They are not doctors, but rather registered nurse practitioners who say they are able to increase access to health care and make it more affordable.

“None of us are trying to play doctor,” she said.

“If we’d wanted to be doctors, we would have gone to medical school,” added nurse practitioner Melinda Staten of Louisville.

The Kentucky Medical Association claims otherwise and is fighting proposed legislation that would lift some limits on the ability of about 3,700 nurse practitioners in Kentucky to prescribe medication and perform other, mostly routine tasks such as signing a child’s immunization certificate or certifying the need for employee sick leave.

Greg Cooper, a former Kentucky Medical Association president and family physician from Cynthiana, Ky., who testified against the Kentucky bill, said he objects to what he said “is this constant push by nurse practitioners to be physicians.”

“It’s a little bit frustrating, the way this has evolved,” he said. “The family physician is the foundation of health care.”

That argument has been echoed nationally by the American Medical Association, which issued a report last fall critical of the training that nurse practitioners receive.

Dealing with doctor shortage

As the debate over health care legislation continues in Washington, advocates for nurse practitioners say it is these primary care nurses who will make up for the shortage of primary care physicians and at the same time keep costs down.

According to the American Nurses Association, as of November, the median expected salary for a typical nurse practitioner in the United States was $83,293, while the median expected salary for a typical family practice physician was $160,586.

Rebecca Patton, president of the American Nurses Association, said that each year state legislatures are seeing bills proposed that seek to increase the capabilities of nurse practitioners and in many cases eliminate a level of supervision from physicians.

Among recent examples she cited:

- In January, Ohio’s Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland signed a bill that did away with the need for nurse practitioners moving to Ohio to repeat training with an Ohio physician as long as they have had prescribing privileges in another state at least one of the prior three years.

- In July 2009, Hawaii enacted a bill that gave nurse practitioners there broader prescription authority that includes controlled substances.

In addition, the association cited several additional states that have bills pending that would either broaden or restrict prescription writing ability for nurse practitioners, including bills in Alabama, Colorado, Washington and West Virginia. And Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi, Nebraska and New York have bills pending related to removing requirements for physician supervision or collaboration agreements.

‘Don’t see a big difference’

Nurse practitioners are “gaining traction because people are seeing how cost-effective they are,” Patton said. “The primary care physician shortage is going to drive it.”

Judi James, 56, who lives in Morehead, Ky., says she gets her basic medical care from a nurse practitioner and has no qualms about going to see a nurse rather than a doctor.

“I really just don’t see a big difference,” James said. “The nurses are the ones who take care of you anyway, not always the doctor. If I need a specialist, she’ll send me there.”

Each state sets up regulations for nurse practitioners. In Kentucky, for example, nurse practitioners are able to practice independently without being supervised by a physician. But in order to prescribe medicine they must obtain a signed agreement from a physician, even though that physician may not work directly with or consult with the nurse.

The Kentucky bill would allow nurses to forgo the agreement when it comes to certain medications, such as antibiotics and blood-pressure medication. Prescribing controlled drugs, such as narcotic painkillers and sedatives, would still require the physician agreement.

The Kentucky bill passed out of committee and could come to the full house for consideration as soon as Monday, said its sponsor, Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, a Louisville Democrat. Marzian said she’s not sure the bill can make it through the Senate.

Twelve states, including Alaska, New Mexico, Montana, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and the District of Columbia allow nurse practitioners to prescribe independently, including controlled substances, according to the American Nurses Association. In 29 states, laws require physician collaboration for prescribing controlled substances.

Some states have limits on which controlled substances can be prescribed by nurse practitioners. Laws in Florida and Alabama prohibit nurse practitioners from prescribing any controlled substances.

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The Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and DOCOMOMO/US Florida are sponsoring their third one-day symposium and tour highlighting the achievements of architecture from the Recent Past in Northeast Florida.

The event will be held at the Cathedral of Faith Church of God in Christ (2591 W. Beaver Street, Jacksonville, FL 32246) on March 13, 2008. A morning session with presentations by important figures from North Florida’s architectural history and others will begin at 9:00 a.m. and last until 11:30 p.m.

The lead presenter will be one of Jacksonville’s best-known architects, Robert C. Broward, who worked with Frank Lloyd Wright during the early part of his career.

An optional afternoon bus tour will visit five of Mr. Broward’s most important buildings. The tour – including lunch prepared by the Ladies of the Church – will be offered at a $60. The morning presentations will cost $5.

All attendees will receive a full-color brochure and driving map of all of Mr. Broward’s buildings in Jacksonville. All attendees will also have the opportunity to join the speakers for lunch on the church grounds after the morning presentations. For those not going on the afternoon tour, lunch will be available for an additional $10.

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(from FirstCoastNews.com) – “Good Morning Jacksonville” anchor Joy Purdy is a mom. Alexandra Isabelle, or Baby Alex as Joy called her in a note to the GMJ staff, arrived Tuesday at 5:12 p.m. Alexandra weighed in at 4 lbs., 12 oz., and is 16 1/2 inches long. Joy said she finally got some sleep around 4 a.m. when Alex took a nap. Joy’s husband took advantage of the quiet time too, getting some sleep on the couch. Mom, baby and her husband are all doing fine.

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Porcelain veneers are extremely thin shells made of ceramic material. They are bonded onto the front surface of teeth. The procedure is simple and is usually done without anesthesia, although some patients prefer to be sedated.

Porcelain is the perfect material for this purpose. It is translucent and durable, and the texture is exactly like tooth enamel. It will not rot, is stain resistant, and looks totally natural – just like real teeth.

Veneers are not only used for cosmetic reasons, but they are often used on people who have had teeth broken in an accident, or those who suffer with a poor self-image due to discolored, stained, cracked or chipped teeth. They can improve a person’s overall appearance because they can be any shape, color or length.

The veneers are manufactured in a specialized laboratory in Jacksonville and each one is custom made as per the dentist’s specifications. Not only do they look natural, but they feel natural as well. When they are fixed onto your teeth they provide the same stability, resilience and strength of normal healthy teeth.

However, like normal teeth, porcelain veneers are not unbreakable. To prevent them from chipping be careful when biting on hard foods. Avoid grinding the teeth, biting finger nails, or chewing on the end of pencils. And don’t use your teeth to bite string or open nuts.

The majority of people who have chosen to have porcelain veneers fitted by a Jacksonville dentist are more than pleased with the result. Not only do they make a dramatic difference to the way a person looks, but more importantly, they make a huge difference in the way a person feels about him or herself. You will have a natural, long-lasting, beautiful smile for many years.

A Jacksonville dentist can solve all your teeth problems with porcelain veneers in order to reshape and restore your teeth. The ultimate inside scoop now on http://www.burgesscenter.com/

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All this month we’re supporting Walk a Mile In Their Shoes 5K

Walk a Mile In Their Shoes 5K – Sulzbacher Center
Saturday, March 27. Walk with Joey and Tony, we’re doing the one mile fun run with the kiddies! Abel is doing the 5K and Jack is sleeping in.

Listen and Subscribe

Download audio file (urban-jacksonville-weekly-episode55.mp3)

Subscribe with iTunes

A special thanks go to Abel Harding for joining us in the studio. Abel actual set the record for least amount of comments during the show. We love you man!

Coming Up on Urban Jacksonville Weekly

• March 15th – Josh Jubinsky talkin’ ’bout Zines
• March 22nd – Al Letson talkin’ ’bout State of the Re:Union
• March 29th – Shane Douberly talkin’ ’bout Citrus Cel Animation Film Festival

NEW coffee sponsor

Bold Bean Coffee
sippin on: Mexico Altura Chiapas

Return of RAM

• remarkable entertainment
• huge turnout
• Fringe did great
• insane pottery
• magic wands
• Dutch/Italian bikes
• Abel saw penguins instead

C&W Tour/Burro Sales Trip
went awesome!
best show in Houston
Burro stuff being carried in new shops

Recommendations

Jonathan – keep on talk of budget talks
Abel – Penguins at the Zoo
Joey – Pecha Kucha 8 and The Warriors at the 5 Points Theatre
Tony – Gum Bunch Pub after RAM
Jack – shows!

TONIGHT – East of the Wall, Goes Cube, Galactoid and a surprise! @ The Devil’s Playground (Facebook Event)
MONDAY – Caspian, Antarctic, Arms & Sleepers @ Warehouse 8B (Facebook Event)

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Very formal weddings use an organ for playing of the processional as well as the recessional. Music may also be played as a prelude and to accompany any singers in the ceremony.

In less traditional settings, this music may be provided by a recording or using another instrument. In fact, in less formal weddings the traditional processional and recessional music may not be used at all.

Many couples choose a band for the reception. The band can provide dance music for the entertainment of the guests. You will want to determine the length of the reception before contracting with the band.

When planning the less formal weddings, many persons choose a DJ rather than a live band. The DJ may be able to provide music for goth the service and the reception. He also can often provide any needed sound equipment and can play a variety of music to entertain everyone in attendance.

Before choosing a musician or a DJ, it is a great idea to have heard them in action. You do not want to pay someone that is going to cause you special wedding day to be anything less than perfect. In addition, you should ask for and check references. If you have friends that have recently had a wedding, you might consider asking if they would recommend the musicians from their wedding.

Wedding musicians can be a very important part of your wedding day. They provide music for the ceremony and the reception. Getting the right group can make or break the day.

When you are planning a stunning Caribbean wedding, make the your day complete with fabulous wedding musicians! When the steel drum band introduces you as a couple for the first time, a lasting memory will be made even more special!

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You are not alone in this. You have to realize that is only natural for your teeth to lose their whiteness, or even to turn slightly yellow as you age. But if you see any discolor that alarms you make sure to consult with your dentist.

We do lose the white as we age but the food we eat and the liquids we drink can affect the color of our teeth also. Coffee, soda, and tea will sooner or later stain your teeth. If you smoke tobacco this too will stain your teeth.

If you smoke cigarettes then you can expect the smoke to leave a stain on your once white teeth. You can now however go to your dentist for tooth whitening treatments. This is a break through for those who would like to have a bright and shiny smile.

If you deal face to face with the public all day like in sales then you know the importance of having a white smile. This will lead to more confidence and maybe even more sales. Since you spend a lot of time on your business outfits you need to spend time on improving your smile.

The tooth whitening sessions will help build your confidence. And more confidence leads to more sales. If you are in the social scene and looking to have more dates you know you want to look your best to attract the people in your life you want. Tooth whitening might be your secret to more dates.

Ever wanted to smile a toothy grin but refrained because of the condition of your teeth? Get the teeth you want now by visiting Jacksonville Tooth Whitening Specialist. More info now on http://www.burgesscenter.com/

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Even pepper spray did not completely subdue Paul J. Sutton, but it slowed him enough so that officers could finally take him into custody.

Sutton, described as at least 6 feet tall, 280 pounds and muscular, is scheduled to be arraigned in City Court on Monday. He is charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest.

Officer Michael Decocq, an 18-year veteran, suffered a concussion and a broken clavicle when he was thrown to the ground. Officer Barry Herbin, a 17-year veteran, suffered a sprained ankle. Both men were treated at Strong Memorial Hospital and released.

Sutton was at Boehm Lodge for a meeting with Jason M. Parsons, a mental health counselor. Sutton was agitated and had been vulgar with staff members, according to Parsons’ police statement. Parsons suggested to Sutton that he should go to a hospital emergency room for an evaluation, and “he responded by clenching his fists and grinding his teeth.”

“He said he was happy and he gave me an odd grin. I sensed that he was in a psychotic state,” Parsons said in his statement.

Parsons told Sutton he had to do paperwork, but left the room to call 911 for an ambulance to take Sutton to the hospital. He asked for police to accompany the ambulance.

Two officers arrived before the ambulance, and they met Sutton outside the building where he was smoking a cigarette. They told Sutton he had to go to the hospital and Sutton started to walk away. Herbin grabbed Sutton’s left arm while Decocq tried to grab his right arm. But Sutton charged at Decocq and punched him, Herbin said in his statement.

Decocq fired his Taser at Sutton with no effect.

“Even the Taser had minimal effect. I heard Paul laugh after that was activated,” Parsons said in his statement.

Sutton punched Herbin and knocked him to the ground. Sutton got on top of Herbin and punched him repeatedly, according to Herbin’s statement. Then Sutton turned to Decocq, grabbed him in a bear hug and slammed him to the ground.

“It was like a wrestling move (Sutton) did to the officer,” Adam Juhasz, a Rural/Metro paramedic, said in his statement.

Herbin grabbed Sutton around the neck and pulled him to the ground with the help of paramedic Michael J. St. Martin, but Sutton continued to fight. Herbin then used pepper spray on Sutton and other officers arrived to handcuff him.

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The move to change the class size provision, which phased in a class size capping system, began immediately after voters overwhelmingly approved it in 2002. Under current law, classes are capped at 18 students for kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grade, and 25 in high school.

The capping was phased in so that currently, schools must be under the cap at the grade-wide level. But at the start of the next school year, the limits are applied to individual classrooms, something that many school principals and the state Department of Education say will create chaos.

According to DOE lawyers, schools will break the law if a student moves into a school district and pushes a given class over the cap. Administrators would be forced to hire a new teacher to split a class in two or pay to bus students to another school that has room. Either way, the school would have to cough up extra money in already tight budget circumstances.

“We don’t see any flexibility,” said state Education Commissioner Eric Smith.
Under the provision approved in a 15-8 vote by the Senate Ways and Means Committee Thursday, schools could stay at the grade-wide level limit instead of the individual classroom cap. That way, there will be some flexibility if students move into the district.

“I think we need to give parents and educators some hope that we won’t be facing some of the difficulties they’ve indicated we will face if we don’t have it,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who is the sponsor of SJR 2.

Democrats in both chambers are highly opposed to the legislation as is the state teachers’ union, the Florida Education Association. Democrats are heavily outnumbered in both chambers, however.

Ron Meyer, a lawyer for the FEA, told lawmakers that they needed to acknowledge that individual class sizes could go up under the provision as long as one class had a number low enough to balance it out. Class sizes have shrunk under the current law, which have resulted in higher achievement, he said, and parents want to see their kids in small classes.

“It is clearly a retreat from class size,” Meyer said about the bill.

To change the constitution, the bill would require three-fifths approval in the House and Senate, plus 60 percent voter approval on the November 2010 ballot. The measure has passed the House several times, and will likely do so again. The Senate, will be tougher, Gaetz acknowledged. He said he has not yet done a vote count, but he feels like it will come together.

“It’s not a gamble, it’s a heavy lift,” Gaetz said. “It will be a heavy lift to pass this through the Senate. It will be an even heavier lift to pass it in November of 2010. We’re going to have to make clear and convincing arguments and those parents and educators back home who believe we ought to have some limited local flexibility will need to make the case to their friends and neighbors.”

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Perhaps the pain does not surface because your body protects itself. The production of adrenaline keeps your body numb so that you will not feel pain until all the excitement of the accident is over.

The importance of paying attention to the signals from your body cannot be over estimated. There are a lot of people who suffer throughout their life with the pain from an auto accident and do nothing about it. This is why it is crucial that you go for treatment as soon as you have any pain after a car wreck.

A chiropractor is trained to address your pain naturally. If you simply take your symptoms of pain to your medical doctor there is a good chance that you will simply come away with a pain medication prescription. This will only dull your pain with chemicals.

You are better off by visiting a chiropractor who will treat naturally the cause of your pain and not simply address the symptoms of your pain. If you have never been to a chiropractor before you will be impressed with the professional atmosphere of his office.

You will find a well trained support staff ready to help you along your journey to a pain free life. Not only will you be treated for the pain but you will also get overall well being treatment.

Sometimes pain comes from our diet or other lifestyle habits. Jacksonville Chiropractic Helps Relieve Pain From Auto Accidents Naturally by treating you as a complete person. You might need help in diet choice to treat your pain. Make an appointment today.

If you have ever been in a car accident you know how painful it can be and what it’s possible results are. Jacksonville Chiropractic care will provide you with effective pain relief. Inside scoop now on http://www.firstcoastmedical.com

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