Welcome to the CNA/NNOC Nursing Practice
and Patient Advocacy Web Pages
The Nursing Practice Department is responsible for promoting excellence in nursing practice, protecting the art and science of nursing in the workplace and promoting patient advocacy.
Here you will find information on:
- Current Nursing Practice and Patient Advocacy issues
- Our innovative continuing education classes,
- Information for student nurses and new graduates
- RN to Patient Ratios
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Check back often as these pages reflect the dynamic nature of our Nursing Practice and Patient Advocacy Program and are constantly updated.
Hedy Dumpel, RN, JD
Chief Director of Nursing Practice and Patient Advocacy
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U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has introduced the National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act (s1031), legislation to protect the rights of nurses to advocate on behalf of their patients, set minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, and invest in training nurses to address the current nationwide nursing shortage.
The bill would extend the minimum standards in place in California hospitals to all general and long term care hospitals. Specifically, the bill would:
- Establish specific nurse-to-patient ratios that will not only save lives and improve the quality of care, but also encourage more nurses to enter and stay in the workforce, which could help ease the nursing shortage.
- Provide whistleblower protections to protect the right of nurses to advocate for the safety of patients and report violations of minimum standards of care.
- Create a standard for helping nurses to lift patients to prevent on-the-job injuries and promote better quality patient care.
The bill also creates a Registered Nurse Workforce Initiative within the Health Resources and Services Administration that invests in the education of nurses and nursing faculty. The initiative provides grants for:
- Nursing educational assistance and living stipends for nursing students who agree to work for at least 3 years for a safety-net health care provider.
- Graduate educational assistance for registered nurses who commit to serve as nurse educators for at least 5 years at an accredited nursing program.
- Training and mentorship demonstration projects.
Click here to read the full text of this landmark Bill
Nursing Practice & Patient Advocacy Alerts
California Board of Registered Nursing Advisories
For additional information and resources, please visit the
