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Greater Miami Leads Recruitment
Campaign Into Final Month
The Greater Miami Chapter of AACN recruited 14
new national members during March to jump into the lead in AACN's Critical Links
membership recruitment campaign among chapters. Its total of 59 new members
recruited since the campaign began May 1, was slightly ahead of the 53 new
members recruited by the Southwest Georgia Chapter and the 52 new members
recruited by the Chattanooga-Scenic City Chapter at the end of March. Top
individual and chapter recruiters in the campaign, which ended April 30, were to
be announced at AACN's National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition
this month in San Antonio, Calif.
During March, 36 chapters recruited a total of
120 new members to help boost the overall totals to 3,881 new members recruited
since the campaign began.
The chapters reporting the largest increase in
membership numbers and the largest percentage increase will receive a $250 gift
certificate toward the purchase of AACN resources. Each month, chapters that
recruit new members are also entered into a drawing for a complimentary NTI
registration. The Brooklyn Chapter won the complimentary NTI registration in the
drawing for March.
Following are the chapter totals in the campaign
as of the end of March:
Greater Miami Area Chapter 59
Southwest Georgia Chapter 53
Chattanooga - Scenic City Chapter 52
Atlanta Area Chapter 47
Greater Washington Area Chapter 47
First Coast Chapter 44
Peninsula Chapter 42
Greater Birmingham Chapter 35
Triangle Chapter 35
Greater East Texas Chapter 33
Brooklyn Chapter 30
Siouxland Chapter 30
Greater Evansville Chapter 29
Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter 27
Broward County Chapter 23
Mobile Bay Area Chapter 23
Greater Twin Cities Area Chapter 22
Greater Raleigh Area Chapter 22
Lake Erie Chapter 21
Vermont Green Mountain Chapter 17
Palmetto Chapter 16
North Central Florida Chapter 16
Greater St. Louis Chapter 15
Heartland Chapter 15
South Central Connecticut Chapter 14
White River Chapter 14
Greater Joliet Area Chapter 13
Montana Big Sky Chapter 12
Pacific Crest Regional Chapter 12
Greater Milwaukee Area Chapter 10
Southern Maine Chapter 10
The following chapters have recruited between
one and 10 new members:
Abilene Area Chapter, Adirondack Regional
Chapter, Alameda Contra Costa Chapter, Albemarle Area Chapter, Ancient City
Chapter, Big Bend Chapter, Bitterroot Chapter, Blue Ridge Chapter, Brevard
Chapter, Carolina Dogwood Chapter, Central Indiana Chapter, Central Iowa
Chapter, Central Louisiana Chapter, Central Minnesota Area Chapter, Central Ohio
Chapter, Central Pennsylvania Chapter, Central Savannah River Chapter,
Chattahoochee Valley Chapter, Chesapeake Bay Chapter, Coastal Chapter, Coastal
Plain Chapter, Dallas County Chapter, Denver Chapter, East River Mountain
Chapter, Eastern Iowa Chapter, Emerald Coast Chapter, Fairbanks North Star
Chapter, Foot of the Blue Ridge Chapter, Fox River Valley Chapter, Galveston
Island Chapter, Gate City Chapter, Greater Akron Area Chapter, Greater Austin
Area Chapter, Greater Boston Chapter, Greater Flint Area Chapter, Greater Fort
Worth Area Chapter, Greater Fredericksburg Area Chapter, Greater Jackson
Chapter, Greater Kansas City Chapter, Greater Long Beach Orange County Chapter,
Greater Louisville Chapter, Greater New Orleans Chapter, Greater Phoenix Area
Chapter, Greater Portland Chapter, Greater Reading Chapter, Greater Richmond
Area Chapter, Greater Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter, Green Country Chapter,
Gulf Coast Magnolia Chapter, Hangzhou China Chapter, Head of the Lakes Chapter,
Heart of Acadiana Chapter, Heart of the Piedmont Chapter, High Sierra Chapter,
Houston Gulf Coast Chapter, Indiana Hoosier South Central Chapter, Jacksonville
Chapter, Jersey Shoreline Chapter, Lake Superior Chapter, Lehigh Valley Chapter,
Los Angeles Chapter, Madison Area Chapter, Merrimack Valley Chapter,
Metropolitan Orlando Chapter, Mid Cumberland Chapter, Minot Roughrider Chapter,
Mohawk Valley Chapter, Mt. Rainier Chapter, Nassau County Chapter, North Central
Wisconsin Chapter, North Valley Chapter, Northeast Indiana Chapter, Northeastern
Wisconsin Chapter, Northern New Jersey Chapter, Northwest Georgia Chapter,
Northwest Washington Evergreen Chapter, Palm Beach County Chapter, Piedmont
Carolinas Chapter, Pioneer Valley Chapter, Puget Sound Chapter, Redwood Empire
Chapter, Rochester Chapter, San Antonio Chapter, San Diego Area Chapter, San
Fernando Valley Chapter, San Francisco Chapter, Smoky Mountain Chapter, South
Carolina Mid State Chapter, South Central Kentucky Chapter, South Central
Wisconsin Chapter, Southeast Michigan Chapter, Southeast Missouri Chapter,
Southern Arizona Chapter, Southern New Hampshire Chapter, Spokane Chapter,
Suncoast Chapter, Tennessee Valley Chapter, Three Rivers Chapter, Volusia
Flagler Chapter, West Michigan Chapter, West Texas Chapter, Western Connecticut
Chapter.
Chapter Speaker Proposals Invited for NTI
2004 in Orlando
Did your chapter receive a Circle of Excellence
Award last year or has your chapter found an innovative way to encourage members
to become more involved and step into leadership positions? Has your membership
grown because you have found success with unique recruitment approaches?
Why not share your ideas with other chapter
representatives from across the country by submitting a chapter speaker proposal
for AACN's National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition, May 15
through 20, 2004, in Orlando, Fla? The deadline to submit proposals is Aug. 29.
Presenters receive complimentary airfare, registration and two nights hotel
accommodations.
For more information or to receive a chapter
speaker proposal packet, call (800) 394-5995 for Chapter Specialist Dennis Maggi
at ext. 339 or Chapter Associate Mitzi Inman at ext. 365.
What's on Tap
California
The South Bay Chapter will present a "Trauma on
the High Seas" Alaskan cruise July 20 through 27. For more information, contact
Kay Burtness at (800) 347-6136.
Florida
The Broward County Chapter will present its
annual spring seminar on June 5 and 6. For more information, e-mail
bccaacn@aol.com.
The Coast to Coast Chapters will present the
"Waves of Wisdom" program titled "The Magic and Wisdom of Nursing" on July 25
and 26 in Orlando, Fla. For more information, contact Kim Martin at (386)
334-5371; e-mail, coast2coast@aacnchapters.com.
Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islands Chapter will present a CCRN
Examination Review on June 5 and 6. For more information, contact Terry at (808)
693-8707; e-mail kurt.terry@verizon.net;
or Natalie at (808) 456-3510; e-mail,
natrn@hawaii.rr.com.
Illinois
The Northern Illinois Chapter will present a
CCRN Review Course on May 19 and 20 in Rockford. For more information, contact
Chapter President Chris Carter at (815) 645-1382; e-mail,
RNKC99@hotmail.com.
The Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will present
a program titled "Cardiac Disease, Sleep Apnea and Women" on May 21 at Lutheran
General Hospital, Park Ridge. For more information, contact Andrea M. Kline at
(773) 975-8835; e-mail, akline@childrensmemorial.org.
The Greater Chicago Area Chapter will sponsor
its annual June dinner program on June 11. For more information, contact Lori
Marcantonio at (847) 854-8358 or e-mail
gcac_aacn@yahoo.com.
New Jersey
The Jersey Shoreline Chapter will present a
program titled "When the Brain Is the Victim" on May 19 at Jersey Shore Medical
Center, Neptune, N.J. For more information, contact Ryn Fernandez at (732)
462-6976; e-mail, rynfern@aol.com.
Is your chapter planning a program or special
event? Send the information to AACN News, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656;
fax, (949) 362-2049; e-mail,
aacnnews@aacn.org.
Put Your Chapter in the Circle of
Excellence
Awards that recognize contributions by AACN
chapters are among the Circle of Excellence awards presented each year.
Applications for all except the President's Award for chapters and the CCRN
Certification Drive Award for 2004 are due July 15.
Unless otherwise stated, one chapter from each
membership category will be selected to receive these $1,000 awards. Recipients
will also be recognized at AACN's National Teaching Institute and Critical Care
Exposition, May 15 through 20, 2004, in Orlando, Fla.
Following is information about each of these
awards.
Outstanding Chapter Educational Program
This award recognizes chapters that exemplify
team-teaching, program quality and learning connection opportunities. Efforts by
individual chapters, chapters working with other chapters and chapters working
with outside collaborators are recognized separately.
Outstanding Chapter Communications System
This award recognizes chapters that exemplify
effective communication and promote AACN's messages in the chapter and/or the
community.
Chapter Pioneering Spirit
This award recognizes chapters whose
contributions have influenced acute and critical care nursing in any setting.
Sharon Connor Excellence in Chapter
Leadership Development Award
This award, named in honor of the longtime AACN
national office team member who died in June 1997, promotes the development of
AACN chapter members to assist in defining the future of chapters. The focus is
on chapter leadership development plans, outcomes and effective leadership
transitions. One chapter from each membership category is eligible to receive
this award.
President's Award
This award goes to the chapter or chapters that
best exemplify the annual theme of the president of AACN. The theme of 2003-04
President Dorrie Fontaine, RN, DNSc, FAAN, will be announced at the 2003 NTI in
May San Antonio, Texas. Up to $4,000 will be awarded to one or more chapters
selected by Fontaine.
Note: The deadline to submit application
materials for this award is March 1, 2004.
Chapter CCRN Certification Drive
This award recognizes chapters that demonstrate
the value of CCRN certification by increasing the number of CCRNs in their
chapters during the year. Chapters with the greatest percentage increase will
receive five complimentary tickets to and be recognized at the Certification
Luncheon at the NTI. To apply for this award, submit the chapter roster that
highlights the CCRNs, as of July 1, 2002, and a chapter roster that highlights
nurses who have achieved CCRN status during the year, as of June 30, 2003.
Note: The rosters and application materials
are due Aug. 15.
To obtain a Circle of Excellence awards
application, call (800) 899-2226 or visit the AACN Web site. The application is also available on
Fax on Demand at (800) 222-6329 (Document #1011).
In the Circle: Award Honors Chapter
Educational Programs
Editor's note: The Circle of Excellence
Outstanding Chapter Educational Program Award recognizes chapters that exemplify
team-teaching, program quality and learning connection opportunities. July 15 is
the deadline to submit application materials for the 2004 awards. Following are
excerpts from exemplars submitted in connection with this award for 2002.
West Michigan Chapter
Grand Rapids, Mich.
The West Michigan Chapter produced "Who Wants to
Be a Critical Care Millionaire," a critical care version of the popular
television game show. As with the real show, the "fastest-finger" round
determined who would make their way to the coveted hot seat. Fastest-finger
questions ranged from describing blood flow through the chambers of the heart to
listing cranial nerves in numerical order.
Winners then had the chance to answer a series
of 10 questions, which built to the ultimate prize. Questions started at $100
with relatively easy concepts, but progressed in difficulty and monetary value.
Three lifelines were available to each
participant: "50-50," "phone-a-friend in the audience" and "ask the table.
Members of each participant's table received candy bars for correctly answering
the $10,000 and $100,000 questions. The grand prize for the participants who
correctly answered all 10 questions was a "pot of gold," filled with chocolate
kisses, nuggets and gold coins.
This dynamic and entertaining presentation
provided an opportunity for every person to contribute. Throughout the evening,
a fabulous interchange of teaching and learning occurred from novice critical
care nurses to expert. One minute a participant was the expert, the next he or
she was asking a question.
Dallas County Chapter
Dallas, Texas
Our chapter has found the needs assessment to be
a valuable tool in planning educational programs. Based on the results of this
assessment, we have planned more pediatric-oriented programs, as well as some
other "off-the-beaten-path" offerings.
Educational topics presented at each of our
monthly meetings have accommodated a variety of interests, from herbal medicine
and writing and publishing to pediatric near-drowning and antiarrhythmic therapy
for atrial fibrillation and flutter. These programs are designed not only to
inform, but also to stimulate discussion regarding outcomes and patient care.
The chapter uses several means of communication
to get the word out regarding our educational offerings. We have a newsletter
and Web site, as well as flyers posted in the nursing units of area hospitals
announce our monthly speaker and topic.
In addition, the chapter sponsors at least one
major educational event. This spring, we planned a CCRN review. The chapter has
actively recruited nurses from telemetry or step-down units, and we have
encouraged them to seek certification. The review course is a way to help them
get what they need to accomplish this goal.
The Dallas County Chapter sees the goal of
furthering nursing education to positively affect patient outcomes as the number
one reason for the existence of the chapter.
Coast-to-Coast Chapters
Orlando, Fla.
Why is a group of critical care nurses huddled
together on the shores of Cocoa Beach, listening intently to one of NASA's top
space shuttle astronauts? It's actually the result of a decade of dedication and
cohesiveness that continues to produce a special gathering called Waves of
Wisdom (WOW) every other summer.
Ten years ago, representatives from seven
Florida chapters of AACN founded the Coast-to-Coast Chapters, a multichapter
entity with a unique and collaborative mission: to advance nursing education
through their combined strengths.
Delegates from the Brevard, Gulf-to-Bay,
Heartland, Metro Orlando, Space Coast, Suncoast and Volusia-Flagler chapters
formed a committee to create this year's "Odyssey in Courage" conference, the
fifth and finest in the Waves of Wisdom series. This conference was also a
mainstay fundraiser for the seven chapters, raising more than $10,000.
Day One featured a keynote address by former
AACN President Denise Thornby. Wondering where the astronaut comes in?
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Allen of NASA headlined Day Two. The accomplished
space traveler delivered an informative and fascinating narrative on medical
research in space and then satisfied everyone's curiosity about life as an
astronaut. Other programs focused on interventional cardiology, GI emergencies
and hyperbarics. After heartfelt goodbyes, the attendees headed home to ponder
and apply what they had learned, armed with the knowledge and courage to affect
their own odyssey in nursing.
Greater New Orleans Chapter &
New Orleans, La.
and Gulf Coast Magnolia Chapter
Gulfport, Miss.
Building Courage to Face the Challenges" was a
joint effort between the Gulf Coast Magnolia and the Greater New Orleans
chapters. This joint venture grew out of the Chapter Leadership Development
Workshop at AACN's National Teaching Institute in 2000.
The Greater New Orleans Chapter was a large
chapter with 150 members and much experience in successful program planning,
while the Gulf Coast Magnolia Chapter was a struggling chapter with only 25
members. The goal was to provide a program that would meet the needs of the
critical care nurse while providing a program that was timely, informative,
relevant, inexpensive and easily accessible.
Past AACN President Denise Thornby was selected
as keynote speaker and her topic, "The Courage to Influence Others," was adopted
as the theme. The joint program not only provided attendees educational
opportunities to increase their knowledge and contributions to the care of
critically ill patients and their families, but also left participants with a
revitalized spirit. The networking night provided more than 60 program attendees
and sponsors with increased networking opportunities and created bonds of
friendship among participants.
Not only did this program provide educational
and motivational opportunities for the participants, but it also provided an
opportunity to increase community awareness of critical care nurses and the role
of AACN. The local news media did a feature story on critical care nurses with
actual footage in a local ICU, footage of the workshop and an interview with
Thornby.
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