Legislation will increase access to healthcare for Illinoisans and empower nurses

Press Release from the office of Governor Bruce Rauner

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed HB 313, which will grant greater authority to registered and licensed nurses in administering health services and lift burdensome licensing regulations.

“This will empower nurses to administer the services that they are fully equipped and educated to perform,” said Gov. Rauner. “I’m happy that Illinoisans across the state will be able to rely more on highly qualified and skilled nurses to deliver care when access to a physician may be inhibited due to costs or geographic barriers.”

After the successful completion and notarized attestation of 250 hours of continuing education or training, and at least 4000 hours of clinical experience working with a physician or in a hospital, advance practice registered nurses would qualify for full practice authority. For example, APRNs will now have ability to prescribe certain controlled medications. The expansion of nursing practice authority aligns Illinois with the policies of 25 other states. Furthermore, the overall modernization of this law will increase regulatory efficiency and decrease licensing processing times.

“These men and women have completed extensive training and are already performing lifesaving services for Illinoisans,” Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) said. “It is only fair that they should be granted full authority over their practice.”

“Extending full practice authority to advanced practice nurses is a commonsense approach to address the growing shortage of doctors, especially in rural areas,”  Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) said. “This legislation includes safeguards to protect patients and ensures that advanced practice nurses have extensive clinical experience before they are given full practice authority. With this new law, Illinois joins over 20 states that have already granted full practice authority to advanced practice nurses.”

Illinois has many outstanding nursing education programs, and HB 313 will allow nurses to more fully utilize their educations to the benefit of all Illinois residents.
HB 313 received wide support from the healthcare community, nursing associations, and legislators

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-09-20/update-shooting-took-place-high-school-cafeteria.html

News-Gazette photo

MATTOON, IL  –  (Champaign News Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story and further updates.  Below is a statement issued on the Mattoon School District’s Facebook page.)

“Mattoon High School officials were made aware of an active student shooter at approximately 11:33 a.m. this morning on the Mattoon High School campus.

The School Resource Officers and school officials headed to the cafeteria where they heard shots fired.

The suspect fired shots in the school cafeteria, before he was subdued and disarmed.

Emergency procedures were activated and students and staff exited the high school. As a result of shots being fired, one student was injured.

First-responders arrived, secured the facility, and transported the student to the hospital. The injured student’s parents were notified and all students were transported to Riddle Elementary School to be released to their parents.

We are saddened that this event has happened and we will provide counseling to students in need. We will continue to work with emergency personnel to determine what happened.

We appreciate the quick response of school staff and first-responders. Most importantly, we offer our thoughts and prayers to the injured student and all who are affected by this tragedy.”