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April
2006 News Watch
Applications are now available for the new California
Endowment-AACN Nurse Faculty Scholarship Program. The California
Endowment awarded a generous grant to AACN to establish a scholarship
program to support underrepresented racial and ethnic minority students
in California and to provide mentoring for these students to assume
faculty and leadership roles. Scholarships are for $18,000 per year,
and schools will be required to offer a match of some portion of
the student's tuition. Though students receiving support may attend
graduate programs at any school of nursing, students must return
to their home state of California after graduation to assume a faculty
position at a California institution. Applications are available
online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CAE-AACN%20Award%20App.pdf
and must be completed by June 16, 2006. For more information, please
contact Project Coordinator Annie Alesandrini at anniea@aacn.nche.edu.
AACN is pleased to announce the research-focused nursing doctorates
have now been added to the National Research Council’s (NRC’s)
Taxonomy of Doctoral Programs. For more than three years, AACN has
been leading the effort to have nursing research doctorates recognized
among those studied by the council. The NRC will soon launch a new
study designed to assess the quality of doctoral programs through
benchmarking; provide potential students and the public with information
on doctoral programs nationwide; and enhance the nation's overall
research capacity. Nursing doctorates will now be included in this
study. Special thanks go to Dr. Margaret Heitkemper, professor and
chair of the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems
at the University of Washington, who presented testimony on behalf
of AACN in February and helped make the case for nursing’s
inclusion in the taxonomy. To view the NRC’s taxonomy, see
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/resdoc.
3.
FOURTEEN SCHOOLS OF NURSING
RECEIVE GAANN FUNDING
For the first time, 14 schools of nursing were selected to receive
funding through the Graduate Assistance in the Areas of National
Need (GAANN) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
As a result of AACN’s lobbying efforts, the Secretary of Education
agreed last year to allow nursing schools to apply for GAANN funding
in an effort to address the faculty shortage. As a result, nursing
schools received a total of $2.4 million in funding in FY 2006 which
will be used to support the graduate nursing education of 57 fellows.
Look for details on the next round of funding in upcoming issues
of AACN News Watch.
On March 29, AACN President Jeanette Lancaster presented testimony
before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and
Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) on behalf
of the Tri-Council for Nursing. The Tri-Council, a coalition of
four leading nursing organizations, is concerned that current funding
levels for Nursing Workforce Development programs (Title VIII of
the Public Health Service Act) are insufficient to maintain an adequate
nursing workforce. Dr. Lancaster brought forth the Tri-Council’s
request for $175 million in funding for nursing education programs,
a $25 million increase from last year.
5.
WATCH FOR
THE QUALITY AND SAFETY EDUCATION IN NURSING SURVEY
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded Quality and Safety Education
in Nursing (QSEN) project will launch a short, online survey in
early May to document the nature and extent of safety and quality
content in current prelicensure nursing education programs. The
survey will be sent electronically to all AACN member schools and
to the 55 ADN programs in North Carolina. Linda Cronenwett, nursing
dean from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, leads
the project and is working with a national expert panel and advisory
board, whose membership includes AACN Executive Director Polly Bednash.
The QSEN project is aimed at developing and sharing pedagogical
strategies for teaching IOM-recommended competencies via Web sites
and faculty development conferences. Please watch for the survey
and ask the person most familiar with your baccalaureate curriculum
to complete it. For more information, contact elaines@email.unc.edu
or 919-843-9985.
6.
NEW WEBCAST
ON THE DNP POSTED ON MEDSCAPE
Dr. Donna Hathaway, chair of the AACN Task Force on the Essentials
of Nursing Education for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), has
completed a video introduction to the DNP for WebMedGen, a Web-based
information portal operated by Medscape. Dr. Hathaway briefly introduces
this new development in nursing education and invites comments from
MedGenMed readers.
7.
JOIN AACN’S NEW PRIVATE NURSING SCHOOLS LISTSERV
Following a request made at the Spring Annual Meeting, AACN has
created a new listserv specifically for private nursing institutions
without an academic health center. AACN members at like institutions
recognized the need for a mechanism to discuss key issues as well
as changes in healthcare and nursing education. This listserv is
meant to facilitate discussions and encourage the sharing of information.
If you are interested in joining this listserv, contact Darcy Strickland,
AACN’s Executive Assistant, at dstrickl@aacn.nche.edu.
8.
FREE
WEBINAR OFFERED ON STUDENT BACKGROUND CHECK COMPLIANCE
On May 10 at 3pm EST, CertifiedBackground.com, AACN’s partner
in the recently launched criminal background check service, will
offer a free educational Web seminar (or Webinar) designed to take
the confusion out of background check compliance. This Webinar will
take you through the background check process as it relates to colleges
and universities in compliance with state and national regulatory
bodies. Topics will include JCAHO compliance issues, policies of
some major hospitals, choosing a background check, and establishing
a drug testing program. If you wish to participate, please register
at the following link:
http://www.meetingbridge.com/Seminar/Seminar.aspx?&SeminarCd=7353027.
9.
AMERICAN
CANCER SOCIETY FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
The American Cancer Society, the largest not-for-profit funding
source for cancer research and training, is pleased to invite applications
from master's and doctoral students for support of graduate study.
The society offers scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $15,000.
Please note that the doctoral scholarship application annual deadline
has changed to October 15. The master’s scholarship's annual
deadline is February 1. The Society offers several other research
and training grants in addition to the ones described above. For
a full description of all American Cancer Society grants, including
applications, instructions, and policies, see http://www.cancer.org/research
or http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/pdf/05CNChart.pdf.
10.
APPLY NOW FOR A 2006 GERIATRIC
NURSING CURRICULUM AWARD
Applications will be accepted through June 2 for the 2006 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. In addition to 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. Reviewers will be looking for models of excellence, which
may be showcased to inspire other schools to "gerontologize"
their own programs. Programs may be large or small, new or well
established.
11.
AACN BOARD ENDORSES TUBERCULOSIS COMPETENCIES FOR NURSES
At its March meeting, the AACN Board of Directors endorsed a new
set of tuberculosis competencies for nurses prepared in baccalaureate
and nurse practitioner programs. AACN agreed to support these competencies
and to assist with disseminating this information to all member
schools. Developed by the National Tuberculosis Curriculum Consortium,
this work is supported by the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute
of the National Institutes of Health. Though the final competencies
are not ready for distribution, details on this initiative are available
at http://ntcc.ucsd.edu.
12.
DEADLINES APPROACH FOR FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Please note that the deadlines are fast approaching for two grant
funding opportunities offered through the federal Division of Nursing:
- Nursing
Scholarship Program: Applications for the Nursing Scholarship
Program will be available April 24 with a submission deadline
of May 26. This program provides scholarships to qualified nursing
students in exchange for at least two years service at a health
care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. Preference is
given to qualified applicants with the greatest financial need
who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate nursing program.
- Nurse
Faculty Loan Program: Applications are due April 28 for the
2006 Nurse Faculty Loan Program. Through this program, the Secretary
of Health and Human Services enters into an agreement with schools
of nursing to create a student loan fund to increase the number
of qualified nursing faculty. Institutions make loans from the
fund to students enrolled in an advanced degree nursing program
with an education component that will prepare them to teach at
a school of nursing. Loan recipients who complete the degree program
may cancel up to 85% of the loan in exchange for service as full-time
nurse faculty.
13.
PLAN
NOW TO ATTEND AACN’S 2006 SUMMER SEMINAR IN WYOMING
The 2006 Summer Seminar will be held July 23-26, 2006 at the Snow
King Resort in Jackson Hole, WY. The theme, Resilient Leadership
in Times of Change and Transition: Responding to the New 'Normal'
for Academic Nursing, speaks to the various challenges in the academic
nursing setting and the need for new leadership strategies. This
year's seminar focuses on increasing the ability to positively approach
change, transitions, and ambiguity, all while avoiding burnout.
Session facilitators Drs. Carole Leland and Rob Williams, both internationally
known leadership development consultants, will help you explore
strengths and talents you may not have known you possess, find new
ways to view old issues, and deal more effectively with faculty
in times of change. Each day has a distinct theme regarding The
Art of Leadership: Mastery of Self, Mastery of Relationships, and
Mastery of Action. Topics include assessment of personal styles
in several leadership dimensions, your values on leadership and
"followership", dealing with conflict and improving communications
in times of rapid change, and "traps" in your leadership
style that can limit flexibility. Deans, directors, associate deans,
program coordinators, and other leaders at all levels of nursing
higher education will benefit from this activity. School teams are
particularly encouraged to attend and strategize pragmatic approaches
to leadership development. Brochures will be mailed shortly, and
complete information is available now at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences/06SumSem.htm.
14.
FNINR PLANS 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR)
is pleased to announce that this year’s Nightingala celebration
in Washington, DC is planned for October 11 from 6-10pm. As NINR
celebrates two decades of nursing research, investigators from around
the country will come together to look back at where we started
20 years ago, assess the current body of research, and then imagine
nursing research in the year 2026. Cokie Roberts, senior news analyst
for National Public Radio and political commentator for ABC News,
will deliver the keynote address. More than 1,000 researchers, deans,
faculty, members of Congress, and corporate leaders are expected
to attend. For details including sponsorship opportunities, see
http://ninr.nih.gov.
15.
NEW STATE
WORKFORCE REPORTS POSTED ONLINE
As part of our work to keep members updated on issues impacting
nursing education and workforce supply, AACN has created a directory
of State Nursing Workforce Reports. New reports have been recently
added to this section for Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina,
Oklahoma and Wisconsin. You may access these reports at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NsgWrkFrcReps.htm.
As new reports are released in your state, please let us know by
sending an email to rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu.
16.
LAST CALL FOR FREE ONLINE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY
In honor of the upcoming National Nurses Week, AACN will offer
member schools the opportunity to post free faculty vacancy announcements
on our Web-based Faculty Career Link resource in May 2006. In addition
to vacancy announcements, Faculty Career Link features information
for nurses considering teaching careers, including a nurse educator
career profile, listings of academic programs that prepare faculty,
financial aid opportunities, and links to faculty development programs.
AACN is also launching a promotional campaign to raise awareness
of Faculty Career Link, including spreading the word to nurse employers
in practice settings and contacting organizations comprised of advanced
practice nurses to draw attention to these opportunities to teach.
To place an ad, contact Ayesha Pathak, AACN’s Webmaster, at
lspicer@aacn.nche.edu.
17.
ELNEC
HOSTS UPCOMING COURSES THROUGH NOVEMBER 2006
Using a train-the-trainer format, the End-of-Life Nursing Consortium
(ELNEC) project is a national education initiative to improve end-of-life
care through nursing education. Six courses are planned this year,
including:
- ELNEC-Graduate, June 21-23, Pasadena, CA
- ELNEC-Pediatric Palliative Care, August 2-4, Anaheim, CA
- ELNEC-Oncology, September 13-15, Pasadena, CA
- ELNEC-Core, October 12-14, Washington, DC
- ELNEC-Oncology, November 8-9, Pittsburgh, PA
- ELNEC-Critical Care, November 13-15, Pasadena, CA
For more details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/Upcomingtrainings.htm.
18.
NURSING
SCHOOL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS SURVEY UNDERWAY
In response to last year’s hurricanes, the AACN Board of Directors
and the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) recognize the need to
provide schools of nursing with guidance to assist in preparing
for future disasters. Schools may encounter liability issues and
challenges understanding the array of federal, state, and local
disaster response agencies and resources with which to partner.
In response, the GAC developed a survey -http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=232901915096
- for AACN member schools to assess the nationwide capacity for
schools of nursing to assist in disaster management. The survey
will be open until April 28, 2006. AACN appreciates your attention
to this survey that will supply data for our advocacy efforts.
19.
COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK
RETURNS MAY 1-7
During May 1–7, thousands of individuals and organizations
across the country will join together to tell our nation’s
leaders that health care coverage must be their top priority. Cover
the Uninsured Week 2006 will highlight the fact that nearly 46 million
Americans — including more than 8 million children — are
uninsured. The campaign will also explore ways that everyone can
help get America covered. With activities in all 50 states, events
include press conferences, health and enrollment fairs, business
events, campus activities, and interfaith events. Learn more about
events taking place by viewing a state-by-state map at http://www.CoverTheUninsured.org/events.
Find out how you can support this important effort by visiting http://www.CoverTheUninsured.org.
20.
MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
- Juliann G. Sebastian has been named dean of the College of Nursing
at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). She comes to UMSL
from the University of Kentucky where she has been serving as
assistant dean for advanced practice nursing and a nursing professor.
"I look forward to working closely with the outstanding and
accomplished nursing faculty, staff, students and alumni. This
is an important time for the discipline and for health care, and
the College of Nursing has much to contribute to the future,"
said Dr. Sebastian. See http://www.umsl.edu/~nursing/news/Newdeanannouncement.htm.
- Mary Alice Donius has been appointed the dean of the School
of Nursing at the College of New Rochelle (CNR) in New York. She
is currently an associate nursing professor and the coordinator
of the college’s MSN program. “I look forward to working
with the dedicated faculty here at CNR,” said Dr. Donius.
“We will continue to create programs that advance nursing
education for our students and community, as well as address the
ever evolving needs for today’s complex health care industry.”
21.
AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
- On April 18, AACN staff attended a Health Summit on Emergency
Preparedness produced by U.S. News & World Report. Secretary
Michael Leavitt of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
and Secretary Michael Chertoff of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security discussed the Bush Administration’s perspective
on disaster preparedness. Panels of presenters from public health,
medical centers, and emergency medicine highlighted their insights
in dealing with SARS, Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 and other disasters.
For more information, see http://www.usnews.com/usnews/home.htm.
- AACN government affairs staff attended the National Advisory
Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP) meeting on April
6 and 7. The Council heard presentations on RN employment by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and the 2004 National Sample Survey
of Registered Nurses by the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA). Dr. Betty Duke, HRSA Administrator, and Kerry P. Nesseler,
HRSA Associate Administrator for Health Professions, also spoke
to the Council. To review the NACNEP agenda, see http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/nacnep/default.htm.
- On April 6, AACN government affairs staff attended a briefing
by the Markle Foundation on its health information technology
initiative titled, Connecting for Health. A public-private partnership
involving more than 100 organizations, Connecting for Health has
constructed a comprehensive approach to the exchange of private
and secure health data. Known as the Common Framework, it was
designed for implementation across many systems in a uniform,
interoperable way. Privacy is ensured while allowing for local
autonomy and innovation. For more information, visit http://www.markle.org.
- On March 31, AACN submitted testimony on FY 2007 appropriations
for nursing education and research to the U.S. House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.
View the testimony online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/Testimony/FY2007Testimony.htm.
- On April 7, AACN hosted a presentation on “Exploring Graduate
Nursing Education” as part of the National Student Nurses
Association’s annual convention in Baltimore. More than 400
students attended and received information about baccalaureate
to doctoral programs, distance education, and careers as nurse
faculty. AACN is very grateful to the presenters which included
Clay Hysell from the University of Virginia; Dr. Roxanne Moran
from Villa Julie College; Dr. Patricia Gonce Morton from the University
of Maryland; and Dr. Carol Toussie Weingarten from Villanova University.
- In March, the U.S. General Accounting Office released a report
on “Health Professions Education Programs: Actions Needed
to Measure Impact” (GAO-06-55). This report examined the
goals and effectiveness of federal funding for both Title VII
and Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. Nursing Workforce
Development Programs are funded through Title VIII. To download
a copy of the report, see http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0655high.pdf.
22.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
TO CONSIDER
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is interested
in funding research and evaluation of simulation and the roles
it can play in improving the safe delivery of health care. Simulation
is described as a strategy — not a technology — to mirror,
anticipate or amplify real situations with guided experiences
in a fully interactive way. Simulation can also complement other
organizational change methods to facilitate adoption and implementation
of best practices and new technologies. In these projects, AHRQ
is interested in the use of and/or adaptation of simulation tools
in diverse health care settings and the evaluation of their impact
on improving patient safety. The agency will fund 8-10 new grants
for a total of $2.4 million. Letters of intent are due April 28,
and applications are due May 22. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-06-030.html.
- On May 31-June 1, the Plexus Institute will host a conference
titled “Complexity Science: Knowledge, Learning & Resources
that Advance Nursing Education, Practice & Leadership”
at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ. Several Institute of
Medicine reports have suggested the redesign of the health care
system for the 21st Century through attention to complexity science.
Nursing leaders and others will share how complexity science informs
their insight, research and practice and how it adds to their
resources for creating the future. For complete details, see http://www.plexusinstitute.org/NewsEvents/Conferences/show.cfm?id=128.
- Sponsored by the Institute at the Center for Health Policy Research
and Ethics at George Mason University, the 14th Annual Washington
Health Policy Institute is scheduled for June 5-9, 2006 in Arlington,
VA. Policy issues and themes of particular importance at the institute
include changes in Medicaid; stemming the growth of the uninsured;
health workforce shortages; and public policy and budget shortfalls.
See http://hpi.gmu.edu.
- On June 15 and 16, the Association of Teachers of Preventative
Medicine will present a conference on "Interprofessional
Approaches to Teaching Clinical Prevention and Population Health”
in Washington, DC. This program is designed to improve prevention
and public health education by providing an interactive forum
for representatives from different disciplines to advance communication,
collaboration, and partnerships. For complete details, see http://www.atpm.org/meetings/2006/registration.html.
See other Opportunity Alerts including funding
options at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/opps.htm.
If you would like to subscribe to receive News Watch each month,
please e-mail apathak@aacn.nche.edu.
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