AACN News—October 2005

Vol. 22, No. 10, OCTOBER 2005

Meet Your Chapter Advisers

The Chapter Advisory Team provides an important link between chapters and the National Office, ensuring effective communication among the AACN Board of Directors, National Office and local chapters on pressing issues chapters face. Advisers are volunteers who have expert knowledge about chapter issues and trends in their regions of the country as well as about what is happening at the national level and how that affects chapters.

Following are the Chapter Advisory Team representatives who were selected from AACN’s online Volunteer Profile Database and their contact information for the 2005-06 year:

Chapter Adviser Lead

Kathy Peavy
RN, MS, MSN, CCRN
ext. 8724
e-mail,
Kathy.Peavy@aacn.org

Board Liaison

Mary Holtschneider
RN, BSN, BC, MPA, NREMT-P
ext. 8942
e-mail,
Mary.Holtschneider@aacn.org

Region 1
Marcia G. Bixby
RN, BS, MSN, CCRN, CS
ext. 8801
e-mail,
region1@aacn.org

Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

Region 2
Lori E. Kennedy
RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
ext. 8802
e-mail,
region2@aacn.org

Serving New York

Region 3
Julianne Gerstbrein
RN, MS, MSN, CCRN
ext. 8803
region3@aacn.org

Serving Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Region 4
Karen Kesten
RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, PCCN
ext. 8824
e-mail, region4@aacn.org

Serving Washington, D.C.,
Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia

Region 5
Jan Teal
RN-BC, MSN, CCRN
ext. 8805
region5@aacn.org

Serving North Carolina and South Carolina

Region 6
Cindi Noe
RN, BSN
ext. 8806
region6@aacn.org

Serving Alabama and Georgia

Region 7
Kimberly S. Martin
RN, MSN, CCRN
ext. 8807
e-mail, region7@aacn.org

Serving Florida

Region 8
Jane L. Hartman
RN, MS, CCRN
ext. 8808
e-mail, region8@aacn.org

Serving Michigan and Wisconsin

Region 9
Kimberly S. Hodge
RN, ASN, CCRN-CMC
ext. 8809
e-mail, region9@aacn.org

Serving Indiana and Ohio

Region 10
Karen Wood
RN, DNSc
ext. 8810
region10@aacn.org

Serving Illinois

Region 11
Joy Speciale
RN, MBA, CCRN
ext. 8811
region11@aacn.org

Serving Kentucky and Tennessee

Region 12
Elizabeth P. Stevens
RN, BSN, CCRN
ext. 8812
e-mail, region12@aacn.org

Serving Arkansas, Louisiana
and Mississippi

Region 13
Kirsten Skillings
RN, CNS, BS, MN, CCRN, CCNS, APRN
ext. 8813
e-mail, region13@aacn.org

Serving Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska

Region 14
Judi Reeves
RN, BSN
ext. 8814
e-mail, region14@aacn.org

Serving Kansas and Missouri

Region 15
Tonya Skeen
RN, MSN
ext. 8815
region15@aacn.org

Serving Oklahoma and Texas

Region 16
Lori D. Hendrickx, RN, EdD, CCRN
ext. 8908
e-mail, region16@aacn.org

Serving Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming

Region 17
Todd Grivetti
RN, BS, BSN, CCRN
ext. 8817
region17@aacn.org

Serving Arizona, Colorado,
Nevada, New Mexico and Utah

Region 18
Katie Schatz
RN, MS, MSN, APRN, NP, NP-C
ext. 8818
e-mail, region18@aacn.org

Serving Alaska, Idaho,
Hawaii, Oregon and Washington

Region 19
Barbara Thompson
RN, CNS, MSN
ext. 8800
e-mail, region19@aacn.org

Serving California

SePA Adds to Lead in Annual Membership Campaign

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter added to its lead in AACN’s Critical Links membership campaign, boosting its total to 16 new members recruited. The Greater New Orleans Chapter was close behind, with a total of 14 new members recruited since the campaign began May 1. (See related story.)

They are among 491 individuals and chapters participating in the campaign, which ends March 31. (For individual totals, see Association News.) To date, a total of 1,472 new members have been recruited.

The Rewards
The 2005-06 campaign offers a revamped list of prizes that aligns chapters with individual rewards. This year, the chapter recruiting the most new members during the campaign will receive a $1,000 honorarium check toward its treasury.

In addition, any chapter recruiting a member in a month will be eligible for a monthly drawing to receive one complimentary registration for AACN’s National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition. The winner of the July drawing is the Greater Phoenix Area Chapter.

Plus, each chapter that recruits five or more new members during the campaign will be entered into three drawings for $500 honorarium checks.

Note: For the chapter to qualify for prizes and drawings, new members must include the chapter name on the “referred by” line of the application. Chapters must be in good standing to be considered for prizes.

Other Chapters Recruiting
Following are the other chapters that have contributed to the campaign to date:

Adirondack Regional Chapter, Alameda Contra Costa Chapter, Albuquerque Chapter, Ancient City Chapter, Atlanta Area Chapter, Blue Ridge Chapter, Bluegrass Chapter, Brooklyn Chapter, Broward County Chapter, Carolina Dogwood Chapter, Central Arkansas Chapter, Central Illinois Chapter, Central Indiana Chapter, Central Iowa Chapter, Central Minnesota Area Chapter, Central Missouri Chapter, Central New Jersey Chapter, Central Ohio Chapter, Central Pennsylvania Chapter, Central San Joaquin Valley Chapter, Central Savannah River Chapter, Charlestowne Chapter, Chattahoochee Valley Chapter, Chattanooga Scenic City Chapter, Chesapeake Bay Chapter, Coastal Bend Chapter, Colorado West Chapter, Cumberland Valley Chapter

Dallas County Chapter, Delmarva Chapter, Denver Chapter, East Carolina Chapter, East Central Illinois Chapter, East River Mountain Chapter, Eastern Iowa Chapter, Emerald Coast Chapter, European Chapter, Fairbanks North Star Chapter, First Coast Chapter, Foot of the Blue Ridge Chapter, Foothills Chapter, Galveston Island Chapter, Gate City Chapter, Grapevine Area Chapter, Greater Akron Area Chapter, Greater Austin Area Chapter, Greater Berkshire County Chapter, Greater Birmingham Chapter, Greater Boston Chapter, Greater Charleston Area Chapter, Greater Chicago Area Chapter, Greater Cincinnati Chapter, Greater East Texas Chapter, Greater Evansville Chapter, Greater Flint Area Chapter, Greater Fort Worth Area Chapter, Greater Fredericksburg Area Chapter

Greater Joliet Area Chapter, Greater Kansas City Chapter, Greater Long Beach Orange County Chapter, Greater Louisville Chapter, Greater Memphis Area Chapter, Greater Miami Area Chapter, Greater Mid Cities Chapter, Greater Milwaukee Area Chapter, Greater North Texas Chapter, Greater Portland Chapter, Greater Richmond Area Chapter, Greater Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter, Greater St. Louis Chapter, Greater Tampa Bay Chapter, Greater Toledo Area Chapter, Greater Tulsa Area Chapter, Greater Twin Cities Area Chapter, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Green Country Chapter, Hawaiian Islands Chapter

Heart of Acadiana Chapter, Heart of Illinois Chapter, Heart of the Piedmont Chapter, Heartland Chapter, High Sierra Chapter, Hill City Chapter, Houston Gulf Coast Chapter, Inland Empire Chapter, Jersey Shoreline Chapter, Lake Erie Chapter, Lehigh Valley Chapter, Luzerne Lackawanna Chapter, Merrimack Valley Chapter, Metropolitan Orlando Chapter, Miami Beach Chapter, Midland Empire Chapter, Mobile Bay Area Chapter, Mohawk Valley Chapter, Montana Big Sky Chapter, Monticello Chapter, Mt. Rainier Chapter, Napa Valley Chapter, Nassau County Chapter, New Jersey Capital Chapter, New York City Chapter, North Central Florida Chapter, North Central Pennsylvania Chapter, North Central West Virginia Chapter, North Central Wisconsin Chapter, Northeast Georgia Chapter, Northeast Indiana Chapter, Northeast Tennessee Chapter, Northeastern Ohio Chapter, Northern Arizona Chapter, Northern Colorado Chapter, Northern Connecticut Chapter, Northern Illinois Chapter, Northern New Jersey Chapter, Northwest Chicago Area Chapter, Northwest Georgia Chapter, Northwest Washington Evergreen Chapter

Ocean State Chapter, Oklahoma City Area Chapter, Old Salem Chapter, Palm Beach County Chapter, Peninsula Chapter, Piedmont Carolinas Chapter, Pioneer Valley Chapter, Presque Isle Chapter, Puget Sound Chapter, Red River Valley Chapter, Riverbend Chapter, Sacramento Area Chapter, San Antonio Chapter, San Diego Area Chapter, San Fernando Valley Chapter, San Francisco Chapter, Santa Barbara County Chapter, Shellcoast Chapter, Siouxland Chapter, Smoky Mountain Chapter, South Bay Chapter, South Carolina Mid State Chapter, South Central Connecticut Chapter, South Central Oklahoma Chapter, South Central Wisconsin Chapter, Southeast Michigan Chapter, Southeast Nebraska Chapter, Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter, Southern Arizona Chapter, Southern Maine Chapter, Southern New Hampshire Chapter, Southern Shore Chapter, Southside Chicago Area Chapter, Southwest Georgia Chapter, Spokane Chapter, Suburban Cook County Chapter, Suffolk County Chapter, Suncoast Chapter, Suspension Bridge Chapter, Susquehanna Valley Chapter

Three Rivers Chapter, Tidewater Chapter, Treasure Coast Chapter, Treasure Valley Centennial Chapter, Triangle Chapter, Tri-County Chapter, Tri-State Area Chapter, Tri-Valley Chapter, Upstate Chapter, Ventura County Chapter, Vermont Green Mountain Chapter, Volusia Flagler Chapter, Washtenaw County Chapter, West Houston Chapter, West Michigan Chapter, West Texas Chapter, Western Connecticut Chapter, Western Kentucky Chapter, Western New York Chapter and White River Chapter.

To see the complete list of campaign recruiters and their totals, visit the AACN Web site.

New Orleans Chapter Embodies Spirit of Nursing

Before Hurricane Katrina left its devastating path of destruction through the Gulf Coast area, the Greater New Orleans Chapter was mounting an impressive member recruitment campaign as part of AACN’s annual Critical Links member-get-a-member drive. In fact, the chapter had recruited a total of 14 new members, five of those during August.

Reflected in these efforts is the passion these critical care nurses have toward their profession. It is indicative of the spirit they have shared with all of us through the years as the host chapter when AACN’s National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition has also called New Orleans its home for the week.

Our thoughts and prayers are now with them as those most directly impacted by Hurricane Katrina’s wrath struggle to piece their lives back together.

What's on Tap

Georgia
The Northeast Georgia Chapter will present “Tracking an Acute Myocardial Infarction: Diagnosis to Discharge” on Oct. 20 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. For more information, contact Paul Montpas, RN, BSN, CRN, CSC, at (678) 343-6550; e-mail, paul.montpas@nghs.com.

Idaho
The Spokane Chapter will present a PCCN/CCRN Review on Nov. 7 and 8 at Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d’ Alene. For more information, contact Ruth N. Pechin at (509) 685-9792; e-mail, pechinrj@starband.net.

Illinois
The Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will present “Hypothermia & Trauma—the Cold Facts” on Oct. 26. For more information, contact Charlene Cioe at (708) 352-1200, ext. 4939; e-mail, Charlene.Cioe@AHSS.org.

The Greater Chicago Area Chapter will present “Improving Patient Outcomes Using Direct Thrombin Inhibitors Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention” on Nov. 8 at Resurrection Medical Center. For more information, contact Lori Marcantonio at (847) 722-4354’ e-mail, gcac_aacn@yahoo.com.

The Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will present “Drug Allergies” on Nov. 16. For more information, contact Charlene Cioe at (708) 352-1200, ext. 4939; e-mail, Charlene.Cioe@AHSS.org.

Kentucky
The Greater Louisville Chapter will present “It’s All About the Tissues” on Oct. 17 at Jewish Hospital, Rudd Heart and Lung Conference Center. For more information contact Sharon Ruhl at (502) 897-8832 or Marlot Wigginton at (502) 629-7867.

The Western Kentucky Chapter will present a CCRN Adult Review Course on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Western Baptist Hospital, Paducah. For more information, contact Stacey Bigenho, RN, at (270) 556-3099; e-mail, sabigenho@comcast.net.

Louisiana
The Greater New Orleans Chapter will present “Balance: Myth or Reality?” on Oct. 19 at Muriel’s Jackson Square. For more information, contact Michelle Rihner at (504) 883-4244; e-mail, mrihner2000@yahoo.com.

Maryland
The Greater Washington Area Chapter will present “Spotlight on Critical Care” on Nov. 2 and 3 at martin’s Crosswinds, Greenbelt. For more information, contact Audrey Short at (703) 791-2751 or (703) 558-6850; e-mail, shortode@yahoo.com.

Massachusetts
The Merrimack Valley Chapter will present “Tricks & Tools of Trauma Resuscitation” on Oct. 19 at the Radisson Hotel, Chelmsford. For more information, contact Diane St. Pierre at (978) 455-4167; e-mail, diane.stpierre@comcast.net.

New York
The Suffolk County Chapter will present its 3rd Annual CHF Symposium in collaboration with Stony Brook University Hospital Heart Failure Services on Oct. 24 at Villa Lombardi’s, Holbrook. For more information, contact Terry Leonard at (631) 444-3322; e-mail, tleonard416@optonline.net.

Oregon
The Pacific Crest Regional Chapter will present “Trauma and Burn Update” on Oct. 31 at Rogue Valley Medical Center, Medford. For more information, contact Judy Lang at (541) 488-1218; e-mail, jmlang@mind.net.

The Greater Portland Chapter will consponsor with the Society of Critical Care Medicine Oregon Chapter and the Sigma Theta Tau Beta Psi Chapter the 32nd annual Critical Care Symposium on Nov. 17 at the Holiday Inn Portland Airport Hotel & Trade Center. For more information, contact Kathy Anderson at (503) 590-5788; e-mail, kanderson.qpc@verizon.net.

Pennsylvania
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter will present “Trends in Critical Care Nursing” Oct. 18 through 21 at the Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia. For more information, call (610) 658-7266; e-mail, sepaaacn@verizon.net.

South Carolina
The Pee Dee Area Chapter will present “Scary Secrets of Neuromuscular Blockers” on Oct. 18 at Florence Darlington Technical College. For more information, contact Linda Smiley at (843) 678-9886; e-mail, lindasmiley1@sc.rr.com.

The Coastal Chapter will present “Cardiac and Palliative Care Issues” on Oct. 21 and 22 at the Crown Reef Resort, Myrtle Beach. For more information, contact Darlene Lorenzen at (843) 455-3962; e-mail, Trishal04@aol.com.

Washington
The Mount Rainier Chapter will present “The Heart, the Lungs, the Right Brain and Neuro, Too” on Oct. 28 at the Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way. For more information, contact Chelsea O’Brien at (206) 854-6961; e-mail, chelso935@hotmail.com.

Is your chapter planning a program or special event? Submit your information online at www.aacn.org > About AACN > Chapters > Chapter Resource Center > Chapter Forms.

In the Cicle: Outstanding Chapter Educational Program

Editor’s note: Part of the AACN Circle of Excellence recognition program, the Outstanding Chapter Educational Program Award honors chapters that exemplify team-teaching, program quality and learning connection opportunities. Following are excerpts from exemplars submitted in connection with this award for 2005.

Region 6 Chapters
Prior to the early 1990s, the Georgia and Alabama chapters alternated hosting a successful two-day conference. After a less than successful year, the conference ended.

But the Georgia and Alabama chapters in Region 6 (Atlanta Area, Central Savannah River, Chattahoochee Valley, Greater Savannah Area, Northwest Georgia, South Georgia, Southwest Georgia, West Georgia, East Alabama, Greater Birmingham, Mobile Bay Area and Tennessee Valley) decided it was time to appreciate the lessons of the past and move forward, embracing “Rising Above” and “Live Your Contribution” by re-establishing the regional conference to provide high-quality education at the local level. All chapters were invited to participate and, based on resources, the tasks were divided and a percentage value assigned to provide a basis for fundraising by individual chapters.

The idea was brought forward at the annual Region 6 meeting and, in a leap of faith, one of the larger chapters offered to provide seed money it had obtained from NTI T-shirt sales to resurrect this two-day conference. Critical Care: Visioning Beyond the Basics was born.

The conference was attended by more than 220 participants from various areas in the region representing nurses at various levels, and it was supported by the community with educational grants and door prizes. The participants enjoyed the wide variety of topics and opportunities for networking. Two new chapters were also formed as a result of the enthusiasm and collaboration experienced by participants.

By the end of the second day, the next year’s conference was scheduled. Immediately, chapter leaders volunteered for tasks pairing them with future leaders for the continued success of the conference.

Sacramento Area Chapter
Sacramento, Calif.
The Sacramento Chapter continues to provide an educational environment that encourages an interest in learning new techniques, collaborating with other members of the healthcare team and keeping the vision of meeting the needs of patients and their families as our number one priority. We have maintained a reputation for meeting these needs by presenting educational programs that reflect the most current and applicable information available.

The choice of topics is driven by the results of a yearly needs assessment and our ability to obtain knowledgeable speakers. Topics presented for the 2003-04 fiscal year were varied and covered subjects related to hands-on care, leadership issues, managing to stay positive in a negative situation, and new therapies for sedation and heart failure.

Our chapter supports and promotes the mission and vision of AACN through educational programs that emphasize compassionate and knowledgeable care for patients and their families. An open forum at each educational meeting allows members to discuss a current issue or practice that is being used in their facility. Members who are unable to attend our monthly meetings are kept informed through our bimonthly newsletter.

We encourage our members to attend the NTI each year and award scholarships to members who have demonstrated outstanding support and commitment to the chapter. Board members are sent to the regional meetings to keep us aware of AACN's agenda for the year as well as to share ideas that have nurtured chapter success. The reason we are able to maintain our success is twofold: the enthusiasm and hard work of our board members, and the continued and positive support of our membership.

Welcome to the Ventura County Chapter

Welcome to the recently chartered Ventura County (Calif.) Chapter. Chapter officers are:

President—Michele Crane, RN, BSN, CCRN
President-elect—Connie Fincher, RN, BSN
Secretary—Claudia Lis, RN, BS, BSN
Treasurer—Joni Kent, RN, MS, MSN, CCRN