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AACN News—March 2008—Practice

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Vol. 25, No. 3, MARCH 2008


Practice Resource Network

Q: Should ACLS training be mandatory for critical care and progressive care nurses??

It is the individual’s and institution’s responsibility to make decisions regarding the necessity of specific education programs based on patients’ needs. In areas where knowledge regarding the location of emergency equipment as well as checking and stocking for resuscitation is required, the nurse should have the education and ability to perform the tasks. CLS is highly recommended because it is an excellent, standardized education program based on solid research. The benefits of ACLS programs include: a standardized approach to resuscitation, a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, evidence-based practice recommendations and an interactive educational format.
The American Heart Association is careful not to call ACLS programs (including PALS and BLS) certification or competency validation. They are marketed as educational programs and do not guarantee clinical performance.

Programs such as ACLS provide the necessary content for the education component of the competency validation process and can be extremely valuable in standardizing the knowledge and education required for resuscitation.

The Joint Commission states, “The goal of their human resources is to ensure the qualification and competencies for staff position based on its mission, population and care, treatment and services.” Each institution then defines the methods for ensuring the qualifications and competencies for that position. So it is the organization’s responsibility to identify the competencies needed for safe patient care and the mechanism it uses to assess those competencies.

You may want to validate with other hospitals in your area to compare the job requirements for similar positions. Speak with the risk management/quality management departments about competencies and job requirements.

Here are two listservs for the practice community:

Nurses in Healthcare Management and Business Leadership (NIHMBL)
As the first listserv of its kind for acute and critical care nurse managers, NIHMBL is a platform for members to discuss pertinent issues, ranging from staffing to policies and procedures to conflict resolution. Participants include critical and acute care charge nurses, managers, and clinical and administrative directors. For more information, visit http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NIHMBL/.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist Listserv
The purpose of the list is to provide an international forum for networking, information sharing and discussion of issues relevant to the role of the clinical nurse specialist. This listserv is very active with many clinical issues. You may subscribe by e-mailing a blank message to: CNS-Listserv-on@mail-list.com.

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NTI 2008: API Offers Specialized Content for Advanced Practice Nurses


Advanced practice nurses can look forward to the best of both worlds at the Advanced Practice Institute (API) at NTI 2008 in Chicago May 3 through 8. Concurrent with NTI, the API offers clinical and mastery sessions selected specifically for advanced practice nurses. Best of all, API participants can choose from API and NTI educational sessions, events, exhibits, entertainment and networking opportunities that suit their interests.

Of particular interest is the Clinical Simulation Lab open to API and NTI registrants. Introduced at NTI 2007, the popular lab returns this year, offering participants an opportunity to collaborate with their peers to determine the most effective treatment in a simulated patient case.
The API includes preconference, clinical leadership, role development, pharmacology and mastery sessions. API registrants are invited to a special reception sponsored by Stryker. This ticketed event gives participants a chance to network with their APN colleagues in a relaxed, festive atmosphere and be entered in a drawing for free registration to API 2009 in New Orleans.

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NTI 2009 Call for Abstracts

Planning to submit an abstract for NTI 2009 in New Orleans? The call for abstracts is now open. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2008. For more information, visit www.aacn.org > Education > NTI Education and Speaker Information > NTI 2009 Call for Abstracts Submission Page.

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