Testimony on Bill 5185: AAC Title Protection for Nurses

Public Health Committee

February 26, 2020

Submitted By: Stephen Wanczyk-Karp, LMSW

 On behalf of the Connecticut Chapter, National Association of Social Workers, representing over 2,400 members, we support the Public Health Committee in raising AAC Title Protection for Nurses. This bill reserves the title of Nurse to those individuals who are licensed, registered or otherwise authorized under chapter 378 or 378b of the general statutes to practice nursing, or provide nursing-related services.

To attain a nursing degree requires completing a comprehensive curriculum that should give the practitioner the right to have title protection. The education makes a difference and should be so recognized. Yet consumers still have no way to determine if their worker is a professional nurse. Only full title protection will provide that assurance and protection to the public.

CT statute already protects the title of numerous professions, including Social Worker, Psychologist, Chiropractor, Occupational Therapist & Occupational Therapist Assistant, Physical Therapist, Veterinarian, and Massage Therapist, to name just some examples. Nursing, that is one of oldest professions deserves to be added to this list.

Last session the Public Health Committee passed Social Work title protection. This session we urge the Committee to do the same for our nursing colleagues.

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