Commission on Standards/Professional Practice

NCNA Obesity Awareness and Health Promotion Task Force (NCNA OAHP Task Force)

Mission:
To build a team of Nursing experts who act as leaders and educators in the community with the goal of bringing awareness of the obesity crisis and its related health risks to the community, encouraging the need to decrease obesity within families and communities, and eliminating health disparities among populations as they relate to obesity.

Plan for achieving OAHP Task Force Vision:

1. Build membership within the task force via communications within NCNA.
2. Build expertise within the task force by seeking out expert nurses within NCNA and the NC community to provide CE learning opportunities to Task Force members.
3. Offer teaching and leadership opportunities in a Nursing capacity, either representing NCNA solely or partnering with community groups and individuals, to the NC community to increase obesity awareness and/or promote wellness.
4. Participate in a voting capacity on the NC Alliance for Health Obesity Committee.
5. Collaborate with interdisciplinary partners to work on methods to promote obesity prevention and treatment within the community.

Members of the OAHP Task Force represent NCNA on the NC Alliance for Health Obesity Committee. One current effort of the Alliance for Health Obesity Committee that may be of interest to nurses is the pursuit of legislation requiring specific nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. Specifically the Committee is advocating for policies requiring that all competitive foods and beverages offered in schools meet national nutritional guidelines. If you would like more information on this effort, go to the North Carolina Alliance for Health website. 

History and Awareness:

Did you know: Obesity in NC is an overweight disparity in of itself. NC is 16th in the nation for adult obesity rates and 5th in the nation for childhood obesity rates (NC Alliance for Health, 2010). It is reported that 1 out of 3 (35.5 %) NC children aged 6-17 years are overweight or obese while 2 out of 3 (64.6%) NC adults are overweight or obese (NC Alliance for Health, 2010). Direct and indirect medical costs for NC adults are expected to increase from $75.64 billion in 2011 to $94.31 billion in 2015 (NC Alliance for Health, 2010). Currently in NC, legislation and multiple initiatives are creating awareness about the obesity epidemic. The NCNA OAHP Task Force (initially named NCNA Obesity Task Force), developed from the NCNA House of Delegates 2009 Reference Proposal, Support for Obesity Awareness and Promotion of Programs to Decrease Childhood, Adolescent, and Adult Obesity and convened their first organizational teleconference roundtable on January 11, 2010. The group looked at success stories throughout the state. Success stories we have gathered include Moore, Montgomery, Nash and Edgecomb Counties who received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) "Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities" landmark grants for childhood obesity awareness program development over the next four years for up to $360,000. The goals of this program will influence kids, their parents and their communities to adopt sound eating habits, regular aerobic exercise and healthy lifestyle practices. Specifically, Moore and Montgomery Counties will target five specific communities, their schools, sporting events and camps to address potential improvements in environmental and nutritional practices, policies and procedures, negotiate with local convenience stores as venues for farmer's market fresh produce with development of walking and bike paths to encourage routine exercise as part of their strategic community vision. All four counties were credited by the RWJF for their visionary community focus, measurable goals, effective supporting processes and proactive strategic planning. For more information on the 41 communities awarded grants for healthy lifestyle promotion, see the RWJF Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities site

ANA Handle with Care Campaign
NCNA promotes patient and nurse safety. One important aspect of that safety is the way that patients are helped to ambulate, transfer and are lifted. Equally important is the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in registered nurses and other health care workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2003, RNs ranked sixth in the nation for back related injuries. To counter this trend, NCNA is encouraging health care facilities of all types and schools of nursing to adopt safe patient handling and movement techniques; in concert with the American Nurses Association’s Handle with Care Campaign. Go here to learn more.

 
Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (M.O.S.T.)
One of the initiatives to help citizens in North Carolina plan for end of life care has been the development of the Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) form. This is a medical order to be reviewed by physicians, nurse practitioners or physician’s assistants with their patients. To learn more, please review linked forms. The bright pink MOST form (sample is posted) can only be ordered from the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Management. The order form is available for your use.
MOST Form Pink (Sample Only)
MOST FAQ
MOST Order Form
MOST Project 

Have other issues? Want to get involved? Contact NCNA

The Commission on Standards and Professional Practice is charged with reviewing position papers every five years; unless needed more frequently. Please find the current papers at this link: NCNA Position Statements.