AAOHN RELEASES 2004 PUBLIC POLICY PLATFORM
ATLANTA – The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN) today released its 2004 public policy platform. While a few new advocacy issues have made this year’s list, several other components have carried over from 2003, but have been refined to better reflect the unique role of occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) in contributing to healthful, safe, work and community environments.
"This year, AAOHN has added health promotion/disease prevention and workplace violence prevention to our public policy platform," said AAOHN President Susan A. Randolph. "In doing so, we are addressing some of the most critical issues facing the workplace — the need to improve employee health and therefore reduce health care costs, as well as the need to minimize physical, psychological and actual dollar costs associated with violence at work. OHNs have always taken a lead role in managing these challenges, but it’s our goal to heighten visibility and awareness for these issues in a public policy context." AAOHN will again be focusing public policy efforts on the nursing shortage. But this year’s platform champions strategies to specifically improve the quality of the work environment for health care workers, and thus recruit and retain qualified nurses.
"Many of the current efforts surrounding the nursing shortage involve a pipeline approach of addressing salaries, funding, training and education to recruit more people to the profession," Randolph said. "While AAOHN supports this approach, we also recognize that much of the current problem is rooted in retaining nurses once they’re employed. To do this effectively, we have to provide for a healthier, safer work environment in hospitals, clinics, or any place where nurses and other health care professionals are employed."
All-hazard preparedness is another issue remaining on the platform this year. As in the past, AAOHN supports policy that recognizes the workplace as a primary delivery system to respond to and mitigate manmade and technological threats such as terrorist attacks or chemical spills. However, AAOHN has updated its stance to address new threats from communicable diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), or influenza, which impact not only the workplace, but also the community as a whole.
Other key policy issues on the 2004 platform include support for the confidentiality of health information, and promotion of the nurse licensure compact.
The AAOHN 2004 Public Policy Platform is available online via www.aaohn.org, or by calling (800) 241-8014 x0.
Established in 1942, AAOHN is a 10,000 member professional association dedicated to advancing the health, safety and productivity of domestic and global workforces by providing education, research, public policy and practice resources for occupational and environmental health nurses. These professionals are the largest group of health care providers serving the worksite.
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