Public policy refers to policies that the government makes on the public's behalf to resolve a specific issue.

Advocacy is the act of pleading, arguing for (or against), supporting, or recommending a cause, idea, or policy.

News and Updates:

• 04/17/2024 Day on the Hill Press Release

  Emergency Department Nurses Take To Capitol Hill Nurses are advocating for the passage of workplace violence and pediatric bills WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 17, 2023) – Emergency nurses are strong advocates for the laws and tools they need to be safe at work and sufficiently prepared to care for all their patients. Emergency nurses from nearly every state gathered in Washington, D.C., this week for the Emergency Nurses Association’s annual Day on the Hill advocacy event.

  As part of Day on the Hill, ENA members called on Congress to reauthorize funding for the Emergency Medical Services for Children program and to pass laws aimed at reducing workplace violence in health care. Specifically, the EMSC Reauthorization Act (H.R. 6960/S. 3765) is an ENA priority this year because of its importance as the only federal program dedicated to improving emergency care for children. Authority for the EMSC program is set to lapse on Sept. 30 if Congress does not reauthorize it.

  “It’s exciting to see so many ED nurses passionate about advocacy,” said ENA President Chris Dellinger MBA, BSN, RN, FAEN. “The EMSC reauthorization ensures that EDs and EMS personnel have access to appropriate medication, equipment, training and systems through various grants aimed at improving care for pediatric patients.”

  ENA also continues to be a leading voice for legislation aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of workplace violence against emergency nurses. The association supports the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 2663/S. 1176) which directs OSHA to require health care and social service employers to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans that are worker-driven and comprehensive to ensure the safety of patients and workers. ENA also backs the Support the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768). There is currently no federal law that protects hospital employees from assault or intimidation. The SAVE Act would mirror protections for aircraft and airport workers and would allow extra tools for prosecutors to charge individuals threatening hospitals and their workers.

  “We know workplace violence is a problem in the emergency department but many times it goes unreported. This doesn’t give an accurate representation of how extensive it truly is,” said Dellinger. “Whether it’s verbal or physical assault, no one should go to work and expect that kind of treatment. Stronger statistics will allow our legislators to see how big this problem truly is.”

  ENA Media Contact:

  Morgan Wietecha

  Media Relations Strategist

  847-460-4038

  morgan.wietecha@ena.org

• 02/18/2024 Call to Action!

  Now is a good time to contact (write or call) your state Senator and Representative and ask them to pass HB 4088 (Making Oregon Healthcare Workers Safer) when the bill comes before them to vote. 

  You can look up your Senator or Representative using this link. 

• 02/14/2024 - HB4008 had a public hearing on Tuesday February 13th. There will be a second public hearing followed by a work session Thursday February 15th at 0800. You can live stream the event Here

• 01/31/2024 - "The Oregon Legislative Session starts on Monday, February 5th!  There will likely be a bill addressing workplace violence. The proposed draft bill is a multi-prong approach:

  • Signage: public-facing addressing violence and caregiver-facing describing their rights.

  • Union representative: could attend hospital safety meetings as a non-voting member (only for represented hospitals)

  • Reporting: hospitals report injury and illness data within 90 days to the Department of Consumer and Business Services - DCBS will make aggregate data available annually.

  • Grant program: a grant program would be established through DCBS for violence prevention initiatives which hospitals can apply for - with preference to small and critical access hospitals

  • Assault: Class C felony to knowingly/intentionally cause injury to a worker in a hospital. The language remains to be finalized. 

• Link to the presentation: Making Sense of the Chaos: Public Policy and Advocacy for Violence Prevention (Presented at the November 3rd, 2023 NW Violence Prevention Summit): https://youtu.be/kOTPvJ4EGuA

Government Affairs Committee Chair: Bill Schueler

Oregon Legislation Events:  

• HB4008 Second Public Hearing and Work Session Thursday February 15th at 0800

  You can live stream the event Here

Oregon Legislative Session 2024: 

• Oregon State Legislature: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/

• Key Committees:

• Oregon House Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023I1/Committees/HBHHC/Overview

• Oregon House Judiciary Committee: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023I1/Committees/HJUD/Overview

• Oregon Senate Health Care Committee: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023I1/Committees/SHC/Overview

• Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023I1/Committees/HJUD/Overview

Advocacy Resources and Links

• ENA's Public Policy Agenda: https://www.ena.org/government-relations/public-policy-agenda

• Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) Government Relations: Policy & Advocacy: https://www.oregonrn.org/page/A3

• American Nurses Association Advocacy: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/

• Congressional Management Foundation: https://www.congressfoundation.org/

Federal Legislation (2023-2024): 

• Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act  (S. 2768/H.R. 2584)

• Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (S. 1176/H.R. 2663)

• Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2023 (S. 1346/H.R. 5414)