AACN Details Crisis in Nursing Shortage for
News Media at NTI
Participating in a
news conference regarding the nursing
shortage were (from left)
AACN CEO Wanda L. Johanson, AACN
President-elect Dorrie K. Fontaine, critical
care nurse Jeanette Mills, Johnson & Johnson
representative Melissa Cheeks and
Clayton College and State University
Associate Dean Lydia McAllister.
AACN stepped
up its efforts to combat the nursing
shortage at a news conference scheduled in
conjunction with its National Teaching
Institute and Critical Care Exposition in
May in Atlanta, Ga. Association
representatives were joined by a
spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson's
Campaign for Nursing's Future in stressing
the urgency of the crisis facing the
healthcare system.
�The growing
nursing shortage poses a significant threat
to society's most vulnerable populations
and, if not corrected, it will have adverse
implications on quality of care,� incoming
AACN President-elect Dorrie Fontaine, RN,
DNSc, FAAN, told the gathering of print and
electronic media.
�Today's
shortage is real. Our hospitals are becoming
large intensive care units, and sicker
patients are creating an increasing demand
for experienced, highly skilled nurses,� she
continued. �As the population ages, this
demand will far outreach the supply of
trained nurses.�
CEO Wanda
Johanson, RN, MN, emphasized that AACN is
working collaboratively to solve the
problem.
�AACN is
committed to working with our colleagues
across disciplines and geographies to solve
not only this current staffing crisis, but
also to ensure that there is a long-term
supply of critical care nurses to care for
all of us when we are most in need,� she
said.
Jeanette
Marie Mills, RN, a new critical care nurse
practicing at Southern Regional Medical
Center in Riverdale, Ga., also addressed the
media, sharing her experience entering
critical care and her inspiration for
becoming a nurse.
AACN has
been closely aligned with other
organizations concerned about the nursing
shortage and is heading the �nursing and
professional culture� action domain for the
Call to the Profession: Nursing's Agenda for
the Future. In addition, AACN has been
active in the Nurses for a Healthier
Tomorrow coalition, which has developed a
series of print ads and public service
announcements to showcase nursing.
As a
long-standing supporter of the nursing
profession, Johnson & Johnson cosponsored
NTI events, including the opening session,
recognition activities related to Nurses
Week and a visit by more than 50 Atlanta
area middle school students interested in
nursing as a career.
�Johnson and
Johnson applauds the efforts of the American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses to bring
attention to the nursing shortage and help
recruit people into the profession,� said
Melissa Cheeks, RN, manager of professional
services at Ethicon-Endo Surgery, Inc., a
Johnson & Johnson company. �Educating our
young children to the many opportunities of
this rewarding profession is one step toward
addressing this challenge.�
Creative Touch Is a Winner at NTI 2002
Debbie
Hess of Erie, Pa., nabbed first-place
honors in the annual Mail Home Box
Decorating
Contest, held in conjunction with NTI 2002
in
Atlanta, Ga. The creative touch she added to
her shipping box won her complimentary
registration for NTI 2003, May 17 through 22
in San Antonio, Texas. Other winners were
second place, Jennifer Beezley of
Indianapolis,
Ind., who receives a $50 gift certificate
good
toward purchases from the AACN Resource
Catalog; third place, Elizabeth Myrick of
Memphis, Tenn., who received complimentary
shipping of one Mail Home box; and honorable
mention, Angela Barnett of Norfolk, Va.
Arkansas Nurse Wins Hyundai SUV at NTI
Who said
�close only counts in horseshoes�? For
Philip Faughn, RN, of Jonesboro, Ark., close
meant winning a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.
Faughn's guess that there were 6,760 balls
filling the rear compartment of the SUV on
display at NTI 2002 was only 12 off the
actual number of 6,772.
In its
second year, the contest, sponsored by
Hyundai Motor America, attracted 1,056
entries and raised more than $8,000 for the
AACN Scholarship Endowment Fund.
NurseZone.com supplied the orange balls that
filled the compartment.
Faughn is
patient care manager in the CVICU and CCU at
St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center,
Jonesboro.
Critical Care Course Scheduled for August
AACN has
endorsed the fourth annual Combined Critical
Care Course, sponsored by the Society of
Critical Care Medicine and the American
College of Chest Physicians. The course is
scheduled for Aug. 16 through 20, 2002, in
Chicago, Ill.
Although the
course is offered as a review in preparation
for the Critical Care Board Exam, it is also
an excellent refresher course in critical
care medicine for practitioners who care for
acutely and critically ill patients. AACN
members can register at a reduced tuition
fee.
For more
information or to register, call (847)
827-6888; Web site,
http://www.sccm.org.
National Leadership Highlights
Accomplishments for Year
Initiatives
to maintain AACN's position as the
undisputed leader in critical care and
provide critical care nurses with the
support and resources needed to provide
quality care were highlighted at the Annual
Meeting May 7 in Atlanta, Ga.
Scheduled in
conjunction with AACN's National Teaching
Institute and Critical Care Exposition, the
meeting focused on the association's
strategic goals to:
� Develop
the highest quality education and practice
resources.
� Contribute
to the advancement of critical care nursing
science.
� Address
and protect the interests of members and
make positive contributions to the
advancement of the nursing profession.
� Provide
high-quality programs and services
responsive to member needs.
� Provide
opportunities to volunteer and contribute to
the association and the profession.
� Establish
a comprehensive and dynamic resource
development program to support the mission
and vision of the association.
� Ensure
effective organizational infrastructure and
operating systems.
� Develop
and effectively manage financial resources.
AACN
President Michael L. Williams, RN, MSN, CCRN,
President-elect Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCNS,
CCRN, and CEO Wanda Johanson, RN, MN,
outlined the association's accomplishments
during the past year:
ICU
Survey
AACN
launched phase I of the ICU Survey, a
comprehensive profile of critical care units
across the country. The survey will provide
foundational knowledge for AACN to add
weight to the Value of Nursing initiative
and to efforts to secure a role in decision
making.
�Many doors
will not open without facts and data,� said
Johanson, who noted that the phase one data
are expected this summer.
Partnerships
Barden
discussed the strategic partnerships that
the association has developed and the
benefits these partnerships have provided.
AACN is on the steering committee of A Call
to the Profession: Nursing's Agenda for the
Future, an initiative designed to bring
nursing leaders and organizations together
to implement a strategic action plan to
address current nursing challenges,
including work environments, the nursing
shortage, diversity, retention of nurses and
reimbursement issues.
In addition,
based on a partnership to discuss workforce
issues and educational programs, the
American College of Chest Physicians invited
AACN to attend its Capitol Hill Caucus. AACN
also has been involved in Johnson &
Johnson's Campaign for Nursing's Future, and
has promoted its efforts to recruit people
into the nursing profession.
Looking
ahead, AACN has been invited to join the
JCAHO Development of the Critical Care Core
Measures Set.
Orientation
Another new
resource being developed by AACN is the
Essentials of Critical Care Orientation,
which teaches the basics of critical care in
a standardized, efficient, computer-based
manner. The interactive program will allow
users to learn at their own pace. Johanson
also touted enhanced interest in the AACN
Web site, which experienced 1 million more
hits in 2001 than in the previous year.
Volunteer
Committees
Williams
applauded all members who volunteered to
serve on work groups, think tanks and
advisory committees for their efforts and
contributions to a successful year. Each
reported on the outcomes:
Advanced
Practice�The Advanced Practice Work Group
expanded the educational resources available
through the Advanced Practice Institute and
made recommendations regarding the API's
marketing, content and speakers. The group
also reviewed the recently released Scope of
Practice and Standards of Professional
Performance for the Acute and Critical Care
Clinical Nurse Specialist and supporting
documentation and made recommendations for
the development of an advanced practice
mentoring database.
Education�The Education Work Group developed
a quality improvement plan for continuing
education activities in accordance with
accreditation standards and laid the
groundwork for significantly streamlining
the Program Planning Guide.
Ethics�The
Ethics Work Group contributed monthly
articles to AACN News, developed the Family
Conference pocket reference, reviewed and
updated the Ethics Committee Handbook,
created a poster presentation for the NTI,
and reviewed new books and resources.
Leadership�Several NTI sessions presented by
the Leadership Development Work Group were
intended to develop the ability of critical
care nurses to influence decisions at the
bedside. The ideas will be packaged into a
resource titled It's All About You: A
Blueprint to Influence Practice, which is
scheduled for completion later this year.
The work group also presented the core
content at the Nursing Management Congress.
Nominations�The Nominating Committee
reviewed the qualifications for AACN and
AACN Certification Corporation leadership
positions and, following interviews,
presented six candidates for election to the
AACN Board of Directors, five for the AACN
Nominating Committee and two for the AACN
Certification Board of Directors. The group
also updated the AACN Nominee Handbook and
Application.
NTI
Program�The NTI Work Group reviewed
abstracts and developed the educational
program for NTI 2002, for which the �Ask the
NTI Work Group� question and answer forum
was developed for the NTI Web site. Nurses
are encouraged to evaluate the NTI 2002
program online.
Nurse
Managers�A new group, the Nurse Manager
Think Tank, was formed to articulate
strategies to address the role and needs of
nurse managers and the role of AACN in
meeting these needs.
Progressive
Care�Another new committee, the Progressive
Care Task Force, was established to examine
the changes in critical care nursing and the
continuum of care beyond the critical care
unit. The group plans to publish a series of
articles on progressive care in AACN News
and to examine the needs of nurses
practicing in progressive care areas. In
addition, an NTI Sunrise Session on
progressive care was offered.
Public
Policy�The Public Policy Work Group drafted
three new fact sheets: �Nurse Advocacy,�
�Prescription Drug Coverage� and �Medical
Errors.� The group also outlined a tool kit
for chapters and members to use to promote
the value of nursing, recruitment and
retention.
Research�The
Research Work Group continued the �Myths and
Realities� series in AACN News, selected the
2003 distinguished research lecturer and
awarded seven research grant totaling
$43,500.
Certification
AACN
Certification Corporation has begun a
comprehensive study of practice for critical
care nursing that will assist in ensuring
the relevance of the current certification
examinations and future test development by
the corporation. The corporation also
partnered with a new testing service,
Applied Measurement Professionals, to
administer the CCRN and CCNS exams. The
improved services this new partner offers
includes providing official, final scores
the day of the exam.
On the
Agenda
Following
is a report by AACN board member Bertie
Chuong, RN, MS, CCRN, on discussions and
actions that took place during the April
2002 AACN Board of Directors meeting.
Agenda
Item: Certification Presentation
At a joint
meeting with the AACN Certification
Corporation Board of Directors, Gary Smith,
chief executive officer of Applied
Measurement Professionals, Inc., Lenexa,
Kan., discussed �Future Trends in
Certification.� AMP provides the testing
service for the CCRN and CCNS exams
administered by AACN Certification
Corporation.
It is
important that the AACN and AACN
Certification Corporation boards understand
the techniques and technology applied to
certification testing so they can determine
if the current process is sound and reliable
and achieves what is intended in
representing competent clinical safe
practice.
Agenda
Item: Education
� Among the
regular updates on AACN initiatives was a
progress report on AACN's new,
electronic-based Essentials of Critical Care
Orientation program, which is scheduled for
completion this summer. The excitement
around this project continues to build, with
positive feedback from a variety of sources.
The development of this resource exemplifies
AACN's role as the undisputed leader in
critical care by providing a state of the
art resource for nurses in practice and
education who need efficient methods for
quality education. (For a demonstration of
the Essentials of Critical Care Orientation,
visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.sccm.org.)
Agenda
Item: FY03 Strategic and Operating Plans
The board
reviewed and approved both the Strategic
Plan and the 2003 Operating Plan for AACN.
The Strategic Plan, which is based on the
current environmental scan and data about
trends in the profession, healthcare and
society, provides the overall vision and
direction for the association to meet the
needs of members in a variety of ways into
the future. The board continually refers to
this plan in discussing and approving
association initiatives.
As always,
the board was impressed with how much is
included in the Operating Plan for members,
with the focus on expanding education and
practice resources, alliances and
partnerships with key influencers, and
awards, scholarships and research grants.
Supporting improvement of the environment of
care for nurses and patients is a focus
throughout all of AACN's objectives.
Agenda
Item: FY03 Budget
Before
approving the budget for Fiscal Year 2003,
the board spent considerable time reviewing
it in relation to the Strategic Plan and
Operating Plan. One of the key
responsibilities of the board is to ensure
the association has sufficient resources and
that resources are allocated appropriately
to achieve the plans over time. The
association is financially strong and has
appropriate accounting procedures and
protections in place. The budget was
unanimously approved.
Agenda
Item: Election of Board Secretary and
Treasurer
The board
elected Mary Fran Tracy, RN, PhD, CCRN, as
secretary of the board for 2002-03 and M.
Dave Hanson, RN, BSN, CCRN, EMT-P, as board
treasurer.
Agenda
Item: AACN as the Voice of Critical Care
Nursing
The board
continued discussions to determine key
strategies that the association must
undertake to strengthen and expand its voice
on behalf of members and critical care
nursing. Proactive and nimble systems are
needed so that AACN can more effectively
respond and influence needed changes in the
work environment, clinical practice and
healthcare. It is also important that the
association has essential data and knowledge
to drive the highest standards and shape
critical care nursing practice and the care
provided to patients and families.
Thank
You Volunteers! You Have Made a Difference
AACN
appreciates the commitment and dedication
its national volunteers demonstrate each
year and extends a sincere thank you for
their year of service to our organization.
The following individuals are those whose
current volunteer terms will expire June 30,
2002.
Katherine Abriam-Yago, RN, EdD
Ferne Alderfer, RN, BSN
Marian Altman, RN, MS, CCRN, ANP
Nancy Ames, RN, MSN, CCRN
Lillian Ananian, RN, MSN
Michelle Anastasi, RN, MS, CCRN
Eugene Anderson, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
LeAnn Ash, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kathleen Ashton, RN, PhD, CS
Denise Ayers, RN, MSN, BS
Cindy Baggott, RN, MS, CCRN
Margaret Bagnardi, RN, MSN, CCRN, NP
Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Thomas Barkley, RN, DSN, ACNP, CS
Susan Barnason, RN, PhD, CCRN, CS
Linda Batts, RN, CCRN
L.
Christine Baxter, RN, CCRN
Elizabeth Bayley, RN, PhD
Kathryn Beauchamp, RN, MSN, CCRN,
PNP, CPNP
Candace Becker, RN, BSN
Marilyn Belli, RN, MSN
Melinda Bender, RN, MSN, CCRN
Elizabeth Benson, RN, BSN, MA, MBA,
CCRN
Judy
Bezanson, RN, DSN
Jane
Bircheat, RN, MSN, CCRN
Karen Bird, RN, ADN, BS, CCRN
Carol Bishop, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
Marcia Bixby, RN, MS, CCRN, CS
Donna Blackburn, RN, MSN, CCRN
Nancy Blake, RN, MN, CCRN, CNAA
Dawn
Blake-Holmes, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Piper Bodkin, RN
Benny Bolin, RN, ADN, MS
Karin Bowman, RN, CCRN
Jeanne Braby, RN, MSN, CCRN
Darlene Bradley, RN, CNS, MSN, PhD,
CCRN, CEN
Patricia Bradshaw, RN, BSN, CCRN
Steven Branham, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS,
ACNP
Carol Braund, RN, MA, CCRN
Marylee Bressie, RN, CNS, MSN, CCRN,
CEN
Eileen Briening, RN, MSN, CCRN, CRNP
Debra Brinker, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Barbara Brockway, RN
Frances Brown, RN, MSN, CCRN
Steven Brown, RN, BSN
Kimberly Brown, RN, MSN, FNP, CS,
CEN
Lynn
Browning, RN, MSN
Jayne Brundage, RN, BSN, PHN
Ruth
Bryan, RN, MSN, CCRN
Linda Bucher, RN, DNSc
Madeleine Burke, RN, BSN, CCRN
Carolyn Byrum, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Sandra Cagle, RN, MSN, CCRN, ACNP
Stephanie Calcasola, RN, MSN
Stephen Campbell, RN, MSN, AA, CCRN,
CEN
Suzette Cardin, RN, DNSc, CNAA, FAAN
Glenn Carlson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Ronna Carlton, RN, BSN, CCRN
Margaret-Ann Carno, RN, MS, MBA,
CCRN
Maggie Carriker, RN, MSN
Paula Carson, RN, PhD, CCRN
Elizabeth Carson, RN, MS
Donna Charlebois, RN, MSN, CCRN,
ACNP
Marcia Chorba, RN, MSN
Stephanie Christian, RN, MS, CCRN
Bertie Chuong, RN, MS, CCRN
Terry Cicero, RN, BS, MN, CCRN
Wendy Clark, RN, MSN, CCRN
Carol Cleek, RN, MSN, CS
Ellen Clifton, RN, BSN, CCRN
Katherine Comello, RN
Jeffrey Conner, RN, BSN
Diana Contino, RN, BSN, MBA, CCRN,
CEN
Randeen Cordier, RN, MSN, CS
Cheryl Corish, RN, MSN
Natalie Correll-Yoder, RN, CNS, MN,
CCRN
Damon Cottrell, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS,
CEN
Colleen Counsell, RN, MSN, CCRN
Jo
Ellen Craghead, RN, MSN, CCRN
Sherill Cronin, RN, PhD
Elsie Croom, RN, BSN, CCRN
Maryanne Crowther, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Christine Cutugno, RN, PhD, CCRN
Luann Daggett, RN, DSN
Rebecca Dahlen, RN, MSN, EdD, CCRN,
CS
Barbara Daly, RN, MSN, PhD, FAAN
Juli
Daniels, RN, MSN, CCRN
Becki Daniels, RN, MS, CNAA
Janet Davies, RN, CNS, MSN
Alice Davis, RN, PhD, CNRN
Michael Day, RN, MSN, CCRN
Marla De Jong, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS,
CEN
Janet Denmark, RN, MSN
Mary
Dent, RN, MA, CCRN
Sandy DeSalvo, RN, BS, MSN, CCRN, CS
Theresa DeVeaux, RN, BSN, CCRN
Louise Diehl-Oplinger, RN, MSN, CCRN,
CS
John
Dixon, RN, MSN
Deri
Dority, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Diane Dressler, RN, MSN, CCRN
Susan Dukes, RN, MA, CCRN
|
Diana Eisnaugle, RN, CCRN
Marcia Elliott, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kathleen Farrell, RN, MS, CCRN
Anne
Ferguson, RN
Jill
Fernandes, RN-C, MSN, NP
Carmen Ferrell, RN, BSN, AA, CCRN
Shelly Fields-Ryan, RN, MS, CCRN,
FNP
Melissa Fitzpatrick, RN, MSN, FAAN
Hatice Foell, RN, MSN
Dorrie Fontaine, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Susan Fowler, RN, MS, CCRN, CS, CNRN
Michael Frakes, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN,
CFRN
Mary
Franklin, RN, MS, CS, ACNP
Rita
Free, RN, MS
Coleen Fritsche, RN, MS, CCRN, ACNP
Roberta Fruth, RN, MS, PhD, CCRN
Angela Fuhlman, RN, BSN, CCRN
Karen Gaertner, RN, MSN, CCRN
Barbara Garabedian, RN, BSN
Lisa
Garcia, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN
Cecilia Garrison, RN, MS, CCRN
Kathleen Geib, RN, MSN
Betsy George, RN, PhD, CCRN
Beverly George-Gay, RN, MSN, BA,
CCRN
Imelda Gerard, RN, BSN, CCRN
Barbara Goldberg-Chamberlain, RN,
MSN, BA,
CCRN,
CS
Helen Gonzales-Kranzel, RN, MSN,
MBA,
CCRN,
CS, NP
Caryl Goodyear-Bruch, RN, MSN, CCRN
Phyllis Gordon, RN, MSN, CS
Mary
Kathryn Graham, RN, BSN
Nancy Grant, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Angela Green, RN, MSN, CRNP
Deborah Greenlaw, RN, MS, CCRN
Madelyn Gries, RN, MS, CCRN
Jane
Grimberg, RN, MS, CCRN
Todd
Grivetti, RN, BS, CCRN
Tracy Grogan, RN, MEd, CCRN
Sheila Grossman, RN, PhD, APRN
Denise Guaglianone-Buonocore, RN,
MSN,
CCRN,
CS, ACNP, APRN
Donna Gullette, RN, DSN
Debra Hall, RNC, MSN, CCRN
Kevin Hannon, RN, ADN, BA
Lisa
Hansen, RN, MSN, CCRN
Michael David Hanson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Brenda Hardin-Wike, RN, MSN, CCRN,
CCNS
John
Harper, RN, MSN
Yevette Harrell, RN, BSN
Tonya Harter, RN, MSN
Jane
Hartman, RN, MS, CCRN
Mary
Hartung, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN
Stanley Hatcher, RN, BSN, CCRN
Harriet Hawkins, RN, CCRN
Anne
Hawkins, RN, MS
Lee
Ann Haygood, RN, BSN, CCRN, CNA
Susan Helms, RN, MSN, CCRN
Karin Henderson, RN, MSN, CCRN
Lori
Hendrickx, RN, EdD, CCRN
Sharon Hershman, RN
Cheryl Hettman, RN, PhD
Linda Hidalgo, RN, CNA, CCRN
Margaret Hodge
Mary
Holtschneider, RN, BSN, MPA
Linda Holzhueter, RN, BSN, BS
LouAnn Honek, RN
Kevin Hook, RN, MA, BSN
Patricia Hoppman, RN, MS, CCRN
Mary
House-Fancher, RN, MSN, ARNP
Lian
Huang, RN, MSN, CCRN
Melissa Hutchinson, RN, CCRN
Fran
Iacobellis, RN, MS, MSN, CCRN
Linda Ireland, RN, MS
Lori
Jackson, RN-C, CCRN, NP
Brenda Jeffers, RN, PhD
Jo
Ann Jenkins, RN, MSN, CCRN
Peggy Jenkins, RN, MS, CCRN
Karen Johnson-Brennan, RN, PhD
Louisa Kamatuka, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Roberta Kaplow, RN, PhD, CCRN, CCNS
Patricia Kelly, RN, BSN, CCRN
Catherine Kelly, RN, PhD, CCRN, CEN,
NP
Lori
Kennedy, RN, BSN, CCRN
Joan
King, RN, MSN, PhD
Andrea Kline, RN, MS, CCRN, NP
Gregory Knutzen, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
Renee Koehler, RN, BSN, CCRN
Ina
Koerner, RN, MSN
Lisa
Kohr, RN, MSN, CCRN, PNP
Margaret Kraft, RN, MSN, CCRN, NP
Kathryn Krayk, RN, ADN, AA, TNCC
Carolyn Kreamer, RN, PhD
Barbara Krumbach, RN, MSN, CCRN
Christine Kruskamp, RN, MS, CCRN
Jane
Kurz, RN, PhD
Joan
LaBarr, RN, BSN, CCRN
Margaret LaBeur, RN, BSN
Tujuana Land, RN, ADN, CCRN
Judith Lang, RN, BS, CCRN
Linda Lapointe, RN, BS, MS
Deborah Laughon, RN, BSN, MS, CCRN
Nantawadee Lee, RN, MN, CCRN
Sylvia Lenart, RN, MSN, CCRN
Rebecca Long, RN, CNS, MS, CCRN
Rita
Lopez, RN, MSN, CCRN, ARNP
Thomas Lowndes, RN, ADN, BS, CCRN
Michael Lucrezio, RN, MS, ANP
Kay
Luft, RN, MN, CCRN, TNCC
Paula Lusardi, RN, PhD, CCRN, CCNS
|
Kelly Machuca, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS,
ACNP
Mary
Macklin, RN, MSN, CCRN, ARNP
Jeanne Maiden, RN, MS, CCRN
Margaret Malone, RN, MN, CCRN
Karen March, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Gail
Marchigiano, RN, MSN
Julie Marcum, RN, MS, CCRN, CS
Mary
Martin, RN, MSN, CCNS, CS, CNRN
Sarah Martin, RN, MS, CCRN, CPNP
D.
Martin, RN, BSN, CEN
Mary
Mason Wyckoff, RN, MSN, ARNP, NNP
Cathy Mawdsley, RN, MSN
Dorothy Mayer, RN, MSN, CS
Lisa
Mayerhofer, RN, BSN
Diane Mayes, RN, MSN, CCRN
Jill
Mayo, RN, MSN
Kathleen McCauley, RN, PhD, CS, FAAN
Cynthia McCoy, RN, MSN, CCRN
Catherine McCoy-Hill, RN, MSN, CCRN
Katherine McEwen, RN, BSN,RT(R)
Cheryl McGaffic, RN, PhD, CCRN
Claire McGowan, RN, MS, CCRN, CS, NP
Jacqueline McGrath, RN, PhD, CCNS,
NNP
Patricia McGurl, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Cheryl McKay, RN, MSN, CCNS
Mary
McKinley, RN, MSN, CCRN
Rhonda McLain, RN, MN
Sara
McMannus, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Julie McNulty, RN, BSN, CCRN
Sheila Melander, RN, DSN, ACNP, FCCM
Kathleen Miller, RN, EdD, ACNP, CS
Sally Miller, RN, PhD, CS, NP
Lisa
Milonovich, RN, BSN, CCRN
Nicolette Mininni, RN, MEd, CCRN
Katerina Moklak, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Barbara Monroe, RN, MS, CCRN
Lou
Ann Montgomery, RN, PhD, CCRN, CCNS
Winfred Moore, RN, ADN, CCRN
Kate
Moore, RN, MS, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, NP
Linda Morris, RN, PhD
Joann Morris, RN, BS
Katherine Morrison, RN, MSN, CCRN
Patricia Morton, RN, PhD, NP, ACNP,
FAAN
Ann
Moylan, RN, MA
Janet Mulroy, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN
Martha Musielak, RN, MSN, NP
Sheila Myer, RN, MSN
Charlene Myers, RN, MS, MSN, CCRN,
NP
Susan Nelmark, RN, BA, CCRN
Angela Nelson, RN, MSN, CCRN, ACNP
Jennifer Nitschmann, RN, MSN, CNA
Christine Nordin, RN, BSN, CCRN
La
Donna Northington, RNC, DSN, MSN,
CCRN
Kathy Noyes, RN, MSN, ACNP, FNP
Susan Oakes, RN, MS, JD, CCRN
Barbara Ogden
Dee
Oliveri, RN
Mary
Olson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Patricia O'Malley, RN, PhD, CCRN
Christine O'Shaugnessy, RN, PhD,
CCRN, CS
Jill
Overman, RN, ADN
Mary
Palazzo, RN, MS, CCRN
Jackie Palmer, RN, CEN
Jessica Palmer, RN, MSN
Joann Panno, RN, MSN
Mae
Pasquale, RN, MSN, CCRN
Mary
Frances Pate, RN, DSN
Cheryl Paul, RN, CCRN
Kristine Peterson, RN, MS, CCRN,
CCNS
Pamala Pethtel, RN, MSN, CCRN
Lisa
Pettrey, RN, MS
Barbara Phelan, RN, DNSc, CCRN, CS
Deborah Pool, RN, MS, CCRN
Lori
Popkes, RN, BAN, CCRN
Pamela Popplewell, RN, BSN, CCRN
Theresa Posani, RN, CNS, MS, CCRN,
CCNS,
CNA,
CS
Janice Powers, RN, MSN, CCRN
John
Pozar, RN, BS, BA, CCRN, CEN
Nora
Protokowicz, RN, MSN
Carol Puz, RN, BSN, CCRN
Juan
Quintero, RN, MSN, CCRN
Patricia Rabbett, RN, MSN, CCRN
Deborah Raley, RN, MSN
Rosanne Raso, RN, MS, CNAA
Timothy Rausch, RN, BS, CCRN
Diana Reid, RN, BSN, CCRN
Deanna Reising, RN, PhD, CS
Virginia Rickards, RN, MEd, CCRN
Kathleen Risa, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS,
ACNP, CRNP
Audrey Roberson, RN, MS
Kathryn Roberts, RN, MSN, CCRN
Jodi
Rogers, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
Robert Rose, RN, BSN, CCRN
Elaine Rose, RN, BN
Patricia Rosier, RN, MS, MSN, CS
Joyce Roth, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNA
Maureen Roussel, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
|
Bonnie Sakallaris, RN, MSN
Diane Salipante, RN, MS, MSN, CCRN
Sarah Samick, RN, BS, CCRN
Katherine Samon, RN, CNS, MS, CCRN
Sharon Sauer, RN, MSN, CCRN
Deborah Scheele-Minanov, RN, MSN
Susan Schindler, RN, BSN, CCRN
Rebecca Schlanger, RN, BSN, AA,
CCRN
Christa Schorr, RN, ADN, CCRN
Amy
Schueler, RN, MS, CCRN, CNP
Dawn
Seery, RN, BS, CCRN
Steve Senecal, RN, ADN, MS, CCRN
Karen Setti, RN, MSN, ACNP
Nancy Seymour, RN, BSN, CCRN
Alisa Shackelford, RN, CCRN
Heather Sharp-Keys, RN, BSN
Kathryn Sheehan, RN, MSN, CCRN,
ARNP, CPNP
Pamela Shellner, RN, BSN
Deborah Shields, RN, MS, CCRN
Bridget Shoulders-Odom, RN, MS,
CCRN
Lynn
Simko, RN, PhD, CCRN
Shari Simone, RN, MS, CCRN, CRNP
Celeste Smith, RN, BSN, CCRN
Sandra Smith, RN, PhD, APRN
Carla Smith, RN, MS, CNOR
Nan
Smith-Blair, RN, MSN
Paulette Snoby, RN, BSN, MPA, CCRN
Brenda Snyder, RN, MS, CCRN
Connie Sobon Sensor, RN, MSN, CCRN
Teresa Solberg, RN, MSN, CCRN
Mary
Sole, RN, PhD, CCRN, FAAN
Rhonda Somnitz, RN, ADN, CCRN
Leslie Beth Sossoman, RN, MSN,
ACNP, CPHQ
Wanda Staab, RN, MSN, CCRN
Julie Stanik-Hutt, RN, PhD, CCRN,
ACNP
Mickey Stanley, RN, PhD, CS, CNA
Elaine Steinke, RN, MN, PhD
Elliot Stetson, RNC, MSN, CCRN
Mary
Stewart, RN, BSN, MBA
Tracey Stover, RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN
Kate
Sullivan Collopy, RN, PhD,
CCRN, CCNS
Leslie Swadener-Culpepper, RN,
MSN,
CCRN
Sandra Swoboda, RN, MS
Clare Tack, RN, MSN, CCRN
Maria Tackett, RN, MSN, CCRN, CEN
Linda Tamburri, RN, MS, CCRN
Joyce Taylor, RN, BSN, MA, CCRN
Mona
Ternus, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
Cathy Thompson, RN, PhD
Mary
Tierney, RN, MSN, CCRN, ANP
Mary
Tracy, RN, PhD, CCRN
Brenda Truman, RN, MSN, ACNP
Renee Twibell, RN, DSN
Stephanie Van Arsdale, RN, MSN,
EdD,
CCRN
Kimberly Vander Heuvel, RN, MS,
CCRN, ACNP, ARNP
Judy
Verger, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS, NP
M.
Verklan, RNC, PhD, CCNS
Kathleen Vitthuhn, RN-C, BSN, MS
Christine Vittum, RN, BSN, MS, CCRN
Kittie Wagner, RN, BSN
Mary
Walker, RN, MSN, CCRN
Cynthia Wall, RN, MSN, CCRN
Brandy Wallace, RN, BSN
Julie Warren, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
Arlyn Wasco, RN, MSN, NP
Barbara Washington-Knight, RN, BS,
CCRN
Mary
Watkins, RN
Janis Watts, RN, BSN, CCRN
Janice Weber, RN, MSN
Holly Weber-Johnson, RN, BSN
Kathy Weller, RNC, PhD, CCRN,
CNA,
CEN
M.
Cecilia Wendler, RN, PhD, CCRN
Christine Westphal, RN, MSN, CCRN
Cindy Wetzel, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Barbara White, RN, BSN, CCRN
Steve Widmar, RN, ADN, CCRN
Michael Williams, RN, MSN, CCRN
Mechelle Williams, RN, MSN, AA,
NP,
ACNP
Bruce Williams, RN, MSN, CCRN,
CEN,
CS
Maria Williams, RN, BSN, CCRN
Laurie Willmitch, RN, BSN, CCRN
Joan
Wilson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Charlene Winters, RN, DNSc, CS
Janice Wojcik, RN, MS, CCRN, CS
Mary
Wood, RN, MSN, EdD, CCRN
Susan Woods, RN, PhD
Patricia Worster, RN, MS
Diane Wrobleski, RN, MS, CEN
Susan Yeager, RN, MS, CCRN
Larraine Yeager, RN, BSN
Marilyn Yergler, RN, BS, BA, CCRN
Eden
Zabat, RN, MSN
Polly Zahrt, RN, BSN
Jenny Zaker, RN, CNS
Beth
Zimmerman, RN, BSN |
Critical Links
The second
year of AACN's Critical Links
member-get-a-member campaign is now under
way. To obtain Critical Links
Member-Get-A-Member recruitment campaign
forms, call (800) 899-2226. Request Item
#1316, or visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org.
Circle
of Excellence Honors Those Who Make a
Difference
Awards
Deadline Is July 15, 2002
The AACN
Circle of Excellence recognition program
honors individuals who have made a
difference in healthcare and in the lives of
patients and their families. Sponsored by
AACN and its Partners With Industry
companies, the awards applaud excellence,
honor leadership and show appreciation for
the dedication of nurses whose contributions
and achievements exemplify AACN's mission
and vision.
The
recipients will be recognized at AACN's 2003
National Teaching Institute and Critical
Care Exposition, May 18 through 22 in San
Antonio, Texas.
July 15,
2002, is the deadline to nominate yourself
or a colleague for a 2003 Circle of
Excellence award. Following is information
about these awards.
AACN-Marguerite
Rodgers Kinney Award for a Distinguished
Career
Named in
honor of AACN Past President Marguerite R.
Kinney, the AACN award recognizes
individuals who are completing or have
completed an extraordinary and distinguished
professional career that has enhanced the
care of acute and critically ill patients
and their families by furthering the mission
and vision of AACN. To recognize the
selfless contributions recipients of this
award have made throughout their careers, a
gift of $1,000 is made to a charitable cause
of their choice. Recipients are also given
lifetime membership in the association and a
replica of the crystal AACN presidential
Vision icon.
Ross
Products-AACN Pioneering Spirit Award
Cosponsored
by the Ross Products Division of Abbott
Laboratories, this award recognizes timely
and far-reaching contributions that
exemplify a pioneering spirit and influence
the direction of acute and critical care
nursing. These contributions support the
mission, vision and values of AACN and have
a regional or national impact. Recipients
are presented a plaque and $500 honorarium
as well as complimentary registration,
airfare and hotel accommodations for the NTI.
AACN
Lifetime Member Award
This award
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. In addition to
lifetime AACN membership, recipients are
presented a personalized plaque as well as
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for the NTI.
AACN
Mentoring Award
This award
recognizes individuals or groups who develop
and enhance another's intellectual and
technical skills, acculturating them to the
professional community, and modeling a way
of life and professional achievement.
Recipients are presented a personalized
plaque.
AACN
Excellence in Caring Practices Award
Presented in
honor of John Wilson Rodgers, this award
recognizes nurses whose caring practices
embody AACN's vision of creating a
healthcare system driven by the needs of
patients and families. Successful applicants
empower patients and families by helping
them to understand and cope with illness;
offering them avenues or possibilities of
understanding; increasing their control and
acceptance of a difficult experience; and
demonstrating vigilance, persistence and
commitment to their well-being. They also
make the patient's challenges approachable
and manageable through his or her own
ability to face and cope with the problem.
Recipients demonstrate how they have
encompassed the AACN Values and Ethic of
Care in their work. They receive
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for the NTI.
Oridion-AACN Excellent Clinical Nurse
Specialist Award
Sponsored by
Oridion Medical, this award recognizes acute
and critical care nurses who function as
clinical nurse specialists. Applicants must
be CCNS certified. Recipients demonstrate
the key components of advanced practice
nursing, including leadership, advanced
practice clinical skills, research
application, evidence-based practice,
outcome-focused practice, cost containment,
quality assurance, mentoring, problem
solving and communication with patients,
families, staff and systems. In addition,
they illustrate how they have been a
catalyst for successful change. Recipients
are provided complimentary registration,
airfare and hotel accommodations for the NTI.
AACN
Excellent Nurse Practitioner Award
This award
recognizes acute and critical care nurses
who function as nurse practitioners. These
practitioners demonstrate the key components
of advanced practice nursing, including
leadership, advanced practice clinical
skills, research application, evidence-based
practice, outcome-focused practice, cost
containment, quality assurance, mentoring,
problem solving and communication with
patients, families, staff and systems. In
addition, they illustrate how they have
served as a catalyst for successful change.
Recipients receive complimentary
registration, airfare and hotel
accommodations for the NTI, which features
the API.
Eli
Lilly-AACN Excellent Preceptor Award
Sponsored by
Eli Lilly & Company, this award recognizes
preceptors who demonstrate the key
components of the preceptor role, including
teacher, clinical role model, consultant and
friend/advocate. Recipients are provided
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for the NTI.
3M Health
Care-AACN Excellence in Clinical Practice
Award
Sponsored by
3M Health Care, this award recognizes acute
and critical care nurses who embody,
exemplify and excel at the clinical skills
and principles that are required in their
practice. Recipients address how they have
successfully integrated standards of care;
patient advocacy; holistic care;
collaboration and coordination of care;
leadership; inquiry and critical thinking;
values; and ethics into their practice. The
recipients are provided complimentary
registration, airfare and hotel
accommodations for the NTI.
AACN Excellence in Clinical Practice
Non-Traditional Setting
This award
is designed to recognize excellence in the
care of critically ill patients in
environments outside of the traditional ICU/CCU
setting. These recipients demonstrate how
they have successfully integrated the
following into their practice: standards of
care; patient advocacy; holistic care;
collaboration and coordination of care;
leadership; inquiry and critical thinking;
ethics; and values, as they care for
critically ill patients in settings outside
the walls of traditional critical care
units. Eligible applicants include, but are
not limited to, nurses working in home
healthcare, progressive care, telemetry,
step-down, catheterization labs and
emergency departments. Recipients are given
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for the NTI.
Bard-AACN
Excellence in Education Award
Sponsored by
Bard Medical Division, this award recognizes
nurse educators who facilitate the
acquisition and advancement of the knowledge
and skills required for competent practice
and positive patient outcomes in the care of
acute and critically ill patients and their
families. Recipients are provided
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for the NTI.
AACN
InnoVision Award
This award
recognizes initiatives and programs that
innovatively and collaboratively meet the
needs of families of the acute and
critically ill. Up to three awards, with
$2,500 earmarked to fund projects, are
granted to partnerships that include an AACN
member, a healthcare provider organization
and a community group. In addition,
individual recipients are given public
recognition and a personalized plaque.
AACN
Excellence in Leadership Award
This award
recognizes nurses who demonstrate the
leadership competencies of empowerment,
effective communication and continuous
learning, and the effective management of
change. Recipients are provided
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for the NTI.
AACN
Excellent Student Nurse Award
This award
recognizes nursing students whose activities
during nursing school have promoted the
value of nursing and reflect the AACN vision
of creating a healthcare system driven by
the needs of patients and families, where
critical care nurses can make their optimal
contribution. Recipients show how their
leadership has transformed thinking,
structures or process to address
opportunities and challenges, as well as how
they collaborated with key stakeholders to
create synergistic relationships to promote
common interests and shared values.
Individual students or groups of students
are eligible to apply. Recipients receive a
complimentary three-year AACN membership.
AACN
Multidisciplinary Team Award
This award
recognizes a multidisciplinary team that
clearly practices key principles of
collaboration and multidisciplinary
practice. Up to three awards are given to
multidisciplinary teams, with $2,500
earmarked to fund projects. In addition,
individual recipients are given public
recognition and a personalized plaque.
Marsh-AACN
Community Service Award
Cosponsored
by Marsh, this award recognizes significant
service by acute and critical care nurses,
as individuals or in groups, who make a
contribution to their community. Individuals
or groups selected receive a complimentary
registration to the NTI, or they may choose
up to $500 toward speaker fees for an
educational symposium.
AACN
Excellent Nurse Manager Award
This award
recognizes nurse managers who demonstrate
excellence in coordination of available
resources to efficiently and effectively
care for acutely or critically ill
In the
Circle: Award Cites Exceptional ICU Design
The
following is an excerpt from the exemplar
submitted in connection with the ICU Design
Citation, sponsored by AACN, the Society of
Critical Care Medicine and the American
Institute of Architects Academy on
Architecture for Health. Part of the AACN
Circle of Excellence recognition program,
this award is presented to a critical care
unit that combines functional ICU design
with the humanitarian delivery of critical
care. Recipients are awarded $500 by each of
the sponsoring organizations, 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 and to the
architects.
Members of the ICU design
team at Saint Joseph Health Center
are (from left) Juanela Hamilton, ICU staff
nurse; Timothy Smith,
ICU co-medical director; Twila Buckner,
critical care director;
architect Scott Corbin, vice president, Hart
Freeland Roberts;
and Barbara Miller, ICU coordinator. Other
members of the team
who are not pictured were Barbara Wyand,
marketing and planning;
Robert Reinhardt, ICU co-medical director;
Lili Arvesen; Margaret
Oaks; Lisa Riggs; Louisa Kamatuka; Sally
Schneider; and Kelly McLaughlin.
Saint
Joseph Health Center ICU
Kansas
City, Mo.
Saint
Joseph Health Center
The 16-bed,
adult ICU at Saint Joseph Health Center is
designed around pods, with a skylight in
each pod allowing in additional natural
lighting. Two of the pods contain six beds
each, and the third pod contains four beds.
To enhance staff proximity to the patients,
the traditional central nursing stations
were eliminated, and nurse servers with
desks were designed immediately outside each
pod.
Each patient
room is approximately 300 square feet, with
a sliding-glass, breakaway door; large
outside windows; moveable power columns; a
wall, desk computer; a television, VCR and
CD player; and a sleeper chair. The sliding
glass doors reduce the noise level in the
patient rooms, and the moveable power
columns allow the staff to place a patient's
bed anywhere in the room.
The ICU also
has a large, adjoining waiting room, which
contains a kitchen, children's playroom,
serenity room and education room. In
addition, the ICU has a large staff lounge
and staff education room.
Scene
and Heard
AACN
continues to seek visibility for our
profession and the organization. Following
is an update on recent outreach efforts:
Media
Highlights
� AACN
Marketing Director Dana Woods wrote a series
of three articles for the Journal of Nursing
Administration. The first in the series,
�Realizing Your Marketing Influence, Part 1:
Meeting Patient Needs Through
Collaboration,� was published in the April
issue. It addressed healthcare marketing
basics and the importance of communication
and collaboration among administrators,
nurses and marketing staff. The second
article was to be published in the June
issue and the third article is scheduled for
the July/August issues.
� The April
2002 issue of RN magazine featured an AACN
Update that included excerpts from the AACN
News �President's Note� column by AACN
President Michael L. Williams, RN, MSN, CCRN,
information on an NTI session on
bioterrorism, the AACN-CCRN ambassador
program and application deadlines for AACN
grants and awards.
� An article
by Williams, titled �A Team Effort,�
appeared in the spring issue of Minority
Nurse. In the article, Williams addressed
the importance of welcoming men into the
nursing profession. His suggestions included
supporting scholarship programs for men,
mentoring by male nurses, including men in
promotional/recruitment materials and
highlighting nursing as a profession.
Williams also noted that, ultimately, �it's
the quality of the work that matters, not
the nurse's gender.�
� A �Letter
to the Editor� by AACN President-Elect
Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, was
published in the Miami Herald on April 16,
2002. The letter was submitted in response
to an article on the nursing shortage in
Florida. Although Barden applauded the
article in general, she countered a
statement that labeled nursing �a horrible
profession.� �Only by working together to
improve the healthcare system and to promote
nursing as a viable career choice for young
people can nurses continue to make a
profound difference in people's lives,� she
wrote.
� AACN is
sponsoring a six-part series of articles on
progressive care in Nursing Management. The
series began with an article titled �Keep
Pace With Step-Down Care,� by Wendy Berke,
RN, BSN, MHA, director of professional
practice at AACN, and Margaret Ecklund, RN,
MS, CCRN, CS, chair-elect of the AACN
Certification Corporation Board and a past
member of the AACN Board. The second
article, which appeared in the April issue,
was titled �Achieve Cost Benefits With
Innovative Care Management.� The author was
Juan R. Quintero, RN, MSN, CCRN, a member of
AACN's Progressive Care Task Force. In the
article, Quintero noted that �new literature
suggests progressive care units decrease
costs, generate revenue and help healthcare
leaders better manage utilization of scarce
ICU beds.�
Our Voice
at the Table
� Williams
was the keynote speaker on �Challenges &
Opportunities in the 21st Century� and the
breakout speaker on �Family Crisis &
Dysfunction� at Horizons 2002 in Boston,
Mass., in April.
� AACN CEO
Wanda Johanson, RN, MN, attended the first
day of the Association of PeriOperative
Registered Nurses' 49th Annual Congress in
Anaheim, Calif., in April. More than 6,000
AORN members and others attended business
sessions, exhibits, educational offerings
and networking events.
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. E-mail your
information to
aacnnews@aacn.org.
Public
Policy Update
Work
Environment
Background:
Legislation unveiled in May by U.S. Rep.
Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) takes aim at the
nurse staffing problems that are plaguing
healthcare facilities nationwide. The Nurse
Retention and Quality of Care Act of 2002
proposes grants for healthcare facilities to
develop and implement strategies to make the
workplace more attractive to nurses. The
legislation specifically points to
strategies the American Nurses Credentialing
Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses
Association, promotes through its Magnet
Nursing Services Recognition Program.
AACN
Position: AACN supports this legislation and
believes that addressing the issues of
workplace dissatisfaction is an essential
part of solving the nursing shortage. AACN
priorities for addressing workplace issues
and promoting retention include developing
collaborative care environments that provide
a satisfying working environment and
recognize nurses' professional status and
expertise, apply standards focusing on
outcomes based on the actual delivery of
patient care and provide nurses sufficient
autonomy over their practice and the
responsibility for decision making, policy
setting and financial management of their
units. Additional information on AACN's
strategies for increasing the supply of
nurses can be found in AACN's �Nursing
Shortage Backgrounder� at www.aacn.org >
Public Policy > Position Statements.
Nursing
Shortage
Background:
A report recently released by the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation found that the
current shortage of nurses is fundamentally
different from past shortages in the United
States because it reflects nurses'
dissatisfaction with the profession and
competition with other career opportunities
for women.
Titled
�Health Care's Human Crisis: The American
Nursing Shortage,� the report found that
sustainable solutions to the nursing
shortage will require collective efforts by
groups concerned about the nursing shortage,
including nurses and nursing profession
leaders, nurse educators, healthcare
industry leaders, labor organizations,
policymakers, philanthropies and consumer
groups. The report also offers five
recommendations for re-envisioning the
nursing profession and helping it establish
a full partnership with the profession of
medicine.
Nursing
Careers
Background:
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
Thompson recently urged Americans to promote
nursing careers. In a statement promoting
National Nurses Week in May, Thompson called
on Americans to do more to encourage
students to choose careers in nursing. He
said President Bush is asking for $15
million to expand the Nursing Education Loan
Repayment program in fiscal year 2003, $5
million more than this year, to increase the
number of nurses in critical shortage areas.
Nurse
Reinvestment Act
Status: In
recognition of National Nurses Week, more
than 100 nursing students from Johns Hopkins
School of Nursing and members of Congress
gathered on Capitol Hill to rally support
for passage of the Nurse Reinvestment Act
(H.R. 3487/S. 1864). Under the act, federal
funding for scholarships and loan repayments
would be provided for nursing students. The
bill would also include funding for public
service announcements aimed at promoting
nursing as a career and recruiting new
nurses. Hutchinson said the Bureau of Labor
Statistics indicates the aging baby-boomer
population will create 560,000 nursing jobs
in the next 10 years. Another 440,000 jobs
will be created when older nurses begin to
retire, he said.
Nurse
Licensure Compact
Status:
Indiana and Tennessee recently passed
legislation to implement the Nurse Licensure
Compact, bringing to 18 the number of states
that have enacted the mutual recognition
model of nursing regulation endorsed by the
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Delegate Assembly in 1997. Under the model,
nurses who hold a license in one state could
practice in another compact state, provided
that they follow the laws and regulations in
the state of practice. Each individual board
of nursing decides whether to pursue
adoption of mutual recognition in their
respective states. Other states in the
compact are Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware,
Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi,
Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and
Wisconsin.
Advanced
Practice
Background:
Fifty individuals representing the leading
nursing certification programs, accrediting
agencies and advanced practice nursing
organizations attended the National Council
of State Boards of Nursing's annual Advanced
Practice Registered Nurse Roundtable in
April 25. Participants discussed activities
related to the NCSBN's 61 state and
territorial boards of nursing and the
advanced practice community. This year's
meeting focused primarily on three important
NCSBN initiatives:
�
Development of an APRN interstate compact
for mutual recognition of advanced practice
nurse licenses across states, which is to be
considered by the NCSBN Delegate Assembly at
its annual meeting in August
� A review
of criteria for accreditation of advanced
practice certification programs
� Changes to
the Uniform Advanced Practice Registered
Nurse Licensure/Authority to Practice
Requirements
A
Healthier Tomorrow
Status: In
honor of National Nurses Week, Nurses for a
Healthier Tomorrow kicked off a new
component of its multimedia campaign with
on-screen advertisements in movie theaters.
The ads featured real-life nurses from the
coalition's print ad campaign, showcase the
tagline �Nursing. It's Real. It's Life.� and
direct movie-goers to the
www.nursesource.org Web site. Reaching more
than 2.5 million movie-goers, the on-screen
ad appeared throughout the month of May on
436 screens nationwide in major markets,
including Los Angeles, New York, Miami,
Baltimore, Dallas, Washington, D.C.,
Atlanta, Detroit, Seattle, Chicago,
Philadelphia, San Francisco and Boston.
Mandatory
Overtime
Maryland
Gov. Glendening has signed into law
mandatory overtime legislation that would
prohibit an employer from requiring a nurse
to work more than the regularly scheduled
hours according to the predetermined work
schedule. However, a nurse may be required
to work overtime under certain conditions:
� If the
work is a consequence of an emergency
situation that could not have been
reasonably anticipated
� If the
emergency situation is nonrecurring and is
not caused by or aggravated by the
employer's inattention or lack of reasonable
contingency planning
� If the
employer has exhausted all good faith,
reasonable attempts to obtain voluntary
workers during the succeeding shifts
� If the
nurse has critical skills and expertise that
are required for the work
� If the
standard of care for a patient assignment
requires continuity of care through
completion of a case, treatment or procedure
AACN
Position: AACN does not believe that
mandatory overtime is 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.
Staffing
Ratios
Approximately 200 nurses from New Jersey
hospitals used National Nurses Day in May to
lobby assembly members for limits on how
many hospital patients a nurse must treat.
Citing concerns about patient safety, the
nurses urged support for legislation setting
nurse-to-patient ratios in all hospital
departments. The state set limits of two
patients per nurse in intensive care, but no
ratios for the emergency room,
medical-surgical wards and some other
departments.
Wearing
red-and-white T-shirts reading, �Set limits;
save lives,� nurses and other healthcare
workers from the 8,500-member Health
Professionals and Allied Employees union
packed the assembly gallery for the
afternoon session.
Earlier,
nurses picketed at the headquarters of the
New Jersey Hospital Association in West
Windsor, Mercer County. They delivered a
giant greeting card, signed by about 1,000
nurses, bearing the message �Ratios, not
roses,� a reference to the hospital
tradition of giving each nurse a red rose on
National Nurses Day.
In a
statement, the hospital association said
that it �supports the goal of optimal
nurse-to-patient staffing levels,� but that
�strict and inflexible ratios will only
exacerbate� the nursing shortage.
AACN
Position: AACN is concerned that fixed
numerical ratios do not capture the
complexity of patient needs and the skills
of the caregivers. The nurse-to-patient
ratio should recognize patient acuity and
the required intensity of nursing care.
Staffing decisions must be based on the
specific needs of patients, provider
competencies and organizational priorities.
AACN is also concerned that mandated minimum
ratios could become staffing ceilings, which
do not allow for flexibility when patient
acuity demands higher nurse-to-patient
ratios.
For more information
about these and other issues, visit the AACN
Web site at For more information about these
and other issues, visit the AACN Web site at
www.aacn.org. > Clinical Practice > Public
Policy.. > Clinical Practice > Public
Policy.
New
Online Resources Make Public Policy
Information Readily Available
Two new
public policy resources debuted this month
on the AACN Web site: the State Net database
and the CapWiz Legislative Action Center.
State Net
allows AACN members to download or view the
status and a brief summary of pertinent
nursing legislation. The database collects
information on actions related to bills in
Congress, as well as in all 50 states.
Because the information is posted within 24
hours of public availability, members can
get reliable information quickly.
The CapWiz
Legislative Action Center, powered by
Capitol Advantage, will allow AACN members
to connect with elected officials, agencies
and organizations. Users may e-mail members
of Congress, the president and other
government officials; find their legislators
by a ZIP code or name search; and find out
how their legislators voted on identified
issues. Members may compose their own
messages or send messages prewritten by AACN.
Searchable
by ZIP code, state and name, this tool also
provides an easy way to find out who is
running for federal and state offices in a
specific area. As primaries pass, the
information will be updated to reflect the
general election candidates. The system also
includes information on registering to vote,
election dates and more.
To access
this new public policy resource, visit the
AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org.
Save
on Catalog and Online Bookstore Orders
Order an
AACN Resource Catalog or online Bookstore
product or resource during June and save!
All orders will be discounted 10%. Shipping
and handling charges still apply.
This offer
does not apply to products ordered from the
AACN PDA Center.
To order and
receive your 10% discount, call (800)
899-2226 or visit the AACN Web site
Coming
in the July Issue of the American Journal of
Critical Care
�
Celebrating the 100th Birthday of the
Electrocardiogram: Lessons Learned From
Cardiac Monitoring Research
�
Vasopressin in the Cardiac Surgery Intensive
Care Unit
� Weaning
Older Adults From Long-Term Mechanical
Ventilation
� Predicters
of Quality of Life at 1 Month After
Implantation of a Left Ventricular Assist
Device
Subscriptions to Critical Care Nurse and the
American Journal of Critical Care are
included in AACN membership dues.
Looking Ahead
June 2002
June 14
Deadline to submit nominations for positions
on the AACN Board of Directors, AACN
Certification Corporation Board of Directors
and AACN Nominating Committee for
2002-03. The nomination form is included in
this issue of AACN News. Forms can also be
obtained by calling (800) 394-5995, ext.
307, or via the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
> Call for Nominations.
June 21
Deadline to apply for the AACN Wyeth Nursing
Fellows Program. To obtain an application,
call (800) 899-2226 and request Item #2005
or AACN Fax on Demand at
(800) 222-6329 and request Document #2005.
Applications are also available online at
http://www.aacn.org
June 30
3-Person Discount program for CCRN exam
ends. The discount flyer is available by
calling (800) 899-2226 or e-mailing
certcorp@aacn.org.
The flyer can also be
downloaded from the AACN Certification
Corporation Web site at
http://www.certcorp.org
> CCRN.
July 2002
July 1
Deadline to apply for End-of-Life Palliative
Care research grants. The grants application
book can be downloaded from the AACN Web
site at
http://www.aacn.org
> Clinical
Practice > Research > Grants or is available
from Fax on Demand at (800) 2226-329
(Document #1013).
July 1
Deadline to apply for Clinical Inquiry
Grant. The grants application book can be
downloaded from the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
> Clinical Practice > Research >
Grants or is available from Fax on Demand at
(800) 2226-329 (Document #1013).
July 1
Deadline to apply for Medtronic Physio-Control
AACN Small Projects Grant. The grants
application book can be downloaded from the
AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
> Clinical Practice > Research > Grants or
is available from Fax on Demand at (800)
2226-329 (Document #1013).
July 15
Deadline to apply for the AACN Circle of
Excellence Award program for 2002. To obtain
an awards guide, call (800) 899-2226
(request Item #1011), or visit the AACN Web
site
at
http://www.aacn.org
> Membership > Awards.
September
2002
Sept. 1
Deadline to submit research and creative
solutions abstracts for NTI 2003, May 17
through 22 in San Antonio, Texas. To obtain
abstract forms, call (800) 899-AACN (2226)
and
request Item #6007, or visit the AACN Web
site at
http://www.aacn.org.
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