Texas Healthcare Legislation

At least 2 APA citations (in-text and reference) are required for each essay.

a) For the following three professional nursing organizations

1. American Academy of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)

2. American Nursing Association (ANA)

3. American Association of Critical Care Nurses

Provide a brief summary of their purpose, requirements, and any differences in focus, population, scope, or intent. How do these organizations align to your goals and worldview?

– Notes: I am a critical care nurse right now, my goal is to become a DNAP (Doctor of Nursing Anesthetist Practice) by 2030

– Worldview – I am a Christian, I believe in working hard, treating everyone with dignity and kindness, and being a servant leader.

b) Research health care legislation that is being considered in your state. What impact might this legislation have on your future practice? What impact does it have on the collective practice of nurses in your state? How do you envision yourself potentially becoming involved in political advocacy for the profession in your future practice?

– I am interested in the ongoing battle to allow Nurse Practitioners (NP) full practice authority in Texas. If these bills are passed, these nurses would be able to practice independently of physicians.

– NPs basically have the same education, skills, and knowledge as MDs, but the legislation is being blocked primarily becuase some powerful MDs in the Texas Medical Association do not want to recognize that advanced practice nurses are as skilled as they are and they do not want to lose the money that NPs have to pay them just so they can practice. Currently NPs who have independent practices have to have an MD on payroll to technically approve all prescriptions and therapies the NPs prescribe but these MDs do not play an active role in the care of these patients, the NP does all the work and its basically free money for the MDs. Most states don’t limit how many NPs an MD can work with so the potential to for the MD to make easy money without the work or liability is quite high but the cost can be prohibitive to an NP looking to open their own practice.

– This can impact my future practice as a DNAP because if NPs can practice fully within the scope of their education, DNAPs will be able to work closely with them to care for critical care patients. We currently have to work with both Critical Care MDs and NPs and NPs cannot approve all aspects of the anesthesia therapy even if they are the primary critical care practitioner for the patient.

Some links to consider –

https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=50137 – an overview of the issue

https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB1792/id/1914063 – the bill in legislation