Registered nurses from the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association – Political Action Committee (PSNA-PAC), representing more than 215,000 nurses in the Commonwealth, have announced their endorsed candidates for the upcoming General Assembly.

“These candidates have proven their commitment to the inclusion of nurses at leadership and decision making tables,” stated PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “Today’s health care environment needs transformational leaders. This bi-partisan group of PSNA-endorsed legislators and candidates will be valuable in progressing health policy in Harrisburg.”

House Endorsements

Ms. Judy Ward (RN) – R-80

Mr. Thomas Quigley – R-146

Mr. Jeffrey Wheeland – R-83

Ms. Kristen Phillips-Hill – R-93

Mr. Robert McAteer – I-102

Ms. Alice Yoder (RN) – D-41

Rep. Patrick Harkins – D-1

Rep. Flo Fabrizio – D-2

Rep. Jaret Gibbons – D-10

Rep. Ed Gainey – D-24

Rep. Steve Santarsiero – D-31

Rep. Marc Gergely – D-35

Rep. Harry Readshaw – D-36

Rep. Pamela Snyder – D-50

Rep. Ted Harhai – D-58

Rep. Kevin Schreiber – D-95

Rep. Mike Sturla – D-96

Rep. Patty Kim – D-103

Rep. Sid Kavulich – D-114

Rep. Gerald Mullery – D-119

Rep. Neal Goodman – D-123

Rep. Mark Rozzi – D-126

Rep. Thomas Caltagirone – D-127

Rep. Daniel McNeill – D-133

Rep. Robert Freeman – D-136

Rep. Madeline Dean – D-153

Rep. Steve McCarter – D-154

Rep. Brendan Boyle – D-170

Rep. Kevin Boyle – D-172

Rep. W. Curtis Thomas – D-181

Rep. Brian Sims – D-182

Rep. Pamela DeLissio – D-194

Rep. Stephen Kinsey – D-201

Rep. Brian Ellis – R-11

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo – R-18

Rep. Tim Hennessey – R-26

Rep. Bernie O’Neill – R-29

Rep. Robert Godshall – R-53

Rep. Jeff Pyle – R-60

Rep. Kate Harper – R-61

Rep. Donna Oberlander – R-63

Rep. Mathew Baker – R-68

Rep. Matt Gabler – R-75

Rep. Adam Harris – R-82

Rep. Fred Keller – R-85

Rep. Mark Keller – R-86

Rep. Sheryl Delozier – R-88

Rep. Mike Regan – R-92

Rep. Stanley Saylor – R-94

Rep. Mauree Gingrich – R-101

Rep. Susan Helm – R-104

Rep. Ron Marsico – R-105

Rep. John Payne – R-106

Rep. David Millard – R-109

Rep. Tarah Toohil – R-116

Rep. Karen Boback – R-117

Rep. Mike Tobash – R-125

Rep. Mark Gillen – R-128

Rep. Jim Cox – R-129

Rep. David Maloney – R-130

Rep. Frank Farry – R-142

Rep. Marguerite Quinn – R-143

Rep. Katharine Watson – R-144

Rep. Mike Vereb – R-150

Rep. Todd Stephens – R-151

Rep. Thomas Murt – R-152

Rep. Stephen Barrar – R-160

Rep. Joe Hackett – R-161

Rep. William Adolph – R-165

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff – R-171

Rep. Scott Petri – R-178

Rep. Julie Harhart – R-183

Rep. Seth Grove – R-196

Senate Endorsements

Mr. Robin Gilchrist (R.N.) – R-4

Rep. Deb Kula – D-32

Rep. Mario Scavello – R- 40

Rep. Michele Brooks – R-50

Sen. Tommy Tomlinson – R-6

Sen. Chuck McIllhinney – R-10

Sen. Stewart Greenleaf – R-12

Sen. John Yudichak – D-14

Sen. Pat Browne – R-16

Sen. John Blake – D-22

Sen. John Rafferty – R-44

Sen. Mike Folmer – R-48

Sen. Lisa Baker – R-20

Sen. Jake Corman – R-34

Sen. Randy Vulakovich – R-38

The American Nurses Association (ANA) opposes the mandatory quarantine of health care professionals who return to the United States from West African nations where Ebola is widespread. ANA supports registered nurse Kaci Hickox, who recently returned to the United States after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, in her challenge of a 21-day quarantine imposed by state officials in Maine, her home state. Hickox arrived at Newark airport on Oct. 24 and was immediately quarantined in a hospital tent by New Jersey state officials, who eventually allowed her to travel to Maine via private transport on Oct. 27. After testing negative twice for Ebola, nurse Hickox, who continues to be symptom free, poses no public threat yet is restricted to her home.

ANA, along with the American Hospital Association and American Medical Association, supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance based on the best available scientific evidence. The CDC guidance would not require a mandatory 21-day quarantine of Hickox given risk levels outlined by the CDC in her particular case. ANA urges authorities to refrain from imposing more restrictive conditions than indicated in the CDC guidelines, which will only raise the level of fear and misinformation that currently exists.

ANA supports a policy of appropriate monitoring for health care workers who have cared for or been in contact with patients with Ebola. Those who are not exhibiting symptoms of illness consistent with Ebola do not require quarantine. Monitoring should follow recommendations outlined by the CDC based on risk levels and the presence or absence of symptoms, including regular monitoring of body temperature and oversight by a public health agency. If symptoms do occur, the appropriate next step is isolation and transport to a medical facility for further evaluation. ANA seeks to balance protection of public health and safety with individual liberties. Policies to protect the public from the transmission of Ebola must be based on evidence and science, not fear.

Mandatory quarantine for individuals who do not have symptoms or risk factors is not backed by science. Such actions undermine efforts to recruit sufficient numbers of volunteer nurses and other health care professionals, who are essential to help contain the spread of the disease in West Africa.

ANA’s position emphasizing evidence and science as the foundation for decision-making extends to proposals to ban travel to the United States from West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak. There is no evidence to suggest that a travel ban would be effective; public health experts oppose it. In fact, a ban could be counterproductive, encouraging individuals to try to circumvent reporting and other systems. ANA supports the current requirement that those traveling to the U.S. from affected nations in West Africa, including health care professionals who have provided care to Ebola patients, once they have passed initial screening, engage in monitoring according to CDC guidelines and reporting to their respective public health agencies.”

Statement: Attributable to ANA President Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) opposes the mandatory quarantine of health care professionals who return to the United States from West African nations where Ebola is widespread. ANA supports registered nurse Kaci Hickox, who recently returned to the United States after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, in her challenge of a 21-day quarantine imposed by state officials in Maine, her home state. Hickox arrived at Newark airport on Oct. 24 and was immediately quarantined in a hospital tent by New Jersey state officials, who eventually allowed her to travel to Maine via private transport on Oct. 27. After testing negative twice for Ebola, nurse Hickox, who continues to be symptom free, poses no public threat yet is restricted to her home.

ANA, along with the American Hospital Association and American Medical Association, supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance based on the best available scientific evidence. The CDC guidance would not require a mandatory 21-day quarantine of Hickox given risk levels outlined by the CDC in her particular case. ANA urges authorities to refrain from imposing more restrictive conditions than indicated in the CDC guidelines, which will only raise the level of fear and misinformation that currently exists.

ANA supports a policy of appropriate monitoring for health care workers who have cared for or been in contact with patients with Ebola. Those who are not exhibiting symptoms of illness consistent with Ebola do not require quarantine. Monitoring should follow recommendations outlined by the CDC based on risk levels and the presence or absence of symptoms, including regular monitoring of body temperature and oversight by a public health agency. If symptoms do occur, the appropriate next step is isolation and transport to a medical facility for further evaluation. ANA seeks to balance protection of public health and safety with individual liberties. Policies to protect the public from the transmission of Ebola must be based on evidence and science, not fear.

Mandatory quarantine for individuals who do not have symptoms or risk factors is not backed by science. Such actions undermine efforts to recruit sufficient numbers of volunteer nurses and other health care professionals, who are essential to help contain the spread of the disease in West Africa.

ANA’s position emphasizing evidence and science as the foundation for decision-making extends to proposals to ban travel to the United States from West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak. There is no evidence to suggest that a travel ban would be effective; public health experts oppose it. In fact, a ban could be counterproductive, encouraging individuals to try to circumvent reporting and other systems. ANA supports the current requirement that those traveling to the U.S. from affected nations in West Africa, including health care professionals who have provided care to Ebola patients, once they have passed initial screening, engage in monitoring according to CDC guidelines and reporting to their respective public health agencies.”

Statement: Attributable to ANA President Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

The Pennsylvania Action Coalition’s Northwest Region is excited to announce Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR, FAAN, as the Keynote Speaker at their Town Hall on November 14, 2014 (2-4 pm). This event will be held at UPMC Hamot Heart Institute (Rooms 2 and 3). RSVP by November 11, 2014 to Corinne Dickson at dicksoncl@upmc.edu or 814-877-2802.

The Pennsylvania Action Coalition’s Northwest Region is excited to announce Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR, FAAN, as the Keynote Speaker at their Town Hall on November 14, 2014. This event will be held at UPMC Hamot Heart Institute (Rooms 2 and 3). RSVP by November 11, 2014 to Corinne Dickson at dicksoncl@upmc.edu or 814-877-2802.

Join @panurses and @psna_gova on Friday, October 31 from 10-11 am for a Meet & Tweet Ebola. Join the conversation! #NurseAdvocacy

On Monday, October 27, 2014, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett held a bill signing for SB 1180, the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program (ABC-MAP) Act. SB 1180, sponsored by Senator Pat Vance (R-31), provides for prescription drug monitoring; establishes the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program; and outlines requirements for dispensers and pharmacists. This bill was passed overwhelming by the General Assembly.

This act will increase the quality of patient care by giving prescribers and dispensers access to a patient’s prescription medication history through an electronic system. Patients will be able to easily obtain their prescription records for purposes of making educated and thoughtful health care decisions. In addition, the prescription drug monitoring system could prevent people from doctor shopping to obtain prescription drugs from several physicians at a time.

“PSNA thanks Governor Corbett and the General Assembly for working to improve patient safety for Pennsylvanians,” stated PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “We are proud to stand alongside the Governor as Pennsylvania continues to advance and support the nursing profession.”

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 218,000 registered nurses (RNs) in the Commonwealth, testified during Thursday’s Ebola meeting with the Pennsylvania House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. PSNA provided comments regarding registered nurse preparedness related to the Ebola virus disease.

Last week, PSNA entered into discussions with the Governor’s office, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Physician General to discuss our State’s coordinated approach to health care preparedness as we monitor Ebola in our nation. In collaboration with the Commonwealth, registered nurses and other members of the health care community are focused on a solution-oriented, collaborative approach to preparedness. It is our goal to effectively manage patient care, keep our health care providers safe and contain the virus in our State.

“PSNA appreciates the collaborative efforts between the administration, legislature and statewide health care organizations,” states PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, RN, BSN. “We are committed to maintaining a leadership role in relationship to this virus and any other public health threats. In addition, we are focused on reassuring the public and our patients of our preparedness and providing up-to-date information to our nursing workforce so that they can continue to provide safe, high-quality care to the citizens of our Commonwealth.”

PSNA also advocates that health care facilities develop clear, standardized protocols for personal protective equipment use and disposal to protect the safety and health of our healthcare providers, patients and the community. PSNA endorses continued use of best practices as it relates to standard infection control practices and following the CDC guidelines on Ebola protocol as they continue to be updated.

The Fall 2014 issue of PSNA’s peer-reviewed journal, Pennsylvania Nurse, is now available exclusively on digital platforms. We invite you to view a complimentary version of the journal and share it with your colleagues! Pennsylvania Nurse is published electronically four times a year. This issue contains three continuing education articles. PSNA members can take all of the tests and earn CE for FREE. Non-member pricing for each article is $10 through PSNA’s Continuing Education Center.

Click here for the Fall 2014 issue!

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 218,000 registered nurses (RNs) in the Commonwealth, have been in discussions with the Governor’s office, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Physician General to discuss the State’s coordinated approach to health care preparedness as we monitor the Ebola virus in our nation.

As our State’s strategy to address the Ebola virus continues to evolve, hospitals and their partners in nursing and medicine are coming together to emphasize that a solution-oriented, collaborative approach to Ebola preparedness is essential to effectively manage care of Ebola patients in the U.S. Ensuring safe care for patients, healthcare workers, and communities demands the combined efforts of inter-professional, state, and federal organizations. In addition to domestic efforts to prepare for and treat Ebola, an enhanced focus on the part of the United States and the international community to contain the outbreak in West Africa is fundamental to stopping the spread of this virus.

Hospitals, physicians, and nurses have the same goals in addressing any Ebola case: to ensure that all hospital and clinical staff are able to safely provide high-quality, appropriate, patient care. We are committed to ensuring that nurses, physicians and all frontline healthcare providers have the proper training, equipment and protocols to remain safe and provide the highest quality care for the patient. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates the protocols and procedures involved with patient care and personal protective equipment, we will review and share updated guidance with our collective memberships as it becomes available.

Our nation’s hospitals, physician and professional nursing organizations remain in communication with one another and with our nation’s public health institutions at the local, state and national levels. We are committed to maintaining a strong collaborative effort to address this public health threat.