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January
2006 News Watch
Online balloting is underway for the 2006 AACN Election
to fill five seats on the Board of Directors and three on the Nominating
Committee. Deans/Directors of AACN member institutions are encouraged
to cast votes for President-Elect, Secretary, Board Members-at-Large,
and Nominating Committee members. To cast your votes, click the
following link or paste it into your Web browser:
http://aacn.nche.edu/Surveys\Surveya.nsf/SurveyLogin?OpenForm&uid=6B241E777D4FA769852570F5006C05F2.
Voting is confidential, and ballots must be cast by February 3,
2006. Please contact jahearn@aacn.nche.edu
if you have any questions about the 2006 AACN Election or the voting
process.
Four of the world’s leading
nursing education organizations have established a new alliance
to improve patient care through nursing education and ensure a robust
global supply of highly educated nurses. Formed in December 2005,
the Global Alliance on Nursing Education (GANE) includes representatives
from Australia & New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and
the United States who are committed to enhancing the educational
preparation of registered nurses, expanding opportunities for nursing
education, and addressing student enrollment concerns, including
the growing shortage of nurse faculty. GANE members include AACN,
the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, the Council of Deans
and Heads of United Kingdom University Faculties and Health Professions,
and the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia &
New Zealand).
3.
JOHNSON
& JOHNSON EARNS PRESIDENTIAL HONOR FOR NURSING CAMPAIGN
On January 5, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) received
the prestigious Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership honoring
its Campaign for Nursing’s Future. The campaign was developed
to help alleviate the nursing shortage by increasing awareness of
the nursing profession and providing access to nursing programs.
Presented by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, the
Ron Brown Award is the only presidential award to honor companies
for the exemplary quality of their relationships with employees
and communities. “It is truly an honor to receive this award,
which we share with our health care partners who have joined us
in our efforts to help mitigate the nursing shortage in this country,”
said Andrea Higham, director of the J&J campaign. AACN Executive
Director Polly Bednash and Associate Executive Director Robert Rosseter
were invited to attend the White House ceremony honoring J&J,
along with Dr. Peter Buerhaus from the Vanderbilt University School
of Nursing and Patti Rager, publisher of Nursing Spectrum magazine.
Earlier this month, Dr. Joan Stanley, AACN’s
Senior Director for Education Policy, received a prestigious 2006
Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing (AJN)
for her work as editor of “Advanced Practice Nursing: Emphasizing
Common Roles.” AJN’s panel of judges praised this text
as an “invaluable resource for new and established advanced
practice nurses” that offers “practical advice, historical
perspective, and analysis of current issues and predicted trends
for this specialty.” Congratulations go to Dr. Stanley for
this outstanding work.
5.
AACN
AND MONSTER HEALTHCARE HONOR SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
The first five recipients of
the Monster Healthcare-AACN Nursing Faculty Scholarship will be
honored at a reception held in conjunction with AACN’s Doctoral
Conference on January 27 at 5pm at San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado.
Created to address the nurse faculty shortage, this new program
provides $25,000 in scholarship funding to students enrolled in
fast-track baccalaureate to doctoral programs. Scholarship winners
include:
- Keynan Hobbs, University of Pennsylvania
(PhD)
- Meghan McGonigal Kenney, University of Iowa
(PhD)
- Courtney Reinisch, Columbia University (DNP)
- Sara Rivera Riemer, State University of
New York at Buffalo (PhD)
- Allison Webel, University of California-San
Francisco (PhD)
Read brief biographies of all the winners online
at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/MonsterWinners.htm.
6.
REGISTER
NOW FOR FACULTY PRACTICE & MASTER’S EDUCATION CONFERENCES
AACN’s Faculty Practice
Conference (February 15-16, 2006) once again immediately precedes
the Master’s Education Conference (February 16-18) at the San
Antonio Marriott Rivercenter so that graduate faculty can attend
both events. The Faculty Practice Conference offers programming
on "Expanding the Boundaries of Faculty Practice" and
includes the inaugural meeting of the Practice Leadership Network.
The Master’s Education Conference theme "Wrestling With
Complexity: The Future of Master’s Education" offers educators
the opportunity to plan for a robust future in many aspects of master’s
education. The hotel cutoff is January 24, and the conference early
registration deadline is January 25.
7.
ANA PLANS EVENT ON SAFE
PATIENT HANDLING FOR EDUCATORS
On February 27-March 3, 2006,
the University of South Florida and the American Nurses Association
(ANA) are cosponsoring the 2006 Safe Patient Handling and Movement
Conference in Clearwater Beach, FL. See
http://www.cme.hsc.usf.edu/sphm
for complete details. Immediately following the conference, the
ANA is sponsoring a special post-conference for nursing schools
on incorporating safe patient handling and movement content into
curricula. ANA is currently seeking funding for nursing faculty
to be supported to attend this event and will release details on
the competitive application process if funding is secured. Please
direct questions to Nancy Hughes at nancy.hughes@ana.org.
8.
PRELIMINARY
RESULTS OF NATIONAL RN SURVEY RELEASED
In late December, the Health
Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released preliminary
findings from the 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses.
According to the latest data:
- The Registered Nurse (RN) population grew
by 7.9 percent from 2000 to 2004 with the total number of RNs
estimated to be 2,909,467 in March 2004.
- The average age of the RN increased from
45.2 in 2000 to 46.8 in 2004.
- The percentage of the RN workforce who received
their initial education in baccalaureate programs increased to
30.5 percent in 2004. For the remaining workforce, 42.2 percent
entered the workforce with an associate
degree, 25.2 percent with a diploma, and 0.5 percent with a graduate
degree.
- The number of men in the RN workforce increased
to 5.7 percent.
- Average RN salaries increased by more than
$10,000 since the 2000 survey to a national average of $57,784.
AACN is concerned that the definitions
related to race/ethnicity in the RN population changed this year
making it difficult to compare with previous surveys. The preliminary
data also includes information on employment settings, APNs, foreign-educated
nurses and, for the first time, nursing faculty. To download a copy
of the report, visit http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports.
9.
TWO STAFF MEMBERS ASSUME NEW ROLES AT AACN
AACN is pleased to report that
two staff members assumed new roles with the association earlier
this month. Public Affairs Director Robert Rosseter is now the Associate
Executive Director with oversight responsibilities in the areas
of communications, public affairs, government affairs, and special
initiatives such as the Monster Healthcare scholarship and other
awards programs. He will work with Jennifer Ahearn who will remain
as Deputy Executive Director and serve as the second in command
for the organization. Dr. Joan Stanley assumed the position of Senior
Director for Education Policy with oversight responsibility for
the gerontology initiatives as well as a lead coordinating role
for the Clinical Nurse Leader, Doctor of Nursing Practice and other
educational initiatives. Please join in congratulating these staff
members on their renewed commitment to serving AACN’s members
and mission.
10.
INPUT
NEEDED ON DRAFT CNS POSITION STATEMENT
At the Fall Semiannual Meeting,
the AACN Board of Directors circulated a draft position statement
titled “AACN Statement of Support for Clinical Nurse Specialists”
(CNSs) which recognizes the essential role these advanced practice
nurses play in health care delivery. This statement is posted online
at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/positions/CNS11-05.htm.
This document was produced in response to conversations between
AACN President Jean Bartels and the leaders of the National Association
of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The draft statement underscores the
contributions CNSs make to safe, high quality nursing care and also
differentiates this advanced practice specialty from the generalist
Clinical Nurse Leader role. AACN members are encouraged to send
comments on this statement to rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu
by February 15, 2006.
11.
AHRQ
IDENTIFIES RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND FUNDING FOR FY 2006
The mission of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to improve the quality,
safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare for all Americans.
AHRQ achieves this mission by supporting a broad program of health
services research and by working with partners to promote improvements
in clinical and health systems practices, including the prevention
of diseases and other health conditions. AHRQ supports programs
designed to (1) improve clinical practice, (2) improve the health
care system's ability to provide access to and deliver high quality,
high-value health care, and (3) provide policymakers with the ability
to assess the impact of system changes on outcomes, quality, access
to, cost, and use of health care services. For a detailed list of
AHRQ’s research priorities, funding levels and a grant application,
see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-06-032.html.
12.
HRSA ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO GRANT
APPLICATION PROCESS
As of January 1, 2006, HRSA no
longer accepts applications for grant opportunities in paper form.
Applicants submitting New and Competing continuations and a selected
number of non-competing continuation applications will be required
to submit their matierals electronically through Grants.gov for
all opportunities posted after January 1. All applicants must submit
in this manner unless the applicant is granted a written exemption
in advance by the Director of HRSA's Division of Grants Policy.
13.
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELNEC-GRADUATE COURSE
If you are a graduate nursing
faculty member and need to obtain or update the latest information
on end-of-life/palliative care, you will not want to miss this opportunity
to attend the last NCI-funded End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium
(ELNEC) Graduate Train-the-Trainer Program. This course will be
held June 21-23, 2006 in Pasadena, CA. Three nights at the Pasadena
Hilton, most meals, and a stipend to off-set air travel will be
offered. Because this is the last grant funded ELNEC-Graduate course,
we anticipate a large number of applications. Deadline for applying
is March 10, 2006. For more information on this course and/or to
obtain an application, go to http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/pdf/06GradApp.pdf.
For a list of other ELNEC courses for oncology, critical care, and
pediatric nurses, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/06Courses.htm.
For further information, please contact Pam Malloy, AACN’s
ELNEC Director, at pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu.
14.
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT SERIES PRECEDES ANNUAL MEETING
The Executive Development Series,
"Adaptive Leadership in Changing Times", will be repeated
March 10-11, 2006 at The Fairmont Washington, immediately preceding
the Spring Annual Meeting. This program was highly evaluated in
November, and highlights the changing academic environment, decision
making, strategizing for fiscal success, the art of mentoring, and
career development. Full details about the program and registration
are on the AACN Web site: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences/06eds.htm.
15.
SPRING MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 11-14, 2006
Deans/Directors are encouraged
to attend AACN’s Spring Annual Meeting coming March 11-14,
2006 to the Fairmont hotel in Washington, DC. The theme “Taking
the Helm of Nursing Education: Charting New Directions” will
allow participants to consider the future of nursing education in
a variety of sessions, advance the work of the association, and
converse informally with colleagues about issues of mutual interest.
Topics include the dean's role in preparing nurses to care for older
adults, updates on federal funding opportunities, and perspectives
on baccalaureate education from leaders of several national organizations.
Complete meeting and registration details can be found at
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences/06spring.htm. Note that
the hotel cutoff has been extended through February 15.
HIGHLIGHT: The Honorable
Billy Tauzin will be honored as the Nursing Spectrum/Gannett Foundation
Lectureship award recipient on Sunday evening, March 12 during the
Spring Annual Meeting. After serving twelve terms in Congress, Mr.
Tauzin now heads PhRMA, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America, representing the country's leading pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies. While in Congress, he was instrumental
in passage of the Nurse Reinvestment Act. He has had recent personal
experience with nurses in his own health care and, in his PhRMA
role, he is emphatic about increasing emphasis on the importance
of the patient in the health care delivery system. Please join us
in honoring this friend of nursing.
16.
NEW
STUDY MAKES THE BUSINESS CASE FOR MORE RNS
A study in the January/February
2006 issue of Health Affairs concludes that increasing the number
of RNs and hours of nursing care per patient would save 6,700 lives
and 4 million days of patient care in hospitals each year. The research
by Dr. Jack Needleman from the University of California-Los Angeles
and Dr. Peter Buerhaus from Vanderbilt University also finds that
the greater use of RNs over LPNs appears to pay for itself in fewer
patient deaths, reduced lengths of hospital stay, and decreased
rates of hospital-linked complications. “For hospitals where
nurse staffing is low, this study makes an unequivocal business
case for using more RNs in nurse staffing and a strong case based
on value to patients for increasing the hours of nursing care,”
said Dr. Needleman. Dr. Buerhaus added that “we hope this study
stimulates a fresh debate on the contributions of nurses in improving
the quality of hospital care.” .
17.
OVERVIEW OF FY 2006 APPROPRIATIONS
On December 21, 2005, Congress
completed the FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
(LHHS) Appropriations bill (H.R. 3010 – H. Rpt. 109-337) and
on December 30, President Bush signed the bill into law. All health
and education programs sustained a one percent across-the-board
cut for discretionary spending programs, except for those at the
Department of Veterans Affairs. As a result, many programs are funded
below FY 2005 levels for FY 2006. Nursing Workforce Development
Programs (Title VIII, Public Health Service Act or PHSA) were spared
significant cuts when compared with many other health and education
programs. Nursing programs received $149.68 million in FY 2006,
a 0.7 percent cut from FY 2005. In contrast, the Health Professions
Education Programs (Title VII, PHSA) received only $145.20 million,
a 51.5 percent cut from the previous year. Five Title VII programs
were completely eliminated. However, Scholarships for Disadvantaged
Students, Faculty Loan Repayment, Area Health Education Centers,
Rural Health Outreach Grants, and Rural Research Grants Programs
were essentially level funded. The National Institutes of Health
(NIH) received $28.24 billion and the National Institute of Nursing
Research (NINR) received $137.34 million, 0.1 percent and 0.5 percent
cuts respectively. The LHHS bill did not fund earmarked special
projects. For details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/pdf/HistoricFY01-06.pdf.
Now AACN is beginning its advocacy for FY 2007 and working with
the nursing community to achieve consensus on a funding request
for Title VIII programs.
18.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2006 NAP CONFERENCE
“Building Blocks for Success”
will be the theme of the 2006 AACN Nursing Advancement Professionals
(NAP) Conference set for March 10-11, 2006. The eighth annual event
will be held at the Fairmont hotel in Washington, DC. The conference
is designed for fund development officers, public relations and
marketing professionals, deans of colleges of nursing and academic
leadership. A brochure outlining conference speakers and registration
information will be mailed out this month. The NAP Conference is
an excellent opportunity to gain critical information to enhance
your college of nursing and to network with fellow colleagues.
19.
AHRQ RELEASES DISPARITIES
AND QUALITY REPORTS
The Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ) has released the 2005 National Health Disparities
and National Health Quality Reports. These annual reports measure
quality and disparities in four key areas of health care: effectiveness,
patient safety, timeliness, and patient centeredness. Released at
the National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic
Disparities in Health, the disparities report notes that while racial
disparities in access to care for many minorities are narrowing,
the majority of disparities for both quality and access are growing
wider for Hispanics. The quality report finds that overall quality
of care for all Americans improved at a rate of 2.8 percent, the
same increase shown in last year's report.
20.
AACN COSPONORS
HEALTH IN FOREIGN POLICY FORUM
AACN has signed on to serve as
a sponsor for AcademyHealth’s upcoming conference on Health
in Foreign Policy Forum with AACN’s Executive Director Polly
Bednash also serving on the program’s advisory committee. The
conference, titled the “2006 Health in Foreign Policy Forum:
Migration and the Global Shortage of Health Care Professionals”
will take place on February 8, 2006 from 8:30am-5pm in Washington,
DC. The forum will focus on an issue that literally crosses national
borders: the migration of health professionals, including an examination
of the causes, consequences, and possible domestic and foreign policy
responses to the global shortage of nurses and physicians.
.
21.
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 Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission,
the state agency charged with setting rates for Maryland Hospitals,
in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education Commission,
has approved funding for a Nurse Support Program (NSP) in the
amount $9.4 million a year over the next 10 years to support two
initiatives to help alleviate Maryland’s critical shortage
of nurse faculty and bedside nurses. Funding will be used to expand
the pool of nurses in Maryland by increasing the capacity of nursing
programs. The first statewide initiative will provide funding
for graduate nursing faculty scholarships and living expenses,
new nursing faculty fellowships, and state nursing scholarship
and living expenses grants. The second program, the competitive
institutional grants initiative, will expand the state’s
nursing capacity through shared resources, increase the state’s
nursing faculty, improve nursing student retention, and increase
the pipeline for nurse faculty. See http://nursing.umaryland.edu/news/2005/12-21.htm.
- On January 10, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
(BCBSF) announced the donation of $600,000 each to the University
of North Florida (UNF) and the University of Florida (UF) in an
effort to address critical issues in nursing education. The State
of Florida will match each gift at $420,000. UNF and UF were also
awarded a $1.2 million SUCCEED grant from the state to increase
the number of nurses who enter Florida's workforce. Dr. Robert
I. Lufrano, chairman and CEO of BCBSF said “Through our Generation
RN program, we are able to support nurse education plus address
a critical workforce and health care need in Florida." Generation
RN is a public/private partnership initiated by BCBSF to build
an expanded, stable and culturally diverse nurse workforce in
Florida. Combined with state matching dollars and other private
support, BCBSF-endowed scholarships fund the education of more
than 200 nursing students each year.
- On January 12, St. John Fisher College in New
York announced that businessman Robert B. Wegman gave $8 million
to the college to fund a new School of Nursing. The largest gift
in Fisher’s history, the proposed school will be called the
Wegmans School of Nursing. “I am very pleased that St. John
Fisher College has chosen to use this gift for the creation of
a School of Nursing,” explained Mr. Wegman, chairman of Wegmans
Food Markets, Inc. “I am concerned about the future of health
care, particularly the cost, and believe that addressing the nursing
shortage is an important goal.” See http://www.sjfc.edu.
- The University of Miami School of Nursing and
Health Studies will launch a fast-track program to prepare nursing
instructors aided by a one-year, $1.28 million grant from the
Florida Department of Education’s SUCCEED Florida Nursing
Education Program. The six-month certificate program, which begins
this month, will help Florida nursing schools to expand enrollment
by increasing the number of clinicians who are qualified to teach.
See http://www.miami.edu/nur.
22.
MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
- At its November 2005 meeting, the American Assembly
for Men in Nursing (AAMN) Board of Directors awarded the School
of Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin AAMN’s Best
Nursing School or College for Men Award for 2005. This is the
second time this award has been given; the first award went to
East Carolina University in 2004. The purpose of this award is
to recognize a school or college of nursing that has provided
significant efforts in recruiting and retaining men in nursing,
in providing men a supportive educational environment, and in
educating faculty, students, and the community about the contributions
men have and continue to make in the nursing profession. See http://www.utexas.edu/nursing.
- On January 12, Dr. Melanie C. Dreher, the Kelting
Dean of the University of Iowa (UI) College of Nursing, announced
her resignation from the college after nine years to accept the
deanship at Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago. Her
resignation will take effect May 31. UI’s Executive Vice
President and Provost Michael J. Hogan said “Dean Dreher
has been a tireless advocate for the nursing profession, and her
leadership in professional nursing education is apparent in the
outstanding quality of our nursing faculty, students and graduates.”
See http://www.uiowa.edu/~ournews/2006/january/011206dreher-resignation.html.
- Drexel University School of Nursing is sponsoring
the first national conference on accelerated baccalaureate nursing
education titled “Issues, Innovation and Outcomes in Second
Degree BSN Programs” on April 12-14 in Philadelphia. Speakers
will address a variety of topics, including challenges and opportunities
in second degree programs, curriculum innovations, and how graduates
can change the shape of the profession. See http://www.drexel.edu/cnhp/conferences.
- Earlier this month, the University of South Florida
College of Nursing launched the state’s first doctorate of
nursing practice program. Supported by a $1.28 million state Department
of Education grant that will provide scholarships and salary assistance
for participating students, the program will offer an alternative
doctoral course of study for master's degree nurses who are interested
in pursuing teaching, managerial or clinical careers rather than
research. See http://hsc.usf.edu/nocms/nursing.
- Last week, the College of Nursing at Seton Hall
University in New Jersey announced the creation of a new PhD program
in nursing to address the growing need for doctorally prepared
nurses in education, research, and administrative roles. The primary
goal of the PhD program is to prepare nurse scholars for a lifetime
of intellectual inquiry, creative scholarship and research. According
to Dean Phyllis Shanley Hansell, “Our PhD program will significantly
contribute to health care in the state of New Jersey. We will
focus on patient care outcomes research, specifically addressing
health care disparities for patients in New Jersey.” See
http://nursing.shu.edu.
- Back by popular demand, the Center for the Advancement
of Evidence Based Practice at the Arizona State University College
of Nursing is offering the second Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
Mentoring Workshop on April 10-14, 2006. This workshop is designed
to prepare nurses to change the cultures in which they practice
by promoting, implementing, and sustaining EBP from administration
to the bedside. Deadline to apply to attend is February 14. See
http://nursing.asu.edu/caep/mentorship/index.htm.
23. AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
- AACN Government Affairs staff briefed 62 senior
nursing students from William Paterson University of Wayne, New
Jersey on January 18 at AACN headquarters. Students learned about
the appropriations process and how the federal government funds
nursing education and research. The students also met with staff
from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. If you
would like to bring your students to Washington to learn more
about public health policy, contact Gene Throwe at 202-463-6930,
ext. 237 or gthrowe@aacn.nche.edu.
- On January 12, AACN staff attended a meeting with
the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding. National Institutes
of Health (NIH) Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni briefed attendees
on his vision and challenges for NIH in the coming years. For
the first time in 30 years, NIH’s appropriations were cut.
Later, the Ad Hoc Group discussed revising its structure to more
effectively advocate for NIH. For more information on Ad Hoc Group,
visit http://www.aamc.org/research/adhocgp/start.htm
24.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
- On June 16, the National Institute of Nursing
Research (NINR) is cosponsoring a conference titled “Celebrating
Clinical Nursing Science: The Research-Practice Link at the NIH
Campus in Bethesda, MD. Offered as part of NINR’s 20th anniversary
celebration, the conference is structured in three sessions showcasing
areas of nursing research that have been successfully translated
into practice. Each session will include presentations and response
panels that feature a nurse researcher, an advanced practice nurse,
and a nurse clinician. For more details, see http://ninr.nih.gov/ninr.
- Applications are now available for the 9th Community-Campus
Partnerships for Health Summer Service Learning Institute offered
July 21-24 in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. The institute
has tracks for both novice and experienced service-learning practitioners.
Applications are due April 7 and are available at http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/servicelearning.html.
For more information, visit http://www.ccph.info.
- Each year, the Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses
Association (PCNA) offers scholarships to nursing students and
nurses in practice to cover the cost of PCNA’s Annual Symposium
registration. February 24 is the deadline to apply for a scholarship
to attend the symposium coming to Denver, CO on April 20-22, 2006.
For details, see http://www.pcna.net/library/Scholarship2006.pdf.
- AHRQ, AcademyHealth and Health Affairs are cosponsoring
the annual National Health Policy Conference on February 6-7,
2006 in Washington, DC. AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy will present
the Bush administration’s health policy agenda. Other topics
to be addressed include disparities in health care, patient safety,
pay for performance, the Medicare Modernization Act implementation,
and more. See http://www.academyhealth.org/nhpc/index.htm.
- To alleviate the challenges contributing to the
nation’s nursing shortage, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
and Northwest Health Foundation announced a new five-year, $10
million initiative to support partnerships led by local foundations
to address the most pressing nursing issues in their communities.
“Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future” will encourage
local or regional foundations to collaborate with nurses, workforce
investment boards and community organizations on a variety of
projects, including initiatives that bolster the nurse education
system, address the nurse faculty shortage or introduce new curricula,
increase diversity in the workforce, or support leadership development
for nurses. The program will award two-year grants of up to $250,000
each. Brief proposals are due February 16, 2006. See http://www.rwjf.org/applications/program/cfp.jsp?ID=19460.
- A key component of the NIH Roadmap for Medical
Research, the NIH Director's Pioneer Award supports exceptionally
creative scientists who propose pioneering approaches to major
challenges in biomedical research. In September 2006, NIH expects
to make 5 to 10 new awards of up to $500,000 in direct costs per
year for 5 years. Women, members of groups that are underrepresented
in biomedical research, and individuals in the early to middle
stages of their careers are especially encouraged to apply between
January 15 and February 27, 2006. For application instructions,
see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-06-005.html.
- On February 13-17, 2006 in Washington, DC, the
American College of Nurse Practitioners will present a Public
Policy Institute for Health Professionals. Learn how the decision-making
process works in Washington and how your presence can make a difference
in health care advocacy. Following completion of this five-day
policy workshop experience, the participating health professionals
will have gathered skills and intelligence about the policy-making
process, and have a better sense of the tasks ahead to impact
change in our current health care world. For more information,
see http://www.nurse.org/acnp/conf/ppi.shtml.
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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