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February 2008 News Watch 1. Nominations Sought for CCNE Board and Nominating Committee
1. NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR CCNE BOARD AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the autonomous accrediting arm of AACN, is seeking nominations for the CCNE Board of Commissioners and CCNE Nominating Committee. The following positions, each requiring a three-year term, on CCNE’s 13-member Board are open for election:
The Commission is also seeking nominations for candidates to serve on its Nominating Committee. Four positions are available, and the members are eligible to serve a one-year term. Nominations must be postmarked by February 29, 2008. To obtain the nominations packet, visit the CCNE Web site at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/cfn.htm. 2. CCNE SEEKS INFORMATION ABOUT DNP PROGRAMS Per the CCNE substantive change policy, an accredited program is required to notify CCNE within 60 days of implementing any new nursing program or track. With respect to a new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, this notification must address how the new program affects (or is expected to affect) baccalaureate and/or master’s degree nursing programs already accredited by CCNE and their ability to continue to comply with the CCNE accreditation standards. The notification should provide an overview of the DNP program, including information about its approval, timeline, and point(s) of entry. Schools needing to notify CCNE are asked to submit the substantive change notification along with the DNP Program Information Form found at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/Docs/DNPform.DOC. Please direct materials to Crystal Pool, CCNE Assistant Director, at cpool@aacn.nche.edu. **CCNE is on track to begin reviewing DNP programs for accreditation during the 2008-2009 academic year. To help answer many of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the accreditation of DNP programs, CCNE has developed a new FAQ sheet that is posted online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/dnpFAQ.htm.3. APPLY NOW FOR AN INNOVATION IN NURSING EDUCATION AWARD The AACN Board of Directors created the new Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award to showcase creative and successful efforts to advance nursing education. This award recognizes the work of AACN member schools to re-envision traditional models for nursing education and lead programmatic change. Innovation awards, including a monetary prize of $1,000, will be given in four institutional categories: Small Schools, Academic Health Center (AHC), Private School without an AHC and Public School without an AHC. Nominations may be made by submitting a letter to Dr. Mary Walker, chair of the AACN Membership Committee. The submission deadline is April 14, 2008. For complete details including award criteria and the nomination process, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/MemberServices/pdf/IPNEcall.pdf.4. FIRST GROUP OF MINORITY FACULTY SCHOLARS SELECTED AACN and the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future are pleased to announce that the first five Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars have been selected through a new program to address the nation’s shortage of nurse educators. The Johnson & Johnson and AACN Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars program supports full-time minority students pursuing graduate nursing degrees, with a preference given to students in doctoral programs. Chaired by Dr. Evelyn Calvillo from California State University-Los Angeles, the 17-member scholarship review committee selected the following recipients to receive $18,000 scholarship awards:
To read a brief profile of each scholar, visit http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/pdf/JJScholars08.pdf. 5. JOIN US FOR THE SPRING ANNUAL MEETING MARCH 29-APRIL 1 Nursing school deans and directors are encouraged to attend AACN’s Spring Annual Meeting coming March 29-April 1 to the Fairmont hotel in Washington, DC. Reflecting the theme “Nursing Higher Education: External Impact–Policy, Politics, and the Community,” sessions will expose participants to a variety of topics ranging from quality and safety in nursing education, operationalizing IOM recomendations, diversity and nursing advancement, maximizing your message, and federal funding updates. A highlight of the meeting includes a presentation by Dr. Corinne H. Rieder, Executive Director of the John A. Hartford Foundation, who will present the annual Nursing Spectrum/Gannett Foundation Lecture. To register, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/08spring.htm. 6. AACN REACTS TO THE PRESIDENT’S FY 2009 BUDGET PROPOSAL On February 4, AACN issued a statement expressing concern that proposed cuts to nursing education programs contained in President Bush's FY 2009 budget request would reverse the progress made by federal legislators last year to address the nation's nursing shortage. Despite the proposed increases to most Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act [PSA]), the President’s budget would reduce funding levels by $46.2 million from the previous year. "Nursing colleges and universities rely on the federal support provided through Title VIII to educate new nurses and future faculty,” said AACN President Jeanette Lancaster. “All of the progress Congress has made to strengthen the nursing workforce and support faculty preparation would be in jeopardy if funding for these programs was cut sharply." Read the entire statement online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/2008/09Budget.htm. **NEW RESOURCE: AACN has developed a handy guide to federal Nursing Workforce Development programs and the impact these programs are having on addressing the shortage of nurses and faculty. This reference, which can be downloaded at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/pdf/BrochureTitleVIII.pdf, may be used in your own advocacy efforts on behalf of nursing education. 7. CCNE REQUESTS NOMINATIONS FOR SITE EVALUATORS CCNE is seeking nominations of both educators and practicing nurses to serve as volunteer evaluators on its accreditation review teams. Nurse educators serving on an evaluation team must have depth of knowledge in one or more areas of nursing expertise and be familiar with nursing education and program development. Applicants must have doctoral preparation and teaching experience at the baccalaureate and/or graduate levels. The practicing nurse who serves on a CCNE evaluation team must engage, as his or her primary professional role, “in the provision of nursing care to individuals, families, groups or communities.” Individuals affiliated with an institution that is implementing a DNP program are encouraged to apply. The deadline for submitting nominations is March 20, 2008. For complete details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/pdf/08CFN.pdf. 8. NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION ON NURSE CERTIFICATION
9. GANES ISSUES CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR INAUGURAL CONFERENCE 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 10. NURSING SCHOOL CAPACITY ACT INCLUDED IN HEA REAUTHORIZATION On February 7, the House of Representatives passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, which reauthorizes the Higher Education Act (HEA). Included as a part of the Manager’s Amendment was the Nursing School Capacity Act of 2007. This amendment was put forth by Representatives Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Peter Welch (D-VT). Rep. Holt introduced the Nursing School Capacity Act in both the 109th and 110th Congress. The bill requests that the Institute of Medicine study constraints encountered by schools of nursing in admitting and graduating the number of registered nurses necessary to ensure patient safety. AACN sincerely appreciates the dedication Reps. Holt and Welch have made to thoroughly investigating the nursing and nurse faculty shortage. H.R. 4137 will soon be taken up by the House and Senate conference committee to negotiate the details between the two versions of the bill. AACN will advocate on behalf of the Nursing School Capacity Act to ensure it remains in the final version of the bill. For more information, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/SupportedLegislation.htm. 11. AACN SPOTLIGHTS FACULTY DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AACN is the recognized leader in providing faculty development opportunities and resources for nurse educators teaching in baccalaureate and graduate programs. AACN encourages professional growth and engagement in the organization through an extensive array of faculty services, including Conferences and Regional Courses; Funding Opportunity Announcements; Scholarships and Award Programs; Government Advocacy Resources; Leadership Development Programs; Opportunities to Assume Leadership Roles; Networking with Colleagues; and Resources for New and Future Faculty. More than 3,000 nurse educators attend AACN’s conferences each year making these offerings the preferred professional development option for baccalaureate and graduate nursing program faculty. For more details on all of AACN’s services for nurse educators, visit the online Nurse Faculty Resource Center found at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Faculty. 12. ANA OFFERS MEMBERS-ONLY WEB ACCESS TO NURSING STUDENTS The American Nurses Association (ANA) wants to expose students to all that ANA has to offer while they are in nursing school by giving them free access to the Members Only section of NursingWorld.org. Valuable information contained on this site will be helpful to students in school and help prepare them for their nursing career. Highlights include:
To sign up, visit http://nursingworld.org/students. Students will be asked for a Promo Code and should use PROF. 13. GRADUATE NURSING ADMISSIONS PROFESSIONALS GATHER IN TEXAS AACN’s Graduate Nursing Admissions Professionals (GNAP) Network will host their annual conference on March 25-26, 2008 in Grapevine, TX. GNAP is composed of a diverse group of nursing education administrators and faculty who are responsible for graduate nursing student recruitment, admissions, marketing, and programming. Presented with the theme “From the Audacious to the Routine: Tools for Successful Graduate Nursing Recruitment,” the conference provides a chance for recruiters to share successes, develop new strategies, and establish a resource network of peers. Sessions will focus on recruitment nuts and bolts, compliance challenges, innovative recruiting methods and financial aid, and how to counsel applicants when they ask: Is the DNP or PhD right for me? For complete details and to register, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/08gnap.htm. 14. APPLY NOW FOR A GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING EDUCATION AWARD AACN, in collaboration with The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, is now accepting applications for the annual Awards for Excellence in Gerontological Nursing Education. Schools and programs of nursing that offer baccalaureate or graduate degrees and demonstrate a strong commitment to geriatric nursing are encouraged to apply. Applicant programs may be large or small, new or well-established. Only one entry per award category per school will be permitted. The following are the four NEW award categories: Baccalaureate-Level Curricular Innovation; Advanced Practice-Level Curricular Innovation; Geriatric Nursing Faculty Champion; and Outstanding School of Nursing Communications. For details on the 2008 awards, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/Hartford/pdf/AwardApp.pdf. Please direct questions to DLatimer@aacn.nche.edu. 15. FINAL BACCALAUREATE ESSENTIALS REGIONAL MEETINGS PLANNED The AACN Task Force on the Revision of the Essentials for Baccalaureate Nursing Education is working to define the expected competencies of graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs with input from many stakeholders. The latest version of the revised Essentials is posted online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/BEdraft.pdf. This document will be discussed at a series of regional meetings sponsored through April 2008. These meetings will give stakeholders the opportunity to review and provide feedback regarding the Essentials, including program outcomes. Deans and directors from AACN member institutions, faculty, practice partners, and representatives of other healthcare and education organizations are invited to attend. The final two meetings are scheduled for March 13-14 in Nashville; and April 24-25 in Boston. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu/BACEssentMtg.htm. 16. WIDE VARIETY OF ELNEC COURSES PLANNED FOR 2008 The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) offers a variety of train-the-trainer courses for nurse educators across settings. Six courses remain in 2008, including Core and Super Core programs in addition to specialty sessions focused on Geriatrics, Critical Care and Pediatrics. For a complete schedule of upcoming courses, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/CourseSchedule.htm. Please note that the Critical Care course on April 21-23, 2008 offers free registration for California nurses, including nursing faculty, thanks to the generous support of the Archstone Foundation. For more information, contact ELNEC Project Director Pam Malloy at pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu.17. 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 imbedded 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. The next institute is scheduled for October 14-16, 2008 in St. Louis. For more details, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/gnec.htm. 18. REGISTER FOR THE 2008 NURSING ADVANCEMENT PROFESSIONALS (NAP) CONFERENCE “Eyes Wide Open: Looking through the Constituents' Perspective” is the theme for the tenth annual NAP conference held at The Fairmont Washington in Washington, DC on March 28-29, 2008. A variety of activities are planned, including a best practices exhibit, roundtable discussions, a meet and mingle, and networking dinners. The keynote address given by Robert Henry, Executive Director of Emerging Constituencies with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, will focus on diversity and nursing advancement. This year’s conference is a great opportunity for Nursing Advancement Professionals to interact with peers, network, and gain added knowledge and skills. Complete meeting and registration information can be found online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/08nap.htm.19. RWJF LAUNCHES NEW NURSE FACULTY SCHOLARS PROGRAM The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has launched a new scholars program to develop the next generation of national leaders in academic nursing. The RWJF Nurse Faculty Scholars program will provide $28 million over the next five years to outstanding junior nursing faculty to help them advance in their fields and seek faculty positions earlier in their careers by providing mentorship, leadership training, salary and research support. The National Program Office will be housed at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing with Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell serving as the program director. Applicants must be nominated by the dean of a fully-accredited U.S. nursing school and meet the eligibility requirements. Applications are due April 1. For more details including eligibility and selection criteria, see http://www.rwjf.org.20. APPLICATIONS NEEDED FOR INSPIRED COMFORT AWARDS Nominations will be accepted from March 1–May 31, 2008 for the Cherokee Uniforms Inspired Comfort Awards. This program provides a meaningful way for peers, friends and colleagues to acknowledge healthcare professionals for their significant contributions to patients and health care. Candidates may be nominated in two of the following categories, but can only win in one: Registered Nurses (RNs); Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs); Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPNs/LVNs); students enrolled in schools of nursing; and other Non-Physician Healthcare Professionals. To submit a nomination, visit http://www.CherokeeUniforms.com. 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.
22. MEMBER NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND AWARDS
23. AACN OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY UPDATE
24. OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CONSIDER
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