With the Georgia General Assembly in session, do you know what you can do to help promote the issues important to health care?

Health care costs are one of the biggest drains on the state budget. Health care is also on the minds of business leaders and private citizens across Georgia, not only because of escalating costs, but also because of the delivery of services.

Each year the Georgia Legislature addresses several issues that can affect the way nurses practice. It’s important for health care professionals to know what the issues are and how to support the passage of bills important to the profession.

Most legislators don’t have health care backgrounds. They’re often lawyers, business owners, farmers or community leaders.

As a health care professional, you can make a real difference in what goes on under the Gold Dome.

“Many nurses don’t realize that what is happening at the Capitol affects how they practice across the board every day,” said Linda Easterly, RN, BSN, MS, president of the Georgia Nurses Association and a member of the Board of Nursing. “It can affect the nurse practice act, reimbursements and the employment laws. It’s a good idea to be more informed.”

Keeping up with the issues Reading the newspaper, especially during the weeks of the legislative session, and visiting the GNA Web site (www.georgianurses.org) are both ways to stay abreast of the issues.

“Nurses should know who their senator and representative are and they should help educate them about the issues that are important,” Easterly said. “Most legislators only know health care from what they’ve heard from their physicians or consumers.

“Nurses can help them understand the issues that are important to the industry.”

Sending an e-mail or letter, or making a telephone call, can help inform elected officials about health care issues.

“Discuss the issues with them . . . They depend on us for their education in health care,” Easterly said.

Become active and you can make a difference in Georgia laws and the practice of health care.

Another way for nurses to get politically involved is to join the GNA and volunteer to work with the Commission on Legislation/Public Policy.

For information, see www.georgianurses.org.