Letters to the Editor do not reflect the opinions of The Reporter, its publisher or its staff. You can submit your own Letter to the Editor by email to News@ReadTheReporter.com.
Dear Editor:
Here we go again!
In a supposed attempt to assist in alleviating the nursing shortage In Indiana, State Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) along with three House co-authors, Rep. Brad Barrett, Republican, District 56, Rep. J. Davisson, Republican, District 73, Rep. Rita Fleming, Democrat, District 71; and three Senate co-sponsors, Sen. Mark Messmer, Republican, District 48, Sen. Ed Charbonneau, Republican, District 5, and Sen. Justin Busch, Republican, District 16, together sponsored and presented House Bill 1003.
Digest: Nursing programs and licensing matters. Provides that the state board of nursing (board) shall issue by endorsement a license to practice as a registered nurse or practical nurse to an applicant who is a graduate of a foreign nursing school and provides specific documentation. Allows an eligible associate degree or bachelor’s degree registered nursing program to increase enrollment at any rate deemed appropriate by the program. Allows a nursing program to substitute a certain number of simulation hours for clinical hours in certain circumstances. Establishes requirements for clinical preceptors. Provides that a majority of the faculty of each nursing program is not required to be full-time employees of an institution. Requires the board to amend or adopt rules to implement specific provisions. Requires the Indiana professional licensing agency to issue a temporary license to an individual who meets specific requirements to provide quick health care services in Indiana.
In a nutshell, HB 1003 would allow more students to be accepted into nursing programs throughout the state and, at the same time, reduce the numbers, requirements, and qualifications of faculty members responsible for teaching the knowledge base and clinical skills needed to become a nurse. An exponential number of applicants could be admitted to nursing programs, regardless of whether there was an adequate number of qualified faculty to instruct them.
The for-profit schools will have a heyday with this. I point out the experience of students admitted to other for-profit programs that could not pass the licensing exam but were left with $60,000 in debt, no credits that would transfer, and no license because they couldn’t pass the exam.
One area of specific concern to me is that this bill will allow students to get clinical credit in the classroom instead of in a traditional health care setting, such as a hospital. In other words, if you can successfully perform an invasive medical procedure on a rubber dummy, it’s OK for you to do it to an actual patient. Do medical schools teach cardiology to doctors who have never seen an honest heart?
I sure hope not.
Even more disturbing to me is that this bill was authored and presented with little to no input or consideration from anyone within the State Board of Nursing or the State Nurse licensing agency.
I’m pretty sure the “for-profit” schools around the state are going to eat this stuff up!
Is it time to follow the money?
Have we not learned anything over the last 50 years?
“If you lower the standards, be prepared to live with the results.”
Tom Herron
Sheridan