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August 2008 News Watch 1. Final Draft of Baccalaureate Essentials Posted
Online
1. FINAL DRAFT OF THE BACCALAUREATE ESSENTIALS POSTED ONLINE Following a national consensus-building process, the AACN Board
of Directors approved the final draft of the revised Essentials
of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice in
July. This document, which is posted on the Web at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/BEdraft.pdf,
will come forward for a vote by the AACN membership on October 20
at the Fall Semiannual Meeting (see item #2). To give members an
opportunity to hear about the work of the Baccalaureate Essentials
Task Force and ask questions about the Essentials, AACN will host
three teleconferences on the following dates: September 10 from
1:00-2:30pm EDT; September 18 from 4:00-5:30pm EDT; and September
23 from 1:30-3:00pm EDT. Each teleconference will begin with an
overview by Task Force Chair Patricia Martin, followed by a question
and answer session. Dr. Martin's presentation is posted on the AACN
Web site at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/teleconf.htm. More
details about these teleconferences will be shared with members
in early September. Please direct any questions to kmcguinn@aacn.nche.edu.
2. MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND THE FALL SEMIANNUAL MEETING Join your colleagues at AACN's Fall Semiannual Meeting on October
18-21 in Washington, DC and enjoy a dynamic conference reflecting
the theme "Building Nursing Faculty for the Future: Creating
the Environment." On Saturday, pre-conference sessions will
offer attendees the chance to work in large and like-school groups
to grapple with pragmatic faculty workload issues. Sunday afternoon
commences with "Sustaining a Positive Environment for Nursing
Faculty" with observations from Dr. Mary Burgan, former Secretary
General of the American Association of University Professors and
author of Whatever Happened to the Faculty?: Drift and Decision
in Higher Education. On Sunday evening, attendees will honor John
P. McGovern Award winner Susan Hassmiller, Senior Program Officer
with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Monday business meeting
again will run until 1:00pm to allow attendees to make visits to
their Congressional offices in the afternoon. During the business
meeting, members will vote on the revised Baccalaureate Essentials.
On Tuesday morning, a panel of respected academic leaders will address
challenges and successes in "Developing Faculty and Leaders,"
and Dr. Joanne Disch will describe her research on "Nursing
Faculty Workplace Satisfaction". Each Dean/Director may bring
one Associate/Assistant Dean, who may be interested in the Organizational
Leadership Network program on Sunday. Full program details are posted
at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences/08FallMtg.htm. 3. AACN ENDORSES APRN CONSENSUS MODEL In July, the AACN Board of Directors endorsed the Consensus Model
for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and
Education which is posted online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/APRNReport.pdf.
AACN and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
facilitated the consensus-building process used to develop this
model. This landmark document defines Advanced Practice Registered
Nurse (APRN) practice, describes the APRN regulatory model, identifies
the titles to be used, defines specialty, describes the emergence
of new roles and population foci, and presents strategies for implementation.
This content is discussed in the context of the four APRN roles:
certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse-midwife
(CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and certified nurse practitioner
(CNP). The culmination of a four-year effort, this model for APRN
regulation is the product of collaborative work conducted by the
Advanced Practice Nursing Consensus Work Group and the NCSBN APRN
Committee. AACN member institutions with APRN programs are encouraged
to download this document and share it with faculty and other stakeholders.
4. DOWNLOAD THE CULTURAL COMPETENCIES FOR BACCALAUREATE NURSING AACN is pleased to announce that new faculty resources are now available following the completion of the Preparing a Culturally Competent Nursing Workforce project, which was funded by The California Endowment. Through this effort, AACN developed a set of cultural competencies for baccalaureate nursing students and a toolkit for faculty to incorporate this work into lectures and clinical practicums. To date, the Cultural Competency in Baccalaureate Nursing Education document has been endorsed by a number of national organizations, including the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations, and National Council of State Boards of Nursing. To access these competencies, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/competency.pdf. The online faculty toolkit developed through this project is posted on the AACN Web site at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/toolkit.pdf. AACN recently announced the launch of a new initiative, also funded
by The California Endowment, to enhance the ability of nurses prepared
in graduate nursing programs to provide culturally appropriate care.
This groundbreaking effort entails identifying a set of expectations
for graduates of master's and doctoral nursing programs and creating
faculty resources needed to develop nursing expertise in cultural
competency. Generous funding from The California Endowment will
be used to support this important work which will occur from August
2008 through January 2010. For complete details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/2008/culturalcomp.html. 5. REGISTER NOW FOR THE CNL CERTIFICATION EXAM The Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC), the agency responsible for administering the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification exam, has announced the next cycle of testing dates and deadlines:
CNL Program Directors are responsible for setting a testing date
within the testing window and notifying Applied Measurement Professionals,
Inc. (wta@goamp.com) and the
CNC (cnl@aacn.nche.edu).
For more information about the CNL Certification Program, registration
requirements, and new sample simulation exam question, visit http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNC
or contact CNC Director Tracy Lofty at tlofty@aacn.nche.edu. 6. GANES HOLDS INAUGURAL CONFERENCE IN TORONTO The Global Alliance on Nursing Education and Scholarship (GANES)
is pleased to announce that the group's inaugural conference will
be held October 1-3, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario. This convening of
nurse educators from around the world will bring together leaders
in education and policy to debate the global challenge of increasing
capacity and ensuring sustainability in the nursing workforce. The
program will feature plenary presentations from noted international
speakers as well as interactive sessions focusing on a variety of
themes, including educating students for evolving nursing and health
professional roles; the changing skill mix in health care; innovative
learning approaches; developing faculty capacity; and preparing
for ethical and cross cultural collaboration. For details, see http://www.ganes.info.
7. AACN TESTIFIES BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE On August 1, AACN was invited to testify at the National Platform
Hearing of the Democratic National Committee in Columbus, Ohio and
share nursing education's perspective on healthcare reform. AACN
was honored by the invitation to present before the Drafting Committee
and articulate the direct link between a robust nursing workforce
and access to safe, quality, and affordable health care. AACN was
asked to provide testimony on behalf of nursing education following
a meeting with AACN Executive Director Polly Bednash and Michael
Yaki, the National Platform Director for the Democratic National
Committee. At that meeting, Dr. Bednash urged Mr. Yaki to place
the nurse faculty shortage high on the Committee's priority list.
AACN is grateful to Dr. Jeri Milstead from the University of Toledo
who presented the testimony at the hearing. The testimony may be
accessed online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/pdf/dnctestimony08.pdf. 8. NURSES' HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN REPAYMENT ACT INTRODUCED On July 30, AACN applauded Representatives Tom Latham (R-IA) and
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the Nurses' Higher Education
and Loan Repayment Act of 2008 (H.R. 6652). At a time when our national
healthcare system is facing an acute nursing shortage, this type
of support is essential to increasing the number of educators who
will prepare the next generation of registered nurses. "Our
schools of nursing are struggling to increase student capacity in
the face of a severe nurse faculty shortage. This program would
enable more nurses to pursue the advanced degrees needed to teach
without the burden of additional student loan debt," said AACN
President Fay Raines. AACN joins 44 other nursing and healthcare
organizations that have supported H.R. 6652. For more details, see
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/2008/HigherEdAct.html. 9. AACN APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF HEA REAUTHORIZATION On July 31, the U.S. House and Senate voted for the first time
in a decade to pass a long-term and comprehensive reauthorization
of the law governing aid to higher education - the Higher Education
Act (HEA). AACN has been working with our House and Senate champions
throughout the reauthorization process to add a number of provisions
to the bill which will benefit nursing education, including the
Capacity for Nursing Students and Faculty Program (section 804);
the Nurse Faculty Pilot Project (section 804); the Loan Forgiveness
in Areas of National Need program (section 430); the Graduate Assistance
in Areas of National Need program (section 703); and A Study Concerning
Nursing School Capacity (section 1121). For more information on
HEA reauthorization, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/HEA08.htm. 10. DR. BEDNASH INTERVIEWED ABOUT FACULTY SHORTAGE ON CNN On August 5, AACN Executive Director Polly Bednash was featured
in a segment about the nurse faculty shortage that aired as part
of the CNN news program Lou Dobbs Tonight. Dr. Bednash was asked
to speak about the impact of the nurse faculty shortage on the RN
workforce. The segment addressed the need to expand federal funding
and policy initiatives to support U.S. schools of nursing. The clip
may be viewed online by clicking http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/08/05/ldt.tucker.foreign.nurses.cnn. 11. VA ACADEMY ESTABLISHES NEW PARTNERSHIPS On July 31, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that
it is establishing new partnerships with seven schools of nursing
as part of the VA Nursing Academy. A five-year, $40 million initiative,
the VA Nursing Academy expands learning opportunities for nursing
students at VA facilities; funds additional faculty positions so
competitively selected nursing school partners will accept additional
baccalaureate-level students; and increases recruitment and retention
of VA nurses. The following nursing schools will form new partnerships
with nine VA medical centers and join the VA Nursing Academy this
year: Loyola University of Chicago, Medical University of South
Carolina, Rhode Island College, Saginaw Valley State University,
University of Oklahoma, University of Detroit Mercy, and the University
of South Florida. The VA expects to add several more nursing school
partnerships over time. For more details, see http://www.va.gov/oaa. 12. REGISTER NOW FOR ELNEC COURSES IN WASHINGTON, DC The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) offers a full
menu of train-the-trainer courses for nurse educators across settings.
On October 9-11, ELNEC will offer both Core and Super Core programs
in the Washington, DC area at the Marriott Washington-Dulles Airport
Hotel. These programs are offered for a wide variety of nurse educators
who are seeking to increase their knowledge about end-of-life and
palliative care nursing issues. For complete details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/CourseSchedule.htm.
For more information, contact ELNEC Project Director Pam Malloy
at pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu. 13. AACN'S 2008 ANNUAL SURVEY COMMENCES The 2008 AACN Annual Survey of institutions with baccalaureate
and higher degree nursing programs will commence early next week
and close Friday, October 31. Information collected from the survey
will be incorporated into the nation's premier database on trends
in nursing school enrollments and graduations; student and faculty
demographics; and faculty and deans' salaries. Participation in
this survey is vital to AACN's mission to advance professional nursing
education, research, and practice. We appreciate the effort required
to complete the Annual Survey; and we will provide participating
schools with free 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 complete
the survey to satisfy CCNE's annual reporting requirement. If your
school does not receive the survey materials, please contact Christine
Tracy, AACN's new Research and Data Coordinator, at ctracy@aacn.nche.edu. 14. AACN ISSUES A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS AACN's Nominating Committee has issued a Call for Nominations for
candidates to fill five Board seats and two committee vacancies.
Chaired by Dr. Judy Beal from Simmons College, the committee will
choose the slate of candidates at the 2008 Fall Semiannual Meeting
based on nominations and the committee's deliberations. The positions
under consideration are Treasurer, Board Member-at-Large (4 vacancies),
and Nominating Committee (2 vacancies). Nominations must be received
by October 18, 2008. For complete details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/MemberServices/CallforNominations.htm. 15. 2008 STATE OF SCIENCE CONFERENCE COMING IN OCTOBER The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science is hosting the
2008 National State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research
in Washington, DC on October 2-4. This biannual event creates a
national forum for dialogue on advances in nursing science related
to healthcare practice; disseminates research findings that can
influence healthcare practice, education, research, and policy;
and influences the nursing research agenda of the future. A preliminary
conference agenda has been posted online at http://www.nursingscience.org/files/public/Preliminary%20Program.pdf.
The early bird registration with a discounted fee ends September
5. For complete details, see http://www.nursingscience.org. 16. AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY OFFERS GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS The American Cancer Society, the largest not-for-profit funding
source for cancer research and training, is pleased to invite applications
from graduate nursing students for the following programs:
For more information, contact Program Director Virginia Krawiec
at 404-329-7612 or Ginger.Krawiec@cancer.org.
For a full description of all American Cancer Society funding opportunities,
see http://www.cancer.org/research. 17. NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT-FUNDED INITIATIVES In this section, AACN spotlights new partnerships and initiatives launched by members, corporate citizens, philanthropies, and government sponsors that effectively increase student capacity, add new nursing faculty, increase student diversity, address the nursing shortage, and enhance the way education is delivered.
18. MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
19. AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
20. OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
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