UK HealthCare

UK College of Nursing Faculty Member Testifies on Capitol Hill

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 3, 2015) — University of Kentucky College of Nursing professor Sheila D. Melander presented testimony to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Committee for the Evaluation of the Impact of the Institute of Medicine Report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, on May 28 in Washington. Melander testified on behalf of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), an organization for which she serves as president.

Melander presented NONPF’s concerns about including nurse practitioner graduates in the report’s Recommendation No. 3 – “Implement Nurse Residency Programs." The recommendation states that nursing boards, accrediting bodies, the federal government and health care organizations should take actions to support a nurse practitioner's completion of a nursing residency after the completion of prelicensure or an advanced practice degree program. The recommendation would also require nurse practitioners to complete a residency when transitioning to new practice areas.

“It is essential that the IOM gets this report right, as it is the blueprint for the future of nursing,” Janie Heath, dean of the UK College of Nursing, said. “I feel a great sense of confidence and gratitude that one of our own faculty members is helping to ensure that the nursing profession is a key driver in rebuilding our health care system.”

Melander and her colleagues in the NONPF believe nurse practitioner graduates are prepared to be fully licensed providers at graduation and that there is no data to support the need for added academic, clinical or supervisory hours to ensure safe patient care. According to the testimony, "the requirement or broad promotion of a formal program after graduation is not necessary and would create higher costs and new additional barriers to building the provider workforce.”    

A Webcast of the May 28 meeting in its entirety is available hereThe NONPF testimony is available to read here

MEDIA CONTACT: Elizabeth Adams, elizabethadams@uky.edu