In celebration of National Nurses Month in May, the GNLC would like to recognize all nurses across Georgia.

National Nurses Month is a wonderful occasion to celebrate and honor the incredible contributions of nurses to healthcare and society as a whole. Nurses play a vital role in promoting health, providing patient care, and offering support to individuals and communities in need. Their dedication, compassion, and expertise make a significant difference in improving people's lives.

During National Nurses Month, there are various ways to recognize and appreciate nurses:

1. Thank You Notes: Write heartfelt thank-you notes or letters to nurses you know, expressing your gratitude for their hard work and commitment. 

2. Celebratory Events: Organize or participate in events that honor nurses in your community. 

3. Donations: Consider making a donation to a nursing organization or charity that supports nurses and their professional development. This can provide resources for scholarships, training programs, or initiatives that improve the well-being of nurses.

4. Education and Awareness: Use National Nurses Month as an opportunity to educate others about the role of nurses and the importance of their work. Spread awareness about the challenges they face and the impact they make in healthcare.

5. Volunteer: If possible, offer your time and skills as a volunteer in healthcare settings or nursing organizations. 

Appreciation for nurses shouldn't be limited to just one month. Their dedication and hard work deserve recognition throughout the year.

The GNLC welcomes their newest member Dr. Valencia Fleming. Dr. Fleming will serve as the Co-Lead of Georgia's State Action Coalition to implement the recommendations of the Robert Wood Johnson funded Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing report. Dr. Fleming is a Family Nurse Practitioner at United HealthCare/Optum.

Congratulations to Augusta University's College of Nursing, Terri Marin, PhD, NNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, FNAP on being selected as the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from Stony Brook University School of Nursing. The School of Nursing Alumni Board selected Dr. Marin due to her significant contribution to the profession of nursing through outstanding practice, research and community involvement. Dr. Marin received her Master of Science in Nursing in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from Stony Brook in 2002. Congratulations, Dr. Marin!

The spring issue of Emory Nursing Magazine celebrates the work that the Emory School of Nursing, and the nursing profession, does alongside communities to positively impact health care delivery. This issue features Emory School of Nursing Assistant Professor, Quyen Phan MSN, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC and her collaboration with the local branch of Boat People SOS (BPSOS), which provides citizenship, occupational, and other social services to Vietnamese and Asian populations in Atlanta. Eleven years ago, with input from the BPSOS community, she developed a free community clinic to serve low-income individuals from across the metro area.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is pleased to announce that the Nurse Staffing Task Force Imperatives, Recommendations, and Actions is now available online. Members of the Task Force were a diverse group of nurses and other representatives who mirrored the many divergent points of view that have always been a part of nurse staffing discussion. This document reflects an array of actions that organizations, nurses and their colleagues can consider in addressing nurse staffing.

The GA WORKS Licensing Commission (GWLC) is focused on meeting the needs of a growing state by reducing bureaucratic barriers to employment without reducing the protection of health, safety and general welfare. GNLC Lobbyist, Julianna McConnell has provided a summary of the GA WORKS Licensing Commission’s 1st organization meeting held on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the State Capitol.  

Please contact Julianna if you have any questions. She will be working with the Secretary of State Raffensperger to recommend nursing experts to participate in the program agenda for future meetings.   

The Senate Certificate Of Need Reform Study Committee will hold their first meeting on June 13, 2023 at 9AM. GNLC Lobbyist, Julianna McConnell has provided a copy of the Study Committee language. Stay tuned for more updates as this study committee will be monitored.

On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, Governor Brian Kemp signed HB 383, the Safer Hospitals Act, into law. This law establishes enhanced punishments for the assault and battery of healthcare professionals on the job and allows hospitals to create their own police forces, similar to campus police forces for colleges and universities.