Nurse Alliance Keeps Pressure on BRN

Insulin Administration in Schools Among Issues Addressed

Nurse Alliance of California representatives attended recent BRN board meetings as part of our ongoing efforts to pressure the Board of Registered Nurses (BRN) around issues that greatly concern RNs.

SEIU staff and members addressed the board and presented a petition covering several issues, including; the importance of raising licensing fees only if it corresponds to improving the work of the board, and using BRN money to hire investigators rather than allowing it to be kept in reserves that the governor can borrow for his general fund. Also, we expressed support for SR25, authored by Sen. Negrete McLoed that exempts self-funded licensing boards from mandated state furloughs.

Jeannie King of Local 121RN also spoke to the BRN about another hot issue; only allowing RNs to administer insulin in schools. The SEIU Nurse Alliance of California believes insulin is a medication that requires two nurse witnesses when administering in hospitals, and is too dangerous to be administered simply by trained school personnel. We joined with several other nursing and school employee organizations to issue a coalition letter supporting this position, addressed to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.

While there are some potentially good changes being made by the BRN, there are other changes being proposed that greatly concern us. For example: the due process for nurses being accused of wrongdoing is being threatened, and the confidentiality guaranteed by the BRN policy for nurses in the diversion program is currently being undermined by the new policy from the Department of Consumer Affairs. Continuing into 2010, the Nurse Alliance of California will keep monitoring the work of the BRN, and keep the pressure on to make sure the voices of RNs are heard load and clear.