Adventist University of Health Sciences Student Presents Nursing Bill to Florida Senator

ORLANDO, Fla., March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU) first-term nursing student, Jessica Tiegs, had the opportunity to present Bill 1342: Nurse Staffing Committees to Florida Senator Darren Soto at the Florida Nurses Association's Advocacy Days in Tallahassee.

The bill, if approved, will create Nurse Staffing Committees in hospitals comprised of at least 51% of nurses. This will allow nurses to be actively involved in staffing plans including: RN experience, patient complexity, and review of adverse incidents in connection to staffing.

"Senator Soto listened to Jessica's presentation and immediately called in his aid to pull up the bill, and sponsor it," explains ADU President of the Student Nursing Association, Frank Harris.

The bill is currently moving forward in the Senate, and has garnered more support due to Tiegs' influential presentation.

"It was such a magical moment for me. I can't believe that I, a first-term nursing student, was capable of making such an impact. I knew from that moment that you can make difference even as a student," explains Jessica Tiegs.

Making a difference is part of ADU's mission, and that is exactly what she and the entire ADU Student Nursing Association strive to do.

"I could not be more proud of our ADU Nursing students who worked beside FNA lobbyists to present this bill and create positive change in healthcare," states the chair of ADU's Nursing Department, Dr. Jan Preston.

The ADU Student Nursing Association provides educational resources, leadership opportunities, and career guidance for nursing students of Adventist University of Health Sciences. The organization gives students the chance to get involved early on, and to begin creating change even before entering into their career.

The ADU Student Nursing Association is now one of the largest chapters in the state of Florida, and is also the only university with two students serving on the State Board of Directors.

About ADU – Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU) is a Seventh-day Adventist institution that specializes in healthcare education. ADU offers undergraduate and graduate programs including:  Biomedical Sciences, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Sciences, Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Nursing (BSN), Nurse Anesthesia, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant and Physical Therapy. The college is associated with Florida Hospital and the Adventist Health System. 

SOURCE Adventist University of Health Sciences