A few years ago HPNA identified the phrase "Leading the Way" to exemplify the organization's role in end-of-life nursing. You see it on our bookmarks, buttons, and other promotional material. But just how is HPNA leading the way? What are we doing to be entitled to make that claim? Here is a partial list of how the HPNA Board of Directors feels we are leading the way:
* HPNA has developed seven position statements that provide guidance to nurses on important topics in end-of-life nursing. Four additional position statements are under development.
* HPNA is working with other key hospice and palliative care organizations that are contributing to developing clinical practice guidelines for quality palliative care. Many organizations are now coming to HPNA for our input.
* HPNA provides a voice for hospice and palliative care nurses to address important issues in the field through such sources as our Web site, committees, products, services, and publications.
* The Annual Assembly in conjunction with the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine is providing an opportunity to be exposed to the latest research in end-of-life care. More than 1100 attendees participated in the Annual Assembly held in Phoenix in January 2004. In 2005, the Annual Assembly was held in New Orleans from January 19 to 23. Fifteen hundred attended in 2005.
* In January 2004, the Alliance for Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Nursing was formed. The Alliance is the joining of HPNA, The National Board of Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, and The Hospice and Palliative Nursing Foundation. The Alliance's Mission is to serve as a unified voice in hospice and palliative nursing, act as a visionary for specialty trending issues, and be a primary resource for fostering excellence in hospice and palliative nursing.
* The Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, HPNA's official publication, is the only peer-reviewed bimonthly nursing journal devoted to nursing care at the end of life.
* HPNA has recognized the need to advance nursing research in hospice and palliative care and is developing resources to support nurses in these endeavors.
* Excellence in hospice and palliative nursing is recognized by a variety of awards, including awarding of Florence Wald, RN, FAAN, with the first Leading the Way Award and Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, FAAN, with the first Distinguished Career Achievement Award in 2004.
In 2005, Madalon Amenta, RN, MN, PhD, the first Executive Director of HPNA, was honored with the Leading the Way Award. Nessa Coyle, PhD, NP, APRN, BC-PCM, FAAN, was named the Distinguished Career Achievement Award winner for 2005.
Other 2005 Award winners include Monica White, RN, MSN, OCN, CHPN, for Innovation in End of Life Nursing Care, Linda Rahilly, MS, RNC, CHPN, for the Competence in Aging Award, and Kate Parker, RN, for the Marion Ryan Artistry in End of Life Nursing Care Award.
* By being a leader in the Johns Hopkins Nursing Leadership Academy, HPNA is assisting representatives from 44 other professional nursing organizations to incorporate end-of-life care into their programs, publications, conferences, and other activities.
* HPNA's chapter model provides members an opportunity to network on the local level. HPNA has 14 chartered chapters and 11 additional provisional groups in development.
* The Project on Death in America has granted HPNA funds to introduce the geriatric ELNEC (End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium) project into long-term care through our chapter model. This program will be offered in nine cities during the course of 3 years; three were conducted in 2004.
* Multiple education opportunities and publications have been developed for all levels of the nursing team from nursing assistants, LP/VNs, RNs, to APNs. Weekly teleconferences are offered, followed by scripts on the Web site to download for continuing education. CD-ROMs of the teleconferences are available for purchase at any time.
* The HPNA Web site, http://www.hpna.org offers many educational opportunities, including an HPNA Forum for members to ask questions of professional colleagues and free patient/family education sheets.
* More than 200 approved educators are disseminating the education of our Clinical Review modules
* There are numerous speakers available through the HPNA's Speaker's Bureau to offer outstanding educational programs
This is only a partial list of the many ways that HPNA is leading the way to promote and elevate end-of-life nursing. Just visit our Web site, http://www.hpna.org, to learn more about any of these items.
So, the next time you mention HPNA to a colleague, also acknowledge that you are part of an organization that truly is Leading the Way. It's a great ride!!
coming next month to home Healthcare Nurse
Look for these exciting articles and features in our next issue:
*Disease Management in Home Care
*Creative Inservices to Meet Educational Requirements
*Choose the Best Wound Dressings
*Care at the Time of Death
*Compliance With the COP: Patient Rights
All this, and much, much more!!