Dental hygienists have been providing services in Washington since 1923 when the requirements for licensure took effect. Hygienists are covered by the Uniform Disciplinary Act, chapter 18.130 RCW.
In 1994, the Legislature requested the department complete a sunrise review of the dental hygiene profession. The department was to determine if dental hygienists should be allowed to [...]

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) position statement titled “Nutrition Recommendations and Principles for People with Diabetes Mellitus”1 was developed to offer guidance for people able to live independently and who have the functional, emotional, cognitive, and economic resources necessary to meet their basic nutritional needs. The ADA position statement titled “Translation of the Diabetes Nutrition [...]

Job Description
The chief responsibility of the nurse anesthetist is the administration of gases to produce anesthesia and analgesia in a variety of settings. The nurse anesthetist assists in preoperative and postoperative care of the patient, and in the management of respiratory problems in ancillary departments, helping to educate other hospital staff regarding airway management. This [...]

Trends in the health care industry necessitate the ongoing evaluation of staff numbers and skill mix. The aging population has resulted in patients who are more acutely ill upon admission to health care centers. While numbers of professional staff and lengths of stay at acute care facilities have been decreased, patients require more complex care [...]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are common questions related to the Clinical Nurse Leader initiative with corresponding answers.
Q: What is the Clinical Nurse Leader?
The Clinical Nurse Leader or CNL SM is a new nursing role being developed by AACN in collaboration with an array of leaders from the practice environment. Two AACN task forces were convened [...]

Prior to the late 1980s, North Carolina had no statewide standards for nurse aide training or recognition. Preparation was primarily through on-the-job training, although some nurse aide training programs were offered through community colleges. Subsequent to federal and state legislation, nurse aides working under the supervision of a licensed nurse had to meet training and [...]

What is a Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMH-NP)?
The Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMH-NP) is prepared at the Master’s level to be an advanced practice nurse. The PMH-NP works interdependently with other health professionals to provide primary mental health care to patients of all ages in communities. The focus of the class content and clinical experience [...]

Registered nurses are responsible for a large portion of the health care provided in this country. RNs make up the largest group of health care providers, and are 77 percent of the nurse workforce.1 Historically, RNs have worked predominantly in hospitals; in 2000, 59.1 percent of RNs worked in hospitals. A smaller number of RNs [...]

Barack Obama has been a consistent champion of America’s nurses. As an Illinois state senator, Barack Obama chaired the Senate Committee on Public Health and helped lead efforts to protect Illinois nurses and improve the quality of health care throughout Illinois. As a U.S. senator, Obama serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions [...]

Who are Nurse Practitioners?
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who are prepared, through advanced education and clinical training, to provide a wide range of preventive and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. Today, NPs complete graduate-level education preparation that leads to a master’s degree. NPs take health histories and provide complete physical [...]

What are Nurse Practitioners (NPs)?
NPs are advanced practice nurses who provide high-quality healthcare services similar to those of a doctor. NPs diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems. They have a unique approach and stress both care and cure. Besides clinical care, NPs focus on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling. [...]

Adequate nurse staffing is critical to the delivery of quality patient care.1 Identifying and maintaining the appropriate number and mix of nursing staff is a problem experienced by nurses at every level in all settings. Regardless of organizational mission, tempering the realities of cost containment and cyclical nursing shortages with the priority of safe, quality [...]