles.
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A variety of options for health care delivery
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Behavioral health services for all.
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Delegation of nursing care to be performed only by registered
nurses.
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Registered nurses in all primary and secondary schools.
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Substance abuse education and treatment.
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Health education for all.
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Access to family planning services, birth control education and
safe health care for all.
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Access to preventive services and early detection screening.
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Clear identification of all health care workers.
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Initiatives that assure both nurse and patient safety, including
safe patient handling, safe staffing, and strategies to reduce medical
errors.
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Leadership in developing solutions to the nurse shortage.
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Leadership in developing solutions to the shortage of qualified
nurse faculty.
Financing Health Care
To assure that the government provides a stable source of funding to
meet health care needs including recognition and remuneration for
services rendered
by registered nurses
ONA Supports:
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Access to affordable health care for all.
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Registered nurses in the forefront of health care changes.
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Development of comprehensive payment systems for nursing
services.
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Direct payment for services to registered nurses or organized
nursing services in both the public and private sectors.
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Professional review of health care services with regard to the
appropriateness and quality of services rendered by all health
professionals.
Funding Nursing Education and Nursing Research
ONA Supports:
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Continuation of the National Institute for Nursing Research.
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Funding for education programs that prepare nurses at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.
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Promotion of private and public funding for nurse education and
research.
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Funding to assist under-represented populations to enter programs
of professional nursing.
Licensure and Nursing Practice
To assure the delivery of nursing care by duly qualified providers as
a means to protect the consumer as well as the integrity of the nursing
profession
ONA Supports:
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Individual professional licensure, as opposed to institutional
licensure.
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Professional nurse licensure for graduates of baccalaureate or
higher degree programs with a major in nursing.
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Continuation of Board of Nursing licensure for all nurses currently
licensed to practice as registered nurses.
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Associate nursing licensure for graduates of associate degree
programs with a major in nursing.
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Mechanisms that would recognize and expand nursing practice.
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Review of the Nurse Practice Act and other nursing regulations for
continued reflection of nursing practice.
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Action to insure affordable professional liability insurance for
all registered nurses.
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Certification through a national nurse organization or certifying
board.
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Ohio's participation in the Interstate Compact for Mutual
Recognition provided the legislation affords adequate protection for the
public and is not used as a means to disrupt or interfere with
employer/employee agreements or relationships..
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To assure adequate palliative care for persons with terminal
illnesses and appropriate pain management for all persons
ONA Supports:
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Sufficient education of professionals and the general public
regarding pain management and palliative care principles.
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The enactment of legislation and regulations that assure improved
access to appropriate palliative care for terminally ill persons and
pain management for all.
Economic and General Welfare of Nurses
ONA Supports
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The economic and general welfare of all registered nurses.
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Fair wages and opposes wage discrimination in employment that may
be based on age, gender, or other similar considerations.
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Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of registered nurses for
illness or injuries sustained on the job.
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Protection for registered nurses who speak out as patient
advocates.
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Safe patient handling initiatives.
Revised by the ONA House of Delegates October, 2007
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