JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Hundreds of nurses from across the state gathered all day Tuesday in the Capital City, but they weren't in a clinic or a hospital.
They were at the Jackson Convention Complex, voicing their thoughts about what lawmakers can do to make healthcare better for you.
Just about any nurse will say they entered healthcare to help people.
But because of restrictions in the Magnolia State, providing quality care isn't as easy as many think.
"Mississippi has an issue with people in rural areas being able to get the healthcare that they need," said Bianca Green, Mississippi Association of Student Nurses member.
Rural health care was one of the largest issues discussed during the annual statewide nursing summit.
In Mississippi, advanced practice nurses, which include nurse practitioners, have to collaborate or talk to a doctor who has a similar practice and is located within a 15 mile radius.
The problem is in rural parts of the state, there aren't enough collaborating doctors who can work with advanced practice nurses.
"So if they cannot see patients, those patients in north Mississippi or other areas don't have that availability to have someone to take care of them," said Gayle Harrell, the President for the Mississippi Nurses Association.
Nurses and nursing students also discussed the shortage of clinical sites, where students can receive first-hand experience.
The alternative is asking lawmakers to add more money to budgets, to hire faculty to teach students with simulated medical dummies.
"There was an adult one that coded and we had to bring it back to life, so it's pretty real life, pretty realistic," said Adam Welch, the President of the Mississippi Association of Student Nurses.
In the past, the nursing summit has generated real change when it comes to passing laws related to the nursing field in Mississippi and that's the goal for this year too.
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