The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta has released three new learning modules in response to nurses' and student nurses' demonstrated learning needs related to working with older people. The modules ficus on communication with older people, especially those with dementia; care of clients with continence and mobility issues; and understanding cognitive impairment and managing associated responsive behaviors.
October 13, 2022
BC proposes single regulator for lawyers, notaries and paralegals
The British Columbia government has released a proposal to create a single regulator for lawyers, notaries, and--for the first time in BC--paralegals, with the intention of making it easier and more affordable for the public to access legal services and advice. The Ministry of the Attorney General has had meetings with the Law Society of British Columbia, the BC Notaries Association, and the BC Paralegals Association. Key reforms in the intentions paper include a single regulator for all current and future legal service providers that would establish requirements and standards of practice, an election/appointment process to ensure that the board reflects all British Columbians, an adaptable licensing system to respond to the changing legal landscape, a focus on the public interest rather than membership-driven, and culturally safe support within the complaints process.
October 05, 2022
California releases proposed regulations on NP scope of practice
The California Board of Registered Nursing has released proposed regulations for two new categories of nurse practitioners with expanded scope of practice and independent authority. In order to qualify for the expanded scope, NPs would have to complete 4600 hours of clinical practice in direct patient care in the category in which the NP seeks certification. Written comments on the proposed regulations are being accepted through November 1 prior to adoption of the regulations.
Calls for better integrated care between mental health and substance use treatment
Concerns are being raised in New Hampshire about the need to better integrate care for mental health issues and substance use disorders. Research at the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that 50% of people who experience substance use disorder also experience mental health disorders, and vice versa. Calls are being made for more education on mental health for drug and alcohol counselors and more education on addiction for mental health providers. Concern has also been raised about the silo-ing effect of different licensing boards overseeing the two fields.
Continuing Education Provider Sues Certifying Board on Antitrust Grounds
from guest contributor Don Balasa:
On September 13, 2022, the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA), a national provider of continuing education for surgical assistants, sued the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), a national board that certifies surgical technologists and surgical assistants, in federal district court alleging that the NBSTSA violated the federal and Colorado antitrust laws that prohibit unreasonable restraint of trade and monopolizing.
September 28, 2022
Case Study: Collaborative Leadership Exemplars
Abstract
Introduction: Interprofessional collaborative patient-centred practice increases health system efficiencies, enhances health outcomes, and improves both patient and provider experiences. While the actual practice and implementation of interprofessional collaboration may be context specific, individual healthcare professional regulatory bodies are arguably the best positioned to articulate the expectation, obligation and enforcement of authentic interprofessional collaboration as leaders among their registrants.
Methods: This paper describes the collaborative leadership processes that have recently taken place between health professional regulators in Manitoba, Canada.
Results: Two exemplars of interprofessional collaboration in regulation resulted from this partnership: a common jurisprudence module for all participating regulatory partners and a joint practice standard on interprofessional collaboration for patient-centred care.
Discussion: Meaningful collaboration in healthcare regulation among different health professional regulatory bodies is possible where partnerships are authentic and leadership is shared. The positive experiences of these regulatory collaborations have set the stage for future initiatives where collaborative leadership can be the norm.
US House considers Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act
The Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act under consideration in the US House would reduce barriers to practice for nurse practitioners and advanced practice registered nurses, authorizing NPs to "order and supervise cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, certify when patients with diabetes need therapeutic shoes, have their patients fully included in the beneficiary attribution process for the Medicare Shared Savings Program, refer patients for medical nutrition therapy, certify and recertify a patient's terminal illness for hospice eligibility, perform all mandatory examinations in skilled nursing facilities, and more." The American Association of Nurse Practitioners supports the legislation.
Study on physician burnout during pandemic
A survey conducted by the American Medical Association and research partners has found that almost 63% of US physicians had at least one manifestation of burnout in 2021, up from 38% in 2020. Satisfaction with work-life integration was found at 30%, down from 46% in 2020. Professional fulfillment scores dropped from 40% to 22%. The American Medical Association's "Recovery Plan for America's Physicians" focuses on "supporting physicians, removing obstacles and burdens that interfere with patient care, and prioritizing physician well-being as essential requirements to achieving national health goals.”
Tutoring site no longer assisting with cheating detection
The online college homework and tutoring site, Chegg, has updated its honor-code policy such that it will only provide date and time stamp data to universities and testing organizations for their investigations into potential cheating or exam question breaches. The company's past disclosure practices included sharing IP addresses, usernames, and emails with institutions on a case-by-case basis when exam questions or answers shared on the site were suspected of being used for cheating.
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September 22, 2022
Research on professional licensing and insterstate migration
A new research study, "Occupational Licensing and Interstate Migration in the United States," published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Monthly Labor Review finds no evidence of licensing affecting interstate migration. The research question was: "Is high licensing preventing people from moving into certain states?" The research indicates that evidence supporting that statement is weak and that other complex factors, such as where a state is located, the ability to work remotely, and connection to the community, play a larger role.
