“Nurses shaping the future of professional nursing and advocating for quality health care.” The official publication of the Georgia Nurses Association (GNA) Brought to you by the Georgia Nurses Association (GNA), whose dues-paying members make it possible to advocate for nurses and nursing at the state and federal level. Volume 71 • No. 3 August, September, October 2011 Quarterly circulation approximately 105,000 to all RNs and Student Nurses in Georgia. 2010 Earnings and Employment of RNs PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE U.S. Bureau of Labor Releases Employment Data Extracted from ANA policy brief prepared by was California, which also exhibited the highest A Better Way Peter McMenamin, PhD, Senior Policy Fellow in average annual wage, $87,480. The average wage the Department of Nursing Practice and Policy, in Iowa was $51,970, the lowest average wage state. By Fran Beall, RN, ANP, BC American Nurses Association Wyoming had the fewest number of RN jobs at 4,790. The RN data from BLS Occupational Employment I’ve had several oppor­ In 2010, there were an estimated 2,655,020 Statistics (OES) differs from the National Sample Survey tunities recently to think registered nurses working in RN jobs. That is of Registered Nurses (NSSRN – http://datawarehouse. about conflict and change an increase of three percent (71,250 more jobs). hrsa.gov/nursingsurvey.aspx conducted by the Health in the workplace, and why The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In some nurses either do or don’t estimated average wage for RNs in 2010 was $67,720. particular, the sample frames are different. The NSSRN behave collegially toward Earnings estimates are based on straight­time gross is based on people with active nursing licenses; the one another. My pondering pay and do not include any fringe benefits or shift BLS numbers are based on firms that report they have began with a very interesting differentials. The report does not include the self­ Registered Nurse workers performing RN functions. presentation at one of my employed or those working as owners, managers Without substantially more disaggregation work local GNA chapter meetings or supervisors. Nursing instructors are counted as these data include too many variations for other than on having, for the first time nursing instructors and their average wage is lower. soft comparisons. These data also include federal ever, four generations in the RN jobs represent two percent of all employment workers (mainly those employed by the Department workplace and how to manage Fran Beall in the U.S. of Veterans Affairs) who have above average earnings intergenerational differences Of the 2.65 million RNs working in RN jobs in the nationally and that may influence the state level among these groups. As luck would have it, we actually U.S. in 2010, there were 65,390 employed as RNs in average annual wages in some states. had nurses from all four groups in the room that night, Georgia at an average wage of $61,670. At 240,030, See chart on page 2 President’s Message continued on page 3 the state with the highest number of RN jobs in 2010 CEO CO RN E R COMING GNA is changing some things too! We have Change Is Coming! taken a totally fresh approach in 2011 to what has THIS FALL! formerly been known as “Convention.” The name By Deborah Hackman, CAE and pretty much everything about this event has been changed to reflect a new approach. The 2011 GNA Professional “Good ideas and innovations must event will now be referred to as the October GNA Development Conference* be driven into existence by courageous Professional Development Conference and patience.”—Hyman Rickover, four­star admiral in Membership Assembly. We started with the goal October 19­20, 2011 the U.S. Navy of preparing for “no­way to resist programming” for this event. In 2010, GNA staff gathered a focus GNA Membership Assembly* We have certainly heard group of members who are themselves leaders in a tremendous amount their workplace. We conducted a needs assessment October 21, 2011 recently related to change with them to identify subjects that would be *Formerly known as Convention and innovation for the topical, relevant and timely for nursing continuing nursing profession. Change is education. We received splendid suggestions from typically a bit uncomfortable, this focus group and ultimately most (if not all) of Influencing the Future and we all have our own their recommendations were incorporated into the of Nursing – Successful horror stories about change program. We realized fairly early in our process that and change management. there were so many spectacular topics that a full day Strategies You Can Use But if approached with an and a half of panels and multiple concurrent sessions open mind, most of the time (Wednesday, October 19 & Thursday, October 20) change is a personal growth See pages 6­7 for details! opportunity. Debbie Hackman CEO continued on page 4 Presort Standard US Postage PAID INDEX Permit #14 Names, Faces, Places .............. Page 4 Finance Matters .................. Page 17 Princeton, MN 55371 2011 GNA Conference ............ Page 6-7 Legislative/Public Policy ........... Page 18 current resident or 2011 GNA Election Candidate Profiles Page 8-14 Membership ..................... Page 19 Nursing Practice .................. Page 16 Prescriptive Authority Update ....... Page 21 Advanced Practice ................ Page 17 Membership Application ........... Page 22 Visit us online at www.georgianurses.org Page 2 • Georgia Nursing August, September, October 2011 2010 Earnings and Employment continued from page 1 GEORGIA NURSING Volume 71, Number 3 Editor: Debbie Hackman, CAE Managing Editor: Jeremy Arieh GNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers: Fran Beall, President Sheila Warren, President­Elect Rebecca Wheeler, Secretary Jill Williams, Treasurer Directors Georgia Barkers, Leadership Development Sally Welsh, Membership Development Judy Malachowski, Legislation/Public Policy Wanda Jones, Nursing Practice George Sneed, Staff Nurse Director Dorethea Peters, Workplace Advocacy Regional Coordinators: Central: Margie Johnson East Central: Melanie Cassity North: Cindy Balkstra North Central: VACANT Southeast: Kathleen Koon Southwest: Kimberly Gordon ADMINISTRATION Debbie Hackman, CAE, Chief Executive Officer Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, accessed Debbie Hatmaker, PhD, RN, Chief Programs Officer Jeremy Arieh, Director of Marketing & Communications May 17, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291111.htm Courtney Stancil, Governance & Technology Logistics Manager Bernadette Barnes, Program Coordinator Stephanie Scott, Administrative Assistant Connie Clark, Administrative Assistant Marcia Noble, CE Consultant Wendi Clifton, Staff Lobbyist Jay Morgan, Staff Lobbyist For advertising rates and information, please contact Arthur L. 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