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Oak Point’s Ricki Loar Addresses Audience During New HB 313 Bill Signing by Governor Rauner

September 21, 2017 // Oak Point University

Ricki Loar PhD, APN, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, Oak Point professor and President of the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing (ISAPN) spoke during the signing of the HB 313 bill by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner on Wednesday, September 20. The new bill, otherwise known as the Nurse Practice Act, will allow Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs) in Illinois to qualify for full practice authority. This new law will address the healthcare shortage across the country, especially in rural areas, by allowing APRNs to administer services such as prescribing certain controlled medications. Read the full press release from Illinois.gov

Professor Loar and the ISAPN were among many nursing organizations to advocate for the bill. She addressed the audience during this momentous accomplishment. Read a full transcript of her speech below:

Good morning Governor Rauner, legislators, fellow nurses, and IDFPR.  I am proud to be here as President of ISAPN for this momentous occasion for Illinois. 

With the signing of HB 313, Illinois Advanced Practice Nurses have an opportunity to practice to the fullest level of our education and experience.

For the RNs and LPNs, this reflects the changing healthcare delivery ‘world’, while keeping those we provide care for central to our mission for quality care no matter the setting.

The people of Illinois will have greater access to primary healthcare services by nurses of all educational levels. 

As a Family and Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, I know that APRNs have proven records for providing safe, personal, and effective healthcare services and we will now be able to do so under our own licenses, without relying on a physician to determine our scope of practice.

Our gratitude is to the State legislators who have steadfastly stood with us in this endeavor.  I thank the nurses of Illinois who helped to make this happen.  Thank you to the IHA (and Advocate Healthcare systems) for supporting APRN full practice authority.  And, I thank ISMS in negotiating this bill with ISAPN and making FPA opportunity a reality in Illinois. 

And, last but by no means least, Governor Rauner on behalf of all Illinois nurses I thank you for signing HB 313, the Sunset of the Nurse Practice Act. 

Dr. Loar was also interviewed by WFLD Fox 32 regarding the bill and was featured in the evening news on Wednesday, September 20. Read the article and watch the video interview from Fox.

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