|
October
2006 News Watch
AACN's Fall Semiannual Meeting will be held at the
Fairmont Washington hotel on October 28-31, 2006, with the theme
"Recognizing Challenges and Opportunities in Nursing Higher
Education". Speakers include Scott Jaschik, Editor of Inside
Higher Ed; Richard Ekman, President, Council of Independent Colleges,
and the John P. McGovern awardee, Dr. Louis Sullivan. During the
Monday, October 30 business meeting, members will vote on The Essentials
of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. This new document
will be on discussed Sunday, October 29, 10:00-11:30am during the
task force updates. For more details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences/06FallMtg.htm.
- Meeting Highlight: AACN's Government Affairs
Committee is sponsoring five concurrent sessions on a variety
of topics from Grassroots Advocacy and Grant Writing to Patient
Safety and Strategic Partnerships. Sessions will be held on Sunday,
October 29 from 2:30-3:30pm and then repeated from 3:45-4:45 pm.
See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/Docs/GACsessions10-29-06.doc.
2.
AACN AND THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION TO LAUNCH JOINT SURVEY
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement
of Teaching has approached AACN about conducting a joint survey
on nurse faculty workload, student retention, and nursing program
capacity. Led by Dr. Patricia Benner from the University of California-San
Francisco, this work is being conducted as part of the Foundation's
three-year study on teaching and learning in nursing. Questions
will focus on the transition from the classroom to the practice
setting, faculty expectations and teaching loads, faculty role satisfaction,
and student capacity limitations within schools of nursing. The
survey will commence in November 2006.
3.
CNL CERTIFICATION EXAM ENTERS PILOT STAGE
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Certification Advisory
Committee is moving forward with the development of the CNL Certification
Examination. The purpose of the exam is to create a unique credential
for graduates of master's and post-master's CNL programs. The exam
will be piloted in November/December 2006, and the first regular
administration will commence in Spring 2007. The web-based test
will have two separate components, multiple choice and simulation/case-based
items, and will be administered at the individual schools. Currently,
ten institutions that have participated in the CNL initiative will
take part in piloting the certification exam.
The California Endowment-AACN Minority Nurse
Faculty Scholarship program provides up to $18,000 in financial
support to students pursuing a graduate degree in nursing as well
as student mentoring and leadership development components to facilitate
academic success. Though students receiving support may attend classes
at any school of nursing, students must return to their home state
of California after graduation to assume a teaching role at a California
institution. The schools where scholarship recipients will be attending
classes are required to offer a match of some portion of the student's
tuition. Applications are now available for students seeking funding
for the 2007-2008 academic year. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CAEawardApp.pdf.
Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2007.
5.
INAUGURAL FACULTY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE PLANNED
In response to enthusiastic member suggestions,
AACN will offer a new Faculty Development Conference aimed at helping
nurses transition to faculty roles in baccalaureate and higher degree
programs. Scheduled for February 8-10, 2007 at the Sheraton Suites
in Houston, TX, the conference is designed for those new to the
faculty role and/or those who would like to gain more self-confidence
in teaching. Reflecting the theme "Transition to Teaching,"
program sessions will address issues of concern to the new faculty
member, learner-centered teaching, creating an active learning environment,
clinical teaching and evaluation, and anticipating an academic career.
Three time frames are reserved for concurrent sessions during which
participants can choose topics according to their own needs and
interests. More details will be posted in November on the AACN Web
site.
6.
SUMMARY
OF JULY BOARD MEETING ACTIONS POSTED ONLINE
AACN's Board of Directors meets four times a year
to conduct the business of the association and advance the mission
of professional nursing education. To keep members updated on the
work of the Board, AACN will post a summary of their discussions
and decisions after every meeting in the Members Only section of
the Web site. For a summary of July 2006 Board actions, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/MembersOnly/index.asp.
7.DEADLINE
APPROACHES FOR PHD PROGRAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
The U.S. Department of Education is inviting
applications from schools of nursing for grant funding available
through the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN)
program for FY 2007. Fellowships are available to nursing students
pursuing research-focused doctoral degrees. The Administration has
requested $9,725,000 for new awards under this program for FY 2007.
The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional
action. However, the Department of Education is inviting applications
to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates
funds for this program. Approximately 45 GAANN awards will be made
for the 2007-2008 academic year with an average award of $216,111.
Applications must be submitted electronically through the http://www.Grants.gov
Web site. Application deadline is November 20, 2006. For information,
contact Gary Thomas at 202-502-7767 or OPE_GAANN_PROGRAM@ed.gov.
See http://www.ed.gov/programs/gaann/index.html.
8.
INSTRUCTIONAL
LEADERSHIP NETWORK MEETING PLANNED
AACN's Instructional Leadership Network will
host its annual meeting immediately prior to AACN's Baccalaureate
Education Conference on November 16, 2006 at the Buena Vista Palace
Hotel and Spa in Orlando, FL. In addition to the Business Meeting,
a program session will be offered on "Clinical Teaching and
Evaluation: Best Practices." For more details about this meeting,
see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/06BEC.htm#iln.
9.
BACCALAUREATE
EDUCATORS GATHER IN ORLANDO
It's not too late to register for the Baccalaureate
Education Conference to be held November 16-18, 2006 at the Buena
Vista Palace Hotel and Spa, Orlando, FL. This year's theme, "Advancing
Baccalaureate Education for Excellence in Practice", will provide
a forum in which faculty can explore timely issues especially pertinent
to this level of nursing education. Program session topics include
advancing baccalaureate education, assuring clinical competence,
trends in clinical teaching, implementing evidence-based practice,
and the nature of teaching. Concurrent sessions offer information
on multigenerational learners, writing for publication, quality
and safety education, instructional technology, and clinical issues
in accelerated programs. In addition, informal discussions, posters,
and abstract sessions offer participants an opportunity to consider
topics of personal interest. Complete program and registration information
is posted online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences/06BEC.htm#BEC.
10.
EXECUTIVE
DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE HOSTED NOVEMBER 15-16
AACN's
popular Executive Development Series will be held in conjunction
with the Baccalaureate Education Conference on November 15-16, 2006,
so participants can attend both events at a reduced rate. The theme,
"Leadership Transitions: Considering Cultures and Capacities,"
addresses topics such as executive transitions, the first year as
a new dean, building an administrative team, the psychology of delegation,
interpreting and using symbols in the organization, and lessons
learned in executive transitions. The thoughtful examination of
academic leadership topics is appropriate for all faculty who aspire
to expanding their responsibilities in the academic nursing unit.
Full program and registration information is online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences/06fallEDS.htm.
This program will be repeated March 16-17, 2007 immediately prior
to AACN's Spring Annual Meeting.
11.
MINORITY STUDENT
ENROLLMENT DATA POSTED ONLINE
Each year, AACN collects data on enrollment and graduations
from baccalaureate and higher degree nursing programs. As part of
this effort, AACN reports data related to race and ethnicity by
program type and degree level. To access the latest state-by-state
data on nursing program enrollments and graduations by race/ethnicity,
see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/IDS/statedata.htm.
For more information on customized data reports, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/IDS/custom.htm.
12.
REQUEST
FOR APPLICATIONS ISSUED FOR CTSA AWARDS
The National Center for Research Resources
(NCRR), a branch of the NIH, has issued a Request for Applications
(RFA-RM-07-002) for health professions schools seeking a Clinical
and Translational Science Award (CTSA). The CTSA program is intended
to give new opportunities to institutions and their affiliates to
be truly innovative in proposals that transform their programs and
resources to foster clinical and translational science. With $38
million in funding available this year, up to eight awards will
be granted through this program. Universities, academic health centers,
or other research organizations conducting translational and clinical
research are eligible to apply; partnerships among schools of medicine,
dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, osteopathy, public health, engineering
and other clinically-related institutions are strongly encouraged.
Letters of intent must be received by December 18, 2006; applications
are due January 17, 2007. See http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-07-002.html.
13.
NEETF
PROVIDES NEW ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TOOLS
The National Environmental Education &
Training Foundation (NEETF) recently announced the launch of a new
Web site with environmental health training tools for pediatric
health care providers. Developed as part of the Children's Environmental
Health Faculty Champions Initiative, the Web site provides resources
to help health care professionals address children's environmental
health issues. See http://www.neetf.org/health/champions.
14.
ANNUAL SURVEY OF NURSING PROGRAMS UNDERWAY
AACN's Annual Survey of Nursing Programs is currently
underway and must be completed by November 3, 2006. Completing the
survey is vital to our mission to advance professional nursing education,
research, and practice. Accurate data are crucial to our lobbying
efforts on behalf of member institutions and to the visibility we
provide to all member institutions through the media. Because we
appreciate the effort required to complete the annual survey, all
participating schools will receive complimentary copies of the data
reports to which they contribute information. All nursing programs
affiliated with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
are reminded to submit the survey to satisfy CCNE's annual reporting
requirement.
15.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
ISSUED FOR HEALTH POLICY SCHOLARS
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is accepting
applications for the 2007 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars
Program. Operated in partnership with Howard University, the Scholars
Program brings talented African American, Latino, American Indian/Alaska
Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander college seniors and recent graduates
to Washington, D.C., for placement in congressional offices to learn
about health policy. Through the nine-week program (May 21- August
3, 2007), Scholars gain knowledge about federal legislative procedure
and health policy issues, while further developing their critical
thinking and leadership skills. The application deadline is 5pm
on December 15, 2006. See http://www.kff.org/about/jordanscholars.cfm.
16.
APPLY NOW FOR NCHS/ACADEMY
HEALTH POLICY FELLOWSHIP
The
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's National Center
for Health Statistics (NCHS) and AcademyHealth are seeking applications
for the 2007 Health Policy Fellowship. This program brings visiting
scholars in health services research-related disciplines to the
NCHS to collaborate on studies of interest to policymakers and the
health services research community. Fellows can access the data
resources provided by CDC and participate in developmental and health
policy activities related to the design and content of future NCHS
surveys. Applications must demonstrate training and/or experience
in health services research and methodology, reflecting disciplines
such as public health, public administration, economics, sociology,
health care administration and behavioral sciences. Application
deadline is January 8, 2007. For details, see http://www.academyhealth.org/nchs.
17.
PROPOSALS
SOUGHT FOR NURSING QUALITY RESEARCH PROJECTS
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has issued
a call for proposals for a second round of funding through its Interdisciplinary
Nursing Quality Research Initiative (INQRI). This program was launched
to generate, disseminate and translate research to improve the quality
of care provided in hospitals. Funding will support interdisciplinary
teams of scholars to address gaps in knowledge about the relationship
between nursing and health care quality. Deadline to submit a proposal
is December 13, 2006. For details, see http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=19710.
18.
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 School of Nursing at The College of
St. Scholastica (MN) received two federal grants totaling $1.5
million for two nursing education programs. The grants will support
the development of a new DNP degree as well as a multifaceted
initiative to increase workforce diversity. "We are delighted
with the federal support that will enable us to initiate two important
projects. We believe these efforts will significantly increase
the positive impact of nurses and on health care," said School
of Nursing Dean Dr. Martha T. Witrak. See http://www.css.edu/x1576.xml.
- The University of Maryland School of Nursing
has received a five-year, $1 million grant from MedStar Health
to support of the Governor's Wellmobile program. Managed by the
School of Nursing, the Wellmobile travels throughout the state
providing primary health care services to underserved and uninsured
citizens. The program also provides a venue for students - at
both the undergraduate and graduate level where clinical skills
are honed - to gain experience in a community health setting.
See http://nursing.umaryland.edu.
- Florida International University School
of Nursing has partnered with Miami Dade College to operationalize
a $1.2 million SUCCEED grant from the Florida Department of Education
for the Expanded Nursing Capacity and Diversity Initiative (ENCDI).
This initiative addresses the critical shortage of RNs and nursing
faculty, the need for more nurses from minority backgrounds, and
the need to innovative nursing education. Under ENCDI, both institutions
will be able to increase nursing student enrollment, as well as
implement innovative practices in nursing education through new
technologies. See http://chua2.fiu.edu/Nursing.
- The University of South Florida (USF) College
of Nursing, in partnership with Bethune-Cookman College (BCC)
has established an initiative to boost the number of doctorate-level
minority nursing faculty. Launched earlier this semester, five
nursing instructors from BCC, a historically black college and
university (HBCU), have been enrolled in USF's Doctor of Nursing
Practice (DNP) program. To support the program, USF is using $450,838
of a $1.28 million SUCCEED Florida Career Education Grant awarded
to the school last year for the state's first DNP program. See
http://hsc.usf.edu/nocms/nursing/newsannounce/newsannounce.html.
- The Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) has awarded a $1.3 million grant to the Arizona State University
(ASU) College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation to fund a
project to improve nurse retention and patient care. ASU's ultimate
goal of the Nurses-to-Nurses project is to implement a working
model for creating and sustaining a healthy and effective nursing
work environment that can be adapted by health organizations across
the United States. ASU will partner with Abrazo Health Care (AHC)
of Arizona on the five-year initiative through 2011. See http://nursing.asu.edu.
19.
MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
- AACN
is please to announce that Dr. Susan H. Fetsch, dean and professor
from Avila University School of Nursing, and Dr. Teri A. Murray,
director of the St. Louis University School of Nursing, have been
selected to participate in the 2006 Robert Wood Johnson Executive
Nurse Fellows Program. Now in its ninth year, this three-year
fellowship program is designed to strategically position the voice
of nursing across many sectors of the economy in a health care
system undergoing unprecedented change and challenges. Drs. Fetsch
and Murray were counted among only 20 nurse leaders selected to
participate in this program in 2006. See http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Program/rwj.
- Health Volunteers Overseas has selected two deans
of nursing to receive the prestigious President's Call to Service
Award which honors those who have dedicated over 4,000 hours of
volunteer service. Recipients of this high honor include Dr. Jill
Derstine, Chair of the Department of Nursing at Temple University
(PA), who has volunteered for more than 20 assignments in Vietnam
and Cambodia; and Dr. Marie O'Toole, Chair of the Nazareth College
of Nursing (NY) who volunteered for 15 assignments in Vietnam
and Uganda. See http://www.hvousa.org/prsrel.cfm.
- Dr. Virginia Tilden, professor and dean of the
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, has
been appointed by Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to a 15-member
Commission on Healthcare Reform. The Commission is charged with
reviewing the current state of health care in America and recommending
a plan for reform that achieves a sustainable, accessible, affordable
and quality-based health care system for the 21st century. Other
Commission members include leaders in medicine, pharmacy, long-term
care, public health, insurance, and business.
- The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Leadership has
been re-designated for four years (2006-2010). There are 36 collaborating
centers across the globe and 16 in the Americas. The Center's
mission is optimizing nursing and midwifery's contributions to
advancing health in partnership with WHO and other health promotion
groups. "We have a global commitment to the internationalization
of nursing collaborations," said Director of the Collaborating
Center and the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of the School of Nursing
Dr. Afaf I. Meleis. "This re-designation makes it possible
for us to continue our efforts in advancing health where so many
have no access to it."
- A team of researchers led by University of California-San
Francisco (UCSF) nursing professor Dr. Mary Blegen has launched
a two-year study to measure nursing quality in acute inpatient
units. Titled "Examining the Causal Relationship Between
the Quality of Nursing Care and Patient Outcomes in Acute Inpatient
Units," Dr. Blegen and her co-investigators will examine
national databases compiled by a consortium of university health
systems. They will study benchmarks that measure quality hospital
care in terms of outcomes, indicators of how well the patients
fare and whether they suffer complications of their care. The
researchers will compare these outcomes with data about nurse
staffing and nurse education, as well as the acuity of patient
care needs. See http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu.
- A University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing
researcher has received a two-year, $218,000 grant from the National
Institute of Nursing Research for a new study to explore the triggers
of hot flashes during menopause. Dr. Sharon Dormire eventually
hopes to develop alternative treatments for hot flashes so women
will not have to depend on hormone therapy. See http://www.utexas.edu/nursing/html/research/news/06/flashes.html.
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded
Dr. Sean P. Clarke from the University of Pennsylvania School
of Nursing a two-year, $308,151 grant for a project titled "Validating
National Quality Forum Nursing-Sensitive Performance Measures."
Using data collected from approximately 600 acute care hospitals
in three states, as well as Medicare hospital performance measures,
this validation study will lay the foundation for blending new
types of data on hospital quality in studies to help understand
how staffing levels and the ways nursing services are organized
influence care and patient outcomes. See http://www.nursing.upenn.edu.
- The College of Nursing at East Tennessee State
University (ETSU) has a new home. The college recently occupied
a 135,000-square-foot facility that has been renovated and named
for ETSU's seventh president, Dr. Roy S. Nicks. Dean of Nursing
Dr. Patricia Smith says this new move brings all of the College
of Nursing's academic, administrative, and student services into
one facility for the first time in many years. See http://www.etsu.edu/nursing.
- Officials at Florida International University
have announced that the School of Nursing became a free-standing
college on October 1, 2006. The newly formed College of Nursing
& Health Sciences results from the reorganization of the former
College of Health & Urban Affairs (CHUA) - which had included
the School of Nursing - into three independent colleges. Dr. Divina
Grossman, currently Dean of the School of Nursing, will become
Executive Dean of the College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
The new college will be comprised of Nursing, Communication Science
& Disorders, Health Information Management, Occupational Therapy/Physical
Therapy, and Health Sciences. See http://chua2.fiu.edu/Nursing.
- After more than $3 million worth of renovations
and two years of construction, Vanderbilt University School of
Nursing unveiled its newly refurbished Godchaux Hall during a
special ceremony on September 29. Half of the renovation funds
were provided by the National Institutes of Health, the first
time the organization has funded such a project. Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch,
Nancy and Hilliard Travis Professor of Nursing and Dean of the
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, said: "This space
allows us to meet the growing demands of the nursing shortage,
to better prepare our 618 students pursuing their advanced practice
nursing degrees, and to create an environment where our research
mission will flourish." See http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/nursing.
20.
AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
- On October 11, AACN President Jeanette Lancaster
and AACN staff attended the annual Nightingala to honor the 20th
anniversary of National Institute of Nursing Research. AACN also
served as a Silver Sponsor of the 2006 State of the Science Conference
which commenced the following day in Washington, DC.
- On October 10, AACN staff accompanied congressional
staff from Senator Barbara Mikulski's (D-MD) office to tour the
school of nursing at the University of Maryland. The congressional
staffers were given an overview of the funding for nursing education
and a demonstration of the state-of-the-art simulation labs used
to educate nursing students.
- On October 5 and 6, AACN staff attended a meeting
hosted by Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) where
commission members reported on Medicare payments for Part B drugs,
rural health care, and Medicare Part D.
- On October 3, AACN staff attended a roundtable
discussion titled "Strengthening Adult Primary Care: Models
and Policy Options." Representatives from the health care
community discussed the need for more primary care, primary care
models, policy options, and the role of nursing in primary care.
- On September 28, staff attended a meeting with
the Healthcare Leadership Council. This coalition consists of
hospitals, health plans, pharmaceutical companies, medical device
manufacturers, biotech firms, health product distributors, and
others. To learn more, see http://www.hlc.org.
- On September 27, Dr. Jane Kirschling, Chair of
the Government Affairs Committee, represented AACN at the Health
Professions and Nursing Education Coalition Lobby Day. Dr. Kirschling
met with staffers from the House and Senate to discuss funding
for health professions and nursing programs.
- On September 26, staff attended the National Advisory
Council for Nursing Research Meeting. Discussions focused on behavioral
research that comprises a significant portion of the NINR portfolio.
A guest presenter was Dr. David Abrams from the Office of Behavioral
and Social Science Research. The unveiling of the NINR strategic
plan was announced and is online at http://ninr.nih.gov/assets/Documents/NINR_StrategicPlan.pdf.
- On September 22, staff attended a panel discussion
titled "Workers' Rights Threatened: A Discussion of the Pending
National Labor Relations Board Cases" hosted by the Center
for American Progress. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and
other featured speakers addressed the Kentucky River cases.
- On September 21, staff attended a presentation
titled "Health Care Reform: The Massachusetts Model"
hosted by The Policy Council. Governor Mitt Romney along with
other health care policy experts described and analyzed the state's
initiative to have every citizen receive health care coverage.
21.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
- Schools of Nursing are invited to consider becoming
members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health
Professions (NAAHP). Member benefits include access to health
professions advisors who routinely provide information and guidance
to students about the various professions; discounted registration
fees for the national meeting; discounted national meeting exhibitor
fees and publication rates; and opportunities to participate in
'Meet the Deans' events. Find out more about NAAHP online at http://www.naahp.org/membershipcentral.htm.
- Sponsored by the Institute at the Center for Health
Policy Research and Ethics at George Mason University, the 15th
Annual Washington Health Policy Institute is scheduled for June
4-8, 2007 in Arlington, VA. Participants will learn about how
policy is made, how problems drive action, the federal budget
process, challenges facing the U.S. healthcare structure, how
to conduct a meeting with policymakers and other key advocacy
skills. See http://hpi.gmu.edu.
- On March 5-9, 2007 in Washington, DC, the
American College of Nurse Practitioners will present a Public
Policy Institute for Health Professionals. Take advantage of this
opportunity to network and discuss current health care policy,
legislation, and practice issues that are critical to advancing
Nurse-Manager and APN roles while meeting with a multidisciplinary
group health professionals. For more information, contact 703-740-2529
or policyinstitute@acnpweb.org.
If you would like to have your email removed
from the distribution list, please send an email to rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu
with the subject "UNSUBSCRIBE NEWS WATCH".
|
