We ARE MAD AND DISAPPOINTED!
Posted about 4 years ago by William Tudor
Dear Psychiatric APRN Colleague,
I AM MAD AND VERY DISAPPOINTED. I mistakenly thought that during this Texas legislative session Advanced Practice Nurses had a real chance to obtain independent practice or the Removal of Delegation Requirement. BUT WE GOT NOTHING....NOT EVEN SCHEDULED II MEDS. The goodwill and praise nurses and healthcare workers received during this ordeal of the pandemic has not translated into action. The Texas legislature passed NO meaningful legislation to benefit nursing. Legislation to prevent workplace violence was not advanced and support for the reduction of the nursing shortage was even CUT.
Who is to blame!! I AM and WE ARE.
The legislature is not listening to us because most of us sat on our hands (or other parts of our anatomy) and we sat on our wallets/purses. We did not engage sufficiently. But we can change that. It’s not someone else’s job, ITS OUR JOB.
APRNs are a growing faction of the healthcare workforce and can grow in political influence if we work together. Here are some facts.
In the 5 years between 2015 and 2020, APRNs increased by a 65% and psychiatric APRNs increased by 102%, while direct-care physicians increased by 15% and PAs by 36%. APRNs are becoming a significant component of the direct-care provider workforce.
Disipline |
2015 |
2020 |
% Increase |
APRNs |
22,000 |
36,500 |
65% |
Psych APRNs |
962 |
1,947 |
102% |
Direct-Care Physicians |
49,122 |
56,785 |
15% |
PAs |
7,067 |
9,620 |
36% |
Physicians or more truthfully the physician medical business lobby (Texas Medical Association- TMA) has an outsized political influence. But we, as nurses, are the largest healthcare group. In Texas there are 250,000 RNs and nursing is the most trusted profession. That is our kryptonite.
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER. We as Texas psychiatric APRNs compose 5% of Texas APRNs. To advocate for our professional needs and our patients’ needs we must come together and work with our fellow APRNs and nurses. As the president of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses of Texas (PAPN Texas), the Texas organization dedicated to the promotion, advancement and support of the psychiatric APRN, I AM ASKING YOU TO JOIN US. CLICK HERE TO JOIN. And not just join, but to become active and engaged.
I am inviting you to meet with us Tuesday June 29th @ 7PM. The purpose is to engage Texas Psychiatric APRNs as regional representatives, committee members and leaders. We are building PAPN Texas in preparation for the next Texas legislative session. JOIN US AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE for the profession and our patients. Or 2 years from now, we will be just mad and disappointed again. Click Here to Register For Meeting
William Tudor APRN, PMHNP
President
PAPN Texas
830-481-7354 cell