SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 48
46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003
INTRODUCED BY
Pete Campos
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE BOARD OF NURSING TO STUDY THE LICENSING OF MILITARY HOSPITAL CORPSMEN AS NURSES.
WHEREAS, New Mexico faces a severe health care provider shortage, particularly in nursing, as experienced providers retire, leave the state or change careers and young people make other career choices; and
WHEREAS, registered and licensed practical nurses are a critical component of the health care delivery system that provides patient care, and are even more important in providing care in physician shortage areas; and
WHEREAS, the state has an untapped resource in men and women who were trained and who practiced as military hospital corpsmen, and who, while in the military service, provided services similar to civilian licensed practical nurses and emergency medical technicians; and
WHEREAS, in addition, military hospital corpsmen have education and training in responding to bioterrorism, which would benefit health care facilities in countermeasure preparation, and may have battlefield experience to bring to bear for triage; and
WHEREAS, military hospital corpsmen may be immediately qualified to be examined for licensure as licensed practical nurses and perhaps could be qualified relatively quickly for licensure as registered nurses; and
WHEREAS, the inclusion of military hospital corpsmen in the civilian nursing profession would foster the board of nursing's career ladder concept;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the board of nursing conduct an in-depth comparison of curricula, training and job descriptions of military hospital corpsmen against requirements for levels of licensure for nurses in New Mexico and explore at what appropriate level of licensure military hospital corpsmen should be able to sit for examination to enter the nursing profession in New Mexico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board of nursing consult with military and civilian physicians and hospital administrators, nursing home administrators, home health agencies, schools of nursing and other appropriate parties; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board of nursing report its findings and recommendations, including the comparison study, to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2003; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the board of nursing.
- 3 -
Request For Legislation
“Governor’s Call”
October 4, 2005
Title: Senate Joint Memorial 48 – 2003 Legislature
Request: It is hereby my humble request that New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson review, and place on his call, legislation to address this issue in the upcoming 2006 Legislative Session.
Purpose: Provide a practical and timely step towards alleviating the New Mexico nursing shortage by:
1. Recognizing the untapped pool of highly trained personnel which provide nursing care to military members and their dependants throughout our fine Armed Forces.
2. Consider California and West Virginia State Legislature’s have resourcefully allowed certain military corpsmen to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) on the merit of their documented, and honorable military training and experience.
3. Understand the National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides the same NCLEX to all states of the union, regardless of the individual states’ Nurse Practice Act.
4. Review the New Mexico, California, and West Virginia Nurse Practice Act for similarities.
5. Question why licensure obtained in California and West Virginia through the military route cannot be endorsed in New Mexico, considering the same NCLEX.
6. Request New Mexico Board of Nursing thoroughly, and objectively compare the education, training, and experience of military corpsmen against the education, training, and experience of a Graduate Practical Nurse.
• Due to staffing constraints within the Board of Nursing, seek funds to facilitate implementation of changes to the Nurse Practice Act. Funds would be used to create a full time position which will over-see and supervise the process of the study and ultimately, corpsmen licensure. Additional funds will be required for equipment, supplies and travel.
a) One FTE $65,000-$70,000
b) Implementation $30,000-$40,000
Total $95,000-110,000
7. Request Board of Nursing report findings to New Mexico Legislature for review and consideration.
8. Consider the implications of granting military corpsmen an Authorization To Test.
9. Ultimately see that legislature amends the New Mexico Nurse Practice Act to provide for military corpsmen nursing licensure through examination and endorsement.
Rationale: Is the national nursing shortage a rectifiable problem? Is there a solution to New Mexico’s shortage? Consider the following:
Our aging Baby Boomer generation is at an estimated 76 million and progressively requires more and more health care assistance. The next generation in line is at an estimated 40 million, and aging.
The cost of health care continues to skyrocket thanks largely, but not limited to, our nursing shortage. As demand rises, more and more nurses are needed to fill critical openings. This results in health care facilities competing in the area of salaries to attract new nurses, which directly affects the cost of care.
We must also consider the attrition rate of nurses due to age and other factors like “burn out.”
In fact, many of our nurses are categorized in the Baby Boomer generation and will soon be retiring from the field and also require medical assistance.
Additionally, our fine nursing schools are experiencing great difficulty in attracting qualified faculty. Most nursing schools require faculty to have already obtained their’ Masters of Science in Nursing to teach. Realistically, not many nurses will give up an excellent salary earned in a hospital setting and return to college just to receive teacher pay. This lack of qualified faculty results in limited acceptance to nursing schools and creates long waiting lists. Consequently, nursing schools cannot keep up with the ever increasing demand for nurses.
As Grim as it sounds, there is hope. Now, let us consider our beloved servicemen and servicewomen stationed throughout the globe. It goes without saying, especially in the time of war, our service-members and their’ dependants do require medical care. Not only do they require medical care, but they deserve the very best of care possible.
Ask yourself, or better yet, ask a service member, “Who provides this much required and well deserved health care?” In the answer you will hear terms like, Navy Corpsman, Hospital and Military Corpsman, Combat Medics, and Flight Medics, or in general, “Doc!” What ever the title, they are all highly regarded and have received exceptional education and training.
In a commendation by former Secretary of the Navy, and the first Secretary of Defense, the Honorable James Forrestal stated, “Out of every 100 men of the United States Navy and Marine Corps who were wounded in World War II, 97 recovered. That is a record not equaled anywhere, anytime. Every individual who was thus saved from death, owes an everlasting dept to the Navy’s Hospital Corps. The entire Nation is its debtor for thousands of citizens are living normal, constructive, happy and productive lives who, but for the skills and toil of the Hospital Corps, might be dead or disheartened by crippling invalidism. So, to the 200,000 men and women of the Hospital Corps, I say on behalf of the United States Navy: ‘”Well Done, Well done, Indeed!’”
Today the same spirit runs deep within the military corpsmen. It is important to note, corpsmen are not exclusively serving on the battle field, but also on the medical/surgical, intensive care, pediatric, obstetrical, psychiatric and oncology wards of military hospitals. They insert urinary catheters, IV’s, and administer medications. They immunize the children of military personnel, and they educate patients of all ages entrusted to their care. These are just a few of the many duties which corpsmen perform on a daily basis.
Senate Joint Memorial 48 – 2003 Legislature, is a preliminary step towards corpsmen licensure. Upon completion of the thorough and objective study, it is important to continue moving forward by Amending the Nurse Practice Act to facilitate corpsmen licensure. In doing so, many highly trained and skilled young men and women will avoid the welfare system, and unemployment lines, and continue to execute the finest of health care service to the respectable people of the State of New Mexico.
I ask again, is their a solution to our nursing shortage?
Respectfully,
Tom Maestas
