Voter guide for Georgia registered nurses/voters.As good corporate citizens, GNA GNA Ghana News Agency GNA Globewide Network Academy GNA Georgia Nurses Association GNA Galanthus Nivalis Agglutinin GNA Grand National Alliance (Pakistan) GNA Greater Nanticoke Area and its political action committee GNPAC accept their responsibility to inform the nursing community on significant health issues facing the registered nurse. In this election year, this duty of citizenship citizenship Relationship between an individual and a state in which the individual owes allegiance to the state and in turn is entitled to its protection. In general, full political rights, including the right to vote and to hold public office, are predicated on citizenship. is more important than other times. To that end, GNA and GNPAC asked candidates in key statewide races to share their position on certain issues regarding health care in general and nursing in particular. The major candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State School Superintendent Noun 1. school superintendent - the superintendent of a school system overseer, superintendent - a person who directs and manages an organization , Labor Commissioner, and Insurance Commissioner were asked to participate. The format was simple: there was a short explanation of an issue which was followed by a specific question. Below are the responses of these candidates who submitted their replies to the questions. You are directed to review these responses and use this information to guide you as you cast your vote in the November November: see month. 7 general election. Governor: The two major candidates are Sonny Perdue George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III (born December 20, 1946) is the governor of the U.S. state of Georgia. Upon his inauguration in January 2003, he became the first Republican governor of Georgia since Benjamin Conley at the end of Reconstruction in the 1870s. and Mark Taylor People known as Mark Taylor include:
Questions for the Candidates for the Office of Governor 1. ISSUE: A major shortcoming short·com·ing n. A deficiency; a flaw. shortcoming Noun a fault or weakness Noun 1. in the current nursing shortage is the inability of nursing schools to admit all qualified applicants due to the lack of nursing faculty. Some states (for example, Mississippi Mississippi, state, United States Mississippi (mĭs'əsĭp`ē), one of the Deep South states of the United States. It is bordered by Alabama (E), the Gulf of Mexico (S), Arkansas and Louisiana, with most of the border formed by ) have responded to this crisis by raising faculty salaries to attract and keep nurse professors. QUESTION: What would you do as Governor to attract, educate, and keep qualified nursing faculty in our universities as a way to alleviate Alleviate To make something easier to be endured. Mentioned in: Kinesiology, Applied the current shortage of nurses in our state and to avoid projected future shortages? Perdue Taylor There will inevitably need to Two things need to be addressed. be a number of strategies to First, faculty pay needs to be address a nursing shortage in comparable to what many advanced Georgia. But we must have a practice nurses are making. Recent better understanding of reports indicate that nursing salary and working conditions faculty members make 26.8% less by completing a reliable than nurses in the private sector. assessment. We currently do The second thing I would do is not have reliable data to provide incentives for nurses to explain the root of this pursue the advanced masters and problem and the magnitude of doctoral degrees required to teach. the problem. I support the The state should provide financial Georgia Nursing Board's incentives to nurses who promise to efforts to gather teach. I'd favor low interest loans this data. and scholarship grants. We will continue our successful efforts to provide tuition forgiveness and tuition assistance Georgians entering the nursing field. And until we gather reliable data on the workforce shortage, I have also been working with the University System of Georgia and the Department of Technical & Adult Education to enhance Allied Health Training in Georgia. 2. ISSUE: Inadequate staffing, poor scheduling, and/or and/or conj. Used to indicate that either or both of the items connected by it are involved. Usage Note: And/or is widely used in legal and business writing. increased patient loads often create situations where employers demand that nurses work overtime Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. Normal hours may be determined in several ways:
tr.v. jeop·ard·ized, jeop·ard·iz·ing, jeop·ard·izes To expose to loss or injury; imperil. See Synonyms at endanger. patient safety but also add to health care costs. States which have passed so-called so-called adj. 1. Commonly called: "new buildings ... in so-called modern style" Graham Greene. 2. "anti-mandatory overtime laws" show a reduction in such errors and better patient outcomes. QUESTION: As Governor, would you support legislation to permit a registered nurse to refuse an employer's mandatory Peremptory; obligatory; required; that which must be subscribed to or obeyed. Mandatory statutes are those that require, as opposed to permit, a particular course of action. order to work beyond a previously scheduled regular shift, if such refusal REFUSAL. The act of declining to receive or to do something. 2. A grantee may refuse a title, vide Assent; one appointed executor may refuse to act as such. would not jeopardize patient care (for example, not an emergency situation) and the work order is due to the employer's failure to schedule an adequate supply of workers for a particular shift? Perdue Taylor I believe that employees Obviously, we'd hope situations should be treated fairly and like this never happen. My compensated appropriately. biggest concern would be However, like other areas of patient care. If it is not an employment, this is most emergency situation that appropriately handled as a would otherwise cause pain matter between the and suffering to patients, I employer and employee. would support such a refusal. 3. ISSUE: Most experts estimate that approximately ap·prox·i·mate adj. 1. Almost exact or correct: the approximate time of the accident. 2. 10% of all health care professionals are impaired See assistive technology. by dependency dependency In international relations, a weak state dominated by or under the jurisdiction of a more powerful state but not formally annexed by it. Examples include American Samoa (U.S.) and Greenland (Denmark). on drugs and/or alcohol. Voluntary efforts to assist these professionals and bring them back into the workforce are not enough to help all those who need it. QUESTION: In your capacity of Governor, would you earmark earmark taking a piece out of the edge or center of the ear with a punch as an identification mark. The shape of the mark may be registerable under local legislation. funds within the budget for the Secretary of State's Office to be used by the Georgia Georgia, country, Asia Georgia (jôr`jə), Georgian Sakartvelo, Rus. Gruziya, officially Republic of Georgia, republic (2005 est. pop. 4,677,000), c.26,900 sq mi (69,700 sq km), in W Transcaucasia. Board of Nursing to fund adequately a program to help impaired nurses (that is, those nurses who are in a drug or alcohol dependency recovery program) return to the workplace? Perdue Taylor Every fall, in preparation Yes. I think that all of for the upcoming legislative the Licensing Boards could session, agencies prepare be more effective in helping recommendations for inclusion their members. in the annual budget. And we spend hundreds of hours I'd also like to do is set up hearing proposals for a study committee to examine upcoming annual all boards and their appropriations to ensure effectiveness to see how we that taxpayer money is can implement this and other being spent on effective programs, funding assistance programs for the public for each profession. benefit. I am certainly willing to hear proposals from the Georgia Board of Nursing on how we can make improvements in the nursing workforce. 4. ISSUE: Despite legislation passed during the 2006 General Assembly to allow the advanced practice nurse to write prescriptions, the Composite composite, alternate common name for Asteraceae or Compositae, the aster family. composite - aggregate State Board of Medical Examiners A public official charged with investigating all sudden, suspicious, unexplained, or unnatural deaths within the area of his or her appointed jurisdiction. A medical examiner differs from a Coroner in that a medical examiner is a physician. (CSBME) has proposed rules which greatly restrict In the C programming language, the data pointed to by a pointer declared with the restrict qualifier may not be pointed to by any other pointer. This allows for more effective optimization. how the collaborating physician would work with such advanced nurses. The nursing community sees these rules to be so restrictive as to make the new prescribing law ineffective. QUESTION: In the event the medical board does not amend its proposed rules to reflect the intent and spirit of the new law, would you support efforts during the upcoming General Assembly to revisit re·vis·it tr.v. re·vis·it·ed, re·vis·it·ing, re·vis·its To visit again. n. A second or repeated visit. re this new law to remove or limit the role of the CSBME in the APRN APRN Advanced Practice Registered Nurse prescribing process? Perdue Taylor I was proud to support and Absolutely. I have long been a craft the nurse prescribing proponent of granting nurses legislation that passed prescriptive authority and I this year. And it is my intent don't think it should be that we follow the spirit of fettered by too much the law that is on the books. bureaucracy. While I am glad I am actively working that we have taken the with the Composite initial step forward, I'm State Board of Medical disappointed that the CSBME Examiners to come might potentially undermine to resolution on the proposed the spirit of the law. rules. I have submitted Many rural areas benefit from comments requesting the board giving advanced practice to align the rule with the nurses prescriptive specific intent of the authority because there law. It would be premature at are often fewer this point to consider physicians in these areas. further legislation. 5. ISSUE: The Division of Public Health within the Department of Human Resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. has seen significant changes over the past several Years--budget reductions in certain areas, staffing restrictions, and other changes affecting the ability of Public Health to provide health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract to the public. QUESTION: What do you see as the role of Public Health in Georgia? Does your vision include support of Public Health programs designed to improve the health of Georgia's and delivery of basic healthcare to Georgia's indigent indigent 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she cannot provide the necessities of life (food, clothing, decent shelter) for himself/herself. 2) n. one without sufficient income to afford a lawyer for defense in a criminal case. population? Would you support increases for the salaries of public health nurses to make them competitive with other health institutions? Perdue Taylor The role of public health is Yes, I would support such prevention, education, and pay raises. disaster preparedness. Our vision for public health is to accomplish these core goals and to work with primary care providers to ensure access to care for the indigent population. With respect to public health nurses' salaries, the Department of Human Resources is currently conducting a salary survey to better determine the need and opportunity in this area. 6. ISSUE: Georgia has a limited "whistle A simple whistle is a woodwind instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. Many types exist, from small police and sports whistles (also called pea whistles), to much larger train whistles, which are steam whistles specifically designed for use on blowing" statute statute, in law, a formal, written enactment by the authorized powers of a state. The term is usually not applied to a written constitution but is restricted to the enactments of a legislature. , but existing law does not protect hospital, nursing home, and other health institution workers to the extent the law protects other kinds of workers. QUESTION: As Governor, would you support a bill to extend whistle blowing protection to registered nurses and other health care workers who report dangerous, unethical unethical said of conduct not conforming with professional ethics. , or unprofessional situations in their workplaces? Perdue Taylor I have always supported the ability for Yes! employees to report unethical behavior without retribution. If there are needed improvements in the law for whistleblower protections, I am open to hearing those ideas. Lt. Governor: The two major candidates are Casey Cagle Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle (born January 12, 1966 in Gainesville, Georgia) is an American politician, a member of the Republican Party, a conservative, and a former member of the General Assembly in the U.S. state of Georgia. and Jim Martin. Mr Cagle (R) currently is a state senator Noun 1. state senator - a member of a state senate senator - a member of a senate who has represented the Gainesville Gainesville. 1 City (1990 pop. 84,770), seat of Alachua co., N central Fla.; inc. 1869. The Univ. of Florida is a major source of employment in the city. Agriculture and the manufacture of electronic equipment add to the economy. area since the 1996 election. Mr. Martin (D) was a member of the House of Representative from Fulton County
Questions for the Candidates for the Office of Lt. Governor: 1. ISSUE: A major shortcoming in the current nursing shortage is the inability of nursing schools to admit all qualified applicants due to the lack of nursing faculty. Some states (for example, Mississippi) have responded to this crisis by raising faculty salaries to attract and keep nurse professors. QUESTION: What would you do as Lt. Governor to attract, educate, and keep qualified nursing faculty in our universities as a way to alleviate the current shortage of nurses in our state and to avoid projected future shortages?
Cagle Martin
I support an across the According to the June report
board review of faculty of the Board of Regent's Task
salaries in Georgia Force on Health Professions
higher education. Education, it is estimated
Furthermore, the jobs that faculty shortages and
plan I have offered facility constraints prevent
calls on our state to Georgia's nursing schools
focus on boosting those from enrolling more than 4,000
industries that will potential nursing students each
create tomorrow's top year. As Lieutenant Governor,
quality jobs. There is I will work to increase our
no doubt that health nursing faculty and to build
care will be at the top more facilities for students
of that list, and it is a and nurse professors.
certainty that our We must make nursing faculty
health care system cannot salaries competitive with
function without trained other professional
nurses in a variety opportunities, and we must
of specialties. provide quality healthcare
Consequently, our state coverage, retirement plans,
needs to focus on and other fringe benefits.
retaining and attracting
top notch nursing We must focus attention and
faculty and I will support resources on addressing
steps including--but the staffing shortage in all
certainly not limited healthcare professions, but
to--increasing our need is particularly
compensation in order to great in nursing. The task
achieve this goal. force's report notes that
Georgia will need 20,000
additional nurses by 2012,
but if current trends
continue, we will fall
more than 8,000 nurses
short of this need. I will
also work to create
incentives for students to
become nurses and to
stay in the state.
2. ISSUE: Inadequate staffing, poor scheduling, and/or increased patient loads often create situations where employers demand that nurses work overtime; that is, requiring them to work beyond a normal, regularly scheduled shift. Studies show that nurses who work beyond scheduled shifts are more likely to commit errors which not only jeopardize patient safety but also add to health care costs. States which have passed so-called "anti-mandatory overtime laws" show a reduction in such errors and better patient outcomes. QUESTION: As Lt. Governor, would you support legislation to permit a registered nurse to refuse an employer's mandatory order to work beyond a previously scheduled regular shift, if such refusal would not jeopardize patient care (for example, not an emergency situation) and the work order is due to the employer's failure to schedule an adequate supply of workers for a particular shift?
Cagle Martin
This is a serious concern, Yes. Maine and Oregon both
and the key challenge is have laws that protect
finding the right mix of nurses from disciplinary
incentives and restrictions action for refusing to
to ensure that patient care work more than a certain
and the well being of health amount of overtime in a
care professionals rank at 24-hour period. These laws
the top of our priority do not apply in circumstances
list. I would support a where overtime is required
comprehensive review of to ensure patient safety.
existing regulations to Nurses required to work in
determine whether they such instances will be given
meet that challenge. If time off before being required
they do not, I would to work again.
support changing them.
Additionally, I am a The original purpose of
proponent of continuing mandatory overtime was
to work toward higher to make sure that nurses
compensation levels for were available in
nurses--as well as a emergency situations. Now,
strong educational system due to staffing shortages
to produce new trained at many care facilities, this
nurses--in order to practice has been expanded
relieve some pressure beyond its original intent
from current and is used to cover regular
registered nurses. nursing shortages. As
Lieutenant Governor, I
will support legislation
that creates a better
work environment for nurses
and appropriately
balances their needs with
facility staffing needs.t
our need is particularly
great in nursing. The task
force's report notes that
Georgia will need 20,000
additional nurses by 2012,
but if current trends continue,
we will fall more than 8,000
nurses short of this need. I
will also work to create
incentives for students to become
nurses and to stay in the state.
3. ISSUE: Most experts estimate that approximately 10% of all health care professionals are impaired by dependency on drugs and/or alcohol. Voluntary efforts to assist these professionals and bring them back into the workforce are not enough to help all those who need it. QUESTION: In your capacity of Lt. Governor, would you work to earmark funds within the budget for the Secretary of State's Office to be used by the Georgia Board of Nursing to fund adequately a program to help impaired nurses (that is, those nurses who are in a drug or alcohol dependency recovery program) return to the workplace?
Cagle Martin
Yes, I would support such an Yes. I believe that a program for
initiative. This is clearly a drug- or alcohol-dependent
serious issue that needs to nurses should be funded by
be addressed compassionately the state through the Georgia
and responsibly. Board of Nursing. Because
of job stress and easy access
to addictive drugs, the nursing
profession has been a leader
in developing programs to help
impaired nurses recover and to
protect the public.
4. ISSUE: Despite legislation passed during the 2006 General Assembly to allow the advanced practice nurse to write prescriptions, the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners (CSBME) has proposed rules which greatly restrict how the collaborating physician would work with such advanced nurses. The nursing community sees these rules to be so restrictive as to make the new prescribing law ineffective. QUESTION: In the event the medical board does not amend its proposed rules to reflect the intent and spirit of the new law, would you support efforts during the upcoming General Assembly to revisit this new law to remove or limit the role of the CSBME in the APRN prescribing process?
Cagle Martin
I will work with the Yes. When I was in the
leadership of the Georgia legislature, I supported legislation
Nursin Association to address to allow advanced practice
this issue. nurses to write prescriptions. I
believe the Composite State Board
of Medical Examiners has
overstepped its authority, and
if it does not correct its
action, its authority
should be taken away.
5. ISSUE: The Division of Public Health within the Department of Human Resources has seen significant changes over the past several years--budget reductions in certain areas, staffing restrictions, and other changes affecting the ability of Public Health to provide health services to the public. QUESTION: What do you see as the role of Public Health in Georgia? Does your vision include support of Public Health programs designed to improve the health of Georgia's and delivery of basic healthcare to Georgia's indigent population? Would you support increases for the salaries of public health nurses to make them competitive with other health institutions?
Cagle Martin
I believe that public health I believe that an important
programs are critical to role of the Division of Public
preventing disease and Health is in providing primary
providing treatment options care and preventative
to often-underserved healthcare. As a former
populations. As Lt. Governor, Commissioner of Human Resources,
I will fight to ensure our I am the candidate for
state's public health programs Lieutenant Governor who has
are strong and vibrant, and statewide leadership experience
that the personnel staffing addressing our state's public
those programs earn a health needs.
good living.
As Lieutenant Governor, I will
resume outreach efforts to
the hundreds of thousands
of Georgians--including
indigent Georgians and
children--who are currently
eligible for state and
federal healthcare programs,
but who are not enrolled.
Broadly speaking, I will
work to make healthcare more
affordable and more accessible
for all Georgians, and
particularly for those who need
it most--children, families,
seniors, and the disabled.
My plan is to create a
state-sponsored health
insurance pool, so that small
businesses and self-employed
Georgians can band together to
buy affordable health insurance.
I will also leverage the state's
buying power to bring down the
cost of prescription drugs, and
I will increase state funding
for quality at-home and
community care so that seniors
are not forced out of their
communities.
During my 18 years in the
legislature, I supported
salary increases for public
health nurses, and as
Lieutenant Governor, I will
continue to support salary
increases, so that we support
and retain Georgia's public
health nurses.
6. ISSUE: Georgia has a limited "whistle blowing" statute, but existing law does not protect hospital, nursing home, and other health institution workers to the extent the law protects other kinds of workers. QUESTION: As Lt. Governor, would you support a bill to extend whistle blowing protection to registered nurses and other health care workers who report dangerous, unethical, or unprofessional situations in their workplaces? Cagle Martin I am willing to consider changes to whistle Yes. blower statutes. The challenge is balancing cost-effectiveness, patient privacy, and worker rights in any reforms we undertake. There is no doubt that brave individuals willing to stand up for what's right have made a huge difference in numerous cases, and we need to ensure our laws protect them from retribution when they do so. Secretary of State: The two major candidates are Gail Buckner Gail Buckner is a Democratic member of the General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia. Has been on the Georgia General assembly for 16 years. Bucker represented district 76, encompassing parts of Clayton County [1]. and Karen Handel Karen Handel is an American politician in the state of Georgia. She is a Republican currently serving as Secretary of State of Georgia. Her previous office was as Chairman of the Fulton County Commission. . Ms. Buckner Buckner can refer to several places in the United States:
Buckner (D) currently is a state representative who has represented Clayton County Clayton County is the name of two counties in the United States:
Used by Wayne Luk for work in compilation of programs to hardware (FPGAs). (R) currently is the Fulton County Commission Chair. Questions for the Candidates for the Office of Secretary of State: 1. ISSUE: The Board of Nursing is the largest health regulatory agency regulatory agency Independent government commission charged by the legislature with setting and enforcing standards for specific industries in the private sector. The concept was invented by the U.S. within the Secretary of State's office, with jurisdiction over 96,000 registered nurses. Yet, staffing for the Board of Nursing has not increased over the past several years with the result that routine work gets delayed and investigations of disciplinary claims are postponed. QUESTION: As our new Secretary of State, how would you propose addressing this staffing shortage with the Board?
Buckner Handel
I will evaluate every area I have called for a top to
of the Secretary of Sate bottom audit of every board
Office. It is already administratively attached to
abundantly clear that the office of Secretary of
significant changes are State. This audit will
needed at the Licensing evaluate numerous areas,
Boards. As a former including staff support,
House Appropriations Human fee structure, customer
Services Chairman, I service and identify
understand the budget other areas for improved
process and will be oversight and enhanced
actively engaged in consumer protection.
making sure we have Currently, all licensing
appropriate funding to fee revenues go straight
deliver effective into the state's general
services. Should this revenue fund--rather than
funding not be forthcoming, being earmarked for that
I will take an professional oversight
aggressive approach to or even for the Secretary
make it happen. I will also of State's office overall.
instill within all areas The Secretary of State's
of the Secretary of State office is then given a budget
Office that as state within the overall state
employees, we are public budget, and it is from this
servants. We will deliver budget that dollars are
customer service that will allocated to the Licensing
exceed over and above all Division and subsequently
expectations. When a to each licensing board. I have
citizen calls our office, proposed that each board be
their need will become self sufficient, so that the
our need and we will licensing fees generated are
address these issues adequate to cover an appropriate
quickly. service level for each
board. Further, the investigative
function of the Secretary of
State's office needs to be
overhauled to ensure more timely
investigations and resolutions.
2. ISSUE: Most experts estimate that approximately 10% of all health care professionals are impaired by dependency on drugs and/or alcohol. Voluntary efforts by the Georgia Nurses Association to assist these professionals and bring them back into the workforce are not enough to help all those who need it. QUESTION: In your capacity as Secretary of State, would you advocate advocate: see attorney. for monies within the Secretary of State budget to be used by the Georgia Board of Nursing to fund adequately a program to help impaired nurses (that is, those nurses who are in a drug or alcohol dependency recovery program) return to the workplace?
Buckner Handel
I have a long history of I believe that each board
working to prevent within the office of
substance abuse and have Secretary of State should
the ability to build be self sufficient. As I
coalitions with other previously stated, a
organizations to help do complete audit of each
intervention and prevention. board will tell us which
ones are supporting
As Secretary of State, I themselves, and which ones
will work as a partner are not sufficiently
with the Georgia Nurses funded. The license fees
Association to determine should be sufficient to
any other steps that adequately fund all
might be necessary to operations of the board,
help us have a healthy including investigations,
workforce. Our nurses and other programs to support
are critically the profession and protect
important to our citizens. the consumer. While alcohol/
We need everyone working drug dependency and
to the best of their rehabilitation are appropriate
abilities and must provide programs for the Association
the encouragement and and some other government
support that is needed. departments, the office of the
Secretary of State or the
licensing board is probably not
right body to provide these
services. The licensing board
is specifically responsible for
consumer protection and
professional oversight.
3. ISSUE: There is a movement in other states to require criminal background checks on all persons licensed by the state. QUESTION: Do you support thorough background checks (including fingerprinting fingerprinting Act of taking an impression of a person's fingerprint. Because each person's fingerprints are unique, fingerprinting is used as a method of identification, especially in police investigations. and criminal checks) on any individual applying for a new RN license or seeking to transfer their license from another state?
Buckner Handel
Our nurses must have a sense Yes. When citizens of Georgia
of personal security when at entrust their health and
work. They must know that wellbeing to professional health
they are working in a care providers, it is important
positive environment. I that they are protected. I
will seek the counsel of fully support thorough
the Georgia Nurses background checks and
Association as to how to fingerprinting for all
proceed with the issue of applicants for a new RN
criminal background checks. license and those
seeking to transfer their
license to Georgia.
State School Superintendent: The two major candidates are Kathy Cox Kathy Cox is the current superintendent of public schools for the U.S. state of Georgia, and is a Republican. A teacher by occupation, Cox also served two terms, from 1998 to 2002, in the Georgia General Assembly, representing Peachtree City, Georgia, prior to her election as and Denise Majette Denise L. Majette (born May 18, 1955) is a Democratic U.S. politician from the state of Georgia. Born in Brooklyn, she attended Yale University and completed a Juris Doctor degree at Duke University in 1979. . Ms. Cox (R) is the incumbent. She is seeking another four year term, after initially winning this office in the 2002 election. Ms. Majette (D) is a former member of the U.S. Congress and a DeKalb County DeKalb County stands for the following Counties in the United States of America:
Questions for the Candidates for the Office of State School Superintendent: 1. ISSUE: There have been various attempts in recent sessions of the General Assembly to require specific times for physical activities (physical education classes and recess) for students in K-12 and each year such mandated programs have failed to pass into law. These bills are part of an effort to reduce childhood obesity childhood obesity Public health Overweight in a child, an average BMI of ≥ 85% for age and sex; ≥ 95% for age and sex is very obese. See Body-mass index, Obesity. Cf Adult obesity. and thereby improve student health. QUESTION: What would you do as the State School Superintendent to ensure that the children in our public schools get adequate physical exercise as part of the school day schedule? What other ideas do you have to use the power of your office to have a positive impact on student health?
Cox Majette
Childhood obesity is a major As State School Superintendent,
problem, but school policies I will make daily physical
are not the only solution. The exercise a top priority for
problem is that there is too our children and teachers.
much pulling them away from Physical activity is an
healthy living--XBox, important factor in
computers, flat-screen TVs, establishing physical,
gameboys and excessive emotional and mental health.
marketing and advertising Exercise reduces stress,
for unhealthy foods and aids weight control, provides
unhealthy lifestyles. The an outlet for aggressive
message about healthy tendencies, relieves
living must come from depression and improves
the home first and then mental acuity. Recess is an
the community. However, important part of the school
schools can be part of the day.
solution.
Most Georgia students do not
Students in grade k-5 are have enough opportunities
required to take 90 hours for physical activity
of gym a school year--which during the school day.
averages out to about 30 Unfortunately, our state's
minutes a day. In my 2007-2008 emphasis on academic
budget request I have asked achievement has led to
that the position of less emphasis on physical
Physical Education and Health education and enrichment
Coordinator be added so programs. My administration
we can have someone at the will set new goals for
Georgia DOE coordinating our students. We will recommend
statewide fitness and and assist with implementation
health efforts. I would of positive changes in the
be willing to have an open current board rules and
discussion about what we policies.
can do to help reduce
childhood obesity and Current rules of the State
consider smart policies Board of Education only
that could involve before, require that students in
during and after-school grades K-5 be provided with
hours. But I will not do a minimum of 90 contact
that at the expense of core hours of instruction at
academic times or offering each grade level in health
our students--especially and physical education, and
in middle and high school-- that each school containing
the opportunity to any grade 6-12 shall make
pursue music, art, drama and available instruction in
other areas of interest. health and physical
We must work together as a education. (Reference:
community on this and not rely 160-4-2-.12 COMPREHENSIVE
solely on schools--or the HEALTH AND PHYSICAL
government--to come up with EDUCATION PROGRAM PLAN.)
a solution. With a 180 day school year,
that standard provides
an average of 30 minutes per
day in grades K-5 and
no minimums for grades 6-12.
These standards are grossly
inadequate.
Given the sharp increase in
childhood illnesses and increased
health care costs, we can no
longer afford to be "penny-wise
and pound foolish." We must
aggressively enhance the physical
education/activity component in
schools to protect the future
health and well-being of our
children.
To increase activity, I will
create a curriculum that
integrates natural movement
and physical activity with
the learning process,
including walking, stretching,
running, cycling and other
age-appropriate muscular
development activities. We will
adjust the curriculum,
particularly in the areas
of history, math and science,
based on the facilities
available in the local areas. We
will incorporate the use of
public parks, baseball, football,
basketball and soccer fields,
swimming pools, golf courses
and tennis courts.
With the help of local teachers,
parents, administrators, business
and community leaders, we will
balance the physical and
academic needs of students
within their local schools.
My administration will provide
support state support at the
local and district levels
to help implement any required
changes. We will work together,
expanding the recognized scope
of physical education to
include activities within
the curriculum and
enhance after school
activities, such as JROTC
physical training and aerobics.
We will publicly emphasize the
importance of physical exercise
and the relationship between
physical fitness, mental
health and success in school
and life. Initiatives to
obtain public and private
support for developing rewards
programs will help us provide
additional incentives for
youth to pursue physical
activities.
2. ISSUE: Until money was found through the Tobacco Settlement Fund several years ago, our state did not have some kind of "state-wide" school nurse program. Even today with these funds, there is a difference in how each school district implements their respective school nurse programs. QUESTION: Now that the school nurse tobacco settlement monies are within the Department of Education, would you support attempts to obtain more funds from the state budget to improve the funding of the school nurse program, so that there are more nurses working in our schools K-12 and, if so, what would you do to accomplish this goal?
Cox Majette
As a parent of two children As State School Superintendent,
currently in public school, I will make funding for a school
and one with asthma, I realize nurse program a budget priority.
the invaluable role that I believe that every school
school nurses can play and should have a nurse on staff
I would support more and on site with funding
funding if it could be provided primarily by the
provided in a way that would state. Many children come
not affect money for other from homes with limited or no
crucial educational programs. health insurance. It is
Ultimately, the only way to important that every child
increase state and federal have access to nursing care as
funding for school nurses appropriate in the school
is to lobby lawmakers in setting. I will seek funding
Atlanta and Washington D.C. for those needs by placing it
If the people of Georgia in the budget. Then, I will
deem this to be a priority, use my skills as a lawyer,
I would certainly relay that judge and former Member of
message emphatically to the Congress to be a strong advocate
legislature. for passage of those agenda
items when the measures come
up for legislative and
gubernatorial consideration.
Currently, no State Board
of Education rule addresses
the school nurse program.
Absence of such a rule
contributes to the
differences in how the
programs are implemented in
local school systems. One
approach to resolve these
disparities provide for school
nurses in the State Board rule
on "personnel required."
Then, we would have the
nurses' compensation package
funded through a formula
based on student FTE
counts so that they become a
permanent part of a system's
personnel structure.
With input from national,
state and local school
personnel and healthcare
providers we will develop
broad policies that help
define the goals and
boundaries of the program
(i.e., exactly what is
expected of the school nurse).
We will work to build
partnerships between local
health departments and school
nurses so that health
department resources could more
readily support school nursing
programs. To encourage young
people to consider nursing as
a career, we would offer K-12
students information about
nursing careers, complementing
the role models they will see
working in schools throughout
Georgia.
3. ISSUE: This summer two student athletes died while practicing for or participating in school athlete programs. Even though nurse practitioners nurse practitioner n. Abbr. NP A registered nurse with special training for providing primary health care, including many tasks customarily performed by a physician. are qualified professionallly to perform physical exams on students wishing to participate in athletic athletic (athlet´ik), adj pertaining to a bodily constitution characterized by a strong, muscular, robust appearance. athletic injuries, n. programs in Georgia schools, barriers exist which either specifically prohibit pro·hib·it tr.v. pro·hib·it·ed, pro·hib·it·ing, pro·hib·its 1. To forbid by authority: Smoking is prohibited in most theaters. See Synonyms at forbid. 2. nurse practitioners from doing so or limit their ability to do these exams. QUESTION: As State School Superintendent, what steps would you take to allow nurse practitioners to perform physical exams on student athletes?
Cox Majette
We are supporting efforts My control over nurse
by the Georgia High School practitioners performing
Association--which oversees physical exams on student
student athletics--to come athletes is extremely
up with policies that will limited. Athletic competitive
assure that the safety of events are considered
our student athletes. Schools extra-curricular activities
and School Systems will be and are not subject to the
required to adopt policies authority of the State School
on heat safety. If GHSA and Superintendent. These events
the legislature believe that are governed by the Georgia
allowing nurse practitioners High School Association.
to conduct physicals would be
one way to ensure the Parents are responsible for
safety of our children, I'd permitting their children to
be happy to work with them participate in sports
to help remove any bureaucratic activities. The child's parent
roadblocks. or legal guardian makes the
ultimate decision to provide
any necessary medical assessment
that will enable the parents to
conclude their child is physically,
mentally and emotionally prepared
to play a particular sport.
Parents must understand and
be willing to accept that there
are certain risks inherent in
their child's participation in
athletic events, many of which are
strenuous or contact sports.
I believe that nurse practitioners
are qualified and capable of
performing these services;
I would be a strong advocate
on their behalf. Nurse
practitioners play a vital role in
providing necessary health care
to students regardless of their
athletic ability, particularly
in rural areas of the state,
where physicians are scarce
and patient access is limited.
As a mother, lawyer, judge and
former Member of Congress,
I recognize that nurse
practitioners are
professionals who have been
and continue to be
under-appreciated and
under-valued. As State School
Superintendent, I would
work toward improving their
status as it relates to
public education.
Labor Commissioner: The major candidates are Brent Brent, outer borough (1991 pop. 226,100) of Greater London, SE England. The area is a rail and industrial center. Its manufactures include automobile parts, clocks and watches, and electrical equipment. Brown and Michael Michael, archangel Michael (mī`kəl) [Heb.,=who is like God?], archangel prominent in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. In the Bible and early Jewish literature, Michael is one of the angels of God's presence. Thurmond Thur·mond , Strom 1902-2003. American politician who served as governor of South Carolina (1947-1951) before entering the U.S. Senate in 1956. In 1998 he became the longest-serving senator in U.S. history. . Mr. Brown (R) is running for state office again. Thurmond (D) is the incumbent, after winning this office initially in the 1998 election. Questions for the Candidates for the Office of Labor Commissioner: 1. ISSUE: Inadequate staffing, poor scheduling, and/or increased patient loads often create situations where employers demand that nurses work overtime; that is, requiring them to work beyond a normal, regularly scheduled shift. Studies show that nurses who work beyond normal shifts are more likely to commit errors which not only jeopardize patient safety but also add to health care costs. States which have passed so-called "anti-mandatory overtime laws" show a reduction in such errors and better patient outcomes. QUESTION: What would you do in your capacity as Labor Commissioner to support legislation to permit a registered nurse to refuse an employer's mandatory order to work beyond a previously scheduled regular shift, if such refusal would not jeopardize patient care (for example, not an emergency situation) and the work order is due to the employer's failure to schedule an adequate supply of workers for a particular shift?
Brown Thurman
GNA DID NOT RECEIVE A Reducing the need for overtime
RESPONSE TO ITS in the area of patient care,
QUESTIONNAIRE FROM THE thereby making that care safer
BROWN CAMPAIGN and more effective would
COMMITTEE. benefit Georgia patients and
healthcare professionals alike.
A key contributing factor in
the need for health care worker
overtime is Georgia's
shortage of trained available
workers. In addition, working
overtime, often under stressful
conditions, can contribute to
worker burn-out leading, in
turn, to loss of valuable
trained workers long before
they would be expected to
retire, further exacerbating
the shortage. The Labor
Department is committed to
working to alleviate Georgia's
nursing and health care
worker shortage. Some of the
Department's efforts in this
regard are described in Question
3.
2. ISSUE: There was a coalition of various groups composed of the Georgia Nurses Association and others working within the framework of what was called the Healthcare Workforce Policy Advisory Committee under the auspices aus·pi·ces 1 n. Plural of auspex. auspices Noun, pl under the auspices of with the support and approval of [Latin auspicium augury from birds] Noun of the Department of Community Health to address serious health workforce issues I Georgia. That committee lost its DCH DCH Department of Community Health DCH Diploma in Child Health DCH Defend Council Housing (UK) DCH Data Channel DCH Dil Chahta Hai (movie) DCH Dhaka Community Hospital funding and has not functioned since. QUESTION: Would you as Georgia's Labor Commissioner accept the responsibility of creating a similar workforce group within the Department of Labor and, if so, how would you proceed with this duty?
Brown Thurman
GNA DID NOT RECEIVE A Yes, I would accept such a
RESPONSE TO ITS group at the Labor Department
QUESTIONNAIRE FROM THE contingent on the availability
BROWN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE. of legislative approval and
funding. If such a group is
created, I will work with the
Georgia Nursing Association
and others to define the
group's scope, structure,
and duties.
3. ISSUE: Georgia, like the rest of the country, struggles with a major nursing shortage. There are many reasons for reasons for this shortage and just as many possible solutions to alleviate it. QUESTION: What would you see the Department of Labor doing to address this nursing shortage?
Brown Thurman
GNA DID NOT RECEIVE My administration recognizes and is
A RESPONSE TO ITS committed to meeting the need for well-trained,
QUESTIONNAIRE FROM qualified nurses and other health care
THE BROWN CAMPAIGN workers in Georgia. That commitment is the
COMMITTEE. basis for a number of actions and initiatives
undertaken by the Georgia Department of
Labor during my two terms in office. The
department's ongoing efforts in this regard
include informing job seekers, career planners,
and high school counselors of the increasing
demand for healthcare workers, especially
nurses and healthcare support personnel.
In addition, we recognize that it is not
enough to simply promote careers in
healthcare and nursing. Once someone
becomes interested, availability of accessible,
affordable healthcare instruction is necessary
to successfully enter the field. Although the
department is not a primary training provider,
we have sought to demonstrate through
training partners the positive impact support
for nursing and related instruction can have on
meeting the need for these workers.
In 2002, the Georgia Department of Labor
sought and received a USDOL demonstration
grant to address health care worker shortages.
The $754,628 grant addressed this national
problem on several fronts, i.e., Attracting New
Professionals, Remedial/Vocational
Preparation, and Youth Activities.
In lieu of providing small grants to every
Workforce Investment Area, the decision was
made to encourage communities to develop
innovative pilot projects and use the grant to
"seed" these activities. This approach required
local areas to identify existing programs,
prioritize and develop approaches to address
unmet needs, and locate sources of funding in
addition to the GDOL federal grant. Nine
Workforce Investment Areas responded to the
call and were awarded contracts in keeping
with this approach. A $60,000 contract was also
awarded to the Medical College of Georgia to
support the institution's TEACH Academies.
The grant successfully addressed many of
the factors contributing to the health care
worker shortage. The Youth Internship
Programs operated by Fulton County and
Columbus encouraged high school students to
consider careers in health care. Another youth
initiative provided the opportunity for City of
Atlanta in-school youth to earn Certified
Nurse Assistant credentials during the
summer. The grant also addressed the scarcity
of Licensed Practical Nurse training.
Statewide, LPN classes typically have wait
lists of two years. Okefenokee and Valdosta
Technical Institutes used the grant to hire
instructors and create new LPN classes on
their satellite campuses.
Public/private sector partnerships
emanated from the grant. The Atlanta
Regional and DeKalb County workforce areas
joined the Department of Technical and Adult
Education and Ethica Health Care in
developing a CNA to LPN career ladder. And,
CVS Pharmacy contributed major funding for
a Pharmacy Support program.
The grant produced excellent programs,
many of which still operate today. It also
resulted in communities and healthcare
institutions working together to mutually
resolve a health care issue.
In another effort to respond to healthcare
training needs, the department is working
with Atlanta Technical College on its Practical
Nursing Project by funding an instructor for
the project. Since this project was initiated
in 2003, Atlanta Tech has produced 140 practical
nursing graduates. The licensure pass rate for
these students is 88 percent their job
placement rate is 97 percent.
Insurance Commissioner: The major candidates are Guy Drexinger Guy Drexinger is a Democratic attorney running for Insurance Commissioner of Georgia. Drexinger recently released an unusual advertisement attacking his opponent, John Oxendine. and John Oxendine John Oxendine is the current Commissioner of Insurance of the U.S. state of Georgia. Oxendine, a Republican, was first elected in 1994 and reelected in 1998, 2002, and 2006. Biographical Information Oxendine is the son of Gwinnett Superior Court Judge James W. . Mr. Drexinger (D) is an attorney/CPA who has not sought state-wide office before. Mr. Oxendine (R) is the incumbent. He is seeking another four year term, after winning this office initially in the 1994 election. Questions for the Candidates for the Office of Insurance Commissioner: 1. ISSUE: Advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, etc.) have been permitted since 1989 to enter into a written protocol whereby a physician delegates to the APRN the authority to perform certain medical acts. However, APRNs have begun to report that medical doctors who enter into protocol agreements with an APRN are being advised that their medical malpractice Improper, unskilled, or negligent treatment of a patient by a physician, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care professional. insurance will be either cancelled can·cel v. can·celed also can·celled, can·cel·ing also can·cel·ling, can·cels also can·cels v.tr. 1. To cross out with lines or other markings. See Synonyms at erase. 2. or not renewed re·new v. re·newed, re·new·ing, re·news v.tr. 1. To make new or as if new again; restore: renewed the antique chair. 2. if they continue to work with an APRN? QUESTION: How would you handle complaints that professional liability insurance companies which do business in Georgia discriminate dis·crim·i·nate v. dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing, dis·crim·i·nates v.intr. 1. a. against their insured The person who obtains or is otherwise covered by insurance on his or her health, life, or property. The insured in a policy is not limited to the insured named in the policy but applies to anyone who is insured under the policy. insured n. physicians if they employ or otherwise use the services of an advanced practice registered nurse? Drexinger Oxendine John Oxendine was recently APRNs are a crucial component quoted as saying, "I'm not a Georgia's healthcare delivery regulator, I'm a politician system. As Insurance and I'm going to do what I Commissioner, I have been need to do to get elected." a strong advocate of This self-serving approach providers' interests and have has put us where we are demanded that insurance today in Georgia, with companies treat them with insurance costs putting fairness and respect. our families and businesses under increasing pressure. Over the last few years, I As a business lawyer and CPA, have worked hard to improve whose brother is a neurologist the medical liability and wife has worked for years in insurance market. Any doctors' offices, I understand complaints of discrimination the cost of professional would be investigated by my liability insurance. Having office. Any unfair treatment had a number of discussions or violation of Georgia laws with my brother and wife, would be dealt with seriously. sister-in-law who is a nurse, If you know of any possible and other health care instances of wrongdoing, professionals, I understand please contact me at (404) the role advanced practice 656-2117. registered nurses play in providing skilled and high quality patient care. When elected Georgia's next Insurance Commissioner, I will bring more regulatory oversight to the professional liability area to make sure that physicians who have entered into protocol agreement with APRNs do not have their medical malpractice insurance cancelled if they continue to work with an APRN, so long as they are meeting the supervisory and review requirement required by Georgia law. 2. ISSUE: There have been various legislative attempts in Georgia to reduce or eliminate so-called mandated insurance coverage for health problems--or example, requiring insurance companies to offer diabetes diabetes or diabetes mellitus (məlī`təs), chronic disorder of glucose (sugar) metabolism caused by inadequate production or use of insulin, a hormone produced in specialized cells (beta cells in the islets of , new born baby screening/treatment, mammograms and similar screening coverage in health insurance policies. QUESTION: What position do you take in the debate that Georgia Law should not require an insurance company to offer certain kinds of health insurance coverage because these mandated requirements drive up health insurance premiums? Drexinger Oxendine John Oxendine has taken The issue of mandated $2 million for his benefits has long campaigns from HMOs been the subject of and insurance industry debate in Georgia and executives. The starting across the nation. point in reducing health Proponents of mandated insurance premiums is benefits argue that taking the flow of insurance the exclusion of coverage industry money out of of certain procedures candidates' campaigns would be detrimental running for Insurance to the health of the Commissioner. That is why policyholder. Those who I have pledged not advocate for the exclusion to take a penny from HMOs, of mandated benefits argue the insurance industry, or that these benefits increase their executives this the cost of health insurance election, and when elected. and price it out of the In reviewing Georgia's 39 reach of many individuals. mandated medical coverages, In 2005, the Georgia General I find few I believe should Assembly passed legislation be eliminated. I believe that allowed health the better approach is to insurers the option of work to reduce health offering policies with insurance costs for Georgia's fewer mandated benefits, businesses, outside of as long as they continued eliminating mandates, so to offer policies containing that they can offer, or all state-mandated benefits. continue to offer I believe that it is comprehensive coverage to important that certain their employees. With the preventative treatments be shift in jobs to small covered by health insurance. businesses, it is Any future legislative efforts important that we put similar to that in 2005 to them on equal footing offer reduced benefits should be with larger companies. We provided only as an alternative can do this through the to full coverage, so that creation of a the consumer would have state-sponsored the ultimate choice. purchasing pool, available for self-employeds and businesses of up to 50 employees. The state of Georgia needs to make a commitment, including a financial commitment, to support small businesses. I will see that this commitment is made without sacrificing quality health care by our providers. 3. ISSUE: A large segment of the state's population is without health insurance and those who have insurance are paying more and more for it. Many health care experts are saying that it is now time to take a serious look at universal coverage or some other mechanism to ensure health care for all citizens? QUESTION: If you are elected e·lect v. e·lect·ed, e·lect·ing, e·lects v.tr. 1. To select by vote for an office or for membership. 2. To pick out; select: elect an art course. Insurance Commissioner, what would you do to improve the health insurance options to the people of Georgia and does that include working toward some form of universal coverage? Would you support legislation (similar to what is in Massachusetts Massachusetts (măsəch  `sĭts), most populous of the New England states of the NE United States. ) requiring
all persons to have health insurance?
Drexinger Oxendine The number of uninsured has Affordable, quality become a serious problem healthcare is important in Georgia. Over the last to all Georgians. I believe two years, while John our solutions should Oxendine has failed to offer come from sound, marketbased any solutions, the number of approaches. I have proposed uninsured has increased from legislation that provides 1.5 million to 1.7 million. for a personal tax deduction Last year, John Oxendine for health insurance premiums allowed 91,000 Georgia and healthcare-related children to be locked out purchases to ensure more from Georgia PeachCare choice and lower cost. Last because their parents were session, I also developed a day or more late in making requires insurers to give the insurance payment. Georgia families more These children were locked coverage options within out from coverage for 90 their existing plans days, with John Oxendine without requiring additional again remaining silent, in underwriting. We are also spite of the stark difference increasing health care with private insurance, which availability through a when cancelled is immediately recently implemented, reinstated upon payment of state-wide, privately funded, past due premiums. Before telemedicine initiative. I looking at legislation do not believe a government similar to Massachusetts, run, universal system is the I support Mark Taylor's answer. Georgia PeachKids plan to provide insurance for the 100,000 children that have no health insurance. In addition, I would want to look at all options within our current system to see if we can begin to reverse the trend of the number of uninsured Georgians that has accelerated under John Oxendine. |
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