News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Nurse Aides Law Protects Safety of Patients

For Immediate Release: February 19,1998 Contact: Mike Pauley, Assistant to Senator Loren Leman, at (907) 465-3841.

Juneau – Legislation signed into law today enables the state to regulate certified nurse aides and protect the health and safety of vulnerable patients, according to bill sponsor Senator Loren Leman (R-Anchorage).

"This law allows the State Board of Nursing to revoke the certificates of certified nurse aides who have committed abuse or neglect," stated Senator Leman, sponsor of Senate Bill 152. "In committee hearings on this bill, we heard about cases of reported abuse or neglect. We simply cannot tolerate this behavior."

Senator Leman introduced SB 152 at the request of the Alaska Nurses Association. Among other changes, the bill allows the creation of a nurse aide registry to receive reports on certified nurse aides who have behaved inappropriately. A mechanism is also created to enable the Department of Health and Social Services to report to the Board of Nursing improper behavior by nurse aides in state-licensed facilities.

"Closer regulation of CNA’s is appropriate because of the rapid growth in this profession," according to Senator Leman. "When the Board of Nursing first started certifying nurse aides, there were only 200," he noted. "Now there are over 2000, and we expect continued growth."

In written comments for the Legislature, Jackie Pflaum of the Alaska Nurses Association applauded SB 152: "The nursing profession is accountable for the quality of service it provides to the consumer… This Act rightly assigns the oversight for the practice of certified nurse aides and the protection of the public to the Alaska Board of Nursing."

# # #

Broadcast Note: Radio actualities are available at 800/478-6540.
= Loren Leman, 86 K