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July 2005
News Watch
1.
DNP TASK FORCES HOST REGIONAL MEETINGS THIS FALL
AACN invites practicing nurses,
faculty, employers, graduate students and other stakeholders to
learn more about the national movement toward the Doctor of Nursing
Practice (DNP) degree at a series of regional meetings held September
2005 through January 2006. Representatives from AACN's two DNP task
forces will share details about their work, including a draft of
the "Essentials" for DNP programs, and provide forums
for attendees to give feedback and discuss related issues. The following
conferences are scheduled:
- September 14-15, Simmons College, Boston,
MA
- September 29-30, St. Louis University, St.
Louis, MO
- November 3-4, Emory University, Atlanta,
GA
- December 8-9, University of Texas, HSC,
Houston, TX
- January 12-13, University of San Diego,
San Diego, CA
More information including details on how to register
will be posted on the AACN Web site within the next few weeks.
The John A. Hartford Foundation has generously awarded
AACN a $2.6 million grant to support a new initiative titled “Enhancing
Gerontolgy Content in Baccalaureate Programs.” Funding will
be used to launch a new project designed to strengthen geriatric
content in senior-level baccalaureate program courses by arming
a cadre of nursing faculty with the necessary knowledge, skills
and resources. This initiative will use a train-the-trainer approach
to educate faculty to lead their colleagues in gerontologizing their
curricula and preparing students to care for older adults. AACN
is very grateful to the Hartford Foundation for their strong commitment
to supporting geriatric nursing education and their efforts to improve
the quality of health care and patient safety. More details will
be posted soon on the AACN Web site.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
within the Department of Health and Human Services has announced
a funding opportunity to assist organizations providing support
for the advancement of professional development, education, research
and training for racial and ethnic minorities. These organizations
consist of representatives from member institutions who work to
ensure racial and ethnic parity in health professions. The CDC will
award a total of $900,000 to support three separate programs. The
application deadline is August 4, 2005.
4.
SENATE
SUBCOMMITTEE BOOSTS NURSING EDUCATION FUNDING
The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its bill
for FY 2006 on July 12. Nursing Workforce Development programs (Title
VIII, Public Health Service Act or PHSA) received $155.6 million,
$5.7 million more than in the House-passed bill, and $5 million
more than current funding. Funding for Health Professions Education
programs (Title VII, PHSA), which was cut substantially in the House
version, was also restored. The National Institutes of Health received
a $1.1 billion increase from the Senate Subcommittee over the FY
2005 level, $900 million more than in the House-passed bill. The
Senate bill contains an additional $3.2 billion in discretionary
spending, $145.7 billion total, verses the House total of $142.5
billion. The additional funding resulted from a shift in a payment
date for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program from the end
of FY 2006 to the beginning of FY 2007, which freed up additional
funds under the spending cap. The significant funding differences
between the House and Senate coupled with the use of the accounting
maneuver will ensure that the forthcoming conference negotiations
will be difficult. See the latest FY 2006 appropriations chart posted
online.
5.
FIRST
CNL FACULTY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP OFFERED
On August 9, 2005, AACN will present the first Clinical
Nurse Leader (CNL) Faculty Development Workshop at the University
of Kansas School of Nursing in Kansas City, KS. All academic and
clinical faculty participating in the CNL project are invited to
attend this workshop which will facilitate designing master’s
curriculum, developing didactic and clinical experiences, preparing
preceptors, and shaping immersion experiences. The CNL workshop
precedes a two-day conference co-sponsored by AACN and the Plexus
Institute titled “Complexity Science: Opportunities for Nursing
Education” on August 10-11, 2005. This introduction to complexity
science is designed for pioneering educators who are committed to
making major improvements to nursing education, research, practice
and leadership by tapping the latest advances in science.
6.
HVO SEEKS NURSING VOLUNTEERS FOR
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
Nursing Volunteers Overseas, the AACN-sponsored arm
of Health Volunteers Overseas, is seeking nurse educators for four
projects to serve underserved populations around the world. Volunteers
are needed for two-week assignments in two Cambodian locations,
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh; a two-week stint in Vellore, India; a
three-week opportunity in Mwanza, Tanzania; and a three-four week
assignment in Kampala, Uganda.
7.
SUPPORT
THE NATIONAL COVERING KIDS & FAMILIES CAMPAIGN
AACN has signed on as a supporting organization for
the national Covering Kids & Families Campaign. As part of this
effort, thousands of activities will take place across the country
in August and September to inform working families about the availability
of low-cost and free health care coverage through Medicaid and the
State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Campaign organizers
are providing free planning guides and materials, including a Back-to-School
Action Kit and free fliers, bookmarks, posters and stickers. AACN
encourages members to use these materials to help spread the word
in their own communities. Thank you for your help in connecting
uninsured kids with the health care coverage they need.
8.
AACN
SPONSORS JCAHO CONFERENCE ON HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION
AACN is serving as a sponsoring organization for
an upcoming conference sponsored by the Joint Commission for the
Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) titled “Transforming
Health Care Professional Education: Core Competencies, Microsystems
and New Training Venues.” Coming September 14-15, to the Hyatt
Rosemont in Chicago, attendees will gain insights into changes in
health professions education that are centered on implementing the
IOM's five core competencies. Presenters will discuss innovations
in education and practice that can be applied to enhance patient
safety, health outcomes, professional satisfaction, and efficiency.
All will be encouraged to contribute to recommendations for improving
education and practice.
9.
NEETF LAUNCHES NEW
PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE WEB SITE
The National Environmental Education & Training
Foundation (NEETF) is pleased to announce its new Web site for pediatric
health care providers. This online resource features many user-friendly
tools, including a screening and a comprehensive environmental history
form and an environmental history taking primer. These tools are
based on medical literature and current best practices, and were
developed in consultation with an expert advisory group. Please
share these resources with your colleagues and any other interested
parties. For more information, contact Rebecca Love at love@neetf.org
or 202-261-6475.
10.
AACN LEADERSHIP NETWORKS
NOW ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS
Enrollment is now underway for faculty wishing to
participate in AACN’s seven Leadership Networks. The networks
provide a forum for nursing school faculty and staff to connect
with colleagues nationwide while engaged in professional development
activities and resource sharing. Working through the networks, peer
professionals will share best practices and success stories, sharpen
leadership skills, and take full advantage of AACN resources. The
networks include Organizational Leadership, Instructional Leadership,
Research Leadership, Practice Leadership, Business Officers of Nursing
Schools, Nursing Advancement Professionals, and Graduate Nursing
Admissions Professionals. The annual membership fee is $100 per
person per network. Faculty and staff may participate in multiple
networks, and schools may send more than one representative to each
network.
11.
TOBACCO FREE NURSES PROJECT
SEEKS YOUR ASSISTANCE
AACN member deans will soon receive a letter from
Tobacco Free Nurses (TFN) asking you to distribute copies to incoming
nursing students this fall. Because the health of nurses and nursing
students is a high priority, AACN has partnered with TFN to assist
students with their smoking cessation efforts. The TFN initiative
offers nurses and nursing students support in their efforts to quit
and additional information about tobacco and how to quit smoking.
If we all work together to tackle tobacco use, the leading cause
of preventable death and disease in the United States, we will be
well positioned to promote excellent health for our students, the
profession of nursing, and our nursing practice.
12.
ELNEC COURSE
FOR UNDERGRADUATE FACULTY OFFERED IN DC AREA
On October 28-30, 2005, undergraduate nursing educators
and administrators will meet at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
to review the Core Train-the-Trainer program offered by the End-of-Life
Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC). Seating and accommodations
are limited, so early registration is encouraged. For details contact
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu.
13.
THREE
ELNEC COURSES OFFERED IN 2005 FOR NURSE FACULTY
The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium
(ELNEC) is sponsoring three upcoming training programs for nursing
faculty looking to develop new expertise. On August 3-5, 2005 the
third ELNEC-Pediatric Palliative Care Course will be held in Pasadena,
CA. On October 10-12, 2005, an ELNEC-Core Course, funded by Archstone,
will be held for California faculty members only. On October 28-30,
2005 the first ELNEC-Core course for undergraduate nursing faculty
in three years will be held in Washington, DC. For questions, contact
ELNEC Director Pam Malloy at pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu.
14.
CALL
FOR AACN PUBLIC POLICY INTERNS
The AACN Public Policy Internship offers student
nurses the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the process
of policy formation. Students are placed with various AACN staff
with experience in health policy, quality/ patient safety, nursing
education, geriatric nursing, or end-of-life care. Internships are
designed in collaboration with each student based on her or his
goals and objectives. For more information contact Gene Throwe at
gthrowe@aacn.nche.edu
or 202-463-6930, ext. 237.
15.
NOMINATIONS
NEEDED FOR 2006 AACN BOARD ELECTIONS
AACN’s Nominating Committee has issued a Call
for Nominations for candidates to fill five Board seats and two
committee vacancies. Chaired by Dr. Timothy Gaspar from Winona State
University, the committee will choose the slate of candidates at
the 2005 Fall Semiannual Meeting based on nominations and the committee’s
deliberations. The positions under consideration are President-Elect,
Secretary, Board Member-at-Large (3 vacancies), and Nominating Committee
(2 vacancies). Nominations must be received by 5pm on October 22,
2005.
16.
GRASSROOTS STARS AWARDS COMING IN OCTOBER
The Government Affairs Committee will recognize the
winners of the STARS awards at the Fall Semiannual Meeting in October.
The STARS awards were created in 2001 to honor those AACN members
that have gone above and beyond in their advocacy efforts for nursing
education at the federal and state levels. If you would like to
nominate an AACN member for these awards or even yourself, contact
gthrowe@aacn.nche.edu
or send a fax to 202-785-8320. Please submit a brief description
of the grassroots advocacy activities that the nominee undertook
during the past year.
17.
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 University of West Florida recently received
a $100,000 endowment for student scholarships from Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBS). The award was presented during
the graduation ceremony for the first graduates of the school’s
new BSN program. The contribution was made through a public/private
partnership called Generation RN, which strives to create educational
and career opportunities for nurses, particularly those from culturally
diverse populations. See http://uwf.edu/uwfMain/press/annualreleases/2005/May05.cfm?emailID=14868.
- Work-Force 1, a non-profit organization contracted
by the Texas Workforce Commission to oversee workforce development
in 12 Texas counties, announced that it will fund a nursing faculty
position at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to enable
the school to produce more graduates. The new faculty position
will allow the school to expand and accept 19 more students this
fall. See http://kanga.tamucc.edu/PublicAffairs/press/2005/july/workforce1.html.
18.
MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
- Earlier this month, Texas Tech University (TTU)
Health Sciences Center was selected as one of six organizations
nationwide to operate a three-year demonstration project to help
Medicare beneficiaries improve their quality of life while reducing
their medical expenses and Medicare program costs. “The pilot
project will focus on Medicare beneficiaries who are considered
‘high cost’ and ‘high risk’ and will seek
to improve their health through better quality care,” said
Dr. Mark B. McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services. TTU’s School of Nursing will be
used as a demonstration site along with the Schools of Medicine
and Pharmacy. See http://www.texastech.edu/news/CurrentNews/display_article.php?id=1767.
- Earlier this month, the Washington State
University Intercollegiate College of Nursing concluded its 10th
annual Na-ha-shnee Native American Summer Nursing Institute. The
week-long institute addresses the history, culture and health
care needs of Native Americans and begins to create an awareness
of the need for native nurses now and in the future. The program
is administered by Native American nursing students and practicing
nurses who are teachers and role models. Read more at http://www.nursing.wsu.edu/news.asp.
19.
AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
- On July 11, AACN joined with ANA, AHA, JCAHO,
and several other national organizations in sending a letter to
Senate appropriators recommending that Nursing Workforce Development
programs receive at least $175 million in FY 2006 to address the
national nursing shortage. Please click here to view a copy of
the letter: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/pdf/sl7-05.pdf.
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On June 27, AACN government affairs staff
met with the New Jersey Deans and Directors to discuss federal
advocacy and legislative strategy development. The session provided
some insights to AACN members' relationships with federal legislators
and ideas to enhance those relationships for individual school
and state-wide nursing advocacy.
-
AACN Government Affairs staff attended
two recent congressional briefings hosted by the Ad Hoc Group
of Medical Research. Mental health research was the topic of
the first briefing with speakers from the National Institute
of Mental Health, while the second discussed obesity research
with a speaker from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases.
20.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
- The American Nurses Association is seeking nominations
of registered nurses to serve on workgroups to review and revise
the following specialty nursing scope and standards of practice:
College Health, Home Health, Nursing Informatics and Professional
Development/Educator. Workgroup members must be recognized as
a content expert in the practice area for the scope and standards
being reviewed; be currently practicing in the specialty area
under discussion; possess an understanding of the broad scope
of nursing and specialty practice and a vision for the "desired
future state;” and have an appreciation of the historical
perspective. Please forward nominations to Carol J. Bickford at
cbickfor@ana.org or 301-628-5060
by July 29, 2005.
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The Community-Campus Partnerships for Health
(CCP) has issued a Call for Proposals for their 9th conference
coming to Minneapolis, MN on May 31-June 3, 2006. Programmed
around the theme “Walking the Talk: Achieving the Promise
of Authentic Partnerships,” CCP is seeking proposals in
a number of areas, including sharing power and resources in
community-campus partnerships, ethical issues, partnerships
addressing major determinants of health and social justice,
and student leadership and activism in community-campus partnerships.
Proposals are due October 7, 2005. For more details on the Call
for Proposals, see http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/conf-overview.html.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and AcademyHealth
are seeking applicants for their 2006 Fellowship. This program
brings visiting scholars in health services research-related
disciplines to NCHS to collaborate on studies of interest to
policymakers and the health services research community using
NCHS data systems. Up to two individuals will be selected to
conduct research in residence at NCHS in Hyattsville, MD for
a 13-24 month period. Applications are welcome from doctoral
students through senior researchers/faculty. The deadline to
apply is January 9, 2006. See http://www.academyhealth.org/nchs.
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The National Council of State Boards of
Nursing (NCSBN) is hosting the 2005 NCLEX Invitational on September
19 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, LA. Since
1999, the NCSBN Testing Services department has hosted this
annual conference to update attendees on the core foundations
of the NCLEX examinations and how they all play a key role in
the development and administration of the nurse licensure examination.
For more details including how to register, see http://www.ncsbn.org.
If you would like to subscribe to receive News Watch each month,
please e-mail apathak@aacn.nche.edu.
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