National Nurses United

C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 5 3 Contents Departments 4 News Briefs Max Anderson is one of the few RNs in the state to also hold elected office. We talk with him to learn why he chose that route and how his perspective as an RN influences his politics and policies; Our "follow the money" special election index. 7 Proposition Prep Everything you need to know about the November special election, but were too busy to ask. By Rose Ann DeMoro 18 Contemporary Issues Facing International Nurses With the recruitment of foreign-born RNs on the rise, this CE explores issues surrounding the regulation of this field and RN assimilation and transition into the U.S. healthcare system. As a response to concerns about international recruitment, CNA and NNOC recently adopted a Code of Practice outlining principles of ethical recruitment. Submitted by Hedy Dumpel, RN, JD and the Joint Nursing Practice Commission. Cover Story 8 On the Scene From stories of harrowing water escapes by their patients to their own descriptions of Louisiana culture and spirit, CNA's Katrina volunteers share in their own voice what they saw, heard, and felt. By Katrina RN Volunteers Features 14 Rough Beasts and Public Health The arrival of the next great pandemic has always been a "when," not an "if," and public health firewalls for stopping it are getting thinner. By Conn Hallinan and Carl Bloice ON THE COVER: RNs Sandra Suarez (foreground) and Peggy Hawkins (foreground) volunteer during their 12-hour shift in the emergency department of Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital in Baton Rouge, La. They were among more than 250 RNs sponsored by CNA and NNOC to help give medical care to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita survivors. Photo by Jackson Hill. November 2005 PLEASE CONTACT US WITH YOUR STORY IDEAS They can be about practice or management trends you've observed, or simply some- thing new you've encountered in the profession. They can be about one nurse, unit, or hospital, or about the wider landscape of healthcare policy from an RN's perspective. They can be humorous, or a matter of life and death. If you're a writer and would like to contribute an article, please let us know. Our contact information is in the masthead. 4 | RNs in Elected Office 8 | Katrina in First Person 14 | Pandemics v. Public Health

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