June 23, 2005
Rita Munley Gallagher, PhD, RN
Senior Policy Fellow
Department of Nursing Practice and Policy
American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
RE: Comments on the Proposed Language: New Standard HR.1.25 Disaster Job Responsibilities and Proposed Language: New Standard HR.4.35 (For Critical Access Hospitals MS.4.110)
Dear Dr. Gallagher:
The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) is the professional nursing organization representing over 12,000 registered nurses (RNs) who care for patients with chronic kidney disease. The majority of our members practice in outpatient dialysis settings in a variety of roles including the provision of both direct and indirect care to patients on dialysis, management, staff training and development, and home dialysis training and support. ANNAs members represent those healthcare professionals in the closest and most frequent contact with individuals with ESRD, and as such, are heavily invested in how standards for disaster management will impact the roles of nephrology nurses and their patients.
The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Proposed Language: New Standard HR.1.25 Disaster Job Responsibilities and Proposed Language: New Standard HR.4.35 (For Critical Access Hospitals MS.4.110). ANNA supports these new standards as they will encourage / require JCAHO accredited facilities to develop a system to rapidly credential persons who might respond to a disaster. We applaud the proactive approach to these standards.
We want to reiterate that institutional credentialing does not eliminate the urgent need to support the Multi-State Compact for recognition of nursing licensure across all states. We believe this is a critical issue especially in disaster situations when nurses from other states may be called upon to respond to these situations.
In reviewing HR.1.25, we would suggest the addition of social workers, registered dietitians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants as volunteer practitioners.
Very truly yours,
Suzann VanBuskirk, BSN, RN, CNN
ANNA National President 2005-06
cc: ANNA Board of Directors