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April 2007 News Watch 1. AACN Board of Directors Welcomes New & Returning Members
1. AACN BOARD OF DIRECTORS WELCOMES NEW & RETURNING MEMBERS AACN is pleased to welcome three new members to the Board of Directors following the Spring Annual Meeting held last month. Dr. Janet Allan from the University of Maryland, Dr. Donna Hathaway from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Dr. Mary Walker from Seattle University officially assumed their seats on the Board as At-Large Members following the business meeting on March 19, 2007. Dr. Nancy DeBasio from Research College of Nursing and Dr. Eileen Breslin from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst were re-elected to the Board for two-year terms. In a special election held to fill the seat of retiring Board member Dr. Linda Niedringhaus from Elmhurst College, Dr. Carolina Huerta from the University of Texas-Pan American was elected to the Board and will begin her term in July. Reports and presentations made at the Spring meeting are now available online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/MembersOnly/AnnMtgRpts/Fall-Spr.asp. 2. MEMBER SCHOOLS RECEIVE FREE ONLINE ADVERTISING IN MAY In honor of the upcoming National Nurses Week (May 6-12), AACN is offering member schools an opportunity to post free faculty vacancy announcements on our Web-based Faculty Career Link resource in May 2007. 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. For more information about this offer, contact Communication Assistant Lori Spicer at lspicer@aacn.nche.edu. 3. NEW REPORT ON THE TIGER INITIATIVE POSTED ONLINE The TIGER Initiative – Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform - aims to enable practicing nurses and nursing students to fully engage in the unfolding digital electronic era in healthcare. The purpose of the initiative is to identify information/knowledge management best practices and effective technology capabilities for nurses. TIGER’s goal is to create and disseminate local and global action plans that can be duplicated within nursing and other multidisciplinary healthcare education and workplace settings. Following the initiative’s conference held last fall, the group recently released its first report titled “Evidence and Informatics Transforming Nursing: 3-Year Action Steps Toward a 10-Year Vision.” To download the report, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/TIGER.pdf.4. QSEN PROJECT ENTERS PHASE II AND SEEKS FACULTY PARTICIPATION The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is pleased to announce that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has funded Phase II of the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses(QSEN) project. Led by Dr. Linda Cronenwett, Principal Investigator, and Dr. Gwen Sherwood, Co-Investigator, the QSEN project is focused on defining quality and safety competencies for all nursing professionals. In the May/June 2007 issue of Nursing Outlook, the competencies developed though this project were published along with proposed targets for knowledge, skill, and attitude development during pre-licensure education. The new QSEN Web site - http://www.qsen.org – features annotated references for each competency (patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics) and a beginning set of teaching strategies for classroom, skills/simulation lab, and clinical site teaching. The site also includes information on how deans, directors, and faculty can join the effort to prepare the next generation of nursing professionals with the competencies needed to improve the quality and safety of health care. Schools interested in program-level participation in QSEN are invited to submit an application to be a member of the QSEN Pilot School Learning Collaborative For more details, see http://www.qsen.org or contact elaines@email.unc.edu. 5. SUMMER SEMINAR INVITES ALL WHO WORK WITH A "DIFFICULT PERSON" The 2007 Summer Seminar will focus on the theme “Managing Difficult People: Practical Approaches for Nursing Academic Leaders”at the Marriott Portland City Center, Portland, OR on July 22-25, 2007. The challenge of difficult people and difficult situations is not unique to nursing education. However, the intense pace and serious nature of the nursing academic enterprise can make difficult people even more problematic for co-workers, the organization, and the academic mission. This year's summer session focuses on increasing your ability to deal positively with difficult people, difficult situations, and difficult messages, led by Dr. Virginia Bianco-Mathis, a consultant in organizational behavior and professor of human resources. For more conference details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/07SumSem.htm. 6. DEDICATED EDUCATION UNIT SYMPOSIUM PLANNED FOR JULY The University of Portland School of Nursing is sponsoring a half-day symposium designed to provide theoretical and practical information on the Dedicated Education Unit (DEU), an innovative clinical teaching model. The symposium will be held on Sunday, July 22, 2007, in Portland, OR, just prior to the AACN Summer Seminar. The DEU, developed in collaboration with the University of Portland, Providence Health System and the Portland VA Medical Center, is a patient care unit that provides quality care to patients and offers a supportive learning environment for students. Read more about the DEU in Moscato et al. (2007) Nursing Outlook, 55: 31-37. More information is posted at http://nursing.up.edu. Sign up soon and bring your practice partners! 7. AACN SEEKS 2007 LEADERSHIP FOR ACADEMIC NURSING PROGRAM FELLOWS AACN’s prestigious executive leadership fellowship for aspiring and new deans returns this summer with a seminar held August 19-23, 2007 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, VA. The program will be facilitated by the Fanning Institute for Leadership at the University of Georgia, whose consultants are evaluated highly each year. Applicants are sought who aspire to be the dean/director of a baccalaureate or graduate nursing program as well as those serving within their first three years in that role. "With the intensifying faculty shortage and the increasing retirements of current deans and directors, the development of executive level leaders is absolutely critical to the future of nursing education," says AACN President Dr. Jeanette Lancaster. Applications are due in the AACN office no later than May 11, 2007, and all notifications will be made no later than May 30, 2007. For more information, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/LANP.htm. 8. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ISSUES RFP FOR NEW NURSING ACADEMY As mentioned at the Spring Annual Meeting, AACN is pleased to announce that the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new VA Nursing Academy has been posted online by the VA's Office of Academic Affiliations at www.va.gov/oaa/Archive/rfp_va_nursing_academy.doc. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is establishing a Nursing Academy that will be committed to nursing education and practice and will address nursing shortages in the VA and the nation by (1) expanding teaching faculty in VA facilities and affiliated nursing schools; (2) increasing VA recruitment and retention through enhanced clinical experiences for nursing students and expanded teaching opportunities for VA nurses; (3) emphasizing the importance of a continuum of nursing education through expansion of the stipend program for graduate students and the Pre- and Post-doctoral Nurse Fellowship Programs; and (4) providing financial assistance through a scholarship program for nursing students in exchange for obligations to work in VA facilities following graduation. This RFP provides information, policies, and application procedures for VA facilities and systems and for schools of nursing regarding the VA Nursing Academy's Enhancing Academic Partnerships Program. VA facilities and systems and their affiliated nursing schools that have commitments to enhancing their academic partnerships and the care of veterans may apply for this pilot program. The due dates for the Letter of Intent and full proposal are May 15, 2007 and June 14, 2007 respectively.9. APPLY NOW FOR ONE OF THE NEW GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING EDUCATION AWARDS AACN, in collaboration with The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, is pleased to announce that applications for the 2007 Awards for Excellence in Gerontological Nursing Education are now available. Currently in its tenth year, this awards competition recognizes schools of nursing that model strong and innovative gerontological curricular enhancement and provide relevant clinical experiences. For the first time ever, the program is open to both baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. This year’s program features four NEW award categories: Baccalaureate-Level Curricular Innovation; Advanced Practice-Level Curricular Innovation; Geriatric Nursing Faculty Champion; and Outstanding School of Nursing Communications. Winners will receive $500 awards at the AACN’s Fall Semiannual Meeting in Washington, DC in October. Applications must be postmarked by July 15, 2007. Applications available at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/Hartford/pdf/AwardApp07.pdf. 10. NEW WEB-BASED CASE STUDY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO APRN FACULTY AACN and the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing are proud to announce a new resource for faculty in Advanced Practice Nursing programs. The Geriatrics and the Advanced Practice Curriculum: A Series of Web-Based Interactive Case Studies is a “user-friendly” way for faculty to readily integrate essential geriatric nursing content into non-gerontological GNP and CNS programs. The cases are presented in a tutorial format which allows for active participation by the student. Content is cross-referenced to the publication titled “Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies for Older Adult Care” (AACN, 2004) to enable faculty to determine which competencies are addressed by which content. This free resource will be available May 1, 2007 at http://www.hartfordign.org. 11. APPLY NOW FOR A GERONTOLOGY-FOCUSED FACULTY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE AACN is accepting online applications for the upcoming Faculty Development Institutes offered through the Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC). GNEC is an innovative national initiative to enhance geriatric content in senior-level baccalaureate courses. Administered by AACN, this program provides nursing educators with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to ensure that the "best geriatric practices" are embedded in baccalaureate curricula and subsequently in the clinical care provided by newly educated nurses. Using a train-the-trainer approach, nurse faculty attending the GNEC institutes are expected to serve as leaders and mentors by sharing their new expertise with colleagues. This program is generously funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation. Institutes are scheduled for October 3-5, 2007 in Atlanta, GA; February 27-29, 2008 in San Antonio, TX; and October 8-10, 2008 in St. Louis, MO. The application deadline for the Atlanta institute is June 15, 2007. To apply for an upcoming institute, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/Hartford/gnec.htm.12. AAN SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR 2008 MBA SCHOLARS PROGRAM The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) is currently seeking applicants for the 2008 Hartford Masters in Business Administration Scholarship Program. Offered as part of the Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) program, the scholarship is designed for nurses wishing to pursue a business degree at a highly ranked school of business, anticipating a career focus on the management and leadership of institutions serving the elderly. The Hartford MBA Scholarship Program offers $50,000 to successful candidates as well as a number of leadership activities. For complete details, see http://www.geriatricnursing.org/applications/mba-scholarship.asp or contact Program Manager Patricia Franklin at PFranklin@aannet.org or 202-777-1172. 13. CNL EXAM APPLICATION AVAILABLE; NEW ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS SET The first regular administration of the CNL Certification Examination™ is scheduled for April 23-May 25, 2007. The purpose of CNL Certification is to create a unique credential for graduates of master’s and post-master’s CNL programs. Eligible candidates must follow the instructions outlined in the CNL Certification Examination Handbook to apply for the exam. The handbook, application, and other information are available on the Web at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNL/certification.htm. All individuals who have previously graduated or will graduate in Spring 2007 from a master's or post-master's program that meets the stated criteria and prepares individuals with the outcome competencies and program requirements delineated in the AACN’s “White Paper on the Education and Role of the Clinical Nurse Leader” are eligible and encouraged to sit for the examination. TIME-LIMITED OPPORTUNITY: From April through December 2007, CNL candidates who meet the following criteria are eligible to sit for the certification exam. Candidates must: (a) have graduated from a baccalaureate or entry-level post-baccalaureate nursing degree program that is accredited by a nursing accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education; (b) hold a graduate degree in nursing or a related health care discipline (such as health care administration or public health) from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education; and (c) meet one of the following requirements: i) have worked continuously as a CNL for at least the past six months; or ii) work as faculty in a CNL education program. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNL/certification.htm.14. ANNOUNCING THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE NURSE AACN urges all members, colleagues, faculty, student and alumni networks to visit http://www.NightingaleDeclaration.net, a Web site introducing a personal Declaration and United Nations’ Resolutions for an International Year of the Nurse (2010) and a UN Decade for a Healthy World (2011-2020). To encourage the adoption of these resolutions by the UN General Assembly in 2008 and 2009, individual signatures on the Declaration are invited from millions of nurses devoted to the health of all humanity. These signatures of worldwide commitment by nurses, other health workers and concerned citizens will help build a grassroots-to-global foundation of support for these UN Resolutions and an action plan to implement them locally, nationally and internationally. Initial sponsors include ANA, STTI, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Decision Critical, Inc., and Nurse-Theorist Dr. Jean Watson. For details and to sign this Declaration, go to http://www.nightingaledeclaration.net.15. NCOA LAUNCHES “SPOTLIGHT ON SHINGLES” AWARENESS CAMPAIGN The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is partnering with several national organizations, including the American Pain Foundation, in an awareness campaign called Spotlight on Shingles: Know What You Can Do. This national program will help educate seniors, caregivers, nurses, student nurses and healthy aging professionals about shingles. For more information, see http://www.spotlightonshingles.com. For those interested in hosting local awareness programs, the Spotlight on Shingles program is distributing a “presentation in a box,” which includes a PowerPoint presentation, talking points, shingles educational DVD, posters for promoting shingles education events, and brochures to distribute to event attendees. To request a “box,” contact christine.harding@ncoa.org. 16. AHRQ RELEASES NEW REPORT ON NURSE STAFFING AND OUTCOMES Last month, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a comprehensive evidence report on “Nursing Staffing and the Quality of Patient Care.” The report found that increased numbers of registered nurses in hospitals are associated with decreased patient deaths, shorter hospital stays, and fewer occurrences of complications such as pneumonia. Most studies found that a lower patient-to-nurse ratio was associated with better patient outcomes, with the greatest improvement seen in surgical patients and patients in intensive care units. The report authors also found strong evidence that health care-related deaths were lower when more of the nurses providing care had a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. To download the 536-page report, see http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/nursesttp.htm. 17. FIVE NATIONAL ELENEC COURSE REMAINING FOR 2007 The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) is offering a variety of train-the-trainer courses in 2007 for nurse educators across settings. Two ELNEC-Core Courses (Honolulu and Washington, DC), an ELNEC-Pediatric Palliative Care Course (Anaheim, CA), an ELNEC-Geriatric Course (Pasadena, CA) and an ELNEC-Critical Care Course (Pasadena, CA) remain for 2007. At each course, participants will receive materials including Powerpoint slides, "talking points" for each slide, supplemental teaching materials, case studies, updated reference list, and the 2006 edition of Textbook of Palliative Nursing among other resources. Seating is limited for each of these courses, so early registration is encouraged. For more information and/or to register, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC or contact ELNEC Project Director Pam Malloy at pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu or 202-463-6930, x238.18. AFTERCOLLEGE PARTNERS WITH AACN TO EXPAND MEMBER BENEFITS AACN and AfterCollege have recently entered into a partnership. AfterCollege is funding $20,000 in new scholarship opportunities exclusively for students enrolled at AACN Member Schools. AfterCollege also powers free Job Resource Center technology and services to member schools giving students access to hard-to-find information such as details about training programs, internships and externships offered at academic health centers and healthcare facilities throughout the country. This valuable tool enables students to compare and contrast their employment options, empowering them to make well informed career decisions. For more information about setting up a Job Resource Center for your students, visit http://www.aftercollege.com/healthcare/groups/signup or email alexis@aftercollege.com.19. BACCALAUREATE, MASTER’S & DOCTORAL ESSENTIALS POSTED ONLINE To facilitate the adoption of AACN’s Baccalaureate and Master’s Essentials, the AACN Board of Directors has requested that these documents be posted on the Web site for nurse faculty worldwide to access. The Essentials outline the necessary curriculum content and expected competencies of graduates from baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs. A new Web resources has been created which include all of AACN’s “Essentials” documents, including “The Essential Clinical Resources for Nursing’s Academic Mission;” English, Spanish, and Croatian translations of the Baccalaureate Essentials; and “The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice.” See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/essentials.htm. 20. 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.
21. MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
22. AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
23. OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
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