In 2002, this Commission reported on the current state of nursing care in the Commonwealth, including the patient to nurse ratio in hospitals and the nursing shortage crisis.  Representative Canavan has also sponsored bills promoting safety in the workplace for nursing and medical personnel including the “Needlestick” and “Whistleblower” laws.  She has amassed many legislative successes including the passage of legislation that requires newborns to have a hearing screening test prior to their discharge from the hospital, and legislation that requires out of hospital dialysis units to adhere to patient/staff ratios of 3 to 1 in order to provide maximum safety for all patients.  Another recent legislative accomplishment was the passage of H. 1663, An Act Relative to the Prompt Pronouncement of Death by a Nurse Practitioner. 

Representative Canavan received a distinct honor in 2003 when two nursing colleagues established a new graduate student fellowship named on her behalf at the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth School of Nursing.

Representative Canavan has championed multiple causes on Beacon Hill and has been victorious in many of her endeavors.  She was successful in bringing additional State Police Patrols to the City of Brockton during the summer months.  She fought for the approval of legislation that protects the elderly in public housing developments.  The Representative was also successful in her fight to implement new safety initiatives for excavation and trench construction sites. 

The Representative has been involved with veteran’s issues, including advocating for a bill that amends the definition of a veteran, which has since become a law.  Representative Canavan was also successful in her quest to set aside special days to commemorate two Massachusetts military units for their Civil War heroism. 

Representative Canavan has also been a strong advocate for the communities she represents, making sure that funds for projects and legislation that benefits her constituents are approved.  She ensured that state funds were available for three new schools built in the City of Brockton and continues to work on legislation and the budget process to fund three other school projects.  She also fought to ensure funding for the new addition to the main branch of the Brockton Public Library. The Representative is also a strong advocate for the YouthBuild Program.  The Program serves out-of-school youth who are in search of a path to economic independence and success.  Representative Canavan and her colleagues work hard to increase the line item appropriation for this Program in the annual budget.  

The Representative was successful in securing “pothole” money for the West Bridgewater Public Schools.  She worked closely with West Bridgewater officials to secure funding for the new Council on Aging facility.  She assisted the President of the West Bridgewater Grid Iron Club on the pursuit of lighting for the school playing fields.  She was successful in securing funding for the proposed expansion of Routes 106 and 28 in West Bridgewater.  As a member of the Easton delegation, the Representative worked to secure and protect SBAB funding for new school construction.  

The Representative is often asked if she misses nursing and is amazed that people think bedside nursing is all that nursing is about!  Representative Canavan tells us that she considers herself having never left nursing, only having moved into a specialty area!

Notes:
*Chapter 387 of the Acts of 2002, An Act Relative To Excavation and Trench Safety.
Signed into law on 12-4-02 

*Chapter 12 of the Acts of 2004, An Act Providing for the Annual Observance of Certain Civil War Infantry Regiments. 
Signed into law on 1-29-04 

*Chapter 120 of the Acts of 2004, An Act Relative to the Prompt Pronouncement of Death by a Nurse Practitioner.
Signed into law on 6-3-04

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