Take Action!

TELL SENATOR BOXER
to Support the RN Healthcare Reform Rx!

Please call Senator Boxer today and ask her to support S 703 in the U.S. Senate. 

S 703, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders – and supported by CNA/NNOC – provides every citizen with healthcare coverage and services through a state-administered, single-payer program. It fully funds the community health center program, addresses the shortage of primary care medical and dental professions, and establishes federal boards for developing national policies and guidelines and developing minimum competence criteria, yet gives each state the ability and flexibility to carry out the programs. 

Please call Senator Boxer 202-224-3553 today!  If you reach an answering machine, please leave a message with your name, phone number and the fact that you are a California registered nurse. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP
To Prevent Unlicensed Individuals from Administering Insulin in Schools

Last December, the Sacramento County Superior Court ruled that schools must comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and accommodate students with diabetes, and that insulin can only be administered by the diabetic student or a licensed professional. Despite this court ruling, the American Diabetes Association and school districts have been seeking a legislative solution to allow unlicensed personnel to administer insulin.

At a recent informational hearing on the subject, Assemblymember Isadore Hall said, "Clearly, we need to start training classified employees to administer the shots."

Registered nurses, other healthcare professionals, and school employees find this unacceptable. Insulin must only be administered by a licensed nurse or children will suffer dire consequences. The only solution is to ensure fair budgeting occurs and school administrators make school nurses a priority.

How You Can Help

Contact
Assemblymember Isadore Hall
Phone: 916-319-2052
Email: assemblymember.hall@assembly.ca.gov

The Message
"I oppose any attempt to allow unlicensed personnel to administer insulin in a school setting because this practice would create an unsafe situation for children. Current law requires competent health professionals for this task such as RNs and LVNs, whose existing scope allows for the administration of insulin to children in schools. This is a best-practice protocol. I oppose weakening safety measures and will not advocate for a lesser standard of care for our state's children. Our children are already bearing the brunt of far too many cutbacks.

The long fought for existing legal and professional safety standards are in place to protect the public. We urge you not to place children in harm's way through legislation that would change current law on this issue.

It is imperative that schools, at the very minimum, maintain existing legal standards. We strongly support having licensed, experienced and appropriately educated healthcare personnel available during the school day to provide safe quality care and to assure that not only children with disabilities but all school children have access to a quality public education."

Make sure you include your name, that you are a registered nurse, and a member of CNA. 

Please cc: dfurman@calnurses.org on your email or call Deanna Furman at 916-491-3217 and let her know how your phone call was received.

Thank you.

www.CalNurses.org
www.NNOC.net
2000 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94612