1.
NURSES NEEDED TO ASSIST WITH TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS
The following organizations are seeking support
from nurses to assist with tsunami relief efforts in Southeast
Asia:
- Project HOPE, an international health education
and humanitarian assistance organization, is seeking nurse volunteers
to provide assistance to tsunami victims in the most seriously
damaged areas of South Asia. Volunteers will serve a minimum
30-day rotation up to a maximum of 90 days. The second volunteer
humanitarian mission to Southeast Asia will leave on or about
March 2, 2005. See http://www.projecthope.org/employment/volunteerstsunami.htm.
- The International Council of Nurses has prepared
a tsunami toolkit that explains how to donate to nursing associations
in the countries impacted by the disaster. See http://www.icn.ch/tsunami.htm.
- Health Volunteers Overseas, an umbrella
organization that includes Nursing Overseas, is encouraging
individuals and organizations to contribute financial support
to Direct Relief International. For more details, see http://www.directrelief.org.
2.
ONLINE VOTING UNDERWAY FOR AACN'S 2005 ELECTIONS
Voting is currently underway for AACN's 2005
Elections. The Nominating Committee has prepared the slate of
candidates and is soliciting votes for AACN Board Treasurer; four
Board Members At-Large; and two members of the Nominating Committee.
Deans/directors may cast their votes online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ballot.htm.
Please direct questions about the ballot to Gene Throwe at 202-463-6930,
ext. 237 or gthrowe@aacn.nche.edu.
3.
AONE JOINS THE CNL IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE
AACN has invited the American Organization
of Nurse Executives (AONE) to join the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
Implementation Task Force. This group will be overseeing the pilot
projects that are experimenting with the CNL role developed by
AACN. Karen Haase-Herrick, AONE Past-President, will represent
AONE. Many of the clinical partners in the AACN project are AONE
members. Since one of AONE's major initiatives is the redesign
of patient care delivery models for the future, there is good
synergy for both associations in this work. The redesign for our
future requires experimentation from a variety of perspectives.
AACN's development of the CNL role is one approach that has attracted
the support of 79 academic programs and over 145 clinical partners.
AONE welcomes the opportunity to participate in the implementation
of this experiment with a new role. In spring 2004, AONE released
the "Guiding Principles for Future Patient Care Delivery
Models." These principles are congruent with the CNL project
and serve as the basis for AONE's support of this work. The AONE
Board believes that innovative pilots such as AACN's Clinical
Nurse Leader are critical to informing the field for the future.
4.
REGIONAL MEETINGS HELD TO SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS
The CNL Implementation Task Force has planned
the first series of regional meetings to assist education-practice
partnerships in their work to develop the Clinical Nurse Leader.
In addition to the one scheduled this week in Washington, DC,
meetings will also be held in San Diego (February 16-17); Atlanta
(February 24-25); Boston (March 31-April 1) and Chicago (April
13-14). At least one education and practice representative from
each partnership must attend a meeting. For more details on the
regional meetings or joining the CNL initiative, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/cnl/index.htm.
5.
NEW CNL-CNS COMPARISON POSTED ONLINE
In response to calls for more clarification,
AACN has developed a "Working Statement Comparing the Clinical
Nurse Leader and Clinical Nurse Specialist Roles." Joan Stanley,
AACN's Director of Education Policy, worked with a team of CNS
experts to develop a statement that examined the similarities,
differences and complementarities of the two roles. This statement
may be accessed at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNL/pdf/CNSComparisonTable.pdf.
6.
MASTER'S CONFERENCE MOVED TO NEW SAN DIEGO LOCATION
During the holidays, AACN was surprised to
learn that the owners of the US Grant Hotel planned to close the
hotel for renovations prior to our arrival for the February 17-19
conference. Fortunately, the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San
Diego was able to accommodate our group and stepped in when we
were disappointed by our original hotel. There is still time to
register for this conference! Details about the new location are
available at http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/sandiego/default.asp.
Conference program and registration information is posted online
at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/05mastersconference.htm.
7.
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.
8.
BRING YOUR STUDENTS TO WASHINGTON FOR A PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFING
Each year, the AACN government affairs staff welcomes
a number of student groups from member schools for briefings on
public health policy; the political, legislative, and regulatory
processes; and nursing legislation. If you would like to plan
a trip to Washington, DC for a briefing by the AACN government
affairs staff on nursing education, research, and practice issues,
please contact Gene Throwe at gthrowe@aacn.nche.edu
or (202) 463-6930, ext. 237. AACN is delighted to provide this
membership benefit to you, and staff enjoy the opportunity to
interact with your students!
9.
NURSING SPECTRUM SEEKS EXCELLENCE AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek are searching
coast to coast to honor excellence in the nursing profession.
AACN encourages members to nominate a fellow nurse they feel is
deserving of such an award. Nominations will be accepted in six
categories: Advancing the Profession, Clinical Care, Community
Service, Leadership, Mentoring, and Teaching. For more information
on this program, and to access an online nomination form, visit
http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/NursingExcellence.
10.
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 on 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 reduced
to $49 based on feedback from students. For more details including
information on group discount rates, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/SBIYCstudents.pdf.
11.
AACN's SPRING ANNUAL MEETING COMING MARCH 19-22
Join your colleagues at AACN's Spring Annual Meeting
coming March 19-22, 2005 to the The Fairmont Washington Hotel.
The theme is "Policy and Politics in Nursing Higher Education:
Identifying Our Priorities," a continuation of the focus
on policy that began at the Fall Meeting. Program sessions will
afford members the opportunity to consider various aspects of
the dean/director's important role in policy development and advocacy
and discuss timely issues. Complete program and registration information
is available at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/05SpringAnnualMtg.htm.
- AACN is soliciting abstracts for the "Innovations
in Action" session at the Spring Annual Meeting on Sunday,
March 20, 2005 from 11:00 am-Noon. This session will feature
four 15-minute abstracts by members who wish to share a novel
school accomplishment or activity with colleagues. Members are
urged to submit an abstract for review by the Program Committee.
The abstract should reflect an innovative initiative, and is
not required to conform to the meeting theme. Please email abstracts
(no more than 250 words) to bpenn@aacn.nche.edu
by Monday, February 14, 2005.
12.
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 for this conference. 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.
13.
CENTER FOR NURSING ADVOCACY
ISSUES 2004 GOLDEN LAMP AWARDS
Last month, the Center for Nursing Advocacy presented
the Golden Lamp Awards for the best and worst media portrayals
of the nursing profession for 2004. These awards highlight portrayals--from
television to the print media, from Dallas to South Africa--that
the Center believes deserve recognition, for better or worse.
Research shows that the news and entertainment media greatly affect
public views and actions concerning health care, so improving
nursing's media image is a critical step in resolving the nursing
shortage that now threatens lives worldwide. The Center offers
congratulations to those responsible for items on the "best
of" and "honorable mention" lists, and it encourages
continued strong efforts from them. The Center is also reaching
out to those responsible for items on the "worst of"
list, in the hope that it can help them improve their treatment
of nursing issues in 2005. See http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/press/releases/2004_awards.html.
14.
ELNEC SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATE FACULTY TRAINING
The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium
(ELNEC)is seeking applicants for the next training session for
faculty in graduate nursing programs. Coming June 15-17, 2005,
to Pasadena, CA, training is available to full- or part-time graduate
faculty interested in end-of-life care and integrating end-of-life
care content into graduate nursing education. Deadline to apply
for this grant-funded training program is March 10, 2005. For
more information and an application, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC.
15.
NINR LAUNCHES NEW INTRAMURAL RESEARCH WEB SITE
The National Institute of Nursing Research
(NINR) is pleased to launch its newly streamlined Division of
Intramural Research Web site. This updated resource contains information
about the Intramural programs at NINR, including research training
opportunities, staff biographies, and resources. Visitors should
note that details on the 2005 Summer Genetics Institute have now
been posted to the site. The application deadline is March 1,
2005. See http://ninr.nih.gov/research.
16.
MENTORS NEEDED FOR 2005 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
AACN is seeking members interested in becoming
a mentor as part of the Leadership for Academic Nursing Program.
Supported by the Helene Fuld Health Trust, this program is designed
to enhance leadership skills in new and emerging administrators
in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. Mentors play a
pivotal role in leadership development by sharing their expertise
and experiences. Those interested in becoming mentors should complete
the online application: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/fuld.htm.
Questions should be directed to Horacio Oliveira at holiveira@aacn.nche.edu.
17.
NO MORE REVIEWERS NEEDED FOR NIH REVIEW PANEL
Dr. Lynn T. Nielsen-Bohlman with NIH's Center
for Scientific Review would like to thank AACN members for their
willingness to volunteer to assist with the review of the Health
Literacy RFA. More than enough applications were received to form
a review committee, and no additional applications will be considered
at this time. Dr. Nielsen-Bohlman will contact those selected
to serve on the review committee within the next two weeks.
18.
SECRETARY'S AWARD PAPERS DUE TO FACULTY FEBRUARY 7
If you have a nursing student who has written a
nursing or interprofessional paper recently on health promotion
and/or disease prevention, encourage them to submit it for a 2005
Secretary's Award for Innovations in Health Promotion. Students
wishing to be considered for an award must submit papers to a
faculty sponsor by February 7, 2005. After the faculty sponsor
has reviewed the paper for general quality, as well as for technical
compliance, papers must be submitted to AACN March 4, 2005. For
more information on this prestigious and monetary award, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/SecretarysAward.
19.
HOT ISSUES CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON FACULTY
ROLE
Coming May 1-3, 2005 to the Renaissance Scottsdale
Resort in Arizona, the 2005 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 on the
AACN Web site at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/pdf/HICFP2005.pdf.
The deadline for submission is March 7, 2005.
20.
APPLICATIONS DUE FOR TWO RESEARCH GRANT
PROGRAMS
AACN strives to keep faculty abreast of funding
opportunities in the areas of nursing education, research and
practice. Two new opportunities include:
- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
is offering grants to support research efforts critical for
the advancement of pharmacist/nursing research teams and their
impact on the medication-use system. The secondary goal of the
program is to develop and strengthen the relationship between
pharmacists and nurses as they work together to provide medications
to patients in a safer environment. Apply by March 1, 2005.
See http://www.ashpfoundation.org/research/showFundingOpp.cfm?id=101.
- Each year, the American Nurses Foundation
provides funds to beginner and experienced nurse researchers
to conduct studies that contribute toward the advancement of
nursing science and the enhancement of patient care. Awards
are given in all areas of nursing, including healthy patient
outcomes, health care policy development, critical care, gerontology,
women's health, community and family intervention. Application
deadline is May 2, 2005. For more information, visit http://www.nursingworld.org/anf/nrggrant.htm.
Find other funding sources at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/opps.htm.
21.
COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK RETURNS APRIL 30-MAY 8
Designed to raise awareness of a critical health
care issue, Cover the Uninsured Week 2005 will take place April
30-May 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.
22.
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.
- The Missouri Hospital Association's Center
for Education has awarded six grants to partnerships of hospitals
and nursing schools to expand the number of registered nursing
students who can be accepted into educational programs. The
$1 million grant program was created to address the barriers
that limit the ability of the state's nursing schools to accept
a growing number of qualified applicants. The University of
Missouri-St. Louis was among the nursing schools that received
funding through this program. See http://web.mhanet.com/asp/Communications/News_Releases.asp.
23.
MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
- William T. Bester, a faculty member at The University
of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, has been recruited by
Project Hope to lead the nursing volunteers headed for the tsunami-affected
region along the South Asia coastlines (See item #1). Bester
is a retired brigadier general and first male chief of the U.S.
Army Nurse Corps. "Bill is a credit to his profession as
a nurse and to the university," said Dr. Dolores Sands,
dean of the School of Nursing. "All of us are extremely
proud that he will be part of this medical relief team."
See http://www.utexas.edu/nursing.
- Operated by the East Tennessee State University's
College of Nursing, the Johnson City Downtown Clinic is now
one of only three nurse-managed community health centers in
the nation to earn the impressive designation as a Federally
Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA). The clinic has served as the main primary and preventive
care source for more than 10,000 men, women, and children during
the past 14 years. Most of the patients are homeless, uninsured,
the working poor, or are migrant farm workers. This facility
is the only community health center recognized as a FQHC that
is operated in conjunction with a university nursing school.
Read more at http://www.etsu.edu/etsucon/announcements.htm.
24.
AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
- On January 14, AACN government affairs staff
attended the annual Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs
(NOVA) Legislative Roundtable, along with representatives of
several other nursing and veterans service organizations and
Congressional staff. NOVA outlined their legislative agenda
for the 109th Congress, and shared their outlook on the implementation
of the recommendations made by the National Commission on VA
Nursing. The VA has grown from 2,500 RNs in 1930 to over 38,000
in 2004, making it the nation's single largest employer of nurses.
For more information on NOVA, see http://www.vanurse.org.
For more information on nursing at the Department of Veterans
Affairs, visit http://www1.va.gov/nursing.
- On January 13, AACN government affairs staff
met with representatives from the U.S. Government Accountability
Office (GAO), in conjunction with the Federation of Associations
of Schools of Health Professions. The topic of the discussion
was the upcoming reauthorization of Titles VII and VIII of the
Public Health Services Act (PHSA), which the House and Senate
are slated to address some time during the 109th Congress. GAO
is expected to issue a report on PHSA Title VII and VIII programs
in summer 2005.
25.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
- The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of
Nursing announces an online course for preceptors in community
health nursing practice developed with the assistance of a grant
from Southwest Wisconsin Area Health Education Center.
"Precepting Community Health Nursing Students" is
designed to assist community/public health nurses to develop
knowledge and skills necessary for working effectively as preceptors
for undergraduate community/public health nursing students.
Free previews are available by calling (608) 262-1179.
- The Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) Program
provides nurses the opportunity to learn how to influence health
care through the legislative and regulatory processes. Participants
learn from health policy experts and government officials, network
with other nurses, and visit members of Congress. Space is still
available for the next program scheduled for February 6-9, 2005.
For more information including how to register, visit http://www.nursing-alliance.org/niwi.htm
or contact alliance@amrinc.net.
- 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 in advancing the health of the
citizens of the world community. The Summit will address an
array of issues of vital interest to the nursing community.
For more information, visit http://www.globalhealthsummit.org
or call (866) 544-9677.
- The American Association of Critical-Care
Nurses is now accepting applications for BSN Completion and
Graduate Completion Educational Advancement Scholarships for
the 2005-06 academic year. Each recipient will receive $1,500
for the academic year. Deadline to apply is April 1. See https://www.aacn.org/AACN/Memship.nsf/vwdoc/bsnGradSchship?opendocument.
