|
Nominations Invited for National Leadership
Posts
Rising Above to Lead the Call
By Stephanie Calcasola, RN, MSN, and Karen
Stutzer-Treimel, RN, MS, CCRN, APN, C
AACN Nominating Committee
Long before the AACN and AACN Certification
Corporation nominating committees meet to develop the slates of candidates to
present to the membership, the call goes out for nominations.
Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated
by others. Later, the committee meets to develop the slates of candidates for
the AACN Board of Directors and AACN Nominating Committee and to recommend
appointments to the AACN Certification Corporation Board of Directors.
Once nominated, the individuals are invited to
complete a written application in which they can discuss a variety of
experiences that help demonstrate their intellectual and ambassador skills. All
nominees� written materials are provided to the Nominating Committee for review.
Applicants who demonstrate the requisite abilities
are selected for interviews, where they can clarify and expand upon the
information contained in the written materials. Transcripts of the interviews
are provided to all members of the Nominating Committee before they meet in
January to evaluate all the materials submitted and select a slate of candidates
to submit to a vote by the general membership.
AACN leaders demonstrate well-integrated ambassador
and intellectual skills, including the ability to act with integrity,
respectfully listen to others, take responsibility for their own words and
actions and commit to working with others. The ability to collaborate with
diverse populations, manage conflict, recognize others and propose creative
solutions are additional talents the nominees must demonstrate. In addition,
communication, ongoing self-assessment, lifelong learning and the willingness to
teach, coach and mentor others are part of the required skill set.
AACN is fortunate to have multiple, talented and
extraordinary critical care leaders throughout the country. The opportunity to
interview these leaders is a privilege, and the committee members truly felt
enriched by the process. The intense procedure used to review the applications
is respectful of the individuals who have taken the time and the risk to apply
for a position. All of the deliberations are confidential, and the process
demonstrates the profound integrity that is expected of all of the association�s
leaders.
The nomination process is relatively simple. Simply
complete the nomination form online at www.aacn.org > Nomination. The AACN
Leadership Framework is also available online. Peer and self-nominations are
welcome. Associated travel and related expenses are reimbursed by AACN.
Nominations Invited
Nominations are now invited for positions on the
AACN Board of Directors, AACN Certification Board of Directors and AACN
Nominating Committee.
Do you know someone who possesses the requisite
intellectual and ambassador skills for consideration for a national position?
Are you that person?
AACN members are encouraged to rise to the challenge
and embrace the nomination process. AACN is committed to providing and
supporting strong leaders within the organization. Present and future leaders
are within our membership. Are you that leader? You can make a difference.
Participate in this year�s nominations for future positions and vote today in
the current AACN Board and AACN Nominating Committee election. Your voice
matters!
Cast Your Vote for Leadership
Selecting the future leaders of AACN has never been
easier. Simply visit our website to learn about this year�s candidates for the
AACN Board of Directors and AACN Nominating Committee and cast your vote by
logging in with your member number and last name. If you cannot locate your
member number, call (800) 899-2226.
You are eligible to vote if you are an Active,
Emeritus, International or Lifetime member of AACN whose dues were current as of
Jan. 6, 2004. Voting closes at midnight (EDT) on April 18.
Elected individuals will begin their terms of office
on July 1, 2004. The president-elect will serve a one-year term before assuming
the presidency on July 1, 2005. The three-year terms for the directors run
through June 30, 2007. The Nominating Committee members serve one year, through
June 30, 2005.
Following are the 2004-05 candidates for the AACN
Board of Directors and the AACN Nominating Committee:
AACN Board of Directors
President-Elect
1-Year Term
Debra J. Brinker
RN, MS, MSN, CCNS, CCRN
Spokane, Wash.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Pediatric ICU
Deaconess Medical Center
Director
3-Year Term (3 Positions Open)
Jodi E. Mullen
RN, CNS, MN, MS, CCNS, CCRN, APRN
Dayton, Ohio
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Pediatric ICU
Children�s Medical Center
Susan V. Helms
RN, MSN, MSN, CCRN
Archdale, N.C.
Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
Rowan Regional Medical Center
Denise Buonocore
RN, MN, MS, CCRN, APRN, NP, APRN-BC
Milford, Conn.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Bridgeport Hospital
Roberta Kaplow
RN, PhD, CCNS, CCRN
Atlanta, Ga.
Professor
Emory University
When the newly elected members of the AACN Board of
Directors take office July 1, 2004, they will join incoming President Kathleen
McCauley, RN, PhD, CS, FAAN, and returning Directors Nancy Blake, RN, MN, CCRN,
CNAA, Suzanne M. Burns, RN, MSN, RRT, ACNP, CCRN, FAAN, FCCM, John F. Dixon, RN,
MSN, Caryl Goodyear-Bruch, RN, MSN, CCRN, Janie Heath, RN, MS, CS, CCRN, ANP,
ACNP, Mary E. Holtschneider, RN, BSN, MPA, Deborah B. Laughon, RN, BSN, MS, PhD,
CCRN, and Carol A. Puz, RN, BSN, MS, CCRN.
Completing their terms on the AACN Board of
Directors are President Dorrie Fontaine, RN, DNSc, FAAN, and Treasurer M. Dave
Hanson, RN, MSN, CCRN, EMT-P, Secretary Mary Fran Tracy, RN, PhD, CCNS, CCRN,
and Susan Yeager, RN, MS, CCRN, ACNP, EMT.
AACN Nominating Committee
1-Year Term (3 Positions Open)
Natalie J. Correll-Yoder
RN, CNS, MN, CCRN
Napa, Calif.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Queen of the Valley Hospital
Terry S. Richmond
RN, PhD, CRNP, FAAN
Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Associate Professor
University of Pennsylvania
Damon B. Cottrell
RN, CNS, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, CS, CEN
Denton, Texas
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
Kathleen M. Stephens
RN, BS, BSN
Ballwin, Mo.
Nurse Educator
St. Anthony�s Medical Center
Robin L. Watson
RNC, MN, CCRN
Long Beach, Calif.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
UCLA Medical Center
Share the Knowledge; Submit an NTI Abstract!
Deadline for 2005 Conference Is June 1
By Amy Schueler, RN, MN, MSN, CCRN, APRN, NP
Chair, 2003 NTI Work Group
If you�ve ever contemplated presenting at AACN�s
National Teaching Institute, now is the time to take the first step and submit a
speaker proposal for NTI 2005 in New Orleans, La. The deadline is June 1.
AACN has made the submission process easier than
ever! Here are some background points and guidelines to help you successfully
through the process.
Varied Formats
The formats of the educational sessions at the NTI,
as well as the parallel Advanced Practice Institute, are varied. Included are
preconferences (half-day, full-day, two-day sessions), mastery sessions (150
minutes), sunrise and sunset sessions (90 minutes before and after the regular
daily programming), concurrent sessions (75 minutes) and professional enrichment
sessions (75 minutes at lunch time).
Eligibility
To be selected, educational sessions must support
AACN�s vision: a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families
where critical care nurses make their optimal contributions. They must also
support AACN�s mission: establishing work and care environments that are
respectful, healing and humane. In addition, the sessions should incorporate
research and link it to practice, reflect multidisciplinary approaches, have a
high �take-home� value and promote critical thinking and decision making.
Topic Choices
If a topic is of interest to you, it will likely be
of interest to others. Ideally, the topic will be one in which you are
knowledgeable, that is cutting edge, and relevant to current practice. The topic
can be related to critical care practice, professional development, technology
or trends in healthcare.
Determine the scope of your topic. Avoid too broad a
scope (e.g. a basic critical care course) or too narrow a scope (e.g. CCU pulse
oximetry). You must also identify your target audience. Will your content be
aimed at pediatric or adult critical care nurses, progressive care nurses, nurse
managers or nurses working in non-traditional settings? Will your content be
geared to a novice, intermediate or expert nurse, or will it be geared to an
advanced practice nurse? Identifying the scope of your topic and its target
audience will allow you to choose the appropriate educational session format.
For example, a larger scope may require a mastery or preconference session,
while a smaller scope can be covered in a concurrent session.
Ready to Write
Are you ready to write your abstract? AACN provides
easy-to-follow, detailed guidelines, as well as a sample abstract to make this
task simpler. Simply click on the online Speaker Material/Information option.
You may also want to use successful abstracts or program descriptions of
previous years as a template for your abstract. Organizing and outlining the
content before writing the first draft is also a good idea. Ask colleagues
knowledgeable on the topic to review your draft and provide input. Avoid
ambiguous statements, jargon and unapproved abbreviations. By starting early,
you will avoid a last-minute rush and possible omissions.
Submit Your Abstract
Submit your finalized abstract according to the
directions provided on the AACN Web site. You may submit online or mail a floppy
disk, though online submission is preferred. Late abstracts are generally not
accepted, so be sure to make the deadline. Think positive and feel proud to be
one of a select group of nurses who submit an abstract to NTI!
The Review
Volunteer members of the NTI Work Group, including
API representatives, review all abstracts. The aforementioned criteria are used
to rate the abstracts from 0 to 10. The reviewers also evaluate for precise and
comprehensive language and that all components of the abstract application are
present and in the correct format. The work group members then meet as a group
to review the highest ranked abstracts. The goal is to choose sessions that will
provide a conference well balanced between leadership and clinical practice
issues. Clinical practice issues are further balanced among such areas as adult,
pediatric, cardiovascular, neurology, cutting edge, pulmonary and renal.
In summary, the knowledge you hold may be quite
helpful to others. Please consider �Rising Above� by submitting an abstract for
NTI/API 2005. AACN has made the process easy. All you need to do is take that
first step!
First Yale Grand Rounds to Examine Technology
Enriching the learning opportunities offered at this
year�s NTI in Orlando, Fla., is the addition of the first Yale Grand Rounds,
sponsored by the Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Conn.
Titled �Technology Assessment for the Clinician and
Researcher,� this session will be led by Marjorie Funk, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAHA,
professor at the Yale School of Nursing, and Denise Buonocore, RN, CCRN, APRN-BC,
YSN clinical faculty and acute care nurse practitioner at Bridgeport Hospital.
They will provide a framework for assessing medical technology, which is so
ingrained in today�s healthcare settings, both traditional and nontraditional.
The information is targeted to advanced practice
nurses, staff nurses, nurse managers and researchers interested in studying the
safe and appropriate use of technology, and evaluating devices for adoption in
clinical practice.
�Clinically relevant research is thriving among
Yale�s faculty and students,� explains Catherine Gilliss, RN, DNSc, FAAN, the
school�s dean and professor. �By presenting these first Yale Grand Rounds, we
show our support of AACN�s goal of achieving evidence-based practice and
contribute to the NTI�s respected educational program.�
To find out more about the NTI or to register online
or call (800) 899-2226.
Free Web Session Targets Crucial Conversations
for Healthy Workplaces
As part of its healthy work environment initiative,
AACN has embraced the Crucial Conversations approach to managing conflict. In
response, organizational development expert VitalSmarts is offering AACN
members, on a first-come, first-serve basis, a free Webinar on how Crucial
Conversations skills can yield dramatic improvements in a healthcare
organization.
In a recent �President�s Note� column, AACN
President Dorrie Fontaine, RN, DNSc, FAAN, said, �In so much of our lives�and
almost universally in critical care�ineffective communication points out how
inadequately we handle crucial conversations. Crucial Conversations can help us
learn dialogue with genuine intention that gets positive results.�
Via the combined conference call/online slideshow
format, one of the authors of the New York Times bestseller Crucial
Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High will introduce the
concepts and tools employed.
The one-hour session, which will include time for
questions and answers, is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT on April 20. To find out more
and to register for free, visit the
Crucial Conversations Web site.
Sepsis Program 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.
AACN Annual Meeting
You are invited to join the American Association of
Critical-Care Nurses National Leadership Team at the Annual Meeting and Forum
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Noon to 1:15 pm
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida
At this informative meeting, you will learn about
AACN�s strategic plan for the future, which includes important initiatives and
efforts to meet the needs of our members. AACN committee chairs will also report
the accomplishments of their volunteer groups. As a valued member, we hope you
will take this opportunity to ask questions, present ideas and share comments
directly with AACN President Dorrie Fontaine, RN, DNSc, FAAN, and CEO Wanda
Johanson, RN, MN.
By attending the Annual Meeting, your name will be
entered into a drawing to win prizes, including free registration for NTI 2005
in New Orleans, La., practice resources, free
membership and AACN recognition products.
Academically Based Online Courses Offered
Through IU School of Nursing
Design Geared to Students and Nursing Schools
Online academic courses that specifically prepare
learners to work in adult, pediatric or neonatal critical care will be offered
May 15 to June 19, 2004, through Indiana University School of Nursing.
The courses, developed through the collaboration of
the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Indiana University School of
Nursing and Clarian Health Partners, consist of an eight-to-10 module didactic
component and a clinical practicum used with an onsite preceptor. Participants
may take the three-credit didactic component only or the six-credit
didactic-clinical program. Online preceptor orientation with basic information
about the role and the course is also available.
Ideal for Summer Electives
�These courses are perfect for schools that would
like to offer summer elective credit,� said Diane Billings, RN, EdD, FAAN,
coproject director and associate dean for teaching, learning and information
resources at IU School of Nursing.
Any school can offer the courses using institutional
pricing options. This way, a home school retains its institutional identity. Or,
courses may be taken for academic credit from IUSON and transferred to another
school.
�The courses are also appropriate for nurses
enrolled in mobility programs and as preparation for senior year �capstone�
courses,� Billings added.
The project is funded in part by a grant of nearly
$1 million from the Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnership, a part of the Fund
for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. AACN, IU School of Nursing
and Clarian Health Partners have provided additional support for the $2.1
million project. Courses were developed by national content experts directed by
IU School of Nursing.
PDA Center
Just Released! AHA/AACN ACLS Cardiac Arrest
e-Reference
This Palm OS version of the Cardiac Arrest Pocket
Reference Card provides algorithms for ventricular fibrillation/pulseless
ventricular tachycardia, pulseless electrical activity and asystole; rapid
sequence intubation protocol; and tables for drug-induced cardiovascular
emergencies. This product is a joint project of AACN and the American Heart
Association. The Cardiac Arrest e-Reference is an alternative way for healthcare
providers to quickly access information for management of cardiac arrest.
You can purchase this latest e-Reference from the
AACN PDA Center for just $12.50. Pocket PC version coming soon. Additional
e-References from AHA/AACN are currently in production.
Save on the 2004 Pocket ICU Management Guide
This new publication provides comprehensive
information, from coverage about unstable ICU patients with life-threatening
disorders (e.g., shock, MI, cardiac arrest, thromboembolic disorders) to
disorders additionally presented as a problem, not simply a diagnosis. You will
find sections on evaluating fever in the ICU, recognition, managing
hypoperfusion states, diagnosing and managing barotraumas, and recognizing
catheter infection. Each topic area or organ system includes a summary that
outlines proper evaluation and workup of pertinent body fluids and function. The
pocket ICU Management Guide is a must-have resource.
Purchase this resource (for both Palm OS and Pocket
PC) from AACN's PDA Center and save $10 off the retail price. Pay only $40
through April 30.
15% off Pocket ICU Management and ER/ICU Toolbox
Bundle
We have bundled this new ICU Management Guide with
an excellent essential program, the Medical Wizard�s ER/ICU Toolbox. This pocket
ICU/ER Toolbox bundle is only $80.49, saving you over 15% off individual prices
($94.99). This offer is good through April 30.
Special Price on Ultimate Drug Guide and ER/ICU
Toolbox Bundle!
AACN has packaged Medical Wizards new Ultimate Drug
Guide for both Palm OS and Pocket PC with another great resource, the ER and ICU
Toolbox. Based on the Davis�s Drug Guide for Nurses, the UDG offers substantial
functionality that is not available in other drug guides. And, unlike similar
products, the UDG contains the entire content of the Davis�s Drug Guide for
Nurses, not just the drug information sections. Tools, such as unit conversion
calculators, are also incorporated. By merging drug references with calculation
tools, the UDG allows nurses to seamlessly access drug information and calculate
drug dosages for any patient. Twelve months of free upgrades come with purchase.
The ER and ICU Toolbox is a premium medical calculator and rapid reference for
emergency and critical care health professionals. More than 13 modules are
available, including ACLS protocols, adult drips, emergency meds and fluid
wizard.
Through April 30, you can purchase this ER
Toolbox/Ultimate Drug Guide Bundle for only $82.99 ($94.98 when purchased
separately).
PDA Online Demonstrations
Check out the new PDA online demonstrations, which
show you how to use a PDA device and guide you through an exploration of the
abundant software programs available for your practice.
Monthly Super Savers on AACN Resource
Catalog Products
Time to clean out and update your nursing reference
library? AACN can help you with your spring cleaning with this month�s Super
Savers! This month, we bring you 3 products at significant discounts. These
Super Saver prices are valid through May 31, 2004. To qualify for the Super
Saver discounts, orders must be received or postmarked by that date.
Hemodynamic Monitoring
(#128639)
This book is a standard for anyone who needs a
resource for learning about hemodynamic monitoring. It is divided into three
units. Unit I focuses on anatomy, physiology and assessment techniques,
providing overviews of both the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems and
discussing physical assessment techniques. Unit II discusses specific
monitoring. Unit III discusses the hemodynamic care of critically ill and
injured patients. Clinically relevant questions are anticipated and clear;
practical answers are presented when possible.
Regular Price
Member $52.20; Nonmember $54.95
Super Saver Price
Member $46; Nonmember $49
Critical Care Nursing Secrets
(#128636)
Outline format covers common problems seen in the
ICU, assessment and monitoring techniques, therapies and interventions, and
critical issues in ICU care. Also includes bulleted lists and tables for quick
review.
Regular Price
Member $33.25; Nonmember $34.95
Super Saver Price
Member $29; Nonmember $31
QT Interval Monitoring: The New Kid on the Block*
(#NCE3603703A or NCE3603703C)
Differentiates QT from QTc intervals, describes key
causes and treatments for QTc prolongation, and discusses recognition and
interpretation of QT/QTc intervals from 12-lead ECGs and bedside monitoring
strips. Includes study guide and 2.0 contact hours of CE credit.
Regular Price (cassette)
Member $13; Nonmember $13
Super Saver Price
Member $10; Nonmember $10
Regular Price (CD)
Member $15; Nonmember $15
Super Saver Price
Member $10; Nonmember $10
*Product ships directly from National Nursing
Network. Please allow 7-10 business days
for delivery.
Total in Member Recruitment Campaign Tops
3,500
Drive Ended March 31; Winners to be Announced in May
Beverly Ann Carlson, RN, CNS, MS, MSN, of El Cajon,
Calif., more than doubled her total during February in AACN�s Critical Links
membership campaign. The 12 new members Carlson recruited brought her total
since the campaign began May 1 to 25.
Also bringing in 12 new members to debut in the
campaign in February was Regina C. Echetebu of Tampa, Fla.
However, last year�s winner Caroline Axt, RN, MS, of
Oakland, Calif., maintained a commanding lead in the campaign with 52 new
members recruited. Recruiting 30 or more new members were Kathleen M. Richuso,
RN, MSN, of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Delmar Imperial-Aubin, RN, BS, BSN, of
Houston, Texas, both with 38 new members recruited; Ngozi I. Moneke, RN, BC,
BSN, CCRN, of Freeport, N.Y., with 34; and Dinah Cooper, RN, CCRN, of Vanceburg,
Ky., with 33.
Through February, a total of 3,689 new members have
been recruited by individuals and chapters. (For chapter totals, see below.) The
campaign ended March 31.
Rewards Await Recruiters
The top individual recruiter when the campaign ended
will receive a $500 American Express gift certificate. 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 drawing for a $100 American
Express gift certificate. Receiving the American Express gift certificate in the
drawing for February was Linda L. Hickey, RN, of Ashland, Ohio.
In addition, all recruiters are eligible for prize
drawings that offer round-trip tickets for two to anywhere in the continental
United States, including a five-day, four-night hotel stay; round-trip tickets
for two to anywhere in the continental United States; and four-day, three-night
hotel accommodations in the continental U.S.
Note: To participate, recruiters must include their
membership numbers on the referral line of the membership application.
Individuals who also want their chapters to receive credit must include the
chapter name.
Making Critical Links
Following are other individuals who have recruited
five or more new members in this year�s campaign:
Judith A. Ascenzi, Caroline Axt, Stephanie A. Baker,
Rachel Banks, Lydia C. Bautista, Angela J. Bentley, Cathy L. Blonski, Laura B.
Boehm, Jeanne Ann Bolton, Cynthia L. Bond, Diane M. Bosen, Marylee R. Bressie,
T. Lynn Brown, Megan E. Brunson, Barbara M. Bundage, Denise Buonocore
Ana M. Cabrera, Yolanda W. Carilimdiliman, Beverly
Ann Carlson, Nancy M. Case, Diane M. Casperson, Lydia G. Casteel, Evelyn C. Coen,
Deborah J. Conaway, Dinah Cooper, Sandra J. Cornish, Lori Ann Cox, Bonnie L.
Curtis
Victor A. Duarte, Anne C. Dunn, Barbara M. Eachus,
Regina C. Echetebu, Jean A. Endryck, Michelle A. Ernzen, Kathleen L. Finn,
Dorothy J. Flowers, Barbara A. Foster, Deslin Francois, Carla J. Freeman,
Kirsten F. Fritz, Becki L. Fuzi
Kevin R. George, Katherine A. Green, Tracy Gregoire,
Carol A. Grube, Sharon V. Grupp, Ma. Thelma C. Herrera, Brian Hyland, Delmar
Imperial-Aubin, Kathleen M. Johnson, Michelle A. Jurgensen, Rachelle M. King,
Janis D. King, Betty C. King, Vivian M. Kish, Dawn Kregel
Rhonda Lanclos, Maria A. Laxina, Melanie Jane
Leepers, Dawn LeQuatte, Brandi Lidikay, Julie F. Locquiao, Linda J. Lopazanski,
Paula A. Lusardi, Jann M. McCann, Christina McCarter Cantey, Pauline J. McNeece,
Inocencia G. Mendoza, Ann L. Mercer, Julie S. Miller, Ngozi I. Moneke
Paulita D. Narag, Joseph R. Newsome, Donna M.
O'Neill, Jennifer L. Patterson, Jill Poston, Lynn M. Purcel, Kathleen
Quattrocchi, Irma N. Richardson, Kathleen M. Richuso, Susan M. Roberti,
Catherine P. Rodgers, Margaret R. Rollins, Marisue Rowe
Donna B. Sabash, Ian N. Saludares, Mary Karen Sands,
Edna J. Schambers, Laura B. Seay, Teresa J. Seright, Eunice K. Simmons,
Jacqueline D. Smith, Lynn Smith Schnautz, Doris J. Strother, Patricia M. Tanzi,
Yvonne L. Thelwell, Deborah L. Truitt, Paula J. Varhol, Stephanie C. Westbrook,
Barbara G. Wiles, Suzanne Williams, Sonia H. Wisdom, Maureen Wood, Jackie S.
Yon, Cynthia L. Zaletel.
Scene and Heard
AACN continues to seek visibility for our profession
and the organization. Following is an update on recent outreach efforts.
Our Voice in the Media
RN (February 2004)�Excerpts from the �President�s
Note� column (�Why Can�t We Get Our Arms Around True Collaboration?� AACN News,
January 2004) by AACN President Dorrie Fontaine, RN, DNSc, FAAN, were featured
in the �AACN Update� section. Fontaine cited six examples of patient-focused
collaboration, including the recent Institute of Medicine report on the work
environment, the Gallup Poll reaffirming the public�s trust in nurses and the
American College of Chest Physician�s patient-focused care pledge. The section
also discussed the importance of advance planning for this year�s NTI in
Orlando, Fla., including the option of online housing registration (www.aacn.org
> NTI), as well as the many benefits of attending.
Critical Connections (February 2004)�The Society of
Critical Care Medicine�s Annual Report to Members and Donors noted that SCCM
continues to build bridges with other organizations in developing collaborative
relationships. �Along with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN),
American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), and the American Thoracic Society (ATS),
the Society continues to identify solutions related to the critical care
workforce,� the report stated.
Nursing Education Perspectives (Jan. 1, 2004)�An
article titled �Starting a Student-Focused Teaching Revolution� noted that AACN
�has supported the ACCP pledge and called on all nurses to work with their
physician colleagues to implement patient-focused care.� The additional need for
student-centered teaching was also stressed.
American Journal of Nursing (February 2004)�An
announcement of AACN�s Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence to recognize
exceptional hospital critical care units was featured. �Units will be evaluated
on recruitment and retention practices, education and training, use of
evidence-based practices and resources, patient outcomes, environment, and
leadership and organizational ethic,� the article noted. AACN�s Web site (www.aacn.org)
was listed for further information.
SCCM News Release (Feb. 24, 2004)�Several media
outlets picked up an SCCM news release announcing the next phase of its
Surviving Sepsis Campaign, an international initiative to reduce the number of
deaths caused by sepsis. Announced was the development of updated guidelines for
treating patients with sepsis. AACN is a cosponsor of the effort. Among the
outlets posting the announcement, released in conjunction with SCCM�s 33rd
annual Critical Care Congress, were CBSMarketWatch.com, LosAngelesTimes.com,
NewsAlert.com, Hoovers.com, PharmaLive, Biz.yahoo.com and Quote.com.
Health Management Technology (February
2004)�Atlanta-based MC Strategies, Inc., a provider of Web-based learning
content, was cited as being licensed to offer AACN�s Essentials of Critical Care
Orientation (ECCO) educational tool.
Advance for Health Information Professionals (Feb.
3, 2004)�An announcement that MC Strategies will offer ECCO noted that �the new
courseware will be available immediately through MC Strategies� WebInService
division.�
HealthStream Inc. News Release (Feb. 25,
2004)�Several media outlets picked up an announcement of HealthStream�s 2003
fourth quarter and year-end results for 2003, which noted that AACN partnered
with HealthStream to deliver the Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO)
courseware to hospitals. HealthStream is offering the Web-based program as part
of its solution to assist hospitals in achieving their business and clinical
training objectives. The announcement was featured on CBS MarketWatch.com,
NewsAlert.com, Hoovers.com, HealthLeaders.com, Yahoo.com and Quote.com, among
others.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (January/February 2004)�In
a continuing education article, titled �Potential Reduction Exposure Products
and FDA Tobacco Regulation,� lead author Janie Heath, RN, APRN, BC-ANP, ACNP, a
member of the AACN Board of Directors, presented an overview of potential
reduction exposure products with strategies to help clinical nurse specialists
address tobacco harm reduction issues. The article included a table with
examples of leadership and communication skills, many of which were based on
input from AACN Director of Marketing and Strategy Integration Dana Woods, BA,
MBA, at the AACN Board of Directors meeting in November 2002, as well as a
reference to AACN�s Web site (www.aacn.org) for further information on
grassroots activism.
Advisory Board Company�The Washington, D.C.-based
company interviewed AACN Board Member John F. Dixon, RN, MSN, for a report
titled �Establishing the Quality Baseline: Maximizing Capture of Errors and Near
Misses,� which assessed the roles of information technology and the CIO in
advancing the quality of patient safety and care, and improving the capture of
accurate and timely safety data. Dixon envisioned, launched and oversaw an
initiative at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, to convert its
manual error reporting procedure to a Web-based system. Citations from two of
his publications were also included in the report by the Advisory Board Company,
an organization that provides best practices research and analysis to the
healthcare industry.
Nursing Spectrum�The online �Dear Donna� column
advised readers to contact their local AACN chapter or the national office for
further information regarding critical care courses (Jan. 7, 2004) and research
projects (Jan. 30, 2004). Each response also included a link to AACN�s Web site
(www.aacn.org).
Our Voice at the Table
AACN President-elect Kathleen McCauley, RN, PhD, CS,
FAAN, spoke at a conference on �Utilizing Standards and Research to Improve
Practice in ICUs,� sponsored by the New Jersey Hospital Association. Her speech
was titled �The Impact of Staffing Shortages on the ICU Team.�
Heath represented AACN at the American College of
Nurse Practitioners� annual summit in Washington, D.C. The focus of the summit
was to empower nurse practitioners in the areas of leadership, practice and
healthcare policy. During the general session, AACN�s mission, vision, and
strategic initiatives were shared with other ACNP national affiliate
organization representatives, including the National Association of Pediatric
Nurse Practitioners, the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse
Practitioners and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty. A key
outcome of the business session was the election of past AACN Board Member Nancy
Munro, RN, MS, CCRN, ACNP, as the national affiliate representative for ACNP�s
Nomination Committee.
AACN Board Member Nancy Blake, RN, MN, CCRN, CNAA,
served on the planning committee for the Contemporary Forums �Leadership
Excellence in Neonatal, Pediatric and Obstetric Care� conference in Las Vegas,
Nev. She also spoke at a preconference on developing a pediatric residency
program, and managing and retaining new staff, gave a concurrent session lecture
on �Critical Care Management� and spoke at a general session on the �Liability
of the Manager.�
AACN Board Member Mary Holtschneider, RN, BSN, MPA,
spoke at a conference titled �Hot Topics in Acute and Critical Care Nursing,�
held in Chapel Hill, N.C., and sponsored by the University of North Carolina
School of Nursing Continuing Education. She presented an update on national AACN
initiatives. In addition, Michelle Ernzen, RN, MSN, CCRN, president of the
Triangle Chapter of AACN, discussed her chapter�s activities.
Blake, RN, MN, CCRN, CNAA, wrote a chapter for the
Pediatric Disaster Response Plan that will be used by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency. Development of the plan, funded by a grant from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services and the Emergency Medical Services for
Children, is being headed by the Section of Pediatric Preparedness at the Center
for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University,
New York City.
If you or your chapter has reached out to the media
or other groups to promote critical care nursing, we�d like to know. E-mail your
information to
Judy.Wilkin@aacn.org.
Hospital Finds ECCO Adaptable to Different
Unit Types
Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital is a 396-bed
tertiary care hospital in Lebanon, N.H. Part of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical
Center, the hospital recently became the first facility in New Hampshire to
achieve Magnet status for nursing excellence from the American Nurses
Credentialing Center. It has been using AACN�s Internet-based Essentials of
Critical Care Orientation (ECCO) education program for more than a year.
The hospital�s director of nursing education, Ellen
Ceppetelli, RN, MS, and two of the hospital�s educators, Ingrid Mroz, RN, MS,
CCRN, clinical nurse specialist for the ICU, and Patricia DeWitt, RN, MS,
clinical educator for the hospital�s Inpatient Cardiac Services Unit, liked the
adaptability inherent within the ECCO program for hospitals using it in more
than one type of unit.
�The order of the content can be specific to the
type of patients seen in a particular unit,� said Ceppetelli.
Mroz added, �Each unit using ECCO has the
flexibility to set up their orientation course based on the type of patients
seen in that unit.�
DeWitt agreed, commenting that her orientees start
with the cardiovascular module while Mroz shared that her orientees start with a
triad comprising the pulmonary/renal/neurologic modules.
�The difference in specialties means each unit will
have a different primary patient focus,� said DeWitt.
According to Ceppetelli, the nursing shortage
created change in the hospital�s hiring practices and, subsequently, to the way
orientation was offered.
�Four years ago, we developed an orientation course
that would be offered biannually,� she said. �What we found was that in one
class, we might have 25 people but only four in another.
�Hiring new nurses every couple of weeks made it
very resource intensive in terms of number of hours devoted to
orientation�coordinating and finding rooms, scheduling anywhere from 12 to 22
faculty�and still not having the flexibility to offer orientation more
frequently to support the frequency of our hiring. Using ECCO helped us hire
people right when we needed them, rather than waiting or missing the opportunity
to hire a desired nurse because we can offer immediate learning for the nurse to
work in the role hired for.�
Ceppetelli, Mroz and DeWitt also believe that using
ECCO gives the students an advantage over traditional, classroom-based
orientation, because students can revisit the learning environment by reviewing
the online program.
DeWitt and Mroz said that, with ECCO, the course can
be spread over a length of time that will accommodate deeper learning through
hands-on activities and working with preceptors.
Ceppetelli noted that learning best occurs when it�s
combined with practice.
�ECCO allows us to really develop this kind of
model,� she said.
�And it�s flexible for students,� said Mroz. �They
can do it for two hours one day, four hours another day, really focus on topics
they don�t know or review areas they do know.�
Ceppetelli agreed, saying, �Our academic medical
center is in rural New England, where geography and climate is tough. Most
people have high-speed Internet access at home, where two feet of snow and
subzero temperatures have no impact on accessing the program and learning.�
Both Mroz and DeWitt indicated that conscientious
students often spend significantly more time completing the modules than the
approximate completion times provided by AACN.
�Then, they�ll take a module exam and score 100%,
whereas others who are not as committed don�t score as well,� said DeWitt.
Ceppetelli pointed out that the increased completion
time might also be the result of students taking extra notes when working
through content related to patients they do not see frequently in their given
setting.
The hospital�s educators developed their own tool
for measuring didactic knowledge, which Mroz has used to compare results for
students who used ECCO to students trained in the previous, classroom-based
orientation method.
�Staff that have completed the ECCO program as part
of their orientation have done quite well. The comparison of new to old is as
good or better,� she said.
May Is National Awareness and Recognition
Month
Celebrate Critical Care!
May is Critical Care Awareness and Recognition
Month, a time set aside to celebrate the contributions of nurses, doctors and
other members of the healthcare team to the care of critically ill patients and
their families.
The annual observance is promoted by AACN, in
partnership with the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American College
of Chest Physicians.
As we applaud these individuals and their dedication
to the patients and families in their care, we invite you to take part by
recognizing the critical care professionals in your communities. An array of
recognition products is available to augment activities planned. Additional
information is available online.
Other Important Dates in May
May 6-12�National Nurses Week
May 6�National Nurses Day
What�s Coming Up in the May Issue of the
American Journal of Critical Care
� Communication Ability, Method, and Content Among
Nonspeaking Nonsurviving Patients Treated With Mechanical Ventilation in the
Intensive Care Unit
� Visiting Preferences of Patients in the Intensive
Care Unit and in a Complex Care Medical Unit
� Comparison of Traditional and Disposable Bed Baths
in Critically Ill Patients
� Comparison of Signal Quality Between EASI and
Mason-Likar 12-Lead Electrocardiograms During Physical Activity
Subscriptions to Critical Care Nurse and the
American Journal of Critical Care are included in AACN membership dues.
Looking Ahead
April 2004
April 6 Early-bird deadline to register for NTI 2004
at discounted price. For more information and to register online.
April 18 Voting closes at midnight in annual AACN
election to fill positions on the AACN Board of Directors and AACN Nominating
Committee.
May 2004
May 15-20 National Teaching Institute and Critical
Care Exposition in Orlando, Fla.
May 17-July 9 CCRN certification examination
unavailable at AMP assessment centers.
May 18 AACN Annual Meeting and Forum, Orange County
Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.
June 2004
June 1 Deadline to submit speaker proposals for NTI
2005 in New Orleans, La..
June 11 Deadline to nominate yourself or a colleague
for leadership positions on the national AACN Board of Directors, AACN
Certification Corporation Board of Directors and AACN Nominating Committee.
Complete the Nomination Form inside this issue or nominate online.
|
