Scholarships Available to Nurses
Scholarships
are available to support AACN members who
are completing a baccalaureate or graduate
degree program in nursing.
Recipients
of these BSN Completion and Graduate
Completion Educational Advancement
Scholarships are awarded $1,500 per academic
year. The deadline to apply is April 1,
2002.
At least 20%
of the awards are allocated to qualified
ethnic minority applicants. The funds may be
applied toward tuition, fees, books and
supplies, as long as the recipient is
continuously enrolled in a baccalaureate or
graduate program accredited by the state
board of nursing in the recipient’s state.
Applicants
for these scholarships must be RNs, be
members of AACN and have a cumulative GPA of
3.0 or better. They must be currently
working in critical care or have worked in
critical care for at least one year in the
last three years.
Applicants
for the BSN Completion Scholarship must have
junior or upper division status for the fall
semester. Applicants for the Graduate
Scholarship must be currently enrolled in a
planned course of graduate study that leads
to a master’s or doctoral degree.
The Eli
Lilly Company has contributed $5,000 to fund
and administer three of these Educational
Advancement Scholarships for critical care
nurses to obtain bachelor of science in
nursing degrees. Lilly is a member of AACN’s
Partners With Industry corporate giving
circle.
For more
information or to obtain an application for
Educational Advancement Scholarships, call
(800) 899-2226 and request Item #1017, or
visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
> Membership > Awards, Grants, Scholarships.
AACN Supports Scholarships for Students
AACN
supports scholarship opportunities through
the National Student Nurses Association for
nursing students who do not hold an RN
license. Applications for these scholarships
must be received by NSNA no later than Feb.
1, 2002. To receive a scholarship
application, contact the National Student
Nurses Association, 555 W. 57th St., New
York, NY 10019, or call (212) 581-2211.
Make a Difference! Volunteer Opportunities
Abound
March 1,
2002, is the deadline to apply for volunteer
opportunities with AACN and AACN
Certification Corporation, for terms
effective from July 1, 2002, to June 30,
2003.
To apply,
simply complete and return the application
online at
http://www.aacn.org
> Membership > Volunteer Opportunities.
Include a cover letter addressing the
contributions you believe would enhance
the work of
the volunteer group to which you are
applying. If you are applying for more than
one volunteer position, include a cover
letter for each volunteer group. In
addition, submit a copy of your curriculum
vitae and/or resume.
Return the
application and all required documents to:
AACN, Attn: Volunteer Services, 101
Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4109; fax,
(949) 448-5541; e-mail,
stephanie.demiris@aacn.org
or
volunteers@aacn.org.
Tips for Writing an Educational Abstract for
the NTI
By Bonnie
Baker, RN, MHA
Program
Development Specialist
and
Kathleen Schrader, RN, DNSc, CEN
Clinical
Practice Specialist
Would you
like to present an educational session at
AACN’s National Teaching Institute,™ but
feel intimidated by the prospect of having
to write an abstract that will be good
enough to be selected? Are you ready to
tackle the process, but not sure where to
begin? Here are some helpful guidelines to
get you started on the right track and take
you successfully through to completion and
submission.
Topic:
Educational session abstracts should be
based on a curriculum that includes clinical
practice, role development or professional
issues. They can cover a wide range of
topics related to critical care practice,
professional development, technology and
trends in healthcare.
Style:
Educational session abstracts must be
written in a brief, well-organized and
focused manner. They should allow the reader
to immediately identify the contents of the
educational session. In one paragraph write
an abstract narrative that:
• States the
purpose and/or goal of your presentation.
• Identifies
the key topics that will be addressed.
• Describes
special learning activities, such as case
study analysis, audience participation or
interactive discussion.
• Describes
the audience to which the session is
targeted.
• Indicates
prerequisite skills, experience or knowledge
that are needed.
Educational
abstracts will be reviewed using the
following general criteria with respect to
content:
• Relates to
AACN’s mission, vision and values (go to
www.aacn.org > About AACN)
• Supports
AACN’s major agenda topics, including
research, leadership, advanced practice,
ethics and public policy
• Links
research and practice
• Presents
“cutting-edge” information
• Is precise
and comprehensive. All components being
present, neat and in the correct format
In addition
to the abstract narrative, American Nurses
Credentialing Center guidelines require that
its abstract design format be used for all
educational sessions. Following are
instructions to help you compile your
abstract narrative and abstract design
format
Components of an Educational Session
Abstract
(Forms and
samples are available at www.aacn.org >
Education > Speaker Materials)
1. Abstract
narrative. Content must be a concise,
comprehensive, 250-word narrative that
includes the following key components:
2. Abstract
title. Use key words that describe the
specific topic and content of the abstract.
If catch phrases are used, they must include
a reference to the topic. For example,
“Playing Your Aces Right” may get attention
but does not suggest what the abstract is
about. By adding a specific reference to the
abstract subject matter, “Playing Your Aces
Right: Ace Inhibitors in HTN,” the abstract
title becomes clearer. Use 40 characters or
less in the title.
3. Purpose
Statement. This statement should provide the
most important primary information you want
to convey in the abstract and should be the
first one or two sentences. Do not repeat
the title, but indicate the topic and where
you are going with it.
4. The
Scope. This is a description of the session
subject clearly stating the key components,
target audience, prerequisite knowledge and
outcomes for patients or nursing practice or
enhancements through application of what
will be learned in the proposed session.
Abstract Design Format
The abstract
design format includes the session title,
target audience, prerequisite knowledge for
session, purpose and goals of the session,
and category. In this format table, provide:
• At least
three educational objectives, such as
comparing or contrasting subject matter
characteristics, specific attributes of the
subject and specific skills to be acquired.
• Content
and topics to be covered, including an
outline and indication of which objective(s)
the content is related to.
• Time frame
for each content or topic area being
presented.
• |The
presenter for each topic, omitting
credentials.
• The
teaching strategy used by each presenter in
each content area, such as lecture, slides,
interactive Q & A or panel discussion.
Strategies for Developing an Effective
Abstract
During
abstract development, several points are
important to consider, including strategies
for writing the abstract, evaluating the
technical details of the presentation,
common-sense do’s and don’ts, and proofing
the abstract.
1. Writing
the abstract
When writing
an abstract, consider the following:
• Review
successful abstracts or program descriptions
published in the organizational proceedings
of the previous year. An abstract that
contains similar methods can be used as a
template to guide the writing of your
abstract.
• Organize
and outline the content before writing the
first draft.
• Submit
your abstract to successful colleagues,
researchers and content experts for feedback
and critique.
• Set aside
your abstract to re-establish a degree of
critical objectivity, and then re-read it
and make final revisions.
• Establish
and maintain a sense of neutral writing
throughout the abstract. Neutral writing is
used to facilitate unambiguous communication
and demonstrate thoughtful construction and
correct grammar.
• Avoid
jargon.
• Be clear
in the use of numbers and abbreviations. If
abbreviations are used, make sure that they
are defined or can be understood by all
readers of the abstract. Keep in mind that
an excessive use of abbreviations can
decrease the clarity of an abstract.
2. Technical
details of the presentation
An important
aspect of a successful abstract is its
visual appearance or format. The abstract
should be professional and technically
correct according to the specifications of
AACN and the NTI. If specifications are not
followed, the abstract may be disqualified
and not sent for review.
Following
are some strategies for increasing the
visual appeal, accuracy and acceptability of
an abstract:
• Carefully
read and follow all directions provided by
AACN. Note specifics about which software
application to use, space and word
limitations, font size, deadline dates and
the mode of submission. AACN only accepts
abstracts on diskette or via e-mail.
• Check the
order of the presentation of ideas in the
abstract, so that they are logical and flow
in an organized manner.
• Proofread
the abstract carefully before submitting it.
Have a colleague review and critique it.
• Submit the
abstract and accompanying forms as specified
by AACN’s instructions. Keep at least one
copy for your hardcopy file and an
electronic version.
• Submit
abstracts on the original form, without
errors, and in 10-point Arial or Times New
Roman font. Do not use symbols or signs in
your abstract. Symbols and signs do not
always convert correctly during electronic
transmission, which results in processing
delays.
Do’s and Don’ts
Some
common-sense do’s and don’ts that apply to
the writing of abstracts are listed here.
These rules are general but apply in most
cases.
Do
• Carefully
follow the directions for abstract
development and submission.
• Include
the subject matter in the title.
• Include
statistics and significance, as appropriate.
• Use good
grammar.
• Review for
logical fit in the purpose, findings and
conclusions.
• Re-read
for typographical errors and clarity.
• Ask a
colleague to read the finished abstract for
an honest critique.
Don’t
• Use
promotional terminology, flashy fonts or
graphics.
• Overuse
abbreviations.
• Use jargon
such as “lytes,” “vents” and “tubed.”
• Use brand
names.
The required
length of abstracts makes writing them a
challenge. Not surprisingly, the shorter the
required word count of an abstract, the
harder it is to write. The ability to
summarize a presentation in the form of a
short abstract, however, is a skill that can
be developed. Although following these
guidelines will not guarantee the acceptance
of your abstract, you will improve the
quality of your abstract and increase the
likelihood of success.
Submit a Speaker Proposal for NTI 2003
March 14,
2002, is the deadline to submit speaker
proposal abstracts for AACN’s National
Teaching Institute in 2003 in San Antonio,
Texas. In addition to clinical and other
educational topics, proposals that address
the skills critical care nurses need to
influence their practice and the care of
critically ill patients are encouraged. NTI
2003 is scheduled for May 17 through 22,
2003.
Learning Connections Mentor Sessions
Nurses
interested in presenting at NTI 2003 can get
some help through Learning Connections
speaker mentor opportunities that pair
novice and experienced speakers.
Five special
Learning Connection NTI sessions are
scheduled each year. The novice and mentor
must be identified in the submitted speaker
proposal abstracts.
Speaker
proposal packets, including Learning
Connection forms, can be obtained by calling
AACN Fax on Demand at (800) 222-6329
(Request Document #6019) or by visiting the
AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
> Education > Speaker Materials/Information
> 2003 NTI Call for Abstracts.
Study Validates Strategic Planning
Promoting
public policy issues and emphasizing the
benefits of membership are primary areas on
which AACN should focus, according to a
comprehensive, strategic research study that
included current members, past members and
nonmembers.
The study,
which is planned every two years to help the
association monitor trends and identify what
critical care nurses value and need in their
practice, was last conducted in 1998 by
Research Dimensions, the same market
research firm that carried out the latest
study. Telephone interviews were conducted
with a randomly selected sample of 1,200
AACN members, 1,200 nonmembers and 300 past
members.
Because the
data collected validated many of the
assumptions on which AACN based its current
strategic and operating plans, no major
changes in direction are planned. Instead,
AACN will continue efforts to strengthen its
voice on issues affecting healthcare,
particularly critical care, and to promote
the value-added benefits of membership.
In addition,
working with a nationally known public
relations firm, AACN is concentrating on
promoting the value of nursing and of
professional associations to critical care
nurses.
The survey
found that, for the most part, issues and
concerns important to AACN members were also
important to their colleagues who are not
members of AACN.
Current
members cited the availability of resources
and demonstrating a commitment to nursing as
the main reasons they belong to AACN. They
indicated that AACN is focusing its
resources in appropriate areas and providing
high-quality products, such as journals,
online resources, continuing education,
clinical products, networking opportunities
and peer support. In addition, they viewed
policy issues as an area of growing
importance where AACN should play a prime
role.
Although 46%
of the nonmembers contacted indicated that
they are not currently practicing in
critical care, they were included in the
survey because they are working in areas,
such as progressive care and telemetry, that
AACN considers to be critical care. They
agreed with members that policy issues are
of increasing importance. Their reasons for
not belonging to AACN included that they
considered membership to be too expensive.
However, most admitted that they did not
know the cost or that they thought the cost
was higher than the current $78 annual
membership.
Scholarships Can Help Defray NTI Expenses
Don’t
overlook your chance to receive some
financial help to attend AACN’s National
Teaching Institute™ and Critical Care
Exposition, May 4 through 9, 2002, in
Atlanta, Ga. Feb. 1, 2002, is the deadline
to apply for continuing education
scholarships available to offset these
expenses.
Two types of
scholarships, which can help toward NTI
expenses, are currently available. The NTI
again this year also features the Advanced
Practice Institute.
Vision Partners
The AACN
Vision Partners program grants $1,000 each
to 10 pairs of NTI or API participants. One
partner must be an AACN member, who will
share the NTI experience and benefits of
AACN membership with the other partner, a
nonmember who has not previously attended
the NTI. The nonmember also receives a
one-year membership to AACN.
The
nonmember partner should be able to share a
different perspective with his or her
partner, such as a different cultural or
ethnic viewpoint or another discipline or
clinical practice somewhere else along the
continuum.
The Vision
Partners scholarship application asks the
partners to describe how they expect to
benefit from the learning experience and
networking at NTI. They will also commit to
continuing to develop the partnership after
they return to their workplaces.
Dale Medical Products Scholarships
In addition,
Dale Medical Products, Inc., supports three
$1,500 continuing education scholarships for
AACN members who are pursuing graduate
education to further their careers in
critical care nursing.
The Dale
scholarship is directed specifically at
assisting nurses who are striving to balance
their professional life with family
obligations. To be eligible, applicants must
demonstrate that they need the scholarship
assistance to attend the conference.
Applicants are asked to describe how
attending the NTI or API will assist them in
reaching their professional goals.
To receive
an NTI/API continuing education scholarship
application, call (800) 899-2226. Request
Item #1099. Or, call AACN Fax on Demand at
(800) 222-6329 and request Document #1099.
Watch for the 2002 Resource Catalog
Don’t miss
the latest AACN resources included in the
2002 Resource Catalog, which you should
receive later this month. Among the new
resources that are available are a series of
CE anthologies, consisting of articles
previously published in the American Journal
of Critical Care or Critical Care Nurse.
These anthologies cover topics such as
respiratory ventilation, toxicology, cardiac
angiography and surgery, end of life,
progressive care and pulmonary and
gastrointestinal issues.
Another new
item is the 24-page AACN publication titled
For Those Who Wait: A Guide to Critical Care
for Patients, Families and Friends. This
booklet provides information about
procedures, equipment and personnel to
families and visitors in ICU waiting rooms.
Several new
titles from a variety of sources are also
available in the new catalog.
The Janus View
Conversations with critical care leaders
Janus (Jay . nus): The Roman god with two
faces, one looking ahead, one looking back
Editor’s
note: All that we do is rooted in our past,
and we have much to learn from the leaders
who have gone before us, paved the way and
laid the foundation. To strengthen this
connection, current members of the AACN
Board of Directors are interviewing some of
our past leaders. This is the first in a
series of articles highlighting these
interviews. In this feature, board member
Mary Fran Tracy, RN, PhD, CCRN, interviews
past President Joanne Disch, RN, PhD, FAAN.
Disch is now director of the Katharine J.
Densford International Center for Nursing
Leadership, School of Nursing at the
University of Minnesota. In November 2001,
she was honored at the Sigma Theta Tau
International Biennial Convention with the
Dorothy Garrigus Adams Founders Award in
recognition of her efforts to promote
professional nursing standards.
Tracy:
Describe your past activities and leadership
positions within AACN.
Disch: I
initially became active in AACN in 1976 and
was involved in many different committees
over the years, including the Awards and
Scholarship Committee, the Standards
Committee and the Strategic Planning
Committee. I served on the AACN Board of
Directors, beginning in 1979, and became
president in 1982.
Tracy: What
did you learn from your experience as a
member and then as president of the AACN
Board of Directors?
Disch: I
learned that, if you bring together a good
group of people—good board members, good
national staff—you can accomplish anything.
When the past presidents occasionally get
together, I am always impressed by the
leadership and wisdom they reflect.
Tracy: What
do you consider to be your greatest
accomplishments as president of AACN?
Disch: My
personal goals as president were to create a
united Board of Directors and to focus on
improving the relationship between AACN and
the American Nurses Association. ANA and
AACN had a strained relationship at the
time, and I was committed to improving it.
Our executive director, Ed Shaw, and I
invited Eunice Cole and Judy Ryan, ANA’s
president and executive director,
respectively, to dinner and from then on we
got together whenever we were at common
meetings. As a result, we increased the
sharing of information and programming, and
agreed to work together on specific
projects. Collaboration improved
significantly through these efforts.
Tracy: What
were the most challenging, exciting and
rewarding aspects of serving in this role?
Disch: The
most overwhelming was feeling that the
entire weight of the association was on my
shoulders. The worst feeling was thinking
that I would never be able to deliver the
president’s opening speech at the NTI!
However, at some point, I realized there is
nothing that one person can do to doom an
organization and that I had a good team
around me.
The most
exciting part was the travel and meeting
people. I was proud to be representing a
quality organization and doing quality work.
The most
rewarding was the exposure and involvement
in the association. It provides unbelievable
access to opportunities and a whole range of
connections, both at the local and national
level.
Tracy: What
are you doing now in your career and in
life?
Disch: I am
currently the director of the Katharine J.
Densford International Center for Nursing
Leadership at the School of Nursing,
University of Minnesota. The mission of the
Densford Center is to improve health and
healthcare worldwide through the education,
collaboration and promotion of nurses as
strong leaders and good partners.
I am
privileged to work with nurses in all types
of roles, helping to equip them with the
knowledge, skills, connections and context
they need to be influential. This may
involve educating senior nursing students
about how to effectively manage their
nursing practice; working with faculty to
develop skills in conflict management and
creative thinking; or distributing “Magnet
Nursing Tool Kits” to nurse execs in the
state, so that they can educate their CEOs
as to why applying for “magnet” status is a
good idea.
We just
finished a project of which I am
particularly proud, the publication of eight
articles in the August 2001 issue of AACN
Clinical Issues on how to improve the work
environment within critical care.
I also hold
the Katharine R. and C. Walton Lillehei
Chair in Nursing Leadership. Dr. Lillehei
was an internationally known cardiovascular
surgeon, so it’s especially meaningful to me
because I started my nursing career in a
cardiovascular ICU in Madison, Wisc., where
we used some of the techniques he invented.
Tracy: How
do you balance volunteering and leadership
activities with the rest of your life and
work?
Disch: While
I was working on my PhD and serving as
president of AACN, I was also a housemother
for a sorority of 65 young women. I learned
then that, though information is power,
relationships are really the key. These
relationships helped me to maintain the
housemother role because people were willing
to work together and with me to make it all
happen.
Although it
may be obvious that one needs to make time
for family members when actively
volunteering, it’s not quite as obvious that
the same attention is required for
friendships. I have learned that, to avoid
sacrificing friendships, you must
consciously make time for your friends.
I also got
good advice during a recent experience with
cancer—that it’s not enough to “work hard”
and “play hard,” but it’s also imperative to
“rest hard.” That’s a life lesson I now live
by. I feel great and believe I have a much
more balanced life.
Tracy: In
these unsettled times in healthcare, why do
you think belonging to a professional
association, such as AACN, is important for
nurses?
Disch: I
believe AACN provides a vehicle to effect
change at a broader level and at a personal
level. It’s an opportunity to exert
collective influence. It also provides
opportunity for personal growth.
Tracy: One
of AACN’s priorities is to be seen as the
undisputed leader and voice for critical
care nursing. How can AACN and individual
critical care nurses accomplish this?
Disch: The
most effective voice is the one that has a
compelling story to tell, and critical care
nurses have thousands of compelling stories.
It’s our job to tell them.
AACN can
take the initiative to package these stories
and develop networks at the national and
local levels. AACN can give members ideas on
stories to pitch and templates for letters
to newspaper editors, and can help members
be ambassadors. AACN can also help remove
institutional barriers to nurses getting
their stories told; for example, encouraging
public relations departments to consider
using nurses for commentaries instead of
always using physicians.
Tracy: What
advice or wisdom would you pass on to
critical care nurses during these times?
Disch: I
would encourage critical care nurses to be
proud of what they do. What we do—the
opportunities we have to make a difference
in people’s lives—is phenomenal.
I would also
encourage nurses to challenge themselves to
be inquisitive and embrace change. Being
entrenched and unwilling to improve is not
helpful in patient care. In today’s world,
what is considered expert information can
quickly become old news. Critical care
nurses can be excellent role models for
creating new ways to keep the focus on the
patient and deliver the very best care
possible, given resource constraints.
ICU Award Goes to Seattle Hospital
The
pediatric and infant care units at
Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical
Center, Seattle, Wash., are the recipients
of the 2001 ICU Design Award. The citation,
which recognizes designs that enhance the
critical care environment for patients,
families, and clinicians, was established by
a joint committee of AACN, the Society of
Critical Care Medicine and the American
Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on
Architecture for Health.
The
recipients receive $500 from each of the
sponsoring organizations, for a total of
$1,500, as well as registration for one
person to attend each of the organization's
annual meetings or conferences. In addition,
a plaque is presented to display in the
unit.
Submitting
the award application were Phyllis Brown,
RNC, and Jerry Zimmerman, MD, both from
Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical
Center, and Sandra Miller, an associate with
Pacific Architects, Seattle.
Association Executives Recognize Quality of
NTI
The 2001
National Teaching Institute™ and Critical
Care Exposition in Anaheim, Calif., was
awarded top honors in the Meetings and
Expositions Marketing category of the
American Society of Association Executives’
Gold Circle Award program.
AACN’s
entry, which was a collection of all the
elements that went into the success of the
NTI, was judged on achievement of
objectives, comprehensiveness of content,
effectiveness of writing, and format and
graphic design, including the use of
photography and/or illustration. Prominent
was the “Make Waves” theme of immediate past
President Denise Thornby, RN, MS, and the
artwork and graphics associated with it.
“Our entry
emphasized all the innovations that we
introduced last year and, fortunately, the
judges agreed that we achieved something
special,” commented AACN Marketing Director
Dana Woods. “This is a well-deserved tribute
to our first-class team of volunteers and
staff and the incredible commitment to
excellence that we all share.”
The
atmosphere that AACN was able to achieve for
the NTI is also being recognized by the
Anaheim Convention Center, which is using
photos from the NTI in its promotional
materials.
Self-Awareness a Key Skill in Influencing
and Leading Others
Members
of the AACN Leadership Development Work
Group for 2000-01 are (from left,
seated) Lisa Pettrey (cochair), Suzette
Cardin and Bonnie Sakallaris (co-chair) and
(from left, standing) Education Director
Barbara Mayer (staff liaison), Dorrie
Fontaine
(board liaison), Susan Yeager (board
liaison), Connie Barden (board liaison),
Anne
LaVoice Hawkins and Mary McKinley.
By Anne
Hawkins, RN, MS
Leadership Development Work Group
Although
being competent and credible in our
workplace is critical, we cannot make our
optimal contribution without the skills to
influence and lead others.
The
Leadership Development Work Group has
identified four skills as necessary for
influencing our practice and our work
environment. The first three—dialogue,
navigating change and conflict
management—have been presented in previous
issues of AACN News. The fourth skill is
self-awareness.
Self-awareness is not about dissecting
yourself, but instead about understanding
yourself as a complete person. We are all
born with tendencies and personalities that,
combined with life experiences, determine
who we are. Self-awareness is about
accepting this, the good and the flawed, and
understanding what makes us unique and
special. Ultimately, self-awareness is about
our ability to take responsibility for
successes and responsibility for failures.
How can you
increase self-awareness? Begin by reflecting
and listing your strengths and weaknesses.
Share your list and your perspective with
someone you admire and trust and ask for his
or her insight. Spend time with those you
know will be truthful with you.
Obtaining
feedback from others is probably the most
common way of finding out about ourselves.
Use the “360-feedback” tool to obtain
feedback from various sources. Remember that
hearing what others say about you is not
always easy. Take time to digest the
information. As we become more self-aware of
and more secure with ourselves, we will find
it easier to allow others to influence who
we are and where we are going.
There are a
number of tools that can help you learn
about your style or personality tendencies,
such as the Myers-Briggs, AACN DISC tool and
Left Brain-Right Brain assessment. Although
no test is all-inclusive, these tools can
give you information and a good opportunity
to dialogue with others about what you
learn.
Self-assessment and truly seeing ourselves
are life-long endeavors. We are complicated
beings. Some parts of us are so well hidden
that our exploration is never completed.
Nevertheless, some of us are far more
self-aware than others. Changing from
moderately unaware to very aware is a
continuum of learning, which takes place
from a novice level to a proficient level.
Self-awareness should be considered a
journey, not a destination.
Board Report
Following
is a report by AACN Secretary Lori
Hendrickx, RN, EdD, CCRN, on discussions and
actions that took place during the November
2001 AACN Board of Directors meeting in
Williamsburg, Va.
Agenda Item: Strategic and Operating Plans
The board
evaluated the association’s strategic and
operating plans, weighing them against
environmental data that had been collected
and analyzed. Monitoring and updating the
association’s strategic plan to ensure that
it addresses changes in the healthcare
environment and anticipates future changes
is an important role for the board in
ensuring that the needs of members are met.
Prior to the
discussions related to the strategic and
operating plans, the board received the 2001
environmental scan, one of the many sources
providing data on which decisions are based.
Other sources include AACN focus groups,
Board Advisory Team conference calls,
surveys and direct feedback from members.
These are tools the board uses to validate
the direction the association is taking,
especially when the same information is
coming from a variety of sources.
Considerable
time at the board meeting was spent
furthering discussions from the Strategic
Planning Committee, which met in October.
The committee had requested that the board
and leadership team expand on two topics:
• How AACN
can be even more effective in meeting the
needs of nurses, patients and families by
using its “voice” powerfully and in
influential places
• The
relationship of AACN’s chapters, regions and
national leadership and how to optimize this
relationship and its activities to better
meet the needs of members.
Time spent
on these discussions was enlightening and
will be helpful in planning direction for
the future.
Agenda Item: Operations Reports
The board
received and approved operational reports
related to AACN initiatives, including
membership, professional practice,
development and strategic alliances,
certification and constituent service. These
reports allow the board to determine AACN’s
progress toward achieving outcomes that meet
the needs of critical care nurses. For
example, the board was updated on the status
of the Essentials of Critical Care
Orientation program and was pleased with the
progress being made, because the demand for
this product is evident.
Agenda Item: Call for Volunteers
The board
approved the Call for Volunteers to serve on
national-level committees for 2002-03. The
number and types of groups needed each year
is driven by the strategic plan, with input
from both the board and staff, which look at
where we need to go and the types of
information we need. Appointees for some
groups, like the NTI Work Group, are needed
every year. Others, like members of the
Progressive Care Task Force and the Nurse
Manager Think Tank, may be carried over to
continue their work.
Agenda Item: Lifetime Member Award
The board
received approved a recipient of the Circle
of Excellence Lifetime Member Award, which
recognizes AACN members who have rendered
distinguished service to the association and
demonstrated potential for continuing
contributions to acute and critical care
nursing through AACN. Although most Circle
of Excellence award recipients are selected
by the Chapter and Membership Awards Review
Panel, nominations for this award are
submitted directly to the AACN Board of
Directors, which is responsible for ensuring
that the recipients chosen meet the criteria
of promoting AACN’s vision, mission and
values. Recipients of this and other Circle
of Excellence awards for 2002 will be
announced in the May 2002 issue of AACN
News. The recipients will be introduced and
honored at NTI 2002 in Atlanta, Ga.
Agenda Item: Audit and Finance Report
The board
reviewed and approved the annual audit
report presented by the accounting firm,
Deloitte & Touche. The firm found that the
association’s financial statements
accurately reflect the financial position of
the association and that the association
follows generally accepted accounting
principles. As part of its accountabilities,
the board monitors the budget on a regular
basis to ensure that the association can
adequately finance current and long-term
needs.
AACN Members Enjoy Rental Car Discounts
Are you
planning to rent a car while attending
AACN’s National Teaching Institute™ and
Critical Care Exposition in Atlanta, Ga.,
later this year? Remember: Alamo Rent A Car
offers AACN members discounts of up to 15%
off retail rates and unlimited mileage. And,
you can add another driver at no additional
fee.
For
reservations, call (800) 354-2322. Request
ID number 371978 and Rate Code BY or (A1 for
weekend rentals). Additional savings coupons
are available through AACN and can be
ordered by calling (800) 899-2226. Request
Item #1510.
In addition,
AACN members can avoid rental counter lines
by using the Alamo QuickRent online. Alamo
Rent A Car benefits are available year round
to AACN members. However, availability may
be limited and blackout dates may apply.
Numbers Continue to Build in Membership
Campaign
AACN’s
Critical Links Member-Get-A-Member campaign
is headed down the stretch as the ranks of
new members continue to build.
The
campaign, which was launched in May 2001 at
AACN’s National Teaching Institute™ and
Critical Care Exposition in Anaheim, Calif.,
ends April 1, 2002. The top recruiters, both
individuals and chapters, will be recognized
at NTI 2002 in Atlanta, Ga.
And, member
recruiters can earn valuable rewards for
their participation. All they need to do to
is make certain that their names and AACN
member numbers are included on the new
members’ application forms.
In fact,
recruiting just one new member entitles
participants to an AACN pocket reference.
Following is
additional information about the rewards
that await member recruiters.
Individual Rewards
The reward
for the top individual recruiter overall is
$500 or an American Express gift
certificate. The top recruiter is also
eligible for the first-, second- and
third-place prize drawings:
1st Prize—
Round-trip tickets for two to anywhere in
the continental U.S., including a five-day,
fournight hotel stay.
2nd Prize—
Round-trip tickets for two to anywhere in
the continental U.S.
3rd Prize—
Four-days, three-nights hotel accommodations
at a Marriott Hotel.
In addition
to the pocket reference members receive for
recruiting their first new member,
recruiting five new members earns them a $25
gift certificate toward the purchase of AACN
resources. They receive a $50 AACN gift
certificate for recruiting 10 new members.
Each month,
members who have recruited at least one new
member in the month are also entered into a
monthly drawing for a $100 American Express
gift certificate.
Chapter Rewards
In addition
to a $250 gift certificate toward the
purchase of AACN resources, chapters
reporting the largest increase in membership
numbers or the largest percentage increase
will receive special recognition at NTI 2002
in Atlanta, Ga. Each month, chapters that
recruit new members are also entered into a
drawing for one complimentary registration
for NTI 2002.
Below are
the cumulative totals for members recruiting
new members during November, as well as
those who have accumulated five or more new
members, and cumulative totals for chapters
since the campaign began in May 2001.
Recruiter #
Recruited
Ismael J. Abregonde, RN,
BSN 5
Betty L. Anderson, RN 1
Judith Ascenzi, RN, MSN
6
Sonia M. Astle, RN, MS,
CCRN 1
Perrilynn A. Baldelli,
RN, MSN, CCRN 1
Robin M. Ballew, RN, BSN,
CCRN 1
Michael Beshel, RN, BSN,
CCRN, CEN 14
Patricia A. Bishop, RN,
MSN, CCRN, ARNP 1
Michael C. Blanchard, RN
6
Lisa M. Boldrighini 5
Carrie A. Boom, RN, BSN,
CCRN 1
Anna Marie Bucior, RN 1
Kathleen M. Burton, RN,
BSN 1
Rose C. Cardin, RN 1
Ann Marie Carpenter, RN,
BSN, CCRN 10
Carolyn Carter, RN, ADN,
BA 1
Michael Chalot, RN, ADN,
CCRN 1
Sasipa Charnchaichujit,
RN 8
Michelle L. Collins, RN,
BSN 2
Kathleen Corban, RN, BSN,
CCRN 5
Bonnie J. Corcoran, RN,
MS, CCRN 1
Cynthia G. Cox, RN, BSN
7
Lori Ann Cox, RN, MSN,
CCRN, ACNP, NP 1
Annette R. Dematio, RN,
BSN, CCRN 1
Jennifer Yun-Doung Do, RN
1
Judith C. Dobke 1
Melissa L. Drain, RN,
DNSc, CCRN 29
Michele Dudley, RN, ADN,
CCRN 1
Peggy Lynn Ennis, RN 26
Myrna Fontillas-Boehm 6
Wendy J. Franklin, RN,
BSN, CCRN 1
Carla J. Freeman, RN,
BSN, CCRN 10
Diane E. Fritsch, RN,
MSN, CCRN, CS 1
Karen A. Gaertner, RN,
MSN, CCRN 1
Julia K. Garrison, RN,
BSN, CCRN 1
Lita T. Gorman, RN, BSN,
CCRN, CEN 6
Maria B. Greaney, RN, MSN
1
Sonja E. Guilda 1
Carol Guyette, RN, BSN,
CCRN 13
Charlene A. Haley-Moyer,
RN, MS, CCRN 5
Michelle L. Henrickson,
RN, BSN 4
Kimberly D. Herold, RN,
BSN, CCRN 1
Mary E. Holtschneider,
RN, BSN, MPA 1
B.J. Hopkins 1
Zondra Hull, RN 6
Patricia Jennings, RN,
ADN, CCRN 5
Lauretta M. Joseph, RN,
CCRN 6
Lori E. Kennedy, RN, BSN,
CCRN 7
Nancy D. King, RN, MSN,
CCRN, NP 18
Joanne M. Kuszaj, RN,
MSN, CCRN 1
Julie J. Lee, RN, BS,
CCRN 1
Darlene Legge, RN, BSN,
CCRN 26
Gayle A. Lucas, RN, BS,
CCRN 1
Lauren Maleski, RN, BSN,
CCRN 1
Michele L. Manning, RN,
MSN, CCRN, CS 6
Loretta Anne Marcantonio,
RN, ADN, BA 1
Polly Ann Marinelli, RN,
ADN 4
Martie C. Mattson 7
Julia A. McAvoy, RN, MSN,
CCRN 1
James Mears, RN 6
Arlene Messina, RN, ADN
5
Katherine H. Miller, RN,
ADN 10
Anneita Kay Minor, RN,
BS, BSN, CCRN 1
Rachel E. Monday, RN 1
Sharon H. Murff, RN, MSN,
CCRN 1
Amanda L. Newman 5
Robin Ondrusek, RN 1
Renee N. Perkins, RN 2
Dorothy Rose Phelps, RN,
BS, CCRN 9
Colleen O. Planchon, RN,
BSN, BS, CCRN 4
Michele Quinlan, RN, BSN
20
Victoria A. Ramik MS,
CCRN, CS, APRN 1
Michealene Redemske, RN,
BS, CCRN 1
Jeff Reece, RN, BSN 7
Carol Reitz-Barlow 5
Margaret Riley, RN, BSN,
CCRN 19
Mary J. Roe, RN, BSN,
CCRN 1
Barbara Schnakenberg, RN
5
Lynn Schnautz, RN, MSN,
CCRN 16
Orlando Scott, RN 2
Cynthia Steinbach, RN,
BSN, CCRN 5
Janice Stevens, RN, BSN,
CCRN, CNRN 5
Theresa Stevens, RN, MS,
CCRN, CCNS 1
Mary C. Stewart, RN, BSN,
MBA 12
Marjorie A. Stock, RN,
ADN, CCRN 5
Yvonne Thelwell, RN 8
Linda S. Thomas, RN, MSN,
CCRN 6
Sandra A. Thomas, RN, ADN
1
Betty Thornell, RN, MS,
CCRN 1
Tabby W. Tsuei, RNC, BSN,
CCRN 1
Deborah J. Tuggle, RN,
MN, CCNS 1
Mary Vanderbeek 1
Holly L. Weber-Johnson,
RN, BSN 11
Susan E. White, RN, MSN
1
Colbert W. White, RN,
CCRN 1
Barbara Wiles, RN, BSN,
CCRN 5
Jana Woller Hough, RN,
BSN 6
Pam Zinnecker, RN, CCRN
5
Chapters
Anchorage Chapter 5
Atlanta Area Chapter 58
Brooklyn Chapter 6
Broward County Chapter 5
Carolina Dogwood Chapter
7
Greater Akron Area
Chapter 1
Greater Birmingham
Chapter 5
Greater Austin Area
Chapter 12
Greater East Texas
Chapter 13
Greater Evansville
Chapter 28
Greater Miami Area
Chapter 11
Greater Milwaukee Area
Chapter 22
Greater Phoenix Area
Chapter 5
Greater Raleigh Area
Chapter 5
Greater Tulsa Area
Chapter 16
Head of the Lakes Chapter
5
Heart of Acadiana Chapter
8
Heart of the Piedmont
Chapter 28
Minot Roughrider Chapter
11
Mobile Bay Area Chapter
4
Montana Big Sky Chapter
7
North Central Florida
Chapter 24
North Central Wisconsin
Chapter 5
North/West Georgia
Chapter 7
Northeast Indiana Chapter
7
Pacific Crest Regional
Chapter 35
Pennisula Chapter 12
Piedmont Carolinas
Chapter 2
Siouxland Chapter 5
Smoky Hill Chapter 5
South Carolina Mid State
Chapter 10
Southeastern Pennsylvania
Chapter 15
Southern Maine Chapter 1
Vermont Green Mountain 13
November Rewards
Congratulations to the reward recipients in
our monthly membership campaign drawings for
November. Each month, one chapter will
receive a complimentary registration to NTI
2002 and one individual will receive a $100
American Express gift certificate. The
recipients are randomly selected from those
who recruited at least one new member during
the month.
The
recipients in November were:
•
Chapter—Broward County Chapter
•
Individual—Anne Marie Bucior, RN
To obtain
Critical Links recruitment forms, call (800)
899-2226. Request Item #1316. Or, visit the
AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org.>
Membership.
Public Policy Update
Critical Care Shortage
Issue:
Current medical and nursing training
programs are not producing a sufficient
number of qualified critical care physicians
and nurses to meet the projected medical
needs of the U.S. population.
Background:
The Critical Care Workforce Partnership, a
coalition consisting of AACN and three other
professional societies, says that, if the
trend continues, a severe shortage of
critical care specialists will occur by 2007
and worsen until at least 2030. The
shortages, first found in a study published
in the Journal of the American Medical
Association in December 2000 and highlighted
by the partnership at a news conference in
connection with the 67th annual
International Scientific Assembly of the
American College of Chest Physicians,
includes critical care physicians, nurses,
pharmacists and respiratory therapists.
In addition
to AACN, the societies making up the
Critical Care Workforce Partnership are the
American College of Chest Physicians,
American Thoracic Society and Society of
Critical Care Medicine, Collectively, they
represent more than 100,000 healthcare
professionals. The partnership recognizes
that there are currently insufficient
numbers of qualified doctors and nurses to
provide specialized care in ICUs for
critically ill patients and their families.
The crisis will intensify as the United
States population ages and requires more
critical care services. If the United States
is faced with a major disaster or terrorist
attack, the shortage of trained specialists
could also hinder the availability of
appropriate medical care.
All four
professional societies agree that this
shortage is very real and could have a
tremendous impact on how critical care is
delivered in the future. Research indicates
that there is a direct correlation between
patient outcomes and care provided or
supervised by trained specialists. Because
of the time needed to educate and train
critical care specialists, the societies
urge immediate action.
AACN
Position: The partnership is calling for a
national effort involving legislators,
regulators, payors, medical schools,
hospitals, other healthcare organizations
and communities to engage in discussions
about the need for additional critical care
professionals. Solutions will involve a wide
variety of programs on the federal, state
and local levels as well as within the
critical care profession itself. The
Critical Care Workforce Partnership Position
Statement: The Aging of the U.S. population
and Increased Need for Critical Care
Services can be read at www.aacn.org >
Clinical Practice > Public Policy > Position
Statements.
Nursing Shortage
Issue:
Shortage of critical care nurses.
Background:
Clarian Health Partners, Indiana's largest
healthcare network, and the Indiana
University School of Nursing, the state’s
largest nursing school, are teaming up with
AACN to develop a series of unique online
classes to prepare nurses and nursing
students across the U.S. in critical care.
The objective is to use technology to
increase the number of nurses caring for the
growing population of acutely ill patients.
The classes will offer students a variety of
ways to learn, including taped lectures,
interactive CD-ROM demonstrations, online
interactions with experts nationwide, a
reference area for the latest research and
professional standards, real-life nurse
mentors from Clarian to provide support, and
real-world clinical experience working with
an experienced mentor. The group hopes to
eventually offer the courses at hospitals
across the U.S. and in other countries.
The project
is funded by a grant of almost $1 million
from the Fund for the Improvement of
Postsecondary Education, part of the U.S.
Department of Education. Clarian, IUSON and
AACN will provide the remainder of the
funding for the $2.1 million project.
CDC Guidelines
Issue: CDC
smallpox response plan.
Background:
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has released a working draft of a
plan that outlines the CDC’s strategies for
responding to a smallpox emergency. The plan
has been sent to all state bioterrorism
coordinators, state health officers, state
epidemiologists, and state immunization
program managers for review and comment. It
identifies many of the federal, state and
local public health activities that would
need to be undertaken in a smallpox
emergency, including response plan
implementation, notification procedures for
suspected cases, CDC and state and local
responsibilities and activities, and CDC
vaccine and personnel mobilization. It also
provides state and local public health
officials with a framework that can be used
to guide their smallpox planning and
readiness efforts, as well as guidelines for
many of the general public health activities
that would be undertaken during a smallpox
emergency.
AACN
Position: AACN supports the efforts of the
CDC and encourages all nurses to familiarize
themselves with the activities that would
need to be undertaken in a smallpox
emergency.
Hand-Washing
Issue: Draft
hand-washing guidelines for healthcare
workers.
Background:
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has announced draft guidelines
for hand-washing in healthcare settings,
which have been published in the Federal
Register. The draft guidelines are intended
to replace the current version, issued in
1985. The draft contains specific
recommendations to promote improved hand
hygiene practices and reduce transmission of
pathogenic microorganisms to patients and
personnel in healthcare settings.
AACN
Position: AACN supports the CDC
recommendations.
Anesthesia Rule
Issue: The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
formerly the Health Care Financing
Administration, released its final
regulatory rule mandating that physicians
supervise patients’ anesthesia care in all
Medicare- and Medicaid-approved hospitals
and ambulatory surgical centers.
Status: Two
days before leaving office in January 2001,
President Clinton put through a change to
the Medicare anesthesia supervision rule
that would have allowed nurse anesthetists
to give anesthetics to patients without a
doctor being involved in that care before,
during and after surgery. The rule change
was first proposed in December 1997.
The newly
rewritten Conditions of Participation, which
every Medicare- and Medicaid-approved
healthcare facility must follow, will
continue to require physician supervision of
nurse anesthetists in hospitals and
ambulatory surgical centers. State
governors, however, could opt to have one or
more facilities in the state excluded from
this requirement, after meeting certain
loosely defined criteria established by the
Department of Health and Human Services. A
governor would have to:
• Consult
with the state boards of medicine and
nursing;
•
Demonstrate that the change is consistent
with state law; and
• Attest
that the requested change is in the best
interest of the citizens of that state.
Should some
states decide to drop physician supervision
for its Medicare and Medicaid populations,
HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality would conduct a prospective patient
safety study to assess patient outcomes
relating to the work of unsupervised nurse
anesthetists in those states versus states
where they continue to be supervised by a
physician.
In response
to the new Medicare final rule on
supervision of anesthesia services, the
American Hospital Association has published
a Regulatory Advisory on the supervision of
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The
advisory explains the background of this new
rule and lists steps that should be taken by
hospitals and health systems to maintain
compliance.
AACN
Position: AACN supported the Clinton
Administration’s final rule, which would
have allowed nurse anesthetists to give
anesthetics to patients without a doctor
being involved in that care before, during
and after surgery. Although the new rule
clearly requires supervision, AACN
acknowledges the new rule and supports nurse
anesthetists working within the rule to
continue ensuring the safest, highest
quality anesthetics for patients,
particularly those in rural and medically
underserved areas. AACN supports continued
study of the role of these advanced practice
nurses and their ability to practice safely
and independently while producing excellent
patient outcomes.
Mandatory Overtime
Issue:
Mandatory overtime legislation introduced in
congress.
Status:
Identical bills, H.R. 3238 and S. 1686, have
been introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate to limit
the hours nurses could be required to work.
The House bill, titled the “Safe Nursing and
Patient Care Act of 2001,” has 28
cosponsors. It would prohibit hospitals from
requiring nurses to work more than 12 hours
in a 24-hour period or more than 80 hours in
a consecutive 14-day period. Exceptions
could be made in the case of a national or
state emergency. The bill would also
establish fines up to $10,000 per incident
for hospitals that require nurses to work
beyond prescribed limits. It would permit
nurses to continue to volunteer for overtime
if they feel that they can continue to
provide safe, quality care. These
restrictions would become part of Medicare
provider agreements. The bill provides
specific exemptions from the hospital
overtime bans for nursing homes.
AACN
Position: AACN believes that mandatory
overtime is not an acceptable means of
staffing a hospital, because it may place
nurses and their patients at increased risk
of being involved in medical errors.
Instead, nurses should be able to decide
whether working overtime will affect their
ability to care safely and effectively for
patients. They should have the option of
refusing overtime assignments and not be
forced into working beyond their capacity to
provide optimal care. AACN supports this
legislation and will continue to work to
educate the public on the negative impact
that mandatory overtime can have on patient
safety.
Patient Safety and Staffing
Issue: New
study says fewer nurses lead to increased
risk and cost.
Background:
According to a study published in the
November issue of the American Journal of
Critical Care, using fewer nurses in the ICU
at night can result in increased risk for
postoperative complications and increased
costs. A team of Johns Hopkins University
researchers sought to determine if one nurse
caring for one or two patients versus one
nurse caring for three or more patients in
the ICU at night is associated with
differences in clinical and economic
outcomes after hepatectomy. Of the 569
adults in the study, 240 had fewer nurses at
25 hospitals, while 316 patients in eight
hospitals had more nurses. No significant
association between night shift
nurse-to-patient ratios and in-hospital
mortality was detected. The researchers
found that patients with fewer nurses had
increased risks for pulmonary failure and
reintubation, as well as a 14% increase in
total hospital costs.
Bioterrorism
Issue: As of
Jan. 1, 2002, hospitals nationwide are being
monitored on how well prepared they are for
bioterrorism and mass destruction
emergencies.
Background:
Prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,
the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations sent a special
report to nearly 5,000 hospitals and other
healthcare facilities emphasizing the need
for improved preparedness. Hospitals found
not in compliance of standards will risk
losing accreditation, which is considered a
gold seal of approval in the industry. The
commission’s report offers tips on planning
and formulating strategies. It also outlines
standard requirements. The JCAHO
requirements to hospitals for bioterrorism
preparedness include:
•
Identifying possible hazardous threats to
the area, such as nuclear power plants.
•
Implementing decontamination plans for
victims of biological warfare;
•
Identifying alternate treatment sites if the
hospital is overwhelmed with patients.
• Building
relationships with local and national health
and emergency agencies, the FBI and Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hospitals
not in compliance will be cited for
deficiencies. Should a hospital fail to
comply within six months of the survey, it
could lose accreditation. In addition to
accreditation, hospitals would lose benefits
such as managed care reimbursements, federal
funding, Medicare and Medicaid
reimbursements and the ability to offer
medical residency programs.
Hospital
administrators have pointed to a sluggish
economy and nationwide shortage of nurses
and other medical staff as reasons why they
aren’t fully prepared for a major biological
attack. However, hospitals will not be held
responsible for complying with certain
requirements if they have legitimate
financial or staffing constraints, according
to Russell Massaro, executive vice president
of accreditation operations for the
commission. Hospitals will be held
responsible for showing evidence of
planning, conducting drills, establishing
relationships with community agencies and
implementing other strategies.
Bioterrorism Legislation
Background:
On June 14, 2000, Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.)
and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) presented to
the Senate the Public Health Threats and
Emergencies Act of 2000 (S. 2731). This
legislation, the culmination of a series of
subcommittee hearings that began in 1997,
introduced new tools to deal with the
nation’s startling vulnerability to emerging
public health threats. Congress passed the
bill in November 2000, and President Clinton
signed it into law (P.L.106-505).
It was this
legislation that gave HHS Secretary Tommy
Thompson the authority to act decisively to
protect the public during a health
emergency. Thompson used this new authority
to send medical supplies and personnel to
New York following the attacks on Sept. 11.
Status:
Several pieces of legislation have been
introduced in the House and Senate or were
being written since October. The
Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2001, which
is the Democratic proposal to protect
communities against future bioterrorist
threats or attacks, was introduced by Rep.
Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a member of the House
Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security.
The act seeks to eliminate biological
threats, secure the nation’s borders on land
and at sea, protect the food and water
supplies, equip local communities with the
resources to prevent and respond to
bioterrorism, and strengthen the nation’s
intelligence capabilities through full
coordination, using the most advanced
technology to fight bioterrorism.
Kennedy and
Frist are planning to introduce a new bill
as a follow-up to S.2731. The new bill would
incorporate several other bioterrorism bills
recently introduced in the Senate and boost
current funding. One bill that could be
folded into this legislation is S.1520, the
State Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001
introduced by Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and a
Senate coalition of former governors. The
bill is intended to provide states with the
resources needed to effectively prepare for
and prevent biological and chemical attacks
by terrorists. Other Senate bills that could
be folded into a comprehensive act include
S.1539, an initiative to protect children by
training healthcare workers on how to treat
children against biological and chemical
agents, and S.1546 and S. 1436, which seek
to provide greater funding to improve and
protect fertilizer, crop and livestock from
bioterrorism. Source: ENA Washington Update,
November 2001.
NIWI Internship
Issue: 2002
Nurse in Washington Internship Sponsored by
the National Federation for Specialty
Nursing Organizations (NFSNO)
Background:
The Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI)
program provides nurses the opportunity to
learn how to influence healthcare through
the legislative process. Participants learn
from healthcare policy experts and
government officials, network with other
nurses, and visit members of Congress.
The
objectives of the program are to describe
how nurses can be involved and influence
policy at the local and national level,
discuss how to work effectively with
legislative staff to advance policy agendas,
network with other nurses with similar
clinical/political interests, describe key
steps to effect change in the legislative
process, identify techniques to advance
legislative issues at the grassroots level,
identify legislative, political, and
economic forces driving healthcare policy
and delivery changes today and discuss the
impact of fiscal and budgetary changes on
health policy formation and implementation.
The program
offers CE credit of approximately 27.7
contact hours and will take place March
10-13, 2002, at the Madison Hotel, Fifteenth
& M Streets Northwest, Washington, DC ($185
single/double). Early registration fees are
$645 for members of NFSNO member
organizations and $695 for members of ANA or
CMA. There are special fees for entry-level
RN students and scholarships offered for RN
members of NFSNO member organizations. Fees
increase on Feb. 1, 2002. For information,
call the NFSNO national office at (856)
256-2333 or e-mail
nfsno@ajj.com.
AACN
Position: As a member of NFSNO, AACN
endorses the NIWI Internship Program and
encourages all interested members to apply.
AACN Joins Needlestick Safety Organization
AACN
recently joined the National Alliance for
the Primary Prevention of Sharps Injuries
(NAPPSI), which strives to protect
healthcare workers and patients from
accidental sharps injuries during medical
procedures. Membership in NAPPSI is aligned
with AACN’s goal of establishing more
healing, humane work and care environments
in the medical community.
NAPPSI
promotes a strategy known as primary
prevention, which refers to the creation and
use of technologies and practices that
reduce or eliminate the use of sharp
implements in healthcare settings, replacing
them with safer technologies and practices.
Although
NAPPSI acknowledges that secondary
prevention approaches, such as retractable
blades, also improve needlestick protection,
it emphasizes the greater benefits of
primary prevention. For example, catheter
securement devices, which replace tape and
suture for anchoring catheters, illustrate
the benefits of the primary prevention
approach. These products reduce the
incidence of unscheduled catheter restarts,
minimizing nurses’ exposure to needlesticks
that can occur during such restarts.
For further
information about NAPPSI, call (858)
350-8623; e-mail,
info@NAPPSI.org;
Web site,
http://www.NAPPSI.org.
Scene and Heard
AACN
continues to seek visibility for our
profession and the organization. Following
is an update on recent outreach efforts:
Media Highlights
• The Oct.
22 issue of NurseWeek published an article
that addressed the advantages of membership
in a professional organization. AACN CEO
Wanda Johanson, RN, MN, and Marketing
Communications
Specialist
Kris Pleimann were quoted widely in the
story.
• AACN and
its National Teaching Institute™ have been
mentioned several times in Tradeshow Week,
as a result of the involvement by Randy
Bauler, AACN exhibits and sponsorship
director, in the
International Association for Exhibition
Management. Bauler was also recently
featured on the IAEM Web site discussing the
value of certification in his profession as
an event manager.
• Following
a Nov. 1 tribute dinner hosted by the
Greater Washington Area Chapter of AACN and
the Washington Area Society of Critical Care
Medicine to honor the nurses and doctors who
treated victims of
the Sept. 11
terrorist attack on the Pentagon, the front
page of the Metropolitan section of the
Washington Times featured a story about a
Virginia state trooper who was injured while
rescuing victims.
Our Voice at the Table
• AACN
recently accepted an invitation to join the
National Alliance for the Primary Prevention
of Sharps Injuries (NAPPSI) as a corporate
partner. (See related article, above.) AACN
Public Policy Specialist
Janice Weber
will serve as the liaison. News of the
addition of AACN as a member of NAPPSI was
published in Medical Industry Today.
• Williams
was joined by President-elect Connie Barden,
RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, and CEO Wanda Johanson
at the fourth annual meeting of the Nursing
Organization Liaison Forum (NOLF) and the
National
Federation for Specialty Nursing
Organizations (NFSNO). At the meeting, a
proposal for the formation of a new nursing
alliance was accepted. The mission of the
new Nursing Organizations
Alliance
(NOA) is to increase nursing’s visibility
and impact on healthcare through
communication, collaboration and advocacy.
NOA will work to support and strengthen the
work of the nursing profession
and
individual organizations.
• In
December, Johanson, Williams and Barden also
met with the leadership of the Society of
Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in Chicago.
The purpose of the meeting was to continue
dialogue around
common goals
and philosophies for ongoing collaboration
between the two organizations.
If you or
your chapter is planning to reach out to the
media or other groups to promote critical
care nursing, we’d like to know so that we
can highlight your efforts in future
columns. Please write us at
aacnnews@aacn.org.
Coming in the February Issue of Critical
Care Nurse
• Managing
Patients With Acute Thyrotoxicosis
• Using
Clinical Pathways in Cardiac Valve Surgery
Patients
• CABG
Surgery Without Cardiopulmonary Bypass
• Myocardial
Injury: Contrasting Infarction and Contusion
PLUS...
AACN
Critical Care Careers 2002
Don’t miss
the CE article
“Advancing
Sedation Assessment to Promote Patient
Comfort”
inside this
special supplement
Subscriptions to Critical Care Nurse and the
American Journal of Critical Care are
included in AACN membership dues.
Looking Ahead
February 2002
Feb. 1
Deadline to submit applications for NTI
Vision Partners Scholarship. To obtain an
application, call (800) 899-2226 and request
Item #1099, or call AACN Fax on Demand at
(800)222-6329 and
request Document #1099.
Feb. 1
Deadline to submit proposals for AACN
Datex-Ohmeda Grant. To obtain an
application, call (800) 899-2226 and request
Item #1013, or visit the “Clinical Practice”
area of the
AACN Web
site
Feb. 1
Deadline to submit proposals for AACN
Certification Corporation Research Grant. To
obtain an application, call (800) 899-2226
and request Item #1013, or visit the
“Clinical
Practice”
area of the AACN Web site
Feb. 1
Deadline to submit proposals for AACN
Critical Care Grant. To obtain an
application, call (800) 899-2226 and request
Item #1013, or visit the “Clinical Practice”
area of the AACN
Web site.
Feb. 1
Deadline to submit proposals for AACN
Mentorship Grant. To obtain an application,
call (800) 899-2226 and request Item #1013,
or visit the “Clinical Practice” area of the
AACN
Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
Click on “Research.”
Feb. 1
Deadline to apply for National Student
Nurses Association scholarships. To receive
an application, contact the National Student
Nurses Association, 555 W. 57th St., New
York,
NY 10019, or
call (212) 581-2211.
March 2002
March 1
Deadline to submit applications for the
Circle of Excellence President’s Award for
Chapters. To obtain an award application,
call (800) 899-2226. Request Item #1011. Or,
visit the
AACN Web
site
March 14
Deadline to submit speaker proposal
abstracts for NTI 2003 in San Antonio,
Texas. To obtain a speaker proposal packet,
call AACN Fax on Demand at (800) 222-6329
(Request
Document
#6019), or visit the AACN Web site
April 2002
April 1 The
Critical Links Member-Get-A-Member campaign
ends. To obtain recruitment campaign forms,
call (800) 899-2226. Request Item #1316.
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