CLEAR

Racism in Nursing report

The American Nurses Association's National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing has released their foundational report, exploring how racism shows up in the nursing profession. The report series

• "centers the experiences of nurses of color in U.S. history and how structural and systemic racism have hindered access to educational and professional opportunities as well as institutional power,"
• "examines power, privilege, and prejudice in nursing today,"
• focuses on "creating equitable and inclusive learning environments [that] will lead to increased access and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff,"
• explores way to "eliminate racism in existing policy" and the need to create "new policies that address past harms and advance the nursing profession,"
• "explores the ethical obligations to develop a culture where all staff and patients are treated fairly," and
• explores how "minority nurse researchers are key to address health disparities and inequities."

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Report on professions: osteopathic medicine

The American Osteopathic Association has released its 2022 Osteopathic Medical Profession report. Over the last decade, there has been an 81% increase in the number of DOs and osteopathic medical students in the US. DOs currently represent more than 11% of all physicians in the US. The report also gives details about the makeup of the profession - with 68% of DOs in active practice being under the age of 45 and 47% of female DOs in active practice under age 45. Fifty-seven percent of DOs practice in primary care, with the remainder in other specialties.

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Public Health Wales report on nurse and midwife health and wellbeing

Public Health Wales conducted a survey in August 2021 assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and wellbeing of nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers.  Seventy percent of respondents indicated that their mental health had worsened during the pandemic, with 50% of scores indicative of probable clinical depression or possible mild depression, with healthcare support workers more likely to report such than senior managerial nurses. Almost 60% of respondents had considered leaving the profession since the start of the pandemic.

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Canada: concern over corporate ownership

As more corporate chains are buying up owner-operated dentistry, optometry and veterinary clinics, concern has been raised about the varied levels of reaction by the regulatory colleges. Disclosure of ownership is one area of concern, arguing that the patient deserves to know who the majority owner is rather than allowing the corporate owner to maintain the clinic's independent branding. Conflict of interest is another concern if a clinic is owned by a company that also manufactures prescribed medical equipment which may then be prescribed even if a competitor's equipment is more appropriate for the patient. Discussions have stalled about reforms to address regulatory colleges' legislated authority over companies.

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Iowa Board of Pharmacy amends technician supervision

As a continuation of practices initiated during the pandemic public health emergency, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy has adopted rules allowing a pharmacist to delegate technical functions of prescription processing to a technician at a location other than where the pharmacist is physically located. The supervising pharmacist will still have access to the system an records being used, and the technician will have real-time communication access to the pharmacist.

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American Nurses Association Racial Reckoning Statement

The Membership Assembly of the American Nurses Association has unanimously approved the Racial Reckoning Statement, which "sets the course for the association to embark on a continual process of not only reckoning with harmful practices and policies but also apologizing to, seeking reconciliation with and forgiveness from nurses of color, and healing of individual nurses and our profession." The effort is informed by the ANA's participation in the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing.

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Prometric LLC Acquires Finetune

Prometric announced that it has acquired Finetune, "a leading innovator in AI-assisted assessment and learning technology across the credentialing, licensure, workforce readiness and education sectors."  Roy Simrell, President and CEO of Prometric LLC, said, “The addition of Finetune to Prometric’s portfolio represents a significant opportunity to not only bring cutting-edge AI content and assessment technology to our suite of solutions but to transform the way organizations address the challenges they face in a rapidly changing learning landscape."

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CGFNS International CEO retires

CGFNS International has announced that president and CEO Franklin Shaffer will retire at the end of 2022. Dr. Shaffer is the fourth CEO in CGFNS's 45-year history, broadening the organization beyond the United States into Canada and New Zealand. The CGFNS board of trustees is launching a global search for a successor.

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NMC consultation on English language requirements

The Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK has launched, and received unprecedented response to, a consultation regarding their English language requirements. Strong English language skills are a required competency for nursing and midwifery licensure. The consultation aims to determine if the current English language requirements are fair and reliable for all applicants, focusing on the approach to testing and whether other evidence of English language competence should be considered.

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Social work licensing compact drafted

Draft language of a social work licensing compact is available for review. The council of State Governments and the Association of Social Work Boards invite public comment on the draft language, with a goal of finalizing language in fall 2022 and releasing model compact legislation to the states at the beginning of the 2023 legislative sessions. CSG is also holding weekly public review sessions to share information about provisions of the compact.

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