2.
APPLY NOW FOR A 2005 GERIATRIC NURSING CURRICULUM AWARD
Applications will be accepted through May
1 for the 2005 Awards for Baccalaureate Education in Geriatric
Nursing, an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute
for Geriatric Nursing in partnership with AACN. This awards program
was created to recognize model baccalaureate programs with a strong
focus on gerontological nursing. Awards are presented to nursing
programs that exhibit exceptional, substantive, and innovative
baccalaureate curriculum in this subject area. Beyond innovation,
programs must also demonstrate relevance in the clinical environment
and have the ability to be replicated at schools of nursing across
the country. Besides the award for Infusing Geriatrics into Nursing
Curriculum, award categories also include Geriatric Faculty Member,
Stand Alone Geriatric Course, and Clinical Settings in Geriatric
Nursing. For complete details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/Hartford/pdf/BaccAwardApp05.pdf.
3.
AACN REACTS TO THE PRESIDENT’S FY 2006 BUDGET PROPOSAL
On February 8, AACN announced its support for the
$150 million in funding for nursing education included in President
George W. Bush’s FY 2006 budget proposal. Though the president
called for the elimination of other programs that prepare health
professionals, funding for nursing was requested at essentially
the current level for Nursing Workforce Development programs (Title
VIII). AACN is concerned, however, that the elimination of the
other health professions education programs (Title VII) will severely
limit access to health care for underserved populations. For more
details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/2005/FY06Budget.htm.
For a breakdown of funding by program area, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/pdf/FY2006Chart.pdf.
4.
INPUT NEEDED ON ENDOWED CHAIRS AND PROFESSORSHIPS
Dr. Joyce Fitzpatrick from Case Western Reserve
University is leading the effort to update the national list of
endowed chairs and professorships at nursing institutions. If
your school would like to include new information in the list
of "Endowed Chairs and Professorships in Schools of Nursing:
A 2004 Update", contact Dr. Fitzpatrick at joyce.fitzpatrick@case.edu.
If you have an endowed chair or professorship that was not included
in the 1999 update which was published in the Journal of Professional
Nursing (Jan-Feb 2000, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 57-62), please contact
Dr. Fitzpatrick regarding this omission.
5.
AACN COSPONSORS SPRING BREAK INTO YOUR CAREER EVENT
AACN, CampusRN.com, and the Association of Schools
of Allied Health Professions will host the first “Spring
Break Into Your Career” event from March 12-14, 2005 in Orlando,
Florida at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Designed with
the new graduate in mind, this event will feature educational
sessions to help students transition into professional practice,
an NCLEX review mini-course, and a career fair featuring health
care employers from across the country. The registration fee has
been permanently reduced to $49 in response to student requests.
For details including information on group discount rates, see
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/SBIYCstudents.pdf.
6.
REP. LOWEY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO INTRODUCE CAPITATION LEGISLATION
On February 7 at a press conference in Westchester
County, New York, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) announced plans to introduce
the Nurse Education, Expansion and Development (NEED) Act once
again in the 109th Congress. This legislation (H.R. 5324), based
on capitation grants authority from the 1970s, was introduced
by Reps. Lowey and Lois Capps (D-CA) at the end of the congressional
session in 2004. In addition, Rep. Lowey announced special project
funds for the Lienhard School of Nursing at Pace University, Mercy
College, and White Plains Hospital to attract students into nursing
and educate more nurse faculty. Dr. Harriet Feldman, dean at Pace
University, spoke at the briefing about the shortage of nurse
faculty and educators. Tentative plans are to introduce the NEED
Act in March 2005.
7.
NURSING OVERSEAS SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE IN INDIA
Nursing Overseas, a division of Health Volunteers
Overseas, is seeking volunteers for its program at Christian Medical
College (CMC) in Vellore, India. This volunteer opportunity involves
working with nurse faculty to further their development in specific
areas such as advanced clinical, academic and research work through
demonstrations, role modeling, and small group instruction. CMC
faculty are closely involved in the delivery and management of
clinical nursing and play a large role in the high standard of
care delivered as well as the successful preparation of professional
nurses. Volunteers must be nurses with a minimum of a Master of
Science Degree in Nursing; a PhD is preferred. The minimum length
of assignments is two weeks. Housing is provided at CMC for a
small daily fee. For additional information, contact Michelle
Dea at 202-296-0928 or mdea@hvousa.org.
8.
CRITICAL-CARE NURSES FOCUS ON HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENTS
According to a study conducted by the American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and VitalSmarts, the
prevalent culture of poor communication and collaboration among
health professionals relates significantly to medical errors and
staff turnover. The authors found that a lack of adequate support
systems, skills and personal accountability results in communication
gaps that can cause harm to patients. For more details on this
study, AACN’s Healthy Work Environment Initiative, and the
association’s newly released “Standards for Establishing
and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments,” see http://www.aacn.org/aacn/pubpolcy.nsf/vwdoc/workenv?opendocument.
9.
NURSING ADVANCEMENT PROFESSIONALS HOST UPCOMING CONFERENCE
The seventh annual Nursing Advancement Professionals
Conference will be held March 18-19, 2005 at the Fairmont Hotel
in Washington, DC with the theme "The Treasure Trove: Discovering
Opportunities in Today’s School of Nursing." The conference
is designed for development officers, deans, academic leaders,
and public relations and marketing professionals within nursing
schools who wish to enhance awareness and fundraising initiatives
at their institutions. Speakers include Robert Sevier, senior
vice president of STAMATS; Sue Jablonski, Chief Communications
Officer at The Ohio State University Medical Center; and Bruce
E. Bigelow, a partner with Charitable Development Consulting.
For complete details and to register, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/05NAPConference.htm.
10.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT SERIES
Reflecting the theme “Doing More with Less
by Doing Things Differently,” the Spring Executive Development
Series will be held March 18-19, 2005 at the Fairmont Washington
Hotel. The program is repeated from November 2004 when registration
approached a record high. This popular conference is designed
for new deans as well as for faculty members who hold or aspire
to leadership positions within the nursing academic unit. The
theme emphasizes practical approaches to resolving issues of concern,
and the conference offers opportunities for academic leaders to
think in new ways about both old and new challenges and plan for
a preferred future for nursing education. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/ExecDev05.htm.
11.
SUPPORT THE NATIONAL TOBACCO-FREE NURSES INITIATIVE
Tobacco-Free Nurses continues to support many nurses
in their efforts to quit smoking as well as providing nurses with
resources to help patients stop smoking. The Tobacco-Free Nurses
Web site, http://www.tobaccofreenurses.org,
features a link to Nurses QuitNet, a free Internet-based cessation
service. Nurses QuitNet provides individualized cessation plans,
one-on-one advice from cessation specialists, information about
medications and a myriad of other related resources. This service
is free to all nurses and nursing students. Trying to quit smoking
is the most important thing nurses can do for their own health.
Please share this vital resource with your colleagues.
12.
APPLICATION DEADLINES APPROACH FOR HRSA GRANT PROGRAMS
The Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) has posted the FY 2005 Funding Opportunities Preview on
their Web site at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/preview.
This preview includes program summaries and submission deadlines
for dozens of grant programs, including Nursing Workforce Development
Programs administered by the Division of Nursing. Here's a sampling
of programs along with application deadlines:
- Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program,
February 25, 2005
- NHSC Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs,
March 25, 2005
- Nurse Faculty Loan Program, April 25,
2005
- Nursing Scholarship Program, May 27, 2005
- Faculty Loan Repayment Program, May 27,
2005
For complete details, see http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/preview.
13.
GRADUATE NURSING RECRUITERS
SPONSOR INAUGURAL CONFERENCE
AACN’s newest network, the Graduate Nursing
Admissions Professionals (GNAP), will host their first conference
from April 5-6, 2005 at the Marriott Salt Lake City in Utah. The
GNAP is composed of a diverse group of nursing education administrators
and faculty who are responsible for graduate nursing student recruitment,
admissions, marketing, and programming. Presented with the theme
“In a Class by Itself: New, Novel, and Notable Approaches
to Graduate Nursing Recruitment,” the conference provides
a chance for recruiters to share successes, develop new strategies,
and establish a resource network of peers. Sessions will focus
on interactive recruiting, utilizing community resources, enrolling
and recruiting a diverse student body, developing nurse researchers,
and attracting students to accelerated programs. For details,
see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/05GNAPConference.htm.
14.
HOT ISSUES CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON FACULTY ROLE
Coming May 1-3, 2005 to the Renaissance Scottsdale
Resort in Arizona, the Hot Issues Conference will focus on “Advancing
the Faculty Role.” Sessions will center on the many aspects
of the faculty role and offer insights on how to better understand
and respond to the various facets and demands. A special half-day
preconference on "Emphasizing the Teaching Role" is
offered especially for new faculty and those who wish to enhance
their teaching skills. All faculty are invited to utilize this
opportunity for professional development in a beautiful, tranquil
setting. The brochure will be mailed and available on the AACN
Web site in mid-February.
*The reception Sunday evening during the Hot Issues
Conference will feature posters that emphasize the theme "Teaching
Strategies That Encourage Active Learning.” Faculty are urged
to submit abstracts for review and potential poster presentation.
The Call for Abstracts is posted at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/pdf/HICFP2005.pdf.
The submission deadline is March 7, 2005.
15.
COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK RETURNS MAY 1-8
Designed to raise awareness of a critical health
care issue, Cover the Uninsured Week will take place May 1-8,
2005. The defining activity of the 2005 effort will be town hall
meetings at which proposals for achieving affordable and stable
health care coverage for all Americans will be discussed. Cover
the Uninsured Week forums will inform our nation’s leaders
about policy proposals to expand coverage to the uninsured and
to make coverage more affordable for those who have it. These
town hall meetings will reach a large audience by generating news
reports as well as discussions on opinion pages and on radio and
television programs. AACN is proud to have participated as a national
supporter of Cover the Uninsured Week 2004, and we hope you will
join us again in 2005 as we help ensure that everyone in America
has health care coverage. See http://www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org.
16.
DR. MARY KERR NAMED NINR DEPUTY DIRECTOR
In January, the National Institute of Nursing Research
(NINR) appointed Dr. Mary E. Kerr to the post of Deputy Director.
In this capacity, Dr. Kerr will work closely with NINR Director
Dr. Patricia Grady in planning, directing, and managing the programs
and resources of the Institute. Dr. Kerr most recently served
as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System Chair
in Nursing Science in the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.
During her distinguished career, she has focused her research
on preventing cerebral ischemia and maximizing cerebral perfusion
in the critically ill patient with a neurologic condition. To
contact Dr. Kerr and other NINR staff, see http://ninr.nih.gov/ninr/about/staff.html.
17.
REGISTRATION UNDERWAY FOR BUSINESS OFFICERS CONFERENCE
Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, the
Business Officers of Nursing Schools (BONUS) Network will host
their annual conference from April 20-22, 2005 at the Marriott
at Metro Center in Washington, DC. BONUS members are dedicated
to facilitating networking among those who work in the administration
of nursing education and to providing education in the areas of
business, technology, and financial and administrative management
of nursing schools. The conference, titled “Remembering the
Past, Celebrating the Present and Embracing the Challenges of
the Future,” will include sessions on grants administration,
understanding revenue streams, negotiation strategies, and managing
clinical agency requirements. For registration information, see
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/05BONUSConference.htm.
18.
MARCH 1 DEADLINE NEARS FOR ELNEC-GRADUATE TRAINING
Faculty teaching in graduate nursing programs are
reminded that March 1 is the deadline for the next training session
offered by the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC).
If you currently teach in a graduate nursing program and need
to update your end-of-life/palliative care lectures, you are encouraged
to apply for this training program funded by the National Cancer
Institute. The course will be held June 15-17, 2005 in Pasadena,
CA. The grant will cover the cost of 3 nights stay at the Pasadena
Hilton, welcome reception, 1,000+ page syllabus, breakfast and
lunch for the two-day training, CEs, and a $350 stipend. For more
information and an application, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/GraduateELNEC.htm.
19.
NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT-FUNDED INITIATIVES
In this section, AACN spotlights new partnerships
and initiatives launched by members, corporate citizens, philanthropies,
and government sponsors that effectively increase student capacity,
add new nursing faculty, increase student diversity, address the
nursing shortage, and enhance the way education is delivered.
- Clemson University School of Nursing is engaged
in a partnership effort to address the shortage of both registered
nurses and nurse faculty. This initiative, titled the "LPN
to Professor" program, involves four hospitals (AnMed Health,
Canon Memorial Hospital, Oconee Memorial Hospital and Palmetto
Baptist Medical Center Easley) and the Duke Endowment providing
funding to Clemson and Tri-County Technical College to hire
more faculty and expand student capacity. By 2009, this collaborative
effort is expected to create at least 48 master's prepared nurse
educators, 72 baccalaureate-educated RNs, and 90 associate degree-prepared
nurses. Read more online at http://www.hehd.clemson.edu/news/Nonline.htm.
20.
MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
- Three University of Texas-Arlington School of
Nursing researchers will be honored by the Southern Nursing
Research Society at its annual meeting this month in Atlanta.
Dr. Mary Lou Bond, Director of the School of Nursing Center
for Hispanic Studies in Nursing and Health, and Associates Dr.
Carolyn Cason and Dr. Mary Elaine Jones will receive the 2005
Award for Research in Minority Health. See http://www.uta.edu/nursing.
- Dr. Judy Ozbolt, Independence Foundation Professor
of Nursing and Biomedical Informatics at the Vanderbilt University
School of Nursing, has been named the new President-Elect of
the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI). She is the
first nurse and the first female to lead the organization. ACMI
is a college of fellows and international associates elected
to membership on the basis of their contributions to the field
of biomedical informatics. See http://www.amia.org/acmi/acmi.html.
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing has
launched the Center for Collaborative Intervention Research
to serve as a national model for interdisciplinary research
teams in the development, testing, and dissemination of innovative
interventions to improve health outcomes. The center is funded
by a five-year $1.59 million grant from the National Institute
of Nursing Research. Read more online at http://www.son.jhmi.edu/newsandmedia/newsdetail.asp?ID=233.
21.
AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
- Dr. Joan Stanley, AACN’s Director of Education
Policy, has been invited to join the newly formed Plexus Institute
Nursing Network. With over thirty individuals from nursing administration,
education and practice, health care management, medicine, and
sociology, the Complexity Science and Nursing Learning Network
will discover, evaluate and use new strategies for improving
healthcare quality using complexity science. The Network is
partially supported through a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and will extend over a two-year period. To learn
more about Plexus Institute and complexity science, visit http://www.PlexusInstitute.org.
- On February 7, AACN Government Affairs staff
attended the annual Nurse in Washington Internship Program (NIWI)
networking roundtable dinner. The NIWI Program provides an opportunity
for nurses to obtain or refine their advocacy knowledge, focusing
on the federal legislative and regulatory processes. Hosted
by the Nursing Organizations Alliance, NIWI participants are
briefed by health policy experts and government officials, visit
Members of Congress, and network with other like-minded nurses.
For more information, see the Alliance Web site at http://www.nursing-alliance.org/niwi.htm.
- AACN Government Affairs staff attended a briefing
by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on
the President’s FY 2006 Budget request on February 7. Funding
for Medicare, Medicaid, the National Institutes of Health, and
health professions education among others, is allocated through
HHS. For more information, visit http://www.hhs.gov/budget/docbudget.htm.
- On January 25, AACN staff attended the National
Advisory Council on Nursing Research held at the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). Council members discussed research initiatives
for FY 2007. NINR Director Dr. Patricia Grady updated council
members on the FY 2005 budget, preparations for the 20 year
celebration of the creation of the National Center for Nursing
Research, and the NIH Roadmap Initiative. For more information
on the Council, see http://ninr.nih.gov/ninr/about/adv-council.html.
- Throughout February, AACN Government Affairs
staff, as members of the Coalition for Health Funding (CHF),
met with several Capitol Hill staffers integral to the FY 2006
budget process. A nonpartisan nonprofit, CHF members work to
ensure that public health spending remains a high priority in
the federal budget. Recently, the 50 CHF members and 375 other
organizations sent an open letter to President Bush and Congress
urging an increase in discretionary funding for public health
programs for FY 2006. For more information, see http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/healthfunding/start.htm.
22.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
- Applications are due March 1, 2005 for scholarships
to fund master’s and doctoral study in nursing offered
by Nurses’ Educational Funds (NEF). NEF is a not-for-profit
organization that seeks to distribute funds to baccalaureate-prepared
registered nurses who need scholarship assistance to pursue
graduate study. See http://www.n-e-f.org.
- The National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC)
will host their 4th annual Best Practices Conference on October
9-11, 2005 at the Sheraton Old Town Hotel in Albuquerque, NM.
The NNCC is an association of Nurse Managed Health Centers whose
members provide quality health care services to vulnerable populations
and work to eliminate health disparities in underserved communities.
For more details, see http://www.nncc.us/NNCC_conference.htm.
The generous early registration discount ends March 1, 2005.
- The 4th annual Paul Ambrose Health Promotion
Student Leadership Symposium will take place from June 24-26,
2005 in Washington DC. This prestigious symposium will engage
45 graduate nursing, medical, graduate physician assistant,
and PharmD student leaders in building new visions, models,
and experiences for health professions education. Applications
are due April 6, 2005. For more information and application
materials, visit
http://www.atpm.org/meetings/PA_Symposium.htm.
- Join U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona and
an array of distinguished public health leaders for the 2005
Global Health Summit, which will be held Sunday, June 5, 2005
at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia. The Summit
will feature the unveiling of the Surgeon General's Call to
Action which is a preface to his upcoming Report on Global Health.
The primary purpose of the Summit is to seek input that will
assist in the development of the Report on Global Health and
also to seek advice on needed collaborative action by national
and international stakeholders. For more information, visit
http://www.globalhealthsummit.org
or call (866) 544-9677.
- On June 26-28, 2005, AcademyHealth's will host
its Annual Research Meeting for health services researchers
in Boston. Join more than 2,000 participants to learn about
cutting-edge research results, debate timely policy issues,
develop new skills and methodologies, and network with colleagues.
For more meeting information, visit http://www.academyhealth.org/arm.
