It is just about the start of the holiday season, and I want to wish everyone a happy holiday and a joyous New Year. This year has been flying by as fast as any year I can remember. I recently heard a great explanation as to why years seem to speed up as we get older. When you are 10 years old, a year is a full 1/10 of your total experience. Everything that is new is a large portion of your total knowledge and history. When you are 60 years old, a year is just 1/60 of your total experience! It does seem that I am doing more and more each day, but each day seems to fly past faster than the day before. All I can say for sure is this has been a fun and fast 12 months.
The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) has had a busy year working toward its goals. The association has made a commitment to improve communication by making NACNS activities more "transparent" to the membership. The board has provided multiple opportunities for your input through surveys, we have launched a new Web site design and reintroduced our electronic newsletter-the CNS Communique. You will have noticed an increased number of blast e-mails from headquarters announcing opportunities. In addition, NACNS has begun to circulate press releases to the greater nursing and healthcare community to announce our successes. We plan to continue these efforts and would like your feedback on their usefulness and any comments on how we can make them better. As always, please let us know how we are doing and how we can better serve you, our membership.
The NACNS Board has made a commitment to strategic planning, and we have organized our 2012 budget around our strategic priorities. With the ever-changing healthcare environment, NACNS needs to put forth our positions in a manner that will continue to support clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) practicing to the full extent of their education and training. The NACNS is positioning itself to positively influence healthcare policy, regulations, and legislation. As with any change, there is threat and opportunity. We are keenly aware that our responses will determine how CNS practice will evolve from this point forward. Our goal is to fight the hard fight to not only preserve CNS practice but also elevate it so that all CNSs can practice to the fullest extent of their education.
There are several ways that you can help NACNS as it endeavors to support CNSs. Continue your membership. You now have the ability to join or renew using the multiyear options and save some money. Encourage all your CNS colleges to join NACNS: The larger our membership, the "louder" our voice. We have a shortage of information on the cost savings that CNSs bring to their workplace. So, please consider publishing your CNS outcomes and do not leave out the dollars and cents. In an era where we have a threat of our federal government defaulting on the national debt, we must be savvy and present how vital our contribution is to our society. I know that I keep asking members to publish, but it is important. Without data, it is very difficult to influence anyone.
In this era of great change and opportunity, it is important to learn from each other. Please consider attending the NACNS Annual Conference this March 8 to 10 in Chicago. Last year, we made several changes and improvements to the conference, and this year, we have refined the program and enhanced your learning opportunities. The conference is a great time to network with CNSs from all over the country and find solutions to the difficult problems you are facing. It is a chance to learn from some of the best and brightest CNSs in the world. It is also an opportunity to find out how you would like to serve NACNS. I am looking forward to seeing many long-time friends and meeting new ones. I hope to see all of you in Chicago!
NEWS FROM OUR AFFILIATES
California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
The California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CACNS) has been very active this year. On June 24, 2011, our quarterly educational meeting at Loma Linda Medical Center was entitled "Staying In-formed: Legislative Update and Its Impact on the Role of the CNS in CA." Patti Radovich, MSN, RN, CNS, our keynote speaker, provided an excellent presentation. Maureen Le-Danseur, CNS at Loma Linda Medical Center and CACNS treasurer, hosted the event.
The CACNS annual Conference "The Clinical Nurse Specialist: Expert in Clinical Innovation" was held in Santa Barbara and hosted by Cottage Hospital on September 24, 2011. Distinguished speakers included keynote speaker Kathleen Vollman, MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN. It featured presentations from Liz Budek, MSN, RN, CNS, 2011 CACNS president and assistant nursing director quality improvement manager at LAC-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles; Mary Dickow, MPA, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows Program, San Francisco; Lubelle D'Luna-O'Grady, MSN, RN, PHN, CNS, medication safety manager, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Newport Beach, California; Ann Mayo, DNSc, RN, CNS, professor, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science University of San Diego, California; and Lauri Tveit, MSN, RN, ONC, CNS director, Clinical Transformation, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, California.
Yvonne Dobbenga-Rhodes, MS, RNC-OB, CNS, CNS-BC, maternal-child health CNS was elected to the 2012 AWHONN Board of Directors. This is as a wonderful opportunity to be a voice for CNSs in this wonderful organization.
Dr Katherine Beam DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, was appointed as adjunct professor at the California State University, Stanislaus. Dr Beam will be working with graduate students and continuing her focus and research interests in pathophysiology, prevention of patient falls, pressure ulcer prevention, pain management, and nursing leadership. She has a wide and extensive background that includes 26 years of medical-surgical, critical care, emergency, trauma, and oncology nursing. Dr Beam also works full time as an adult CNS supporting the medical-surgical, critical care, telemetry, emergency, and clinic services at Woodland Healthcare in Woodland, California.
Submitted by: Margaret Talley, PhD, RN, CNS
Central Indiana Affiliate
The Central Indiana Organization of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CIO-CNS) had another strong turnout at the NACNS conference. More than 30 members went to Baltimore to receive the Affiliate of the Year award. What an honor it was to be recognized. The CIO-CNS partnered with the Indiana University School of Nursing to cosponsor the second annual conference entitled "Contributions Across the Continuum of Care" held on November 11, 2011, in Indianapolis. We hope that many of you could attend this conference.
Many of the CIO-CNS members hold leadership positions in regional organizations. Kim Hodge, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN-CMC, is the president and Jennifer Kitchens, MSN, RN, CVN-I, is the secretary of Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Chapter. Amy L. Sprague, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, is the president-elect for the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and Mary Fischer MSN, CCRN, PCCN, is the immediate past president.
Michelle E. Deckard, MSN, CCRN-CMC, authored "Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest: what, why, who and how?" in the July issue of American Nurse Today. Jennifer Kitchens, MSN, RN, CVN-I, presented a poster at the Seventh Annual Nursing Research Conference, May 6, 2011, at Cleveland Clinic in Lyndhurst, Ohio, entitled "Examination of a Hospital/Nursing School Partnership as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Recruiting/Retention Method." At this same conference, Jennifer Kitchens, Oscar Guzman, and Carrie Jacobs coauthored a poster entitled "Implementation of a Nurse Driven Sepsis Screening Initiative."
Submitted by: Amy L. Sprague MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN
Northeast Florida Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
The Northeast Florida Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists is a newly formed affiliate based in Jacksonville. They held their second meeting last August 18 at the Cantino Laredo 7restaurant where they heard a presentation from Cadence Pharmaceuticals regarding OFIRMEV (IV acetaminophen): A Non-Opioid, Non-NSAID Analgesic for Perioperative Pain Management. If interested in getting on the mailing list for future meetings, please e-mail Jane Myrick at [email protected].
Submitted by: Jane A. Myrick, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC
Veterans Affairs Virtual Affiliate
Christine Schwartzkopf, CNS, at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Texas Healthcare System (CTXHS), received a 2011 Public Health/Pandemic Influenza Grant Award by the Public Health Strategic Health Care Group. Her project, "Healthy Hands are Helping Hands," received a grant amount of $1700 to support an educational program for staff and residents in the VA CTXHS's Community Living Centers. Christine Schwartzkopf also presented a poster entitled "The 3D's: Differentiating Dementia, Depression, and Delirium" at the 2011 Texas Conference on Aging-Mission: Active Aging in San Antonio, Texas.
Kathleen L. Dunn, SCI CNS, at the VA San Diego HS, presented a poster entitled "Skin Rounds: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Pressure Ulcer Management" at the 2011 American Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals annual conference in Las Vegas. Kelly Goudreau, associate director for patient care services/nurse executive at the White City Oregon Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) presented at the "Winds of Change" advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) conference in August on the APRN Consensus Model and its implications to the APRNs in the VA system. Ann Busch, liver transplant CNS at the Portland Oregon VAMC, presented a poster entitled "HBIG IV to IM Conversion: Saving Time and Money and Increasing Patient Satisfaction" at the VHA APRN: "Sailing the Winds of Change" 2011 conference in Chicago.
Christy Burleson, a CNS student employed at the Portland VAMC, was selected as the recipient of the 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CNS Scholarship in August 2011.
Submitted by Kathleen L. Dunn, MS, RN, CRRN, CNS-BC
Virginia Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
The Virginia Board of Nursing has accepted the petition to recognize the CNS as an advanced practice registered nurse in the state of Virginia. This is the beginning of the statutory changes that will need to be made. Our next step is to have an ad hoc advisory committee review the regulations for the CNS. We will keep you posted on our progress. Any CNS in Virginia who would like to be a part of this historical endeavor, please contact Donna Bond, president of VaCNS at [email protected].
MEMBERS NEWS
Announcement: Case studies for continuing education have been posted at the NACNS Web site at http://common.proaxs.net/nacns/case-studies/index.php.
CNS Foundation News: The CNS Foundation honors founding board members and welcomes 3 new trustees.
The CNS Foundation Board of Trustees is composed of 10 individuals, 6 of whom are NACNS members-at-large, 3 of whom are from the community, and 1 from the NACNS Board of Directors. The current foundation officers and trustees are President Kathy Baldwin, PhD, CNS, RN, ANP, GNP; Treasurer Kelly Goudreau, DSN, RN, CNS; Secretary JoEllen Rust, MSN, RN, CNS; and the trustees are Pat Ebright, DNS, MSN, BSN; Sue Sendelbach, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAHA; and Theresa Murray, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS.
They are joined by the following new trustees: Daniel Ryan, CPA, CrFA, DABFA, is chief executive officer/chief financial officer of Information Network Associates Inc, a private investigative and general business consulting firm located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. David Griffiths, MBA, is vice president of Marketing and Risk Management for Aon's Healthcare Division located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Aon is the parent company of Nurses Services Organization. Suzanne Purvis, MSN, RN, GCNS, is a geriatric CNS at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and current member of the NACNS Board of Directors. The board will fill 1 remaining seat with a community member.
At the March 2011 NACNS Annual Conference awards luncheon, the foundation honored and thanked these founding members who completed their terms of service: Janet Bingle, MS, RN, founding president; Peggy Gerard, PhD, RN, founding treasurer; Sue Davidson, PhD, Janet Fulton, PhD, RN, Brenda Lyon, PhD, RN, and Don Shuck.
NACNS CONFERENCE UPDATE
The 2012 National Association of Clinical Specialist annual conference will be held on March 8 to 10 at the Fairmount Chicago in Millennium Park. The conference theme is "Optimizing Outcomes-Influencing Across the Spheres." In response to feedback from previous conferences, we have increased the diversity and quantity of paper sessions available for conference participants.
Join us at the Fairmount Chicago, Millennium Park Hotel and enjoy a wealth of experiences. Lake Shore Drive that runs along Lake Michigan is just 4 blocks from the Fairmount. Millennium Park and Grant Park are large urban green spaces and are also within a few short blocks from the hotel. For those of you who want an infusion of culture, the Art Institute and Field Museum are located nearby. The Navy Pier is located about half a mile from the hotel. But the destination that may be upper most in your mind-The Magnificent Mile-begins just 2 blocks from the Fairmount and continues northward for a mile. So dress for the weather and be sure to bring a good pair of walking shoes, but do enjoy the great Chicago outdoors.
Reminder: The call for student abstracts deadline of December 2nd is rapidly approaching. Please encourage your students to submit abstracts and attend the conference. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet leaders and scholars in the CNS world.
CALL FOR NEWS ITEMS
If you have information you want to share about yourself, your NACNS peers, or your affiliate/affiliate peers, please send the news item to [email protected]. News items for the 2012 March/April issue are due by December 16, 2011.