Critical Links Campaign Recruits 2,625 New
Members; New Member-Get-A-Member Drive Under
Way
Get ready
for another round of rewards, just for
sharing the benefits of membership in AACN
with your colleagues. The second year of
AACN�s Critical Links member-get-a-member
campaign is now under way.
In the first
year of the campaign, which ended April 1,
636 individuals and 87 chapter recruiters
welcomed a total of 2,625 new members. Peggy
Lynn Ennis, RN, of Central Point, Ore., was
the top individual recruiter with 49, and
the Atlanta Area Chapter led the chapter
recruitment effort with 74 new members.
Ennis
receives a $500 American Express gift
certificate. The Atlanta Chapter receives a
$250 gift certificate toward the purchase of
AACN resources.
The new
campaign, which runs through April 30, 2003,
was being ceremoniously kicked off at AACN�s
National Teaching Institute and Critical
Care Exposition in Atlanta, Ga, where top
individual and chapter recruiters were being
recognized.
All campaign
participants receive an AACN pocket
reference when they enter the campaign with
their first recruited member. But that�s not
all. Individual recruiters receive a $25
gift certificate toward the purchase of AACN
resources when they recruit five new members
and a $50 AACN gift certificate when they
recruit 10 new members. Each month, members
who have recruited at least one new member
in the month will also be entered into a
monthly drawing for a $100 American Express
gift certificate.
All member
recruiters need to do is make certain that
their name and AACN member number are
included on the new members� application
forms.
Following
are the rewards that await the top
recruiters:
Individual Rewards
In addition
to the $500 American Express gift
certificate, the top individual recruiter is
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,
four-night 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.
Receiving
these prizes for the 2001-02 campaign are
Mary Kathryn Graham, RN, BSN, of
Lawrenceville, Ga., (1st prize); Jennifer
McFarlane, RN, MSN, CCRN, of Pasadena,
Calif., (2nd prize); and Margaret Riley, RN,
BSN, CCRN, of Lake City, Fla., (3rd prize).
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 2003
in San Antonio, Texas. Each month, chapters
that recruit new members will also be
entered into a drawing for a complimentary
registration for NTI 2003.
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.
AACN-CCRN Ambassadors Helping to Spread the
Word
A plan to
establish a strong, grassroots network of
liaisons in every institution and nursing
school in the country is in place, as
AACN-CCRN ambassadors help spread the word
about AACN and AACN Certification
Corporation.
These
ambassadors are AACN members, CCRNs and
CCNSs who want to strengthen their
connection to AACN and certification at the
national level and to help connect their
local communities with the important work of
the association. To assist in this effort,
AACN is developing an array of resources for
recruiting new members and promoting the
value of certification.
AACN-CCRN
ambassadors also receive and relay
information to their coworkers, managers,
administrators and units. They receive
regular communication regarding AACN
resources, services, positions and goals.
In addition,
these volunteers are a valuable link in
furthering AACN�s mission and vision by
connecting with other critical care nurses
in their communities and promoting the value
of nursing in a range of settings, including
community and school health and career
fairs. As the �eyes and ears� of critical
care nursing, AACN-CCRN ambassadors can
communicate to the national leadership the
common questions or challenges they hear
from their colleagues.
If you are
interested in becoming an AACN-CCRN
ambassador, sign up online at
http://www.aacn.org.
Who
Recruited New Members?
Who
recruited new members in the Critical Links
member-get-a-member campaign that ended
April 1? Following are the final tallies for
individuals who participated in the
campaign.
Peggy Lynn
Ennis, RN 49
Darlene M.
Legge, RN, BSN, CCRN 36
Margaret
Riley, RN, BSN, CCRN 33
Melissa L.
Drain, RN, CCRN 31
Carol
Guyette, RN, BSN, CCRN 28
Michele
Quinlan, RN, BSN 27
Lynn Smith
Schnautz, RN, MSN, CCRN 26
Ann Marie
Carpenter, RN, MSN, 24
CCRN, CNS
Nancy D.
King, RN, MSN, CCRN, 22
ANP, NP
Yvonne
Thelwell, RN 22
Annette M.
Mtangi, RN, ADN, CCRN 21
Lorraine T.
Micheletti, RN, MA, CCRN 20
Michael
Beshel, RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN 19
Lauretta M.
Joseph, RN, MSN, CCRN, NP18
Colleen O.
Planchon, RN, BSN, BS, CCRN 16
Beverly Ann
Carlson, RN, PhD, CCRN 15
Kathleen M.
Burton, RN, BSN 14
Donna B.
Sabash, RN, BSN, CCRN 14
Jackie Grigg,
RN, ADN, CCRN 14
Mary C.
Stewart, RN, BSN, MBA 13
Helen M.
Camp, RN, CCRN 12
11
Recruits
Barbara G.
Wiles, RN, BSN, CCRN 11
Susan D.
Cline, RN, BSN 11
Carla J.
Freeman, RN, BSN, CCRN 11
Holly L.
Weber-Johnson, RN, BSN 11
10
Recruits
Marylee R.
Bressie, RN, CNS, MSN, 10
CCRN, CEN
Michele L.
Manning, RN, MSN, 10
CCRN, CS
Carolyn
Carter, RN, ADN, BA 10
Lindsey
Shank, RN, BSN, CCRN 10
Katherine H.
Miller, RN, ADN 10
Jana Woller
Hough, RN, BSN 10
Tammy
McGuire, RNC, ADN, CCRN 10
9
Recruits
Dorothy Rose
Phelps, RN, BS, CCRN
Beryl E.
Keegan, RN, BSN, CCRN
Eva M.
Crosby, RN
Ashlee T.
Mattutini, RN
8
Recruits
Kathleen
Quattrocchi, RN, BSN
Polly Ann
Marinelli, RN, ADN
Perrilynn A.
Baldelli, RN, MSN, CCRN
Sue Ann
Crisp, RN, BSN, BS
Ruth G.
Melvin, RN, BSN, CCRN
Irma N.
Richardson, RN, BS, CCRN
Linda C.
Thomas, RN, MSN, CCRN
Paula
Murray, RN, BSN, BS
Mary Kathryn
Graham, RN, BSN
Paulita D.
Narag, RN, ADN, CCRN
Michael
Chalot, RN, ADN, CCRN
Sasipa
Charnchaichujit, RN
7
Recruits
Kathleen M.
Richuso, RN, MSN
Martie C.
Mattson, RN, CNS, MSN, CCRN
Anne C.
Dunn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Lori E.
Kennedy, RN, BSN, CCRN
Rosario P.
Marasigan, RN, BSN, CCRN
Ismael J.
Abregonde, RN, BSN
Rena Sivills,
RN, BSN
Cynthia G.
Cox, RN, BSN, CCRN, FNP
Bonnie J.
Cerrato, RN, ADN, AA
Zondra Hull,
RN
Jeff Reece,
RN, BSN
6
Recruits
Joanne M.
Kuszaj, RN, MSN, CCRN
Betty Nash
Blevins, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Donna M.
O�Neill, RN, ADN, CCRN
Lillian
Aguirre, RN, BSN, CCRN
Michael L.
Williams, RN, MSN, CCRN
Susan R.
Oakley, RN, ADN, AA
Melanie K.
Williamson, RN, CCRN
Pam
Zinnecker, RN, CCRN
Teresa Lee
Martin, RN, BSN, CCRN
Carolyn A.
Fernandez, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS,
ACNP, CEN
Lita T.
Gorman, RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN
Myrna F.
Fontillas-Boehm, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Anita M.
Siscoe-Hapshie, RN, CCRN
Judith A.
Ascenzi, RN, MSN
Mary E.
Holtschneider, RN, BSN, MPA
Lisa C.
Gregory, RN, BSN
Katherine
Colbert, RN, ADN, CCRN
Arlene N.
Messina, RN, ADN, CCRN
Michael C.
Blanchard, RN
James Mears,
RN
5
Recruits
Mary H.
Phares, RN, BSN, CCRN
Janice L.
Stevens, RN, BSN, CCRN, CNRN
Kathleen J.
Corban, RN, BSN, CCRN
Victoria A.
Ramik, RN, MS, CCRN, CS, APRN
Kathleen
Klein Peavy, RN, MS, CCRN
Marjorie A.
Stock, RN, ADN, CCRN
Charlene A.
Haley-Moyer, RN, MS, CCRN
Robin K.
Selbach, RN, BSN, MBA, CCRN
Patricia
Dianne Jennings, RN, ADN, CCRN
Carol
Reitz-Barlow, RN, CCRN
Louisa K.
Kamatuka, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Cynthia L.
Steinbach, RN, BSN, CCRN
Barbara Ann
Schnakenberg, RN, MSN
John H.
Jeffries, RN, BSN, CCRN
Philip T.
Newis, RN
Michelle L.
Henrickson, RN, BSN
Lisa M.
Rudolph, RN, BS, BA, CCRN
Lisa M.
Boldrighini
Amanda L.
Newman
Pamela Mahan
4
Recruits
Janis L.
Watts, RN, BSN, CCRN
Theresa
Stevens, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
Elizabeth T.
McDaniel, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Sharon L.
Holcombe, RN, MS, CCRN, CS
Carol A. Puz,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Mary F.
Tracy, RN, PhD, CCRN
Angela J.
Bentley, RN, MS, BA, CCRN
Lindsay L.
Hyland, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Elizabeth A.
Randazzo, RN, BSN, CCRN
Michelle L.
Collins, RN, BSN
Kathy F.
Boulier, RN, ADN
Cherie L.
Wright, RN, BSN, CCRN
Anthony E.
Farmer, RN, MSN
Liana M.
Hain, RN, MS, CCRN
Janet R.
Silke, RN
Susan
Chamness, RN, BSN
Connie R.
Barbour, RN
Betty Louise
Anderson, RNC
Claire A.
Collins, RN, BSN, BS
Amy Daniels
Marie A.
Eidam, RN, MS
Therisa B.
Davis, RN
Heather J.
Greenwell, RN
Marlene
Merdes, RN
Orlando
Scott, RN, ADN, CCRN
Christine A.
Offerman
Kelly A.
Knickerbocker, RN
Jennifer
Yun-Doung Do, RN
Leidagrace
D. Zarza
Lynne P.
Holliman, RN
Judith C.
Dobke
Mary H.
Jansson, RN
Kathy
Hagains
3
Recruits
Pam Pleiter,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Susan K.
Rossetti, RN, BSN, CCRN
Julie B.
Kruithof, RN, MSN, CCRN
Mary Beth F.
Bobyarchick, RN, BSN, CCRN
Bonita L.
Moore, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Hurd Alton
Pittman, RN, MSN, CCRN
Debbie Karen
Jessell, RN, CCRN
Nancy T.
Blake, RN, MN, CCRN, CNAA
Valerie S.
Vogeler, RN, BSN, CCRN
Loretta A.
Marcantonio, RN, ADN, BA
Karen Ann
Campbell, RN, MSN
Bettina S.
Moxley, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Kathleen
Arnold, RN, MS, CNA
Marla A.
Meaux, RN, CCRN
Geneva D.
Llewellyn, RN, CNS, MSN, CCRN
Kathy Hay,
RN, BSN
Elizabeth J.
Brady-Avis, RN, MSN, CCRN, CRNP
Leilani
Grace T. Quimpo, RN, BSN
Yolanda W.
Carilimdiliman, RN, BSN, BS
Felecia S.
Williams, RN, BSN, CCRN
Mary Merdan,
RN, BSN
Rosa G.
Jaranilla, RN, BSN, BS
Sandra A.
Thomas, RN, ADN
Tammy L.
Gillham, RN, CCRN
Lori L.
Beauregard, RN, ADN
Tracy J.
Deno-Buechlein, RN, MSN, CCRN
Kathleen R.
Bybee, RN, ADN, CCRN
Joyce Brown,
RN
Wendy J.
Franklin, RN, BSN, CCRN
Rachel E.
Monday, RN
Jeannine
Davis. RN
Maranda L.
Meyer, RN, ADN
Janet A.
Henderson, RN, ADN
Renee N.
Perkins, RN
Ray
Quintero, RN, MSN, CCRN
2
Recruits
Mary Lou
Sole, RN, PhD, CCRN, FAAN
Diane E.
Fritsch, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Deborah A.
Fischer, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN
Patricia M.
Juarez, RN, MS, CCRN
Lucinda S.
Harmon, RN, BSN, CCRN
Carol M.
Hinkle, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
Dorrie K.
Fontaine, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Margaret R.
Rollins, RN, MSN, CCRN
Mildred S.
Swan, RN, CCRN
Donna M.
Williams, RN, MS, CCRN
Deborah J.
Laughlin, RN, MSN
Maggie D.
Carriker, RN, MSN
Mary E.
Hillberg, RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN
Julie S.
Miller, RN, BSN, CCRN
Justine L.
Medina, RN, MS
Elizabeth L.
McGarr, RN, ADN, BA, CCRN
Lori D.
Hendrickx, RN, EdD, CCRN
Michael T.
McEvoy, RN, ADN, PhD, CCRN
Bonnie J.
Corcoran, RN, MS, CCRN
Michael G.
Merrick, RN, BSN, CCRN
Beth Hammer,
RN, MSN, NP
Evelyn
Bertram, RN, BSN
Sheryl A.
Burke, RN, ADN, AA, CCRN
Sharon H.
Murff, RN, MSN, CCRN
Evelyn K.
Goldberg, RN, BSN, MS
Laura L.
Madden, RN, BSN, CCRN
Anneita Kay
Minor, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Linda I.
Ball, RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN
Jacqueline
Ann Morgan, RN, BS, MSN, CCRN, CS
Pamela J.
Chapman, RN, BSN, CCRN
Pat D.
Stanton, RN, MS, CCRN
Deborah L.
Erickson, RN, MA, CCRN
Anne H.
Brown, RN, BSN
Wanda
Johnson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Pameula S.
Johnson, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN
Mary Frances
D. Pate, RN, DSN
Gayle A.
Lucas, RN, BS, CCRN
Lisa G.
Duncan, RN, BSN
Anne F.
Brock, RN, BSN, MS, CCRN
Sandra L.
Smith PhD, APRN
Ann L.
Mercer, RN, ADN, CCRN
Lori Ann
Cox, RN, MSN, CCRN, ACNP, NP
Maren
Ortmeier, RN, BSN
Greg R.
Grainger
Carol D.
Fountain, RN, CCRN
Marsha K.
Kadner, RN, BSN, CEN
Deborah L.
Ritter
Stephanie R.
Sanderson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kimberly L.
Barrett, RN, BSN, CCRN
Diane M.
Casperson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Colleen
Kowalchuk, RN, CCRN
Elaine D.
Mayo, RN, MSN
Robin A.
Hines-Williams, RN
Vicky
Willis, RN
Laurie A.
Dean, RN, CCRN
Karen
Selman, RN
Margaret B.
Harvey, RN, ACNP, CS
Jan Teal,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Damon B.
Cottrell, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS, CEN
Mamoona R.
Arif, RN, MS
Mary Jo
Streeter, RN
Anesia W.
Deal, LVN
Pamela S.
Li, RN
Alexis
Victoria Reeves, RN
Mary E.
Davis, RN
Maria B.
Greaney, RN, MSN
Julie
Valasek, RN
Laura
Bratcher, RN
Wanda Allman,
RN
1 Recruit
Jonette
Devlin, RN, MSN
Mary T.
Hendrick, RN, BS, CCRN
Patricia A.
Fischer, RN, BSN, CCRN
Doris V.
Levin, RN, MS, CNA
David Ralph
Schmidt, RN, MSN, CCRN, CPNP
Patricia A.
Bishop, RN, MSN, CCRN, ARNP
Mary Kay
Jiricka, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Elizabeth
Bayley, RN, PhD
Barbara Ann
Magrew, RN, MSN, CCRN
Kathryn M.
Kater, RN, MSN, NP
Phyllis W.
DeMaine, RN, BSN
Mary Jane
Zellinger, RN, MN, MS, CCRN, NP
Donna L.
Hall, RN, MSN
Phyllis Q.
Quinlan, RNC, MS, CCRN, CEN
Catherine P.
Rodgers, RN, ADN, CCRN
Marjorie B.
Wheeler, RN, MS
Lynn M.
Simko, RN, PhD, CCRN
Deborah J.
Tuggle, RN, MN, CCNS
Annette R.
Dematio, RN, BSN, CCRN
Glenna L.
Traiger, RN, MSN, CCRN
Marie S.
Michaud, RN, ADN, MA, CCRN
Melissa A.
Warthen, RN, MSN
Linda L.
Weston Kramer, RN, BSN, CCRN
Teresa M.
Yee, RN, MSN, MBA, CCRN
Elsie B.
Croom, RN, BSN, CCRN
Sue A.
Williams, RN, BSN, CCRN
Katherine
Hardin, RN, BSN
Barbara A.
Cox, RN, ADN, AA
Steven
Mooney, RN, MSN, CCRN, RCIS
Amy L.
Shields, RN, BSN, CCRN
Rosalinda L.
Rienstra, RN, MSN, CCRN
Diane L.
Pemberton, RN, BS, CCRN
Kristine J.
Peterson, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
Marcia C.
Talluto, RN, ADN, CCRN
Deborah A.
Glenn, RN, MSN
Maryanne E.
McMahon, RN, CCRN
Linda T.
Meyer, RN, MSN, CCRN
Barbara P.
Marshall, RN, MSN, CCRN
Eileen M.
Kelly, RN, MSN, CCRN
Robin
Ondrusek, RN
Barbara E.
McGurgan, RN, MSN, CCRN
Terry L.
Tucker, RN, MS, CCRN, CEN
Rachelle D.
Lyons, RN, CCRN
Julia A.
McAvoy, RN, MSN, CCRN
Susan D.
Parsons, RN, MN, PhD
Eileen
Caulfield, RN, MA
Deborah J.
Duncan, RN, MSN
Katherine
Ann Kleinow, RN, BSN
Teresa A.
Long, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNA
Christine C.
Morrison, RN, MSN, AA
Mary P.
Edwards, RN, MS, CCRN
Betty
Thornell, RN, MS, CCRN
Linda J.
Hampton, RN, MS, CCRN
Patricia
Gail Maynor, RN, BSN, MS, MSHA
Frances Ann
Kenney, RN, BSN
Saralyn
Prickett Austin, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS, CLNC
Rosemary B.
Dixon, RN, MSN, CCRN
Rose M.
Allen, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Linda A.
Benson, RN, MS, CCRN, CS
Jonathan O.
Gross, RN, MS, BA, CCRN
Barbara K.
Sampson, RN, BSN
Yvonne L.
McKenna, RN, BSN, CCRN
Michael T.
Marsh, RN, BSN, CCRN
RuthAnne
Kuiper, RN, MN, CCRN
Linnea A.
Johnson, RN, MSN, BA
Eileen
Hellwig Stoll, RN, MSN, CCRN
Luisa
Michelle Janosik, RN, MN, CCRN
Nicolette C.
Mininni, RN, MEd, CCRN
Linda Risso,
RN, BSN, AA, CCRN
Stephanie
Christian, RN, MS, CCRN
Kimmith M.
Jones, RN, MS, CCRN
Holly
Macklay, RN, MA, CCRN
Mary
Kearney, RN, BS
Sara E.
Carnes, RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN
Eileen A.
Ravert, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Carol A.
Hughes, RN, MS, AA, CCRN
Linda L.
Egan, RN, BSN
Karen A.
Gaertner, RN, MSN, CCRN
Debra L.
Wolfgram, RN, ADN, BA, CCRN
Beth Carrico,
RN, ADN, AA, CCRN
Eileen K.
Fry-Bowers, RN, MS, CCNS, CPNP
Sharon L.
Stewart, RN, MSN, CCRN
Carol Ann
Deeney, RN, BSN
Elizabeth A.
Voelker, RN, ADN, AA, CCRN
Barbara B.
Pope, RN, MSN, CCRN
Mary L.
Surgalski, RN, BSN, CCRN
Annette M.
Focht, RN, BSN, CCRN
Theresa
Hudak, RN
Edith J.
Hart, RN, CCRN
Cindy Ripka,
RN, BSN, BA
Deborah K.
Braxton, RN, MSN
Diane J.
Hamilton, RN, MN, CCRN
Kim B.
Bernhardt-Tindal, RN, MSN, CCRN
Susan G.
Swanson, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
Irma G.
Williams, RN, CCRN
Rhonda L.
Conley, RN, BSN, CCRN
Linda L.
Nesheim, RN, ADN, BS, CCRN
Elizabeth
Brown-Milan, RN, BSN, CCRN
Cherry
Schilling, RN, BSN, CCRN
Sonia M.
Astle, RN, MS, CCRN
Kathleen F.
Kane, RN, ADN, BS, CCRN
Mark A.
McKeown, RN, BA, CCRN
Eileen
Briening, RN, MSN, CCRN, NP
Nancy M.
Cenedella, RN, BSN
Jane L.
Hartman, RN, MS, CCRN
Leanna R.
Miller, RN, MN, CCRN, PNP, CEN
Deanna
Jones, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN
Catherine
Ann Blair, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Kathryn A.
Beauchamp, RN, MSN, CCRN, PNP, CPNP
Kathy Hayes,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Cynthia J.
Green, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN
Rosemarie
Juergensen, RN, CNS, MS
Julia K.
Garrison, RN, MSN, CCRN
Sharon N.
Kearney, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Carlen
Abernethy, RN, BSN
Judith M.
Fabrizio, RN, BSN, CCRN
Janis E.
Boterf, RN, ADN, BA, CCRN
Kenneth R.
Thompson, RN, ADN
Marla J. De
Jong, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS, CEN
Carol Samsel,
RN, BSN
Ruth M.
Martinez, RN, BSN
Pamela J.
Kelly, RN, BSN
Janet L.
Barney, RN, BS
Linda K.
Cook, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
Trinidad A.
Weaver, RN, BSN, CCRN, ARNP
Robert A.
Hammond, RN, ADN, AA, CCRN, CEN
Paula Marie
Tost, RN, BS, CCRN
Marcia L.
Johnson, RN, ADN, CCRN
B. Yvonne
Fankhanel, RN, BSN
Donna L.
Sellars, RN, BSN, CCRN
Hilda M.
Ivey, RN, ADN, CCRN CRNI
Mary P. Aust,
RN, BSN
Marlene A.
Schoettle, RN, MSN, CCRN
Anne M.
Branley, RN, ADN, CCRN, CPAN
Janis
Smith-Love, RN, MSN, CCRN, ACNP, ARNP, CEN
Dorothea S.
Murphy, RN, CCRN, CNRN
Frances E.
Gedell, RN, MA, CCRN
Patricia
Forsyth, RN, MSN
Elaine T.
Stevens, RN, BS, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Virginia
Ledbetter, RN, MSN
Karon M.
Wold, RN, ADN, CCRN
Susan E.
White, RN, MSN
Kathleen M.
Hetcko, RN, CCRN
Eva Mae
Francis, RN, ADN, CCRN
Mona P.
Ternus, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
Jacqueline
N. Smith, RN
Connie T.
Bolton, RN, BSN, BS
Fran E.
Myers, RN, PhD, CCRN
Lois Hamill,
RN, BSN
Cheryl D.
Nava, RN, BSN
Mary Beth
Reid, RN, MS, CCRN
Dinah
Mullinax High, RN, BSN, BS
Veronica O.
Lawrence, RN, AA, CCRN
Debra L.
Knight, RN, BSN
L. Jennifer
McFarlane, RN, MSN, CCRN
Doris
Kennedy, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN
Donna Jane
Robinson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kannagi
Gayapershad, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Jenneine A.
Lambert, RN, MN
Tabby W.
Tsuei, RNC, BSN, CCRN
Claire H.
Curran, RN, BSN, CCRN, EMT
Jeanne
Faughnan, RN, BSN, CCRN
Amy J.
Pelleg, RN, MSN, CCRN
Gina
Montagnino, RN, MSN, CCRN, CPNP
Belinda
Wallbank, RN, BSN
Mary
Elizabeth Leffard, RN, BSN, CCRN, CNOR, OCN
Lee Ann
Haygood, RN, BSN, CCRN, CNA
Lenora M.
Maze, RN, BSN, CNRN
Cheryl A.
English, RN, ADN, CCRN
Beckie L.
Arnold, RN, BSN, CCRN
Karen A.
Droter, RN, BSN, CCRN
Mary E.
Schneiderhahn, RN, MSN, CS
Lauren
Maleski, RN, BSN, CCRN
Tracy A.
Grogan, RN, MEd, CCRN
Tracy Unertl,
RN, BSN
Kathryn E.
Roberts, RN, MSN, CCRN
Carrie A.
Boom, RN, BSN, CCRN
Penny Stepp,
RN, BSN, AA, CCRN
Susan E.
Wright, RNC, BSN, AA
Alisa R.
Caple, RN, BSN
Eileen M.
Patterson, RN, ADN, CCRN
Nanda
Lerchbaum-Nwokocha, RN, ADN, AA,
CCRN, CEN
V. Dean
Benner, RN, ADN
Lynn A.
Scott, RN, BSN, BA, CCRN
Mary Lee
Hanemann, RN, MSN, CCRN
Tina I. Zito,
RN, BSN
Sheila D.
Lyon, RN, ADN
Wendy S.
Clark, RN, MSN, CCRN
Ma. Cristy
G. Pinuela, RN, BSN, BA
Louise M.
Lowe, RN, ADN, AA
Alethea A.
Sment, RN, BSN, CCRN
Michele R.
Haselhuhn, RN, BSN, BA,
CCRN
Cheryl F.
Devillier, RN, ADN
Susan Lynn
Donston, RN, BSN
Judy A.
Parker, RN, ADN, CCRN
Patricia L.
Quynn, RN, BS, CCRN
Pamela J.
Carlson, RN, MS, CCRN
Lisa
Wentworth Smith, RN, BS, MSN, CCRN
Jean A.
Yavorski, RN, BSN, CCRN
Carol A.
Kridler, RN, BSN, CCRN
Mary J. Roe,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Robin M.
Ballew, RN, BSN, CCRN
Susan M.
Hollowell, RN, BSN
Mary C.
Bressler, RN, BSN, BA
Laurie L.
Flowers, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Anita A.
Campbell, RN, BSN, CCRN
Doris G.
Coney, RN, BSN, CCRN
Mary Adams,
RNC, BS
Patricia L.
Bellamy, RN, ADN, BS, CCRN
Anne Marie
Pondevida, RN, BSN, CCRN
Donna
Bright, RN, BA, CCRN
Janet Staab,
RN, MSN, CCRN
Jan Jeffery,
RN, CCRN
Kristine M.
Chaisson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Anna Marie
Bucior, RN
Kaye
Grubaugh, RN, MSN
Michele
Wilgis, RN, ADN
Lynne M.
Chevoya, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS
Marilyn C.
Callegari, RN, BSN, CCRN
Eufemia O.
Mora, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kathy M.
Kabobel, RN, BSN
Mary Ann
Bell
Cynthia A.
Craven, RN, BSN
Barbara J.
Martindale, RN, BS, CCRN
Jeannine C.
Brennan, RN, MS, BA, CCRN
Elizabeth K.
Ruso, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Lorna F.
Benton, RN, BSN, CCRN
Colbert W.
White, RN, CCRN
Drenda J.
Hall, RN, CCRN
Maria M.
Morgan
Kimberly S.
Hodge, RN, ADN, CCRN
Gina
Santucci, RN, BSN
Javier E.
Daley, RN, BSN, CCRN
Patty L.
Bumgarner
Gail R.
Wheeler, RN, BSN, CCRN,TNS
Hilarie C.
Larson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kelly
Pallazza, RN, MSN, CCRN
Steven P.
Ashley
Kimberly
Bartholomew, RN, ADN, CCRN
Patricia L.
Bowen, RN, BSN
Michealene
M. Redemske, RN, BS, CCRN
Kimberly D.
Curtin, RN, BSN, CEN
Norma C.
Peralta, RN, BSN, CCRN
Michele
Angela Dudley, RN, ADN, CCRN
Madeleine M.
Burke, RN, BSN, CCRN
Sonja E.
Guilda
Mary Beth
Simon, RN, MSN, CCRN
Kathleen
Stacey
Kathleen P.
Lane, RN, ADN, CCRN
Vevyette
Batson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Dorothy
Muskovin, RN
Kerry C.
Helbert, RN, CCRN
Annette M.
Montoya, RN, BS
Elizabeth A.
Masters
Suzanne L.
Price, RN, BSN
Lavon Klahr,
RN, ADN
Connie
Trowbridge
Karen Clary,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Jean M.
Lindenberger, RN, BSN, CCRN
Tara F.
Beebout, RN, BSN, CCRN
Patricia Joy
Thompson, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNP
Mary Ann
Conner, RN, ADN, CCRN
Jon E.
Jordan, RN, ADN, CCRN
Ellen B.
Clifton, RN, BSN, CCRN
Christiana
U. Jackai, RN, BSN
Amy L.
Herrig, RN, ADN
Michelle S.
Bond-Spandiary, RN, ADN, CCRN
Dorothy J.
Flowers, RN, BSN
Rochelle L.
Pelachick, RN, ADN
Susan K.
Feeney, RN, ADN, CCRN
Judi
Hensley, RN
Julie
Dutton, RN, BSN
Sue Button,
RN, ADN
Anne B.
Ewers
Karen L.
Cullinane, RN, ADN
Grace H.
Pitts, RN, ADN, AA
Trudy M.
Neiderer, RN, BSN
Kimberly
Thomas, RN, BSN
Becky L.
Braddock
Cathy
Campbell, RN, MSN
Rose C.
Cardin, RN
Beatrice L.
Davis, RN, BS, CCRN
Caroline
Pfaff, RN
Dianna L.
Lape, RN, MS, CEN
Marcia Kent,
RN, BSN
Shirley A.
Baymiller, RN, ADN, CCRN
Marcy Zoller,
RN, BSN
Kirsten
Hillman, RN, ADN, AA
Beth Macioce-Quinn,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Rachelle M.
King, RN, BSN
P. Jo Ann
Harmon, RN
Patricia
Leach, RN, BSN
Virginia
Blaize
Pamela K.
Popplewell, RN, BSN, CCRN
Heidi A.
Wagner, RN, BSN, CCRN
Philip W.
Larson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Anna L.
Easter, RN, PhD, CS
Maribel F.
Nieva, RN, BSN
Sandra
Daugherty, RN, BSN
Karen
Elizabeth Cabezudo, RN, BSN, CCRN
Amanda M.
Ronk, RN, BSN, CCRN
Theresa L.
Cole, RN, CCRN
Mary
Vanderbeek
Kimberly D.
Herold, RN, BSN, CCRN
Delbert J.
Slowik, RN, BSN
Marcia L.
Chorba, RN, MSN
Marsha M.
Lee-Anderson
Julie C Lau,
RN, BSN, CCRN
Isabelle A.
McCool, RN
Diane M.
Walsh, RN
Theresa O.
Brasler, RN, BS
Mary W.
Altman, RN, ADN
Dawn Kregel,
RN
Melissa K.
Lane, RN, ADN
Kent W.
Haythorn, RN
Danielle M.
Enes, RN, CNOR
Molly
Berkowitz, RN
Karen J.
London, RN, ADN
Jodi Hamel,
RN, ADN, AA
Monique
Lambert, RN
Deedra
Harrington, RN
Joan M.
Tome, RN, BSN
Agnes
Stewart, RN
Sheree L.
Collins, RN, ADN
Jamie Dee
Fitzpatrick, RN, BSN
Margaret
Stackpoole
Beverly
Czerniak
Lily May V.
Marifosque, RN, BSN, CCRN
Patricia G.
Fuller, RN, BS, BSN, MEd
Gina M.
Simoneaux, RN
Hector
Murillo, RN, BSN
Grace B.
Talic, RN, BSN
Karen P.
Balyeat, RN
Kristan G.
Byrd, RN, ADN
Kathy L.
Yeates, RN, BSN, BA
B.J. Hopkins
Michelle D.
Sommers, RN, BSN, CCRN
Bradley J.
Prior, RN, BSN, AA
Laura L.
Lipp, RN
Joyce V.
Colobong, RN, BSN
Carole
Faircloth, RN
Dorcas O.
Giwa, RN
Eric C.
Stewart, RN
Darlene
Washington, RN
Susan K.
Goebel, RN, ADN, CNOR
Wendi S.
Haller, RN, BSN
Cynthia
Nowicki
Claudette J.
Dion, RN
Janice E.
Dudley, RN
Dana K.
Woods
Courtney L.
Maxie
Georgia
Lawrence
Jeraldine P.
Laope, RN, BSN, CCRN
Michelle L.
Cushman, RN, ADN, CCRN
Lisa Gerbic,
RN, BSN, MBA
Angela Foran,
RN, ADN, CCRN
Marlette S.
Williams, RN, BSN
Elizabeth
Keller Siferd
Debra A.
Kruk
Maria Lisa
Maquiling, RN
Peter
Babcock, RN, ADN, CCRN
Christy
Baginski, RN
Susan M.
Burhans, RN-C, BSN
Heather M.
Frame, RN, BSN
Theresa J.
Bowman, RN
Kimberli L.
Sandberg, RN, BSN, CCRN
Julie J.
Lee, RN, BS, CCRN
Wanda Lynn
Caldwell Urban, RN
Mark G.
Griffith
Tracey Lee,
RN
Rosalyn K.
Cranston, RN
Angela B.
Raquepo, RN, BSN
Stephanie
Mason, RN
Natacha
Jean-Noel, RN
Jan-Erik R.
Zeller, RN, BSN
Rebecca M.
Hellard, RN, BSN, MICN
Tiffany
Andrews
Josephine
Corcega Delgado, RN
Virginia
Forshee, RN
Marie Aue
Aimee S.
Babiera, RN
Ryan M.
Vincenzo, RN
Marcia
Lorraine Simmonds, RN
Tina R.
O'Neal, RN
Karen
Gravley
Alice Dean
Inez Belinda
Withers
Wendell D.
Verhage, RN
Rachel E.
Shelby, RN, BSN, CCRN
Cynthia L.
Egly
Sheila M.
Palmer, RN, BSN
Deborah A.
Yaddow, RN, MSN
J. D.
Sharma, RN, BSN
K. Gail
Coordsen, RN
Maria C.
Antonio, RN
Pauline
Graham, RN, BSN
Eugenia D.
Macalald
Carlotta J.
Martinez, RN, BSN
March
Rewards
Congratulations to Damon B. Cottrell, RN,
MS, CCRN, CCNS, CEN, the March reward
recipient in our monthly membership campaign
drawing. Cottrell received a $100 American
Express gift certificate, which was awarded
each month in a random drawing.
Who recruited new members
in the Critical Links member-get-a-member
campaign that ended April 1? Following are
the final tallies for chapters that
participated in the campaign.
Atlanta Area Chapter 74
Pacific Crest Regional
Chapter 53
Greater Evansville
Chapter 47
Heart of the Piedmont
Chapter 36
Brooklyn Chapter 34
North Central Florida
Chapter 34
Greater Miami Area
Chapter 33
Greater Tulsa Area
Chapter 29
Vermont Green Mountain
Chapter 28
Broward County Chapter 23
Greater Raleigh Area
Chapter 23
Greater Milwaukee Area
Chapter 22
Southeastern Pennsylvania
Chapter 21
Greater Louisville
Chapter 21
Northwest Georgia Chapter
19
Foot of the Blue Ridge
Chapter 17
Greater East Texas
Chapter 16
Mobile Bay Area Chapter
14
Piedmont Carolinas
Chapter 12
Greater Austin Area
Chapter 12
Peninsula Chapter 12
Carolina Dogwood Chapter
11
Minot Roughrider Chapter
11
North Central Wisconsin
Chapter 10
South Carolina Mid State
Chapter 10
Greater Phoenix Area
Chapter 9
Greater St. Louis Chapter
9
Northeast Indiana Chapter
8
Brevard Chapter 8
Greater Flint Area
Chapter 8
Palmetto Chapter 8
New York City Chapter 7
Greater Richmond Area
Chapter 7
Ocean State Chapter 7
Montana Big Sky Chapter
6
Metropolitan Orlando
Chapter 6
East River Mountain
Chapter 6
Albemarle Area Chapter 6
Southern Arizona Chapter
5
Anchorage Chapter 5
Northern Arizona Chapter
5
Heart of Acadiana Chapter
5
Spokane Chapter 5
Head of the Lakes Chapter
5
Siouxland Chapter 5
Greater Akron Area
Chapter 5
Central Savannah River
Chapter 4
Coastal Plain Chapter 4
Southern Maine Chapter 4
New Jersey Capital
Chapter 4
Central Minnesota Area
Chapter 3
Greater Birmingham
Chapter 3
West Michigan Chapter 3
Tennessee Valley Chapter
3
Fairbanks North Star
Chapter 3
First Coast Chapter 3
Greater Kansas City
Chapter 3
Smoky Mountain Chapter 3
White River Chapter 3
Coastal Chapter 3
Lake Erie Chapter 2
Puget Sound Chapter 2
Greater New Orleans
Chapter 2
Greater Chicago Area
Chapter 2
Southside Chicago Area
Chapter 2
Chesapeake Bay Chapter 1
Greater Twin Cities Area
Chapter 1
Northwest Chicago Area
Chapter 1
North Valley Chapter 1
Southeast Michigan
Chapter 1
Southeast Missouri
Chapter 1
Washtenaw County Chapter
1
Smoky Hill Chapter 1
Triangle Chapter 1
Gate City Chapter 1
Missouri Valley Chapter
1
Columbia Wheatland
Chapter 1
Big Bend Chapter 1
Jersey Shoreline Chapter
1
Central New York Chapter
1
Central Pennsylvania
Chapter 1
South Bay Chapter 1
South Central Connecticut
Chapter 1
Greater Memphis Area
Chapter 1
Greater Mid Cities
Chapter 1
Hill City Chapter 1
Gulf Coast Magnolia
Chapter 1
Congratulations to the
March reward recipient in our monthly
membership campaign drawing. Each month, one
chapter received a complimentary
registration to NTI 2002. The recipients
were randomly selected from those who
recruited at least one new member during the
month.
The recipient in March
was the Coastal Chapter.
AACN
Seeks Leaders: Nominations Are Due June 14
for 2003-04 AACN and AACN Certification
Corporation Positions
AACN is
seeking nominations of individuals to serve
on the national AACN Board of Directors and
the AACN Nominating Committee for terms that
begin July 1, 2003, as well as on the AACN
Certification Corporation Board of
Directors. Available AACN positions are for
the office of president-elect, for four
director positions on the AACN board and for
three AACN Nominating Committee positions.
Nominations
must be received or postmarked by June 14,
2002. The nomination form accompanies this
article. Forms can also be obtained by
calling (800) 394-5995, ext. 307, or via the
AACN Web site.
Nominees for
AACN positions must be AACN national
members. Time commitments and support
services for each position may differ.
Travel and other expenses are reimbursed for
all of these national volunteer positions.
Following
are brief descriptions of these positions:
AACN
Board of Directors
President-elect (one, 1-Year Term)�Nominees
must have served at least two years on the
AACN Board of Directors. During the term,
the president-elect works to become familiar
with the duties of the president and
consults with the president to prepare for
continuity and a smooth transition of
leadership.
The
president-elect also assumes presidential
accountability in the absence or inability
of the president to act. From the
nominations submitted, the Board of
Directors selects the candidate who is
placed on the ballot.
Directors
(four, 3-Year Terms)�In addition to
representing the needs of the members, board
directors establish priorities for AACN,
based on its mission and vision. They help
to ensure general and financial viability
and growth of the association, and the
maintenance of successful relationships
between AACN and AACN Certification
Corporation. The position also affords
numerous opportunities to network with
professional colleagues, consumers and
healthcare policymakers.
AACN
Nominating Committee
(Three,
1-Year Terms)�In collaboration with
appointed members from the AACN Board of
Directors and representatives of AACN
Certification Corporation, Nominating
Committee members develop and submit the
slate of AACN candidates for election by the
AACN membership at large. A process based on
the AACN Leadership Framework is used to
assess the nominees� competencies before
submitting the slate of candidates to a vote
by the membership.
AACN Certification
Corporation
AACN Certification
Corporation is seeking nominations of
individuals to serve on the Board of
Directors for terms that begin July 1, 2003.
Invited are nominations for the offices of
chair-elect and three directors.
Nominations must be
received or postmarked by June 14,
2002.Nomination forms can be obtained by
calling (800) 899-2226 or online at
http://www.aacn.org.
The board is made up of
individuals from the disciplines being
certified and consumer representatives.
These board members are accountable for
ensuring sound certification programs that
address the competencies required of
critical care nurses for excellence in
practice and for fulfilling the professional
obligation to patients.
Reimbursement for travel
as well as for other expenses is provided
for all of these national volunteer
positions. Following are brief descriptions
of the AACN Certification Corporation
positions for which nominations are invited:
Chair-elect (One, 1-Year
Term)�The chair-elect works to become
familiar with the duties of the chair and
consults with the chair to prepare for
continuity and a smooth transition of
leadership. He or she performs all duties of
that position in the chair�s absence. The
Board of Directors selects the chair-elect
candidate from the submitted nominations.
Director (Three, 2-Year
Terms)�A director actively participates in
governance to ensure the corporation�s
financial viability and growth; evaluates
organizational outcomes based on established
priorities and action plans; monitors the
impact of corporation initiatives on patient
care and healthcare delivery systems;
articulates positions and policies to key
stakeholders; and ensures a successful
relationship between AACN and AACN
Certification Corporation. Nominations for
both nurse leaders and consumer
representatives are being accepted for these
positions.
For more information
about the Call for Nominations, contact Jan
Buffington at (800) 394-5995, ext. 307 or
visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org.
Viewpoint: Getting to Best Practice on
Visiting Time�Yes, but ...
Many of the
issues we face in clinical practice require
our best problem-solving abilities.
Particularly challenging is when the
evidence clearly directs practice in one
way, but the reality of life at the bedside
makes implementation in that direction
difficult. �Viewpoint� is a new AACN News
feature created to address such issues. The
goal is to stimulate thinking about practice
challenges and to tap the resources of AACN
leaders in looking at ways to overcome some
of the barriers to achieving best practices.
The issue of
visiting hours remains a challenging topic
in many critical care units. Although
debated and studied for years, the
implementation of workable visiting hours
continues to be an area of frustration and
controversy. Visitation policies,
procedures, perceptions, communication, and
patient and family satisfaction have been
researched as far back as the 1970s.
Molter first
studied the needs of the relatives of
critically ill patients and Leske, in
follow-up research, found that families felt
a need to be near the patient during the
critical illness. Being present helped them
to validate the seriousness of the illness
and to more realistically face the
challenges that arose.
In the
ensuing two decades, studies have focused on
many variations of the issue, including
family needs, visiting hours, visitation by
children, physiological and psychological
effects, and pet visitation. In general,
there is consensus in the literature that
flexible visiting hours that are tailored to
meet individual needs are not
physiologically harmful to the patient and,
in most instances, are beneficial to both
the patient and the family. Pet visitation
programs are becoming commonplace and
policies for allowing families to be present
during emergency procedures are found in
many units across the country.
Despite this
strong evidence about the impact of liberal
visiting, nurses at the bedside often relate
difficulties in putting this research into
practice. We asked AACN board members Carol
Puz, RN, BSN, CCRN, and Mary Fran Tracy, RN,
PhD, CCRN, to discuss the challenges and to
identify strategies for bridging this gap
between research findings and actual
practice.
AACN
News:
Nurses have said, �I know what the
literature says, but I can�t get my work
done if I have visitors in the way all the
time.� Are you aware of or have you used any
strategies to help nurses work through this
reality?
Puz
and Tracy:
Communication is the key to a successful
relationship between most nurses and
families. Through communication, nurses and
families can learn about each other. As
families and nurses talk, nurses better
understand the group dynamics and families
better understand the type and extent of
care the patient needs. Communication also
shows families that the staff really does
care about the well-being of the patient.
Having the sense that people care is one of
the needs that families have ranked
consistently high over time in the
literature.
�Family
Visitation and Partnership in the Critical
Care Unit,� part of the AACN Protocols for
Practice: Creating a Healing Environment,
outlines the many forms that effective
visiting hours can take. These include:
� Open
visitation
� Flexible
visiting, which is based on mutual agreement
between the nurse and the family
� Contracted
visiting, which involves written agreements
�
Patient-controlled visitation
�
Structured-but-liberal visitation, which
limits the numbers of visitors but under
less restrictive hours
� Inclusive
visiting, which is open except for specified
times during the shift
Regardless
of the type of visiting arrangement agreed
to, flexibility is a key element. By talking
with families, nurses learn individual
nuances that allow for individualization of
visiting times. In this challenge, one size
definitely does not fit all.
Try standing
back and viewing your ICU�s environment from
the perspective of a family member. Better
yet, conduct family satisfaction surveys and
ask them which aspects of the ICU experience
work and which don�t for their needs. Is
sufficient information being given to family
members to help alleviate their stress? Are
meditation areas or consult rooms available
for families to use instead of the large
waiting areas? Could pagers be provided so
that families would feel comfortable about
leaving to eat or rest and still feel they
could be contacted easily? Are visiting
hours flexible enough to accommodate work or
other family responsibilities?
When
possible, use family members to help with
patient care. This may help them feel they
are providing support to the patient while,
perhaps, easing some of the nurse�s
workload. For example, allow family members
to assist in oral care or bathing, if
appropriate. Encourage them to gently
massage the patient�s feet, which may reduce
anxiety for the patient and the family
member while allowing the nurse to
concentrate on other care needs.
AACN
News:We
have also heard our members say, �Yes, but
you don�t know the families we deal with.
They have no limits and want five or six
people to visit at one time. The patient
gets no rest, and there�s just not enough
room for them and me, too.� How can nurses
implement liberal visiting hours if they are
practicing with these challenges?
Puz
and Tracy:
Flexible
visiting hours do not equate to
accommodating all visitors at all times. Use
unit councils or staff meetings to reach
consensus on what your unit�s visiting
policy will be based on, including patient
types, unit needs and layout, and research
findings. Communicate the visitation plan to
the rest of the healthcare team. This
provides consistency and reduces the risk
and confusion that results from families
receiving differing messages about visiting.
In addition, units should have plans in
place to deal with verbally or physically
abusive visitors. Doing so may alleviate
nurses� anxiety about feeling safe in their
work environments amid the many strangers
who come and go.
Develop a
brochure that describes your unit�s visiting
policy. Give it to the family early in the
admission process. Be clear that families
will have different needs at different times
and that there is room for renegotiation as
the patient�s condition changes. Explain the
rationale underlying the visiting policy,
such as why the number of visitors may be
limited or why confidentiality issues may
require that family members step out of the
room during report. Encourage the family to
select a spokesperson who can help to ease
frustration for the nurse in relaying
information to multiple family members
throughout the day. Check out the new AACN
booklet For Those Who Wait, which includes
information about visiting the patient and
the need for a family spokesperson. The
booklet is available from AACN�s online
Bookstore at www.aacn.org.
AACN
News:
Referring to other types of challenges,
nurses often say, �Yes, but I get tired of
answering family members� questions and,
frankly, I feel a little paranoid, like
they�re watching everything I do. I don�t
understand why we have to do this.�
Puz
and Tracy:
Patients and
families are entering the healthcare system
with an increasing level of distrust.
Remember that many are more informed about
medical practice than ever. They challenge
us as healthcare providers to earn their
trust and respect and to validate the
information they have obtained. Families may
ask multiple questions because they have
difficulty comprehending in a stressful,
overwhelming situation. This challenge can
be addressed in several ways:
� Explain
the care you provide as you do it.
� When you
need to be able to concentrate on a certain
task, be honest with the family and ask for
the time to totally focus on caring for the
patient.
� Ask the
family to keep a list of questions and then
set aside uninterrupted time when you will
sit down with them and review the questions.
� Use other
healthcare providers to help answer
questions and give families time to debrief
and discuss. Chaplains, social workers,
managers, advanced practice nurses and
patient representatives can be excellent
resources to ease family anxiety.
As AACN
President Michael L. Williams noted in his
�President�s Note� column in February 2002:
No visiting policy will alleviate all issues
that can arise with families who are in the
midst of a crisis. Yet, family members need
to be near the patient, have answers to
their questions and feel that their loved
one is receiving the best possible care.
Through honest communication and
negotiation, families and healthcare
providers can work in synergy to provide the
optimal care for the patient and the family
during this time of crisis.
AACN�s
Protocol for Practice on Family Visitation
and Partnership in the Critical Care Unit
can be purchased by calling (800) 899-2226
(Item #170712) or online at
http://www.aacn.org
With
Appreciation: AACN Thanks Its Industry
Partners and Sponsors
The support
of our sponsors and industry partners is a
valued source of continued success for the
American Association of Critical-Care
Nurses. We thank them for their continued
generosity and collaboration.
Partners
With Industry
Partners
with Industry is the corporate giving circle
of companies who are committed to year-round
support of the association�s work. Partner
companies support a wide range of special
initiatives not associated with product
promotion. These include scholarships,
awards, research grants and fellowships, as
well as many customized projects.
$500,000
and more
Eli Lilly &
Company
$100,000-$499,999
Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals
(formerly
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories)
$30,000-$99,999
AACN
Certification Corporation
Philips
Medical Systems
(formerly
Agilent Technologies)
$10,000-$29,999
AMN
Healthcare
Nellcor/Tyco
Healthcare
Ross
Products
Division of
Abbott Laboratories
Siemens
Medical Solutions*
Stryker
Medical
3M Health
Care
$4,500-$9,999
Atrium
Medical Corp.
Bard Medical
Dale Medical
Datex-Ohmeda
Genzyme
Biosurgery
Honor
Society of Nursing
Sigma Theta
Tau International
Nabi
Biopharmaceuticals
Oridion
Medical Inc.
Up to $2,500
GE Medical
Systems
Information
Technologies
Marsh
Affinity Group Services
A Service of
Seabury & Smith, Inc.
Medtronic
Physio-Control
Gifts
In-Kind
Clarian
Health
Datex-Ohmeda
The Freeman
Companies
Hyundai
Motor America
Indiana
University
School of
Nursing
NurseZone.com
Siemens
Medical Solutions
NTI
Sponsors
Sponsors of
educational sessions, events and select
participant items at the 2002 National
Teaching Institute and Critical Care
Exposition in Atlanta, Ga.
NTI
Champions
Valued at
$100,000 and more
Philips
Medical Systems
(formerly
Agilent Technologies)
NTI
Heroes
Valued
between $50,000 and $99,999
GE Medical
Systems
Information
Technologies
GlaxoSmithKline
KCI
Ortho
Biotech Inc.
Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals
(formerly
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories)
NTI
Advocates
Valued
between $30,000 and $49,999
Abbott
Laboratories
Aspect
Medical Systems
Atrium
Medical Corporation
Eli Lilly &
Company
Hill-Rom
Johnson &
Johnson
Texas Health
Resources
NTI
Benefactors
Valued
between $15,000 and $29,999
ALARIS
Medical Systems
AstraZeneca
Aventis
Pharmaceuticals
Baxter
Healthcare Infusion Systems
Bayer
Diagnostics
Berlex
Laboratories
CardioDynamics International
Cross
Country TravCorps
Datex-Ohmeda
Edwards
Lifesciences
Genentech
Healthcare
Purchasing News
The
Medicines Company
Medtronic
Physio-Control
Nellcor/Tyco
Healthcare
NurseWeek
Publishing
Oridion
Medical Inc.
Scios Inc.
Siemens
Medical Solutions
ZOLL Corp.
NTI
Contributors
Valued
between $7,500 and $14,999
Spacelabs
Medical
Stryker
Medical
University
of Texas Medical Branch
NTI
Supporters
Valued at
$7,500 and less
3M
Healthcare
ADVANCE
Newsmagazines
Arrow
International
Bard Medical
BD Medical
Systems
Biosite Inc.
Bridge
Medical
Clarian
Health
Dale Medical
Emtel, Inc.
Fain &
Company
The Freeman
Companies
Gambro Renal
Products
Integra
NeuroSciences
Kendall/Tyco
Healthcare
Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins
McKesson
Corporation
Nabi
Biopharmaceuticals
NextRx
NurseZone.com
R. Adams
Cowley
Shock Trauma
Center
Marsh
Affinity Group Services
A Service of
Seabury & Smith, Inc.
SLACK
Incorporated
wThoratec
Corp.
University
of Rochester
Medical
Center
All NTI
Exhibitors
Participant-Exhibitor Event
Affinity
Partners
Alamo
Rent-a-Car
First USA
Bank
John Hancock
Mutual Life Insurance Company
Marsh
Affinity Group Services, A Service of
Seabury & Smith, Inc.
Merrill
Lynch
Dale
Scholars Attend NTI 2002 in Atlanta, Ga.
Three AACN
members were attending AACN�s National
Teaching Institute and Critical Care
Exposition this month in Atlanta, Ga.,
thanks to a $4,500 contribution to the AACN
Scholarship Endowment Fund by Dale Medical
Products, Inc.
Continuing
education scholarships of $1,500 each were
awarded to these members to offset the
expenses of attending the NTI. All are
pursuing graduate education to further their
careers in critical care nursing.
The Dale
scholarships are directed specifically at
assisting nurses who are striving to balance
their professional life with family
obligations. Each applicant was asked to
describe how attending the NTI would assist
them in reaching their professional goals.
The
recipients of the Dale Medical Products
scholarships for 2002 are: Sylvia Valeriano,
RN, BSN, Los Angeles, Calif.; Rita Harel-Collins,
RN, BSN, CCRN, Nash, Texas.; and Lori T.
Barbera, RN, BSN, Woodstown, N.J.
Vision
Partners Share Their Perspectives at NTI in
Atlanta, Ga.: NTI Scholarship Program
Offsets Expenses
Ten pairs of
participants at AACN�s National Teaching
Institute and Critical Care Exposition in
Atlanta, Ga., this month are building
special relationships as AACN Vision
Partners. Each was awarded a $1,000
scholarship to offset the expenses of
attending the NTI, where the pairs are
sharing their experiences and perspectives.
Unique in
this arrangement is the fact that one
partner was already a member of AACN, but
the other partner was not and had not
previously attended the NTI. The nonmember
partner receives a one-year AACN membership
as part of the program.
The
nonmember recipient was chosen because he or
she could bring a different perspective to
the partnership, such as a different
cultural or ethnic viewpoint or another
discipline or clinical practice elsewhere
along the continuum.
In applying
for the Vision Partners scholarships, the
recipients explained how they expected to
benefit from the shared learning experience
and networking opportunities at the NTI.
Both partners also commit to continuing to
develop the relationship after they return
to their workplaces.
Recipients
of the Vision Partners scholarships for 2002
are:
AACN Member
Partner
Jean A.
Clark, RNC, MS, CCRN, ARNP Michelle E. Aube,
RN
White River
Junction, Vt. Quechee, Vt.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
John Pozar,
RN, BSN, CEN, CCRN Yolanda Burke-Dee, RN,
BSN
Winslow,
Ariz. Tuba City, Ariz.
Native
American Air Ambulance, Inc. Tuba City
Indian Medical Center
Mary Lou
Sole, RN, PhD, CCRN, FAAN Michael Tran
Winter Park,
Fla. Orlando, Fla.
University
of Central Florida Student, University of
Central Florida
School of
Nursing
Sofia
Puerto, RN, PhD, CCRN, FNP Maximina
Contreras, RN, MS
Loma Linda,
Calif. Nana, Lima, Peru
Loma Linda
VA Hospital Peru Union Hospital
and Loma
Linda University School of Nursing
Therese S.
Richmond, RN, PhD, CRNP, CS, FAAN Salimah H.
Meghani, RN
Bryn Mawr,
Pa. Philadelphia, Pa.
University
of Philadelphia School of Nursing Doctoral
Student, University of Pennsylvania
Cynthia A.
Picarsic, RN, BSN, CCRN Toya Eubank, RN
Jeannette,
Pa. Greensburg, Pa.
Monsour
Medical Center Monsour Medical Center
Karen
Gaertner, RN, MSN, CCRN Nancy J. Maher, MSW,
LSW
Philadelphia, Pa. Pittsburgh, Pa.
VA
Pittsburgh Healthcare System VA Pittsburgh
Healthcare System
Nancy D.
King, RN, CCRN, MSN,ANP Loretta Jackson
Brown, RN, MSN, CNN
Lilburn, Ga.
Lawrenceville, Ga.
Dekalb
Medical Center Dekalb Medical Center
Denise (Guaglianone)
Buonocore, RN, APRN-BC, CCRN Kathleen
Dillon, RN, BSN
Milford,
Conn. West Haven, Conn.
Bridgeport
Hospital Yale New Haven Hospital
Michelle
Murray, RN, MSN, BS Alix Bryon, RN, BS
San
Francisco, Calif. San Francisco, Calif.
California
Pacific Medical Center California Pacific
Medical Center
The
Janus View
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. For this month, board
member Jessica P. Palmer, RN, MSN,
interviewed Ann Evans, RN, MS, CNAA, FAAN, a
past president of the AACN Board of
Directors.
Ann Evans�
affiliation with AACN at the national level
began in 1981, when she was elected to the
AACN Nominating Committee. In 1985, she was
elected secretary of the AACN Board of
Directors. Her term as president was
1990-91.
Evans is
currently senior vice president of nursing
at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare,
Tallahassee, Fla., a 770-bed, private,
not-for-profit, community hospital. In
addition, she was instrumental in obtaining
the "Pursuing Perfection�Raising the Bar for
Health Care Performance� grant from the
Robert Woods Johnson Foundation for
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, which
recently was notified that it will receive
an additional $1.9 million for Phase II of
same grant.
Evans
describes herself as someone who likes going
�mach 5 with my hair on fire.� Despite her
busy career, it is not all work and no play
for Evans. In fact, she finds time for two
Mustangs, Mahogany and Smokey, who were
unbroken when she adopted them as colts.
Many weekends, she can be found competing in
25- and 30-mile endurance rides. Sometimes,
though, her weekends might include traveling
to New York to attend a Broadway play or
flying to Australia for an international
nursing conference, where she also gets to
horseback ride in the Snowy River country.
Then, in her �spare� time, she is filming a
project with a friend, Emmy Award-winning
producer Ginger Kathrens. The film is a
sequel to �Cloud�Wild Stallion of the
Rockies,� which aired earlier this year on
the PBS Nature program. Evans� Mustangs are
Cloud�s half sisters.
The
Interview
Palmer: Have
you remained active with AACN and critical
care nursing?
Evans: Yes,
I served on the CEO search committee for
AACN in 1999 and regularly attend the NTI. I
also continue to maintain my connection by
helping in the clinical areas. I have been
steadfast in refusing to give up my area of
expertise. I want my nursing practice to
reflect both administrative and clinical
expertise.
Palmer: What
comes to mind as �lessons learned� from your
experience as president of AACN?
Evans: There
are so many tremendous things you learn
whenever you are associated with AACN.
Facilitation skills, how to work with the
media and learning to understand nursing
from a more global perspective were only a
few of the lessons I learned. People often
ask why I give so much time and energy to
volunteer efforts. Yet, I actually got more
from AACN than I ever I gave. I was the
recipient of so many wonderful experiences
and learning opportunities. I have lifelong
friends and colleagues all over the world
who I met during my tenure. These are people
I might never have known had it not been for
my experience with AACN. It was an honor to
represent so many wonderful critical care
nurses and the work that we do.
Palmer: What
was the most exciting aspect of serving in
the role of president?
Evans:
Again, so many things come to mind. I had
the opportunity to travel on behalf of AACN
to Canada, Holland and Japan. The
organization was hosting and cosponsoring
international meetings then. As the AACN
representative, I gained a greater
understanding of the global perspective of
nursing. The opportunity to interact with
nurses from other countries and to try to
understand their challenges was very
exciting.
Palmer: What
was the most challenging aspect of serving
in this role?
Evans: As
president of AACN, I was also president of
AACN Certification Corporation. During that
year, we made the decision to separate the
two. They were really two separate but
similar business systems, and the board
wrestled with how to give both the attention
they deserved. That was one of my major
challenges�to work with both boards and
create the structure that exists now. The
negotiations and consensus building were
important but sometimes difficult. We
represented about 80,000 members then, and
we wanted to be sure we created the best
systems for AACN and AACN Certification
Corporation.
I also did a
lot of writing and public speaking that
year. I wrote articles or editorials for
ACCN News, Heart and Lung and Focus on
Critical Care. That meant something like 20
or 25 articles. A real challenge! It�s
amazing what you can do when, at first, you
don�t think it is humanly possible.
Palmer: How
did you find balance between your AACN
leadership activities and the rest of your
life?
Evans: I�ve
never had any balance. I�m more afraid of
being bored and boring than having balance.
I still don�t have balance. I have a short
attention span and constantly want to be
challenged professionally and personally.
I�m not sure I know what balance looks like.
Balance for me means having a full plate at
work and at home. I think that AACN
activities add so much to support your work
life.
I also had
an incredibly supportive family. I could not
have managed those years without a
supportive boss and institution at work and
incredible support at home. My son wasn�t
even one year old during my first experience
on the Nominating Committee. He traveled to
the meeting with me and had a sitter while I
worked on the committee.
Palmer: In
these unsettled times in healthcare, do you
think it is important for nurses to belong
to organizations such as AACN?
Evans: AACN
continues to be highly relevant to nurses
today. It continues to support the education
and professional development of the nurse.
Our critical care publications, orientation
materials, practice protocols and the NTI
are incredible resources for nurses. AACN
also supports and leads collaborations with
other organizations to improve healthcare.
Our leadership role with other nursing
organizations during this difficult time of
the nursing shortage is crucial to our
future success. Our association with SCCM
and ACCP helps us understand the importance
of collaborative roles with medicine. The
organization continues to evaluate systems�
impact on the nurse and offers
out-of-the-box thinking to help with work
processes. AACN Certification Corporation
continues to provide a yardstick to measure
knowledge and promote certification of
nurses as a standard of safe practice.
I believe I
will be associated with AACN for the
remainder of my career and longer. I have so
many fabulous memories and personal
associations from my experiences. I can�t
imagine not being involved with AACN in some
way.
Past AACN President Ann
Evans
finds time in her busy schedule to
enjoy a ride with Mahogany, one of
her two Mustangs.
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.
Li 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 mTeam 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 acute or critically ill patients
and families. Recipients address how they
promote an environment of professional
involvement, development and accountability;
collaborative problem solving; empowerment;
leadership to transform thinking; structures
and processes to address opportunities and
challenges; and communication, as well as
how they serve as a catalyst for successful
change. Recipients are provided
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for the NTI.
Media
Award
This award
recognizes print, broadcast and Web-based
media excellence in the portrayal of
healthcare providers, especially acute and
critical care nurses contributing to a
healthcare system driven by the needs of
patients and families. Successful entries
present relevant nursing and healthcare
topics to large audiences of consumers,
including the general public, patients and
families. Accuracy, realism and technical
qualities are important factors in the
selection of entries.
AACN members
and chapters, as well as editors,
publishers, producers, marketing and public
relations specialists, universities and
institutional communications departments are
eligible to apply. Entries must have been
published or broadcast between Nov. 1 of the
previous year and the time of submission.
Entries must include documentation verifying
the publication/broadcast and size of
audience.
A
personalized plaque is presented to winning
entries. Awards are announced in AACN
publications and at the NTI. The deadline to
submit Media Award materials is Nov. 1,
2002.
AACN
Distinguished Research Lecturer Award
This award
honors a nationally known researcher, who
presents the annual Distinguished Research
Lecture at the NTI. The lecturer receives an
honorarium of $1,000, as well as $1,000
toward NTI expenses.
AACN
Excellence in Research Award
This award
recognizes nurse researchers who are
furthering the mission, vision and research
priorities of AACN through their research.
Successful applicants will describe their
studies and how the results will influence
the practice of critical care nursing,
specifically its impact on patients and
families. Research projects must have been
completed within the year that the
application is submitted. Recipients of AACN
research grants or NTI research abstract
award recipients are not eligible for this
award. Recipients receive complimentary
registration, airfare and hotel
accommodations for the N
Link
to the Latest Product News
Are you
looking for the latest products? Do you have
questions to ask a specific manufacturer?
Visit the �Industry Link & Product News�
area of the AACN Web site . l find brief
company descriptions and information on
specific products, as well as a direct link
to industry Web sites.
For more
information about how a company can be
included in this area, contact Kathy Huntley
at (800) 257-8290, ext. 249; e-mail,
khuntley@slackinc.com.
Public
Policy Update
Issue:
Shortage Solutions
Background:
The American Hospital Association�s
Commission on Workforce for Hospitals and
Health Systems recently provided hospital
leaders strategies for how they can help
reverse the nation�s deepening shortage of
healthcare professionals and develop a
thriving workforce. The report addresses
challenges in five key areas: fostering
meaningful work, improving workplace
partnerships, broadening the healthcare
worker base, working with others and
building societal support. �Building a
qualified and dedicated workforce is the No.
1 challenge facing hospitals� leaders,� said
Gary Mecklenburg, commission chairman and
immediate past AHA chairman. �Our success
really depends on cooperation between
hospital leaders and workers, policymakers,
business and others. Hospital leaders can be
the impetus for positive change in the
workplace and for building a strong
workforce.� The report, titled �In Our
Hands: How Hospital Leaders Can Build a
Thriving Workforce,� provides tactics for
carrying out the strategies and examples of
hospitals already implementing them.
Researchers
at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill have received a $2.5 million
grant from the National Institute of Nursing
Research to study nurse staffing and its
contribution to healthcare quality and
patient safety at 160 U.S. hospitals. The
goal is to better understand how nurses
contribute to patient care quality in light
of the growing nursing shortage, said
Barbara Mark, a nursing professor who will
conduct the study. Medication errors,
patient falls, nursing staff turnover and
patient satisfaction are among the subjects
that the five-year study will investigate.
The team will collect information on patient
experiences and examine how nursing staff
are organized to care for patients, how
registered nurses feel about their jobs,
decision-making responsibilities and
relationships with physicians and others
involved in patient care.
Issue:
Job Satisfaction
Background:
Most registered nurses remain satisfied in
their jobs and would recommend the
profession as a career choice, but say an
improved working environment would help to
resolve the growing nurse shortage,
according to a new survey by Harris
Interactive for NurseWeek magazine and the
American Hospital Association�s American
Organization of Nurse Executives. The survey
queried a nationally representative sample
of RNs about their perceptions of the nurse
shortage, their work environments and career
plans. Roughly 77% of the nurses indicated
they were satisfied in their current
position, with just 21% saying they planned
to change professions. However, the nurses
also reported increased patient loads and
overtime in the past year. They suggested RN
stress could be reduced by giving nurses
more say in workplace decisions, more
opportunities for professional development,
more recognition, and a safer and more
accommodating workplace.
Issue:
Loan Repayment
Status:
Approximately $10.2 million was appropriated
for HRSA�s Nursing Education Loan Repayment
Program for FY02, reflecting an increase of
about $8 million over the last two years.
The program offers registered nurses
assistance to repay educational loans in
exchange for service in eligible facilities
located in areas experiencing a shortage of
nurses. Authorized by amended Section 846 of
the Public Health Service Act, the purpose
of the program is to assist in the
recruitment and retention of professional
nurses dedicated to providing healthcare to
underserved populations.
All Nursing
Education Loan Repayment Program
participants must agree to provide full-time
employment in an approved eligible health
facility for two to three years. In return,
60% of the participant�s total qualifying
loan balance will be paid for a two-year
commitment or 85% for a three-year
commitment.
Issue:
Health Privacy
Status: The
Department of Health and Human Services
recently unveiled changes to health privacy
regulations �to ensure strong privacy
protections while correcting unintended
consequences that threatened patients�
access to quality care.� The revisions
remove consent requirements hindering access
to care; address concerns that protections
would impede routine conversations between
doctors, patients, and nurses; ensure
appropriate parental access to their
children�s records; and bar use of records
for marketing, while allowing �appropriate
communications,� HHS said. Most facilities
have until April 14, 2003, to comply with
the patient privacy rule.
HHS proposed
federal privacy standards in 1999 and, after
reviewing and considering more than 52,000
public comments, published final standards
in December 2000. In March 2001, HHS
received more than 11,000 comments after HHS
Secretary Tommy Thompson requested
additional public input on the rule. Those
comments and other public input were used to
develop the proposed changes, which were
published in the Federal Register in March.
HHS will consider public comments on the
proposed changes before issuing a final
rule. To help people prepare for and meet
the rule�s requirements, HHS�s Office for
Civil Rights will conduct outreach and
education for healthcare providers,
consumers and others affected by the privacy
regulation.
AACN�s
Position: AACN is committed to protecting
the confidentiality of individually
identifiable information used to provide
healthcare services and supports the
establishment of federal standards providing
nationally uniform confidentiality
protections. We advocate for standards that
promote appropriate use of patient
information used for treatment, research,
healthcare operations and payment of claims.
AACN is in the process of reviewing the
proposed changes before commenting.
Issue:
New Leadership
Background:
Richard Carmona, MD, was nominated by the
White House to become the next U.S. surgeon
general. A Green Beret medic in Vietnam,
Carmona is a trauma surgeon in Tucson,
Ariz., and a professor of surgery, public
health and family and community medicine at
the University of Arizona.
HHS
Secretary Thompson lauded Carmona as a
physician qualified to provide strong
leadership against bioterrorism. �As a
medical school professor at the University
of Arizona, he was responsible for
developing and implementing the weapons of
mass destruction, anti-terrorism,
preparedness and consequences management for
the university and the community at large.
He knows the challenges that not only our
nation faces in preparing for bioterrorism
but that our communities face.�
Also
nominated was Elias Zerhouni, MD, to head
the National Institutes of Health. Zerhouni
came to the U.S. from Algeria 27 years ago.
After earning his medical degree from the
University of Algiers in 1975, Zerhouni went
on to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore,
Md., where he became a professor at the
School of Medicine, then head of the
radiology department, and then executive
vice dean in 1996.
Thompson
said has a clear understanding of the
relationship between science, academia, and
industry that will serve NIH and its
institutes well. It does not appear that
Zerhouni will oppose President Bush on the
issue of embryonic stem cell funding and
therapeutic cloning, a stance that puts
Zerhouni out of step with a number of
leading scientists.
Issue:
Palliative Care
Status: The
Center to Advance Palliative Care has
released a new report focusing on regulatory
and administrative changes that could be
made by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services to improve the delivery of
palliative care services. Titled �Palliative
Care: An Opportunity for Medicare,� the
report emphasizes low-cost solutions that
would lead to improvements in Medicare
reimbursement for palliative care services.
AACN�s
Position: AACN supports efforts to improve
the delivery and increase the availability
of quality palliative care services in
hospitals and other healthcare settings for
people with life-threatening illnesses,
their families and caregivers. AACN is a
partner in the Last Acts Coalition, a
national effort to raise awareness of the
need to improve care of the dying and share
issues and ideas at the national, state and
local level and is participating in the
Nursing Leadership Academy on End-of-Life
Care to develop practice protocols for
end-of-life care.
Issue:
Foreign Nurses
Background:
The International Council of Nurses has
issued a position statement that presents
principles to guide the ethical recruitment
of nurses worldwide. The current situation,
characterized by an increasing demand and a
decreasing supply of nurses, results in
heightened competition for the nursing human
resources available, both within and among
countries. As a short-term strategy,
countries or healthcare facilities have
regarded international migration as a
possible solution.
�We
recognize the right of individual nurses to
migrate for both professional development
and economic reasons,� said Christine
Hancock, ICN president. �However, ICN
denounces unethical recruitment practices
that exploit nurses or mislead them into
accepting job responsibilities and working
conditions that are incompatible with their
qualifications, skills and experience.�
In the
statement, ICN condemns the recruitment of
nurses to countries where authorities have
failed to implement sound human resource
planning or to seriously address problems
that cause nurses to leave the profession
and discourage them from returning to
nursing. The council acknowledged the
adverse effect that international migration
may have on healthcare quality in countries
seriously depleted of their nursing
workforce.
Issue:
Pain Policies
Status: The
Pain and Policy Studies Group recently
released its annual review of new state pain
policies that were adopted in 2001.
According to the report, a total of six new
policies were adopted in five different
states: Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee
and West Virginia. The new policies included
an Intractable Pain Treatment Act, three
sets of medical board guidelines, a pharmacy
board policy statement and a joint policy
statement from four boards emphasizing the
need for interdisciplinary collaboration on
end-of-life care.
Issue:
Pain and End-of-Life Legislation
Maryland�Two
measures addressing pain management and
end-of-life care recently passed the General
Assembly of the Maryland State Legislature.
The first bill (H.B. 423), introduced by
Democrat Delegate Joan Pitkin, would require
healthcare facilities to monitor pain as a
vital sign in patients, develop pain
management training programs and include the
right to have pain assessed and managed as
part of the state patients bill of rights. A
second bill (H.B. 1141), sponsored by
Democrat Delegate Barbara Frush, would
create a state advisory council on quality
care at the end of life. Both measures
passed by wide margins in the General
Assembly and have been referred to the
Senate Committee on Education, Health, and
Environmental Affairs.
Ohio�In
March, the Ohio General Assembly�s Committee
on Human Resources received a measure that
would prohibit physician-assisted suicide in
the state and establish the Compassionate
Care Task Force. The task force will issue
recommendations on the treatment and care of
persons with terminal illness or severe
chronic pain. The bill (H.B. 474) was
introduced by Republican Rep. Merle Kearns.
Hawaii�In
early March, the Hawaii House of
Representatives passed two measures (H.B.
2491 and H.B. 2487) to give terminally ill,
competent adults the ability to obtain
prescriptions for medications to end their
lives. The legislation was referred to the
Senate Health Committee, where Chairman
David Matsuura, a Democrat, prevented it
from moving out of the committee by a
mandated deadline, effectively blocking
further consideration this session. Matsuura
has said he wants to focus on ways to
encourage death with comfort and without
pain. Hawaii�s Democrat governor, Ben
Cayetano, supports the House-passed measures
and had publicly asked Matsuura to allow for
a vote in the Senate.
Issue:
CRNA Supervision
Background:
Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns (R) has announced
that certified registered nurse anesthetists
in his state would be able to administer
anesthesia to Medicare and Medicaid
beneficiaries without physician supervision.
Nebraska is the second state to use the
governor�s �opt-out� provision in the CMS
rule, which requires CRNAs to be
physician-supervised. Iowa Gov. Thomas
Vilsack (D) opted out in December 2001.
Johanns said that CRNAs �are the sole staff
for administration of anesthetics in 69 of
85 hospitals� in his state. Before
announcing the ruling, Johanns consulted
with Nebraska�s board of medicine and
nursing, determining that the change would
be in the best interest of the citizens of
his state.
AACN�s
Position: AACN supports the �opt-out�
provision, because it will help to ensure
access to safe, high-quality anesthesia
care, particularly in rural and inner-city
hospitals where CRNAs are often the sole
anesthesia providers.
Issue:
Mandatory Overtime
Minnesota�Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura has
signed into law a bill that limits mandatory
overtime for nurses. S.F. 2463 allows
registered nurses and licensed practical
nurses to refuse to work more than 12 hours
in a shift unless needed to maintain
continuity of care and patient safety. It
also requires the state Board of Nursing to
recognize nursing licenses issued from
bordering states as valid for practicing in
Minnesota, a provision aimed at relieving
the state�s nursing shortage. The Minnesota
Hospital and Healthcare Partnership
supported the union-backed measure after
provisions were added to ensure that no
patient was ever left without care, an MHHP
spokesperson said.
Washington�Washington Gov. Gary Locke has
signed into law SB 6675, a bill that
prohibits mandatory overtime and protects
nurses from dismissal and discipline when
refusing overtime work. Washington is the
fourth state to pass legislation on
mandatory overtime.
The measure,
in part:
� Prohibits
healthcare facilities from requiring an
employee who provides direct patient care or
clinical services to work overtime in excess
of an agreed upon, predetermined, regularly
scheduled shift not to exceed 12 hours in a
24-hour period or 80 hours in a 14-day
period.
� Provides
protection to nurses who refuse overtime by
prohibiting employers from using the refusal
as grounds for discrimination, dismissal,
discharge, threat of report for discipline
or any other penalty.
� Includes
an exception in the case of any unforeseen
declared emergencies when a healthcare
facility�s disaster plan is activated or any
other disaster or catastrophic event that
increases the need for healthcare services.
� Includes
an exception for when the employer has
exercised reasonable efforts in finding
volunteers or temporary staff to work
overtime. This does not apply in addressing
chronic staff shortages.
AACN
Position: AACN believes that mandatory
overtime is not an acceptable way to meet
staffing needs. Mandatory overtime is
neither an accepted practice in the nursing
community nor a �standard� of the industry,
and nurses should not be forced into working
beyond their capacity to provide optimal
care.
Issue:
Staffing Ratios
Members of
the Massachusetts Nurses Association
recently urged lawmakers to support a bill
mandating nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.
HB 1186 would establish staffing ratios for
all healthcare settings, similar to mandated
staffing ratios in California. Rep.
Christine Canavan, RN, and Sen. Robert
Creedon, cochairs of the state�s legislative
nursing commission, introduced the measure
in January. MNA says the bill would create a
commission to work with the state Department
of Public Health to develop the ratios
within one year. It also would create
specialty nursing positions that would
evaluate nurse staffing in relation to
medical errors and patient outcomes.
Facilities would be required to provide
patients or families with a toll-free number
for reporting potential violations of
staffing plans to DPH for investigation.
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
ratio.
For more
information about these and other issues,
visit the AACN Web site.
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 March
2002 issue of RN magazine featured an �AACN
Update,� including excerpts from a column by
AACN President Michael Williams, RN, MSN,
CCRN, and information on NTI speakers, AACN
membership categories and the upcoming AACN
Study Tour to Europe.
� The Feb.
11, 2002, issue of Legislative Network for
Nurses included an article on how AACN and
its partners are addressing the workforce
shortage and its strain on ICUs. AACN, the
Society of Critical Care Medicine, the
American Thoracic Society and the American
College of Chest Physicians have jointly
written �The Critical Care Workforce
Partnership Position Statement: The Aging of
the U.S. Population and Increased Need for
Critical Care Services.�
Our Voice
at the Table
� In
February 2002, CEO Wanda Johanson, RN, MN,
attended the steering committee meeting for
the Call to the Profession in Washington,
D.C. The committee addressed nursing�s
strategic plan to address staffing issues
and nursing shortages. It also reviewed the
action plans that nursing organizations
submitted, and developed ideas to publicize
Nursing�s Agenda for the Future. As a
co-champion of the nursing/professional
culture area of the strategic plan, AACN
will conduct regular conference calls with
organizations that have plans in this area
to check their progress and facilitate
future efforts.
� In March
2002, Johanson attended the second meeting
of the Nursing Leadership Academy for
End-of-Life Care, in Baltimore, Md. The
meeting was a follow-up to a meeting a year
ago, when representatives from 23 nursing
organizations developed plans for
integrating EOL care content into the fabric
of their organizations. At this second
meeting, the group shared their
accomplishments to date and discussed
strategies to sustain the momentum.
� Debra
Byram, RN, MSN, a nurse consultant with the
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Md., and a former AACN board member,
represented AACN at the American College of
Chest Physicians� 9th annual Capitol Hill
Caucus, in April 2002 in Washington, D.C.
The caucus discussed various areas of
concern, including FDA control over tobacco;
Medicare reform and physician reimbursement;
and medical team workforce issues.
� President
Williams was the keynote speaker at the
Greater Rochester (N.Y.) Chapter of AACN�s
Linkages symposium in March 2002. His speech
was titled �Celebrating Nursing�s Greatness
Today and Every Day.� Williams also was the
closing speaker, speaking on �Chronicity:
Changing the Face of Health Care.�
� AACN
President-elect Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCNS,
CCRN, gave the keynote speech, titled
�Nursing in La Vida Loca,� at the Greater
Tulsa Area Chapter�s 28th annual Critical
Care Symposium on March 1, 2002. On March 8,
she also spoke about �Nursing in La Vida
Loca� to the Central Ohio Chapter at its
13th annual Heart to Mind Talk: Making the
Neuro-Cardiac Connection. Barden also
delivered the keynote address at the
Chesapeake Bay Chapter meeting on March 13
and spoke on �Pacers and ICDs� at the Miami
Teaching Institute on March 22.
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.
On the
Road
AACN frequently takes
its show on the road, as representatives of
the AACN National Office exhibit at
conferences throughout the country.
Following is the schedule of upcoming
exhibits:
June 18-23,
2002� American Association of Nurse
Practitioners, Reno, Nev.
July 23-28,
2002� National Conference of State
Legislatures, Denver, Colo.
July 25-28,
200� National Nursing Staff Development
Organization , ndianapolis, Ind.
Sept. 18-22,
2002� Emergency Nurses Association, New
Orleans, La.
If you are
attending these conferences, stop by the
AACN exhibit to visit with your National
Office team.
Coming
in the June Issue of Critical Care Nurse
� Assessing
Tissue Oxygenation
� Reteplase:
Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Therapy for
Peripheral Vascular Occlusions
� Capping
Arterial Sheaths in Patients Undergoing
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
� Prone
Positioning of Trauma Patients With ARDS and
Open Abdominal Incisions
� Telemetry
to Home: Successful Discharge of Patients
With VADs
Subscriptions to Critical Care Nurse and the
American Journal of Critical Care are
included in AACN membership dues.
Looking Ahead
May 2002
May 1-31
National Critical Care Awareness and
Recognition Month. To obtain a catalog, call
(800) 899-2226. Request Item #0001. For more
information or to order, visit
http://www.imprintmall.com/criticalcare
online or call (800) 822-1923.
May 6
National Nurses Day.
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. Forms can be obtained by calling
(800) 394-5995, ext. 307, or via the AACN
Web site.
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.
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 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 or is
available from Fax on Demand at (800)
2226-329 (Document #1013).
July 1
Deadline to apply for Medtronics Physio-Control
AACN Small Projects Grant. The grants
application book can be downloaded from the
AACN Web site 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. The
grants application book can be downloaded
from the AACN Web site or is available from
Fax on Demand at (800) 2226-329 (Document
#1013) |
