Membership Campaign Nears 1,000 Mark Top
Recruiters Receive Valuable Rewards
From one
coast to the other and at points in between,
AACN�s Critical Links membership recruitment
campaign continues to pick up steam. In
fact, a total of 301 new members were
recruited during August, bringing the total
since the campaign began May 1 to 922 new
members.
Recruitment
is being carried on by both individuals and
chapters, all eligible for valuable rewards.
And, just four months into the campaign, the
competition is mounting.
Kathleen M.
Richuso, RN, MSN, of Chapel Hill, N.C.,
soared into the lead in August by recruiting
10 more new members, bringing her cumulative
total to 20. Close behind were Caroline Axt,
RN, MS, of Oakland, Calif., and Beverly C.
Maloney, RN, CNS, MSN, AA, of Bay Village,
Ohio. Axt came out of the chute in August
with her 16 new members. Maloney�s 15 new
members led the campaign from the previous
month.
Victoria L.
Robinson, RN, BSN, CCRN, of Tyler, Texas,
and Kathryn A. Steinke, RNC, MS, of
Moorhead, Minn., both jumped into the
campaign in August to add 13 new members
each to the roster, and Elaine B. Boseman,
RNC, CCRN, CLNC, of Williamsburg, Va., added
12.
Chapters
were also jockeying for position, though the
Greater Miami Area Chapter continued to lead
the pack with 25 new members recruited. The
Peninsula Chapter in the Williamsburg, Va.,
area and the Triangle Chapter in the Durham,
N.C., area both added substantial numbers to
their recruitment coffers to move ahead of
the Lake Erie Chapter in the Cleveland,
Ohio, area. The Peninsula Chapter had
recruited a total of
20 new
members as of August; the Triangle Chapter
had recruited a total of 19; and the Lake
Erie Chapter had recruited a total of 18.
Among the other chapters that had moved into
high gear was the Greater East Texas
Chapter, which recruited 13 new members in
August.
The
individual recruiting the most new members
by the time the campaign ends April 30 will
receive a $500 American Express gift
certificate. The chapters reporting the
largest increase in membership numbers or
the largest percentage increase will receive
a $250 gift certificate toward the purchase
of AACN resources.
Following
are some of the other rewards that await
Critical Links member recruiters:
Individual Rewards
All
individual campaign participants receive an
AACN pocket reference when
they recruit
their first new member. After that,
individual recruiters receive $25 gift
certificates toward the purchase of AACN
resources when they recruit five new members
and $50 AACN gift certificates when they
recruit 10 new members. Each month, members
who have recruited at least one new member
during the month are also entered into a
monthly drawing for a $100 American Express
gift certificate.
The
individual winner in the monthly drawing for
August was Sharon McSorley, RN, BSN.
All the
recruiters need to do is make certain that
their name and AACN member number are
included on the new members� application
forms.
In addition
to the $500 American Express gift
certificate, the top individual recruiter is
eligible for the first-, second- and
third-place prize drawings for (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.; and (3rd prize)
four-day, three-night hotel accommodations
at a Marriott Hotel.
Chapter
Rewards
In addition
to the $250 gift certificate, 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.
The North
Central Florida Chapter won the
complimentary NTI 2003 registration in the
drawing for August.
Who
Recruited New Members During August?
Following
are the individuals who recruited new AACN
members during August in AACN�s Critical
Links campaign:
Caroline Axt, RN, MS
M.
Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Lydia C. Bautista, RN, BSN, CCRN
Michael F. Beshel, RN, BSN, CCRN,
CEN
Philicia J. Bianco, RN
Elaine B. Boseman, RN-C, CCRN, CLNC
Shirley A. Bratrud, RN, MSN, EdD,
CCRN
Marylee R. Bressie, RN, CNS, MSN,
CCRN,
CEN
Frances E. Brown, RN, MSNc, CCRN
Rheta S. Campbell, RN, BSN, CCRN
Daniel Carman, RN, ADN, CCRN
Jesus M. Casida, RN, CNS, MS, CCRN
L.
Renea Dellinger, RN, ADN, AA
Karen A. Doran, RN, MSN, CCNS
Linda S. Dune, RN, MSN, PhD, CCRN,
CEN
Margaret M. Ecklund, RN, MS, CCRN,
CS, APRN
Marie A. Eidam, RN, MS
Vincent Roberto J. Encarnacion, RN,
BSN
Don
Everly, RNC, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, CS,
CEN |
Kevin R. George, RN, BSN, MBA, CCRN,
CEN
Lisa
Gingerich, RN, BSN, BS
Lissa Anne Harrison, RN, MSN, BA,
CCRN
Eileen Hellwig Stoll, RN, MSN, CCRN
Joni
S. Herman, RN
Carol M. Hinkle, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN
Rebecca J. Hultgren, RN, BSN
Ginnie Ingram, RN
John
H. Jeffries, RN, BSN, CCRN
Louisa K. Kamatuka, RN, MSN, CCRN,
CS
Kathy J. Keefover, RN, DNS
Beryl E. Keegan, RN, BSN, CCRN
Elaine Corbett Killough, RN, MSN,
BA, CCRN
Paul
T. Ladwig, BSN, EMT-P
Mary
A. Lake, RN, BSN, CCRN
Eunice F. Lasala, RN, MS, MSN, CCRN
Geneva D. Llewellyn, RN, CNS, MSN,
CCRN
Julia A. MacMillan, RN, BSN
Lyndy May Malaluan, RN, BS, BSN,
CCRN
Jason A. Martin, RN, CCRN
Elaine D. Mayo, RN, MSN
Julie A. McCorkle, RN, BSN, MS, ACNP
Paz
Z. McDonald, RN, ADN, AA, CCRN
Sharon McSorley, RN, BSN |
Marla A. Meaux, RN, CCRN
Sandra Mejia, RN
Alice B. Moulton, RN
Bettina S. Moxley, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
Paulita D. Narag, RN, ADN, CCRN
Amy
S. Nash, RN, BSN, CCRN
Wendi Nopper, RN
Mariben L. Obispo, RN, ADN
Ann
M. Peterson, RN, MS, CCRN
Myra
K. Porthouse, RN, ADN, CCRN, TNS
Pete
Procci
Carol A. Puz, RN, BSN, CCRN
Victoria A. Ramik, RN, MS, CCRN, CS,
APRN
Jennifer L. Randolph
Celeste B. Richards, RN, MS, CCRN
Kathleen M. Richuso, RN, MSN
Margaret Riley, RN, BSN, CCRN
Susan M. Roberti, RN
Victoria L. Robinson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kelly K. Rooker, RN, ADN, CCRN
Donna B. Sabash, RN, BSN, CCRN
Marlene A. Schoettle, RN, MSN, CCRN
Quanda M. Singleton, RN, ADN, BSN
Gregory L. Smith, RN, ADN, AA, CCRN |
Lynn
Smith Schnautz, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
Janis Smith-Love, RN, MSN, CCRN,
ACNP,
ARNP,
CEN
Nan
Spawr-Seaton, RN, BSN, CCRN
Kathryn A. Steinke, RNC, MS
Michelle Stelzig, RN, BSN, BS
Mary
Stephens, RN, MSN, CS
Theresa Stevens, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
Mary
C. Stewart, RN, BSN, MBA, MHA, CCRN
Doris J. Strother, RN, MSN, CRNP
Nancy Tankel, RN, MN
Patricia M. Tanzi, RN
Lydia B. Tesoro, RN
Patricia M. Tgibedes, RN, MSN, CCRN
Renee Twibell, RN, DSN
Linda J. Vivian, RN, BS, BSN
Sandra J. Wakai, RN, BSN, CCRN
Naomi R. Watson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Cynthia M. Williamson, RN, ADN, CCRN
Elizabeth A. Willis, RN, CCRN
Georgeanna L. Wilson, RN, BSN, CCRN
Margaret S. Wood, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
Mary
Jane Zellinger, RN, MN, MS, CCRN, NP
Pam
Zinnecker, RN, CCRN |
Who Is
Leading the Campaign?
Following
are the individuals who have recruited five
or more new members since the campaign began
May 1:
15-20 New Members
Kathleen M. Richuso, RN, MSN 20
Caroline Axt, RN, MS 16
Beverly C. Maloney, RN, CNS, MSN, AA
15
10-15 New Members
Cynthia A. Phelps, RN, BSN, CCRN 13
Victoria L. Robinson, RN, BSN, CCRN
13
Kathryn A. Steinke, RNC, MS 13
Elaine B. Boseman, RNC, CCRN, CLNC
12
Paulita D. Narag, RN, ADN, CCRN 12
Diane M. Casperson, RN, BSN, CCRN 12
Pam
Zinnecker, RN, CCRN 11
Lauretta M. Joseph, RN, MSN, CCRN,
NP 11
Donna B. Sabash, RN, BSN, CCRN 11
Yvonne Thelwell, RN 11
Michael F. Beshel, RN, BSN, CCRN,
CEN 10 |
5-10
New Members
Anne
M. Klahre, RN, BS, BSN 9
Nancy D. King, RN, MSN, CCRN, ANP,
NP 8
Susan M. Roberti, RN 8
Sharon McSorley, RN, BSN 8
Pauline J. McNeece, RN, MSN, CCRN 7
Joni
S. Herman, RN 7
Erin
Irene Hutchison, RN 7
Carol M. Hinkle, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN 6
Theresa Stevens, RN, MS, CCRN, CCNS
6
Denise Marie Buonocore, RN, MSN,
CCRN , CS,
ACNP, APRN 6
Dorothea S. Murphy, RN, CCRN, CNRN 6
Lindsey Shank, RN, BSN, CCRN 6
Patricia E. Casey, RN, MSN, MS 5
Geneva D. Llewellyn, RN, CNS, MSN,
CCRN 5
Jacqueline J. Johnson, RN, MA 5
Joan
F. Baker, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN 5
Lynn
Smith Schnautz, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS
5
Sandra Mejia, RN 5
Wendi Nopper, RN 5 |
Which
Chapters Have Recruited New Members?
Following
are the cumulative totals for chapters that
have recruited new AACN members since the
Critical Links campaign began May 1:
Greater Miami Area Chapter 25
Peninsula Chapter 20
Triangle Chapter 19
Lake
Erie Chapter 18
Greater East Texas Chapter 15
Brooklyn Chapter 11
Montana Big Sky Chapter 11
Greater Birmingham Chapter 10
Atlanta Area Chapter 9
Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter 9
Broward County Chapter 7 |
Greater Washington Area Chapter 7
Central Pennsylvania Chapter 6
Greater Evansville Chapter 6
Mobile Bay Area Chapter 6
Southern Maine Chapter 6
Northwest Georgia Chapter 5
Rochester Chapter 5
Tennessee Valley Chapter 5
Heart of the Piedmont Chapter 2
South Central Connecticut Chapter 2
Chesapeake Bay Chapter 1
Denver Chapter 1
Dallas County Chapter 1
Emerald Coast Chapter 1
Greater Birmingham Chapter 1 |
Indiana Hoosier South Central
Chapter 1
Jacksonville Chapter 1
Lake
Superior Chapter 1
Los
Angeles Chapter 1
North Central Florida Chapter 1
Piedmont Carolinas Chapter 1
San
Antonio Chapter 1
San
Francisco Chapter 1
Southeast Missouri Chapter 1
Three Rivers Chapter 1
West
Michigan Chapter 1
West
Texas Chapter 1
White River Chapter 1 |
Influence Practice Through Self-Awareness
Practical
Approach Uses 4-Step Process
By
Stephanie Calcasola, RN, MSN
Leadership Development Work Group
After
identifying dialogue, navigating change,
managing conflict and self-awareness as the
skills nurses need to influence and lead
clinical practice, the Leadership
Development Work Group wanted to offer
practical methods for incorporating these
skills into practice.
This article
uses a case study involving family presence
during resuscitation to illustrate how
integrating self-awareness as a foundational
skill for clinical decision making can help
put the needs of critically ill patients and
families first.
Ultimately,
becoming more self-aware supports your
patient advocacy role. It also provides you
the opportunity to reflect and begin to
understand differing or opposing views. As a
result, not only your nursing practice will
grow, but so will you.
The
Scenario
You are
caring for an 80-year-old man who, a few
hours after aortic valve replacement
surgery, becomes unstable. The surgeon is
with you at the bedside. You receive a call
from the unit secretary that the patient�s
spouse is waiting and wants to see him. This
is the second time she has called within the
last half hour. You have been working in
critical care for about a year, but have not
had an experience with families being
present when a patient is �crashing.�
Although you have read about the
intervention and support it, you feel
nervous and anxious. The surgeon responds to
your suggestion that the spouse be allowed
to enter by saying, �Absolutely not! The
patient is the important one here.� You know
that your approach to families in crisis is
generally calming. What do you do? Here�s
how the four-step process would work:
Step 1:
Evaluate Your Feelings
You realize
you are nervous and anxious about having the
spouse in the room. You are also aware that
the patient is not doing well and is rapidly
becoming more unstable. You believe the
patient may not recover from this insult.
You realize the patient may die without the
opportunity to see his spouse again.
Step 2:
Seek and Interpret Feedback From Others
The surgeon
is definitely opposed to having any family
in the room. The patient�s spouse is
demanding to see her husband. You have
received feedback in the past that your
style is calming to families in distress.
Step 3:
Incorporate the Information Into a Decision
You
recognize that you are uncomfortable with
the spouse in the room and that, though the
surgeon is adamantly opposed to the idea,
the wife is insistent on seeing her husband.
You decide to invite the wife into the room.
Aware of the conflict with the surgeon, you
decide you can work it out afterward. You
tell the surgeon that you are letting the
wife in and that you have the situation
under control. At least you hope you will.
Step 4:
Evaluate the Outcome
The wife was
with the patient when he died. You were able
to help her say �good-bye.� A few weeks
later, the wife sent a note to your nurse
manager to thank the team for doing
everything possible to save her husband. Her
note was a validation that you had done the
right thing for this patient and family. As
you evaluate the outcome of your decision,
you realize that having family in the room
with a crashing patient will never be easy
or routine. You also recognize that feeling
anxious and nervous about a new situation is
common. Regardless of how experienced you
are, you are bound to face new or stressful
situations that require immediate
self-assessment and action.
Self-awareness is a dynamic process. By
challenging yourself to continually evaluate
who you are, how you feel and how others
feel will ultimately positively influence
you personally and professionally.
How to
Become More Self-Aware
Becoming
more self-aware is a four-step process that
models the nursing process of assessing,
collecting data, and formulating,
implementing and evaluating a plan. As part
of the evolution of self-discovery,
self-awareness is a lifelong journey that
has no end points.
Step 1 Come
to terms with how you feel regarding a
situation or problem. This is your
self-evaluation. Once you understand your
point of view, which is influenced by
emotions, values
and experiences, you can move on to step 2.
Step 2 Seek
and interpret feedback from others. Learning
how to receive input and exposing yourself
to evaluation by others can be
uncomfortable. The process involves being
open to
, suggestions and understanding differing
points of view. During this stage, take a
deep breath, relax and realize that in the
end your clinical practice will be
positively influenced.
Step 3
Incorporate information from your
self-evaluation and the feedback of others.
Informed decision making can be attained at
this stage. Recognize that getting everyone
to agree on a
decision or result is not the intended goal.
Even if consensus is not achieved, you will
gain an appreciation for differing points of
view, a crucial step in the process of
learning how
to be more self-aware.
Step 4
Evaluate. Evaluation will lead you back to
Step 1 and self-assessment. Evaluation
should be a continuous process because how
you influence practice today may not be how
you
, influence practice in the future. As you
become more self-aware, your practice will
change to reflect your growth on the
learning continuum of self-awareness.
Sepsis
Education Program Now Available: Eli Lilly
Grant Underwrites Purchase Fee for CD-ROM
Identification and Management of the Patient
with Severe Sepsis,� AACN�s national sepsis
education program for nurses, is now
available in a self-paced CD-ROM format.
Funded by an unrestricted educational grant
from Eli Lilly and Company, this program is
sponsored by AACN and is accredited for 5.0
contact hours of CE credit for single users.
Narrated by
clinical expert Barbara McLean, RN, MN, CCRN,
CCNS-NP, FCCM, the new program offers
clinicians a comprehensive view of the
latest information on the diagnosis and care
of patients with severe sepsis.
The
170-page, audio/slide CD-ROM study guide
includes: pathophysiology of severe sepsis;
identification of acute organ system
dysfunction; antibiotics, source control and
monitoring in severe sepsis including
investigational and new approved therapies;
hemodynamic, ventilatory, renal and other
aspects of care; and nursing care of
patients with severe sepsis. Case studies
are also included in the presentation.
To order
this cutting-edge learning program for only
the $7.50 shipping and handling fee, call
(800) 899-2226 and request Item #004060.
Quantities are limited.
Core
Curriculum Instructor�s Manual Is a Valuable
Tool
The
Instructor�s Resource Manual for the AACN
Core Curriculum for Critical Care, 5th
edition, is now available through AACN.
Written by
JoAnn Grif Alspach, RN, MSN, EdD, FAAN, this
valuable teaching tool offers a
comprehensive overview of critical care
nursing. It can be used in a variety of
ways, including for orientation, ongoing
training, specialized courses and CCRN exam
review. The comprehensive package includes
the teaching manual, handouts, LectureView
CD-ROM and slides or transparencies.
To order,
call (800) 899-2226 or visit the AACN online
Bookstore at
http://www.aacn.org
> Bookstore. Order Item #128805 for the
slide package or item #128815 for the
transparency package. The price for either
package is $805 ($850 for nonmembers).
In the
Circle: Award Recognizes Excellence in
Education
The
following are excerpts from exemplars
submitted in connection with the 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. The recipients were provided
complimentary registration, airfare and
hotel accommodations for NTI 2002
Jenny
Hamner, RN, DSN, CCRN
Roanoke,
Ala.
Auburn
University School of Nursing
As an
academic discipline and practice profession,
nursing is concerned with all of the
variables that influence human health. As a
nurse educator, I believe my greatest
responsibility is to provide students with
classroom and clinical opportunities that
promote creativity, critical thinking and
independent decision making.
One of the
most challenging experiences of my 16-year
career has been serving as a course leader
of a required, senior-level critical care
nursing course, where students apply
advanced critical care concepts to the care
of individuals experiencing complex
multisystem health alterations. Recognizing
the anxiety that caring for this patient
population can cause, I structure the course
to encourage students to master these
concepts through the use of interactive
video programs and case studies.
I have also
had the opportunity to engage in research as
a nurse educator. Centering my research
program on critical care nursing has
enhanced my knowledge base and my ability to
teach content related to this specialty
area.
I am certain
that my role as an educator helps prepare
nurses who are competent, compassionate
healthcare professionals. About a year after
her graduation, one student sent me a note.
It read, �Thank you so much for all you
taught me. Your critical care course was
difficult, but I was inspired to do my best
because I saw you gave yours. I am now
practicing in critical care and think of you
often. I believe I am making the world a
better place, one patient at a time.�
Jenny
Sandoval, RN, MSN, PhD
Greensboro, N.C.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
A new
graduate said, �Jenny is truly an educator.
Not only does she teach her students nursing
concepts, she ensures they master the
concept and can apply it in practice. She
does a terrific job of bringing the real
world and the classroom together with case
studies, concept maps, speakers and group
discussions, as well as the traditional
lecture. For example, when learning about
caring for patients on ventilators, she
handed out straws for us to 'breathe'
through during a portion of the class. The
concept? Breathing through a straw was not
easy for a healthy student who understood
why they were being ventilated; imagine how
difficult it is for the critically ill
patient. Not only do these methods
creatively reinforce the concepts, they take
into account students' different learning
styles.�
As an
educator, I hope to bring to my students,
whether they are interested in critical care
or not, the idea that all opinions are of
value and if, as nurses, we can't see the
value in someone else's ideas, we just
aren't looking deeply enough. I see this as
my main professional role.
When a
student says, �Jenny Sandoval is the reason
I am in critical care right now. She had
faith in me and gave me faith in myself.� I
know that nursing has brought out the best
in me.
Deanna L.
Reising, RN, PhD, CS
Bloomington, Ind.
Indiana
University School of Nursing
The patient
was admitted to the cardiovascular unit
after sustaining a devastating head injury
from a fall off a lawn mower. He was not the
type of patient my nursing student, David,
expected in the cardiovascular unit. But he
was the type of patient with whom David was
familiar, because he had been an intern in
the emergency department the past two years.
Although he intended to work there after
graduation, he wanted to know what happened
to patients after they left the emergency
department.
David told
me that the family was concerned about the
patient�s breathing pattern and comfort.
Although he understood that the pattern was
of an agonal nature and part of the natural
course of dying, he also knew intervention
was needed. He promptly prepared and
administered the morphine.
In the early
afternoon, the patient died with his family,
his nurse and his nursing student at the
bedside. David had already demonstrated the
ability to shift focus from maintaining
vital life functions and controlling
intracranial pressure to comfort measures
for the dying patient and the family. The
central linking concept that was needed to
explore the issue was morphine. We explored
how morphine affects the physiology of an
acute head injury and how it also has the
ability to suppress sympathetic output that
is beneficial in subduing some of the jerky
body movements and easing respiratory
efforts in the patient (and discomfort in
family members).
Although we
could not convert David from an emergency
department nurse to a critical care nurse,
we probably did better than that. By
providing David with this educational
opportunity, he became a valuable, informal
liaison between the emergency department and
the critical care units.
In the
Circle: Award Cites Outstanding Nursing
Student
Following
are excerpts from the exemplary submitted in
connection with the 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.
Paul
Ladwig, RN, BSN, EMT-P
Livermore, Calif.
California State University, Hayward
Paul Ladwig
has been a model nursing student since he
entered into the baccalaureate program at
California State University, Hayward. After
his first year in nursing school, he became
president of the Hayward Student Nursing
Association. He was instrumental in
initiating many new programs and revamping
some of the existing ones.
One program
that Paul established was an auction to help
raise money to assist nursing students in
the program and defer various costs for
students with financial need. He also began
making changes in the operation of the
university skills lab. Many of his
classmates had questioned the fact that the
skills were not being demonstrated in the
lab and had expressed that they felt the
videos available to demonstrate the skills
were outdated. In response, Paul set into
motion a plan for current nursing students
to film the skills and demonstrate them as
part of the school�s grading criteria.
In addition
to his creativity and problem-solving
abilities, Paul is constantly trying to
increase his classmates' awareness of the
profession of nursing and some of the
various specialties available for them. Paul
invited nurses from various specialties to
speak at the monthly HSNA meetings about
their fields and experiences.
Although
Paul�s term as HSNA president ended in May
2001, he remained active in the welfare of
his classmates by teaching and arranging
ACLS, PALS and NALS classes for them. In
addition, he helped his classmates prepare
for these certifications by preparing and
teaching a two-and-a-half hour ECG class.
Scholarships Advance Educational
Opportunities
Congratulations to the recipients of AACN
BSN Completion and Graduate Completion
Educational Advancement Scholarships for
2002-03. These scholarships of $1,500 per
academic year are financed by contributions
to the AACN Scholarship Endowment Fund,
which assists nurses in pursuing education
in the practice of critical care.
In addition,
AACN supports scholarships awarded through
the National Student Nurses Association to
beginning nursing students.
For more
information about or to obtain an
application for an Educational Advancement
Scholarship, call (800) 899-AACN (2226), or
visit the AACN Web site athttp://www.aacn.org.
Applications are also available from Fax on
Demand at (800) 222-6329. Request Document
#1017.
Graduate
Completion
Applicants
for the Graduate Completion Scholarship must
be currently enrolled in a planned course
that leads to a master�s or doctoral degree
in nursing. Following are the recipients of
this scholarship for 2002-03 and the
institutions they are attending:
Karen J. Ayers, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Eureka, Calif., University of
California, San Francisco
Wendy Johnson Baker, RN, Greenville.
N.C., East Carolina University
Michele C. Balas, RN, MSN, BA, CCRN,
NP, Hamilton, N.J., University of
Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
John
Bass, RN, MSN, FNP, Fort Lauderdale,
Fla., Florida International
University
Michele Belushko, RN, BSN,
Goffstown, N.H., University of New
England
Christine A. Boev, RN, Macon, Ga.,
Georgia College & State University
Kristina G. Bowen, RN, Inman, S.C.,
University of South Carolina
Suzanne M. Brungs, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Cincinnati, Ohio, Xavier University,
Diana M. Canady, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Fairmont, N.C., Duke University
School of Nursing
Emily A. Cantor, RN, Washington,
D.C., Georgetown University, School
of Nursing
Judy
A. Carrico, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Owensboro. Ky., University of
Southern Indiana
Laurie K. Carson, RN, BSN, AA, San
Clemente, Calif., Azusa Pacific
University
Kathy J. Cleveland, RN, BS, BSN,
CCRN, Pacifica, Calif., California
State University, Dominguez Hills
Cheryl E. Cummings, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Gastonia, N.C., University of North
Carolina, Charlotte & Carolinas
Healthcare
Claire H. Curran, RN, BSN, CCRN, EMT,
Chapel Hill, N.C., University of
North Carolina, Greensboro
Melinda L. Darrigo, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Leominster, Mass., University of
Massachusetts, Worcester Graduate
School of Nursing |
Janice J. Dykstra, RN, BSN, Minooka,
Ill., Governor�s State University
Shaun Evans, RN, BSN, CCRN, San
Dimas, Calif., California State
University, Fullerton
Cynthia R. Fowler, RN, BSN, BS, CNA,
Riverside, Calif., University of
Phoenix
Charlene Friedrich, RN, CCRN,
Scottsdale, Ariz., University of
Phoenix
Miladys A. Friesen, RN, ADN, CCRN,
Plano, Texas, Texas Woman�s
University
Betsy M. Gaffney, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN,
Trucksville, Pa., College
Misericordia
Kathie A. Galias, RN, BSN, Cary,
Ill., University of St Francis, St
Joseph College of Nursing
Nicole R. Gendron-Trainer, RN, BSN,
CCRN, Ashburn, Va., Marymount
University
Karen K. Giuliano, RN, MSN, CCRN,
Atkinson, N.H., Boston College
Katherine A. Green, RN, BSN, Berlin,
Md., Wilmington College, Georgetown
Campus
Donna M. Greene, RN, BSN, CCRN, Hyde
Park, Mass., Northeastern University
Lenee M. Greer, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Fairview, Tenn., Middle Tennessee
School of Anesthesia
Margo Anne Halm, RN, MA, CCRN, CS,
St. Paul, Minn., University of
Minnesota
Jill
A. Hancock, RN, BSN, Lawrenceville,
Ga., Georgetown University
Marygrace C. Hernandez, Carrollton,
Texas, University of Texas at Austin
Mary
P. Hicks, RN, BSN, CCRN, Harrison
Township, Mich., Wayne State
University
Tracy A. Hines, RN, MSN, CCRN, FNP,
Abilene, Texas, University of Texas
Health Science Center
Brenda J. Hoffner, RN, CCRN,
Traverse City, Mich., Grand Valley
State University
Connie M. Jaenicke, RN, Burnsville,
Minn., Winona State University
Jennifer M. Jagiela, RN, BSN,
Brisbane, Calif., University of
California, San Francisco |
Jennifer Kawi, RN, BS, BSN, CCRN,
Henderson, Nev., University of
Nevada, Las Vegas
Margarite H. Kirk, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Falcon, N.C., University of Phoenix
Kathleen A. Kunis, RN, AS, BA, CCRN,
Petaluma, Calif., University of
California, San Francisco
Nancy Kwan, RN, BSN, Sugar Land,
Texas, University of Texas, Houston
Health Science Center
Susan Lysaght, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Brighton, Mass., Boston College
Beth
McLellan, RN, BSN, Tecumseh,
Ontario, University of Windsor
Kathryn Marie Millen, RN, BSN, CCRN,
W. Yarmouth, Mass., Northeastern
University
Melissa Mruzik, RN, BSN, Dearborn,
Mich., University of Michigan
Sheylyn Padilla, RN, Grand Forks,
N.D., University of North Dakota
Loan
M. Pham, RN, San Francisco, Calif.,
University of California, San
Francisco
Leah
Press, RN, BSN, CCRN, Philadelphia,
Pa., Pennsylvania Hospital, Temple
University
Wende Prince, RN, Orem, Utah,
University of Utah
Regina P. Robinson, RN, Chicago,
Ill., DePaul University
Ruthie L. Robinson, RN, MSN, CCRN,
CEN, Beaumont, Texas, Texas Woman�s
University
Therese M. Russell, RN, BSN, BA,
CCRN, Washington, D.C., University
of Maryland at Baltimore
Nancy C. Shaffer, RN, BS,
Sebastopol, Calif., University of
California, San Francisco
Pamela R. Sircar, Colton, Calif.,
Azusa Pacific University
Delbert J. Slowik, RN, BSN,
Milwaukee, Wisc., University of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Patricia A. Soriano, RN, MSN, CCRN,
Lagrangeville, N.Y., Western
Connecticut State University
Melody M. Stenrose, RN, BSN, AA,
CCRN, Fremont, Calif., University of
Phoenix
Melissa A.L. Thorson, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Saint Louis Park, Minn., University
of Minnesota
Emily Timmreck, Charlottesville,
Va., University of Virginia, School
of Nursing
Darlene M. Tomlinson, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Brooklyn, N.Y., New York University |
Sylvia A. Valeriano, RN, Buena Park,
Calif., UCLA School of Nursing
Brian B. Walker, RN, BSN, CCRN,
Beaumont, Texas, Texas Wesleyan
University
Brenda Gail Wallis, RN, MSN, CCRN,
Longview, Texas, University of North
Carolina-Greensboro
Gregory S. Wallis, RN, ADN, CCRN,
Longview Texas, University of North
Carolina, Greensboro
Gina
M. Webb, RN, BSN, Granger, Ind.,
University of Tennessee, Memphis
Sheryll A. Weidman, RN, ADN, CCRN,
Brownsburg, Ind., Ball State
University
Rhonda B. White, RN, MSN,
Fayetteville, N.C., University of
Nebraska Medical Center |
BSN
Completion
Applicants
for the BSN Completion Scholarship must have
junior or upper division status for the fall
semester. The Eli Lilly Company, a member of
AACN�s Partners with Industry corporate
giving circle, contributed $5,000 to fund
and administer three of these scholarships.,
Following are the recipients of the BSN
Completion Educational Advancement
Scholarship and the institutions they are
attending:
Megan K.
Andrew, RN, Northbrook, Ill., Lewis
University
Shelley A.
Austin, RN, AA, CCRN, Hot Springs National
Park, Ark., University of Arkansas
Ruth A.
Bossler, RN, Blandon, Pa., Alvernia College
Debra M.
Jadick, RN, CCRN, Tunkhannock, Pa., College
Misericordia
Ruth A.
Lindhagen, RN, ADN, CCRN, Rochester Hills,
Mich., Oakland University
Barbara A.
Liptak, RN, CCRN, Yukon, Pa., Carlow College
Melanie D.
Mobley, RN, ADN, CCRN, Doniphan, Mo.,
Jacksonville University
Tina R.
O�Neal, RN, ADN, Lufkin, Texas, Stephen F.
Austin State University
Patricia
Ohajazu, RN, Kansas City, Kan., Webster
University
Donna M.
Proulx, RN, ADN, CCRN, Manchester, N.H.,
Rivier College
Kathryn N.
Ussery, RN, Manassas, Va., University of
Phoenix
NSNA
Scholarships
AACN
supports scholarship opportunities through
the National Student Nurses Association for
nursing students who do not hold an RN
license. Scholarship applications are
available from NSNA, 45 Main St., Suite 606,
Brooklyn, NY 11201; phone, (718) 210-0705.
Following are the recipients of the NSNA
Scholarships for 2002-03:
Tara Stegall,
Charleston, S.C., Medical University of
South Carolina
Heidi
Gilroy, Houston, Texas, Texas Woman�s
University
Tara
Rodgers, Wilmington, N.C., University of
North Carolina at Wilmington
Shana Marie
Saeger, Minneapolis, Minn., University of
Minnesota-Twin Cities
Nicole
Bellato, San Diego, Calif., Point Loma
Nazarene University
Jeffrey J.
Hamilton, New Orleans, La., Louisiana State
University
Linda
Vaunique Kemacheun, Arkadelphia, Ark.,
Henderson State University
Anne Kiyomi
Nishinaga, Long Beach, Calif., California
State University, Long Beach
Adrianne
Weathers, Greenwood, S.C., Lander University
Jacquie
Davidson, Pleasant Grove, Utah, Brigham
Young University,
AACN
Member and Chapter Relations Specialist
Dennis Maggi (right) was
joined by four of the nursing students who
received AACN-sponsored
scholarships through the National Student
Nurses Association. They are
(from left) Jeffrey J. Hamilton, Jacquie
Davidson, Tara Stegall and Nicole Bellato.
The scholarships were awarded at the NSNA
50th anniversary meeting in
Philadelphia. AACN provided funding for 10
of the scholarships.
Scene
and Heard
AACN
continues to seek visibility for our
profession and the organization. Following
is an update on recent outreach efforts:
Media
Highlights
� On Aug. 6,
President-elect Dorrie Fontaine, RN, DNSc,
FAAN, was the guest on the Tom Clark morning
show on Wisconsin Public Radio. She
discussed solutions to the nursing shortage
and the recently signed Nurse Reinvestment
Act. Callers to the program included many
nurses who are concerned about the workplace
environment in Wisconsin, especially in
regard to mandatory overtime, too few nurses
and low salaries. Fontaine emphasized what
individuals can do to retain nurses and
focused on what AACN provides in terms of
education and support for critical care
nurses.
� The August
issue of RN magazine featured the premiere
�President�s Note� column by AACN President
Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, as well
as information on an AACN Web site link to
PDA software and hardware.
� An article
headlined �Critical Care Nurses Convene in
Record Numbers� appeared in the August issue
of the American Journal of Nursing. The
article featured some of the events at the
2002 NTI in Atlanta, Ga., including
photographs of the 2002 class of the AACN
Wyeth Nursing Fellows Program, independent
study labs, visiting middle school students
and Atlanta chapter members selling
T-shirts.
� The St.
Louis Post-Dispatch published an article
titled �Hospital Care Could Suffer From
Labor Shortage� in its Aug. 18 edition. The
writer noted that according to AACN, one in
seven hospitals has reported RN vacancies
greater than 20%.
� In August,
Nursing Management featured Part 4 in the
progressive care series endorsed exclusively
by AACN. The article, titled �An Upstream
Approach to Selecting Progressive Care
Technology,� was written by Mary A. Stahl,
RN, APRN, BC, MSN, CCRN, a clinical nurse
specialist at St. Luke�s Hospital, Kansas
City, Mo., and an active AACN member. The
July issue of the same publication featured
a letter from a nurse asking about tools for
assessing RN clinical competency. The
magazine�s response included the AACN
Procedure Manual for Critical Care as a
source.
� A letter
to the editor by AACN volunteer and chapter
leader John Dixon, RN, MSN, was published in
the July 8 edition of Newsweek magazine.
Dixon wrote that �registered nurses are the
only healthcare professionals who stay with
hospital patients seven days a week, 24
hours a day � all the technology in the
world can�t replace what nurses bring to the
patient.�
� The third
quarter 2002 issue of Reflections on Nursing
Leadership featured an in-depth article
about nursing leader Luther Christman, RN,
PhD, FAAN. Titled �In a Woman�s World,� the
feature celebrated his many innovative
accomplishments on behalf of nursing and
interviewed him about the nursing shortage.
The writer also noted that Christman
received the 2002 AACN-Marguerite Rodgers
Kinney Award for a Distinguished Career. The
same issue also featured an article titled
�Knowledge-Driven Care: Powerful Medicine,�
which referred to Clarian Health Partners�
work with AACN in implementing AACN�s
Synergy Model.
Our Voice
at the Table
� AACN CEO
Wanda Johanson, RN, MN, was among 46
representatives of 23 nursing organizations
who met in August in Baltimore for the
second gathering of the Nursing Leadership
Academy for Palliative and End-of-Life Care.
Funded by the Project on Death in America,
this program focuses on the development of
leadership skills for participants to
successfully implement short- and long-term
initiatives around palliative and
end-of-life care within their professional
nursing associations. Each organization
formulated an action plan for the upcoming
year. Academy mentors support participants
throughout the year to accomplish their
action plans and manage challenges along the
way. As faculty for this program, Johanson
facilitated activities related to being a
change agent in nursing organizations. She
serves as a mentor for five associations
that were represented at the first Academy
in 2000. A combined meeting of the first and
second Academy groups is planned for 2004 to
discuss ways to ensure leadership and
sustaina bility of palliative and
end-of-life care activities within all
nursing organizations.
� On Aug.
14, Virginia Schoenfeld, director of Member
& Constituent Affairs, and Carol Hartigan,
RN, certification director, attended the
24th annual Delegate Assembly of the
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
in Long Beach, Calif. Among the issues
considered by the delegates were a
recommendation to develop criteria for
selecting countries for potential
international administration of the NCLEX
examination and progress toward requirements
for APRN licensure and authority to practice
and the Nurse Licensure Compact for advanced
practice registered nurses.
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.
For the
Record
Suzette
Cardin, RN, DNSc, FAAN, adjunct assistant
professor in the graduate nursing
administration program at the University of
California-Los Angeles School of Nursing,
was co-author of an article titled
�Realizing Your Marketing Influence�Part 2:
Marketing from the Inside Out,� which was
published in the June 2002 issue of the
Journal of Nursing Administration. Her name
was omitted from a reference to the article
in the August issue of AACN News. The other
author was AACN Marketing Director Dana
Woods.
On the
Agenda
Following is
a report by AACN board member Mary Fran
Tracy, RN, PhD, CCNS, CCRN, on discussions
and actions that took place during the AACN
Board of Directors meeting on Aug. 4 and 5
in Newport Beach, Calif.
Agenda
Item: ECCO Project
As part of
the Operations Report, the board was updated
on AACN�s electronic-based, Essentials of
Critical Care Orientation, which was
launched later in August. Interest in this
program has been high, particularly because
of the timeliness and quality of the
product. Facilities that beta-tested the
program in July reported ease of use and
praise for the unique learning and tracking
features. The program was also demonstrated
to critical care educators attending the
National Nursing Staff Development
Organization annual conference in July.
The
Operations Report approved by the board
covers information from all areas, including
membership, marketing, strategic alliances
and professional practice. The August report
also included the final evaluation and
performance data from AACN�s National
Teaching Institute and Critical Care
Exposition in May in Atlanta, Ga.
Agenda
Item ICU Survey
The board
approved funding for an ICU survey and
database that will provide for the ongoing
collection of trend data. The first phase
will involve quantitative data that are
essential in describing key aspects of the
critical care environment, including
staffing, patient acuity, mandatory overtime
and other factors that affect the practice
of critical care nursing and optimal care of
patients.
The goal is
to complete collection of phase-one data
early next year. The development of a
database is seen as a critical strategy for
AACN to be able to amplify its voice when
speaking on behalf of members about issues
that are important to the practice
environment.
Agenda
Item: Services Agreement
The board
reaffirmed the Memorandum of Understanding
and extended the Services Agreement between
AACN and AACN Certification Corporation for
FY03. These legal documents, along with the
by-laws, govern the relationship of the two
organizations . In addition to reinforcing
the necessary legal separateness , the
documents were drawn up to ensure that the
missions and values of the two organizations
are aligned and to document their
operational relationship.
Agenda
Item: Labor Unions
Because the
leadership of AACN is frequently asked about
collective bargaining, the board initiated
discussions aimed at gaining a shared
understanding and becoming better informed
about the issues, concerns and questions
members have about labor organizations in
nursing. The discussions focused on the
history of and current data and statistics
related to labor unions, as well as the
current environment of nursing. Discussions
will continue throughout the year in an
effort to determine the role of the
association in providing education resources
and support for members in managing
collective bargaining issues in their work
settings.
Agenda
Item: New Award
The board
approved adding the AACN Value of
Certification Award to its Circle of
Excellence recognition program, beginning in
2004. The award, sponsored by AACN
Certification Corporation, will recognize
contributions that support and foster the
advancement of certified nursing practice in
critical care. Up to three individuals or
groups will receive the award annually.
Agenda
Item: Finance Report
The board
reviewed and approved the preliminary
finance report for the fiscal year that
ended June 30. The report showed that AACN
remains financially healthy and achieved a
small operating profit during the past year.
As part of
its accountabilities, the board continually
monitors the association�s budget and
progress toward its strategic and operating
plans. The operations and finance reports
provide the opportunity to assess the
association�s direction and to ensure that
current and long-term needs can be financed
adequately.
Agenda
Item: AACN as the Voice for Critical Care
Nurses
As part of
an ongoing strategic discussion, the board
decided on objectives to help AACN achieve
two key strategies to position the
association as a bold and effective voice
for critical care nursing. Following are the
major strategies that were given priority:
�
Proactively define strategic platforms and
issues on which to take a stand and boldly
promote these to influence critical care
nursing and the environments in which it is
practiced, as well as the care of patients
and families.
� Create a
comprehensive database of critical care
practice by conducting an ongoing survey of
the critical care practice and environment.
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:
Oct. 13-16
Nursing Management Congress
Dallas, Texas
Nov. 2-7
American College of Chest Physicians
San Diego,
Calif.
Nov. 14-17
National Student Nurses Association
Midyear
Kansas City,
Mo.
Jan. 30-Feb.
3Society of Critical Care Medicine
San Antonio, Texas
April 13-16
Nursing 2003
Orlando, Fla.
April 23-27
National Student Nurses Association Phoenix,
Ariz.
If you are
attending any of these conferences, stop by
the AACN exhibit to visit with your National
Office team.
Public
Policy Update
The Issues
� Key
Healthcare Influencers�100 Most Powerful
People In Healthcare
�
Bioterrorism Preparedness � AHRQ Announces
New Tool for Hospitals
� Health
Privacy�HHS Issues Final HIPAA Privacy Rule
� Nurse
Licensure Compact�APRN Nurse Licensure
Compact Approved
� APN
Medicare Reimbursement�MedPAC Report
Released
� Nurse
Salaries�Nurses Lead Hospital Salary
Increases Since 2001
� Medical
Errors�Medication Errors Observed in 36
Healthcare Facilities
Key
Healthcare Influencers
Background:
For the first time, Modern Healthcare
magazine has published a ranking of the �100
Most Powerful People In Healthcare.� The
list features three nursing
officials�Barbara Blakeney, president of the
American Nurses Association (No. 34), Mary
Foley, immediate past ANA president (No. 54)
and Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of
the California Nurses Association (No. 81).
The ranking
was based on an online poll of the
magazine�s readers. A total of 2,174 ballots
were cast, with more than 1,000 individuals
receiving votes. Participants, who could
vote for up to 10 individuals from a list of
more than 160 candidates, were given the
opportunity to write in up to five
candidates.
According to
Editor David Burda, the results reflect two
ongoing concerns�revenue and regulation�as
well as two issues that have come to the
fore this year�quality of care and workforce
shortages. The ranking was published in the
Aug. 26 issue of the magazine. The list is
also available online at
www.modernhealthcare.com.
Bioterrorism Preparedness
Background:
The Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality has posted a needs survey on its Web
site that hospitals can download and use as
a checklist for assessing their capacity to
handle potential victims of bioterrorist
attacks or for evaluating existing emergency
plans. AHRQ�s Bioterrorism Emergency
Planning and Preparedness Questionnaire for
Healthcare Facilities covers a range of
topics, including biological weapons
training for personnel, procedures to permit
rapid recognition of credentialed staff from
other facilities, on-call nursing policies
and designated areas of emergency overflow
for patients. To download the survey and
access additional information on disaster
and bioterrorism preparedness, visit the
AACN Web site at www.aacn.org > Public
Policy > Resources and Links. In addition,
the AHRQ-sponsored Web site at
www.bioterrorism.uab.edu at the University
of Alabama�s Center for Disaster
Preparedness offers free, online continuing
education courses for hospital-based
physicians, nurses, rad iologists and other
medical personnel.
AACN�s
Position:
AACN
recognizes the important role the
association must assume in meeting the needs
of our members and critical care nurses
nationwide by helping them to obtain
up-to-date, comprehensive education on
preparing for mass casualties and
bioterrorist attacks. AACN is committed to
ensuring the role of critical care nurses in
national disaster and bioterrorism
preparedness. AACN�s �Statement of
Commitment on Mass Casualty and Bioterrorism
Preparedness,� as well as other actions and
resources are available online at
http://www.aacn.org
Background:
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
Thompson has issued the final privacy
regulation mandated by the Health Insurance
Portability Act of 1996. The regulation is
designed to provide a national base of
privacy protections, though stronger state
laws concerning medical record privacy will
continue to apply.
Under the
privacy rule, hospitals and other healthcare
providers are required to obtain patient
authorization before releasing personal
medical information for �nonroutine�
purposes. The rule applies to electronic
records, but not those kept on paper.
The rule
also requires providers to furnish patients
with a written notice of their privacy and
confidentiality policies, as well as to
receive patient consent before using medical
information for marketing purposes. However,
a section proposing that consent be written
was removed. Most healthcare organizations
have until April 14 to comply. The final
rule is available online at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/.
AACN�s
Position:
AACN has
advocated for comprehensive standards to
protect the confidentiality of individually
identifiable information used to provide
healthcare services. We are pleased that the
Bush administration has established federal
standards that provide nationally uniform
confidentiality protections. However, like
the American Nurses Association, AACN is
concerned that removal of the written
consent provision has potential for
lessening the protection for patients and
cautions that efforts to obtain a written
acknowledgement of the receipt of notice
should be made to safeguard the rights of
patients.
Nurse
Licensure Compact
Background:
The National Council of State Boards of
Nursing has approved a nurse licensure
compact for advanced practice registered
nurses. Similar to the existing compact for
recognition of RN and LPN licenses, the APRN
compact offers states the mechanism for
mutual recognition of APRN licenses or
authority to practice. To be eligible to
participate, a state must be either a member
of the current state nurse licensure compact
for RNs and LPNs or enter into both compacts
simultaneously. For more information, visit
the NCSBN Web site at
http://www.ncsbn.org.
APN
Medicare Reimbursement
Background:
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has
published its report to Congress on
�Medicare Payment to Advanced Practice
Nurses (APNs) and Physician Assistants.�
The report
states that, given the design of Medicare�s
payment system for physician services, the
appropriateness of the current 85% payment
differential for nurse practitioners,
physician assistants and clinical nurse
specialists cannot be assessed and that a
payment differential is appropriate if NPs
and physicians are producing a different
product. Therefore, the commission
concludes, further study is necessary before
the differential is changed. The report can
be read at
http://www.medpac.gov.
Nurse
Salaries
Background:
According to a recent report in Hospitals &
Health Networks, hospital compensation
packages are up 6.6% over last year. Nurses
led the way with an 8.1% increase in base
salary. Incumbent hospital CEOs checked in
with a 7.5% salary increase. Other
executives saw a 6.2% base salary jump and
the salaries of hospital department heads
rose 5.9%.
According to
the statistics, base salary levels are
higher than ever. In 1999, base salaries
rose 3.8%, in 2000 they jumped 3.6% and the
2001 data revealed a 4.1% hike. All data
were gathered and analyzed by the Hay Group,
in cooperation with the America Society for
Healthcare Human Resources Administration.
Additional information is available online
at
http://www.hhnmag.com.
Medical
Errors
Status:
According to a study of 36 hospitals
accredited by the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations,
nonaccredited hospitals and skilled nursing
facilities in Colorado and Georgia,
medication errors are common. Nearly one of
every five doses in the typical hospital and
skilled nursing facility resulted in an
error. The percentage of errors rated
potentially harmful was 7%, or more than 40
per day in a typical 300-patient facility.
Medication errors were witnessed by
observation and verified by a research
pharmacist. An expert panel of physicians
judged clinical significance.
The study,
which was published in the Sept. 9 issue of
the Archives of Internal Medicine (Vol. 162
No. 16), also found that the most frequent
errors by category were wrong time,
omission, wrong dose and unauthorized drug.
The study noted that defects in medication
administration systems are widespread. The
authors concluded that the typical patient
was subject to about two errors per day and
that the problem of defective medication
administration systems, though varied, is
widespread. Additional information is
available online at
archinte.ama-assn.org/issues/
current/abs/ioi10605.html.
Keep Up to
Date With Online Legislative Tools
Check out
the new State Net database and CapWiz
Legislative Action Center, available on the
AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org.
To access this new public policy resource,
click on AACN Public Policy > Legislative
Information > State Net or 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.
The CapWiz
Legislative Action Center, powered by
Capitol Advantage, allows 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.
Experience ECCO Online: Help Orient Your
Novice Nurses
You probably
have heard about AACN�s new Internet-based,
Essentials of Critical Care Orientation
educational program. Now you can get a
closer look at how the program works by
viewing a demonstration online at
http://www.aacn.org.
Designed to
provide a strong foundation in the
fundamentals of critical care nursing to
novice nurses, ECCO consists of modules that
present a detailed review of each body
system�s anatomy and physiology. Each is
accompanied by a description of the normal
state for each system and a discussion of
the most common disorders that would cause a
patient to become critically ill.
Built around
sound educational principles, the program
provides a variety of opportunities to
enrich the experience of learning the
concepts presented. The program�s management
tools enable the nurse manager or educator
to track a student�s progress through each
module and to review a variety of module
test-score reports.
For more
information about this program, call (800)
394-5995, ext. 8870, or e-mail
ecco@aacn.org.
Coming
in the November Issue of the American
Journal of Critical Care
� Wound
Healing Effects of Augmented Postoperative
Fluid Protocol in Cardiac Surgery Patients
� Oxidative
Stress in Critically Ill Patients
� Cognitive
Impairment in Heart Failure: Issues of
Measurement and Etiology
Subscriptions to Critical Care Nurse and the
American Journal of Critical Care are
included in AACN membership dues.
Looking Ahead
December
2002
Dec. 1
Deadline to apply for the AACN Distinguished
Research Lecture Award for 2004. For more
information, contact Clinical Practice
Associate Dolores Curry at (800) 394-5995,
ext. 377; e-mail,
dolores.curry@aacn.org.
January
2003
Jan. 15
Deadline to apply for the Philips Medical
Systems-AACN Outcomes for Clinical
Excellence Research Grant. To obtain a
grants handbook, visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
or call AACN Fax-on-Demand at (800)
222-6329. Request Document #1013.
Jan. 15
Deadline to apply for the AACN Clinical
Inquiry Grant. To obtain a grants handbook,
visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
or call AACN
Fax-on-Demand at (800) 222-6329. Request
Document #1013.
February
2003
Feb. 1
Deadline to apply for the Datex-Ohmeda-AACN
Research Grant. To obtain a grants handbook,
visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
or call
AACN Fax-on-Demand at (800) 222-6329.
Request Document #1013.
Feb. 1
Deadline to apply for the AACN Critical Care
Grant. To obtain a grants handbook, visit
the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
or call AACN
Fax-on-Demand at (800) 222-6329. Request
Document #1013.
Feb. 1
Deadline to apply for the AACN Mentorship
Grant. To obtain a grants handbook, visit
the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.org
or call AACN
Fax-on-Demand at (800) 222-6329. Request
Document #1013.
Feb. 1
Deadline to apply for the AACN Certification
Corporation Research Grant. To obtain a
grants handbook, visit the AACN Web site at
http://www.aacn.orgor
call AACN Fax-on-Demand at (800) 222-6329.
Request Document #1013. |
