While the headlines have been full of COVID and the election of late, there’s one story that will likely stand out to California nurse practitioners: AB 890. 
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Assembly Bill 890 was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on September 29 and makes California the 23rd state in the U.S. to offer Full Practice Authority (FPA) to NPs. It goes into effect in January 2023, with implementation details to be developed over the next two years. ​

We're excited to introduce our class of 2020, who recently began our summer Healthcare Immersion Program. The program, which provides college students with a unique, clinical immersion experience in healthcare, continues this year, although we've modified it a bit to accommodate COVID-19 health and safety protocols.  As always, our students will only be observers in low-risk outpatient, orthopedic, elective care. and classroom settings.

This year's students are: Mahnoor Yousuf, Roxie Wiblin, Christian Roy, and Sarah Shandy. Our program coordinator once again is Jacob Geier.

Our nurses are in trouble. Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, many nurses who treat patients living with muscle, bone and joint disorders are having their pay cut, or being laid off or furloughed. Orthopedic procedures have been canceled or delayed, and some medical practices have been forced to close.

COVID-19 has made many of us adapt to unforeseen changes in our home, work and school lives. At JOF we're no different. We thought long and hard about how best to continue with our educational programming, including our annual, summer Healthcare Immersion Program. 

We have decided to go ahead with a modified HIP program for 2020, including extending our application deadline to July 1. Additionally, we can now announce that we have confirmed 2020 HIP program dates: July 6-August 14

Our world has turned into a very different place in the month since we sent you our last newsletter. 

Many of you are on the front lines of your community’s — and our nation’s—response to the COVID-19 health crisis. You are working in hospitals, clinics, private practice, and elsewhere. Some are working in offices, senior and childcare centers, and other places of care. And that doesn’t include the care you are providing to your own family, neighbors, friends, and often strangers.