Good afternoon, and welcome to Orlando and the 2007 INS Annual Meeting. I am pleased to have the opportunity to deliver my report on this year's activities and accomplishments of our organization. Having been in my role as INS CEO for the past 10 years, I am struck by the growth and advancements we've been able to accomplish during that time. Our product line has grown from 2 publications in 1997 to 15 publications and products today. Healthcare organizations and companies consistently turn to us, seeking our knowledge and expertise. As noted in the financial report, for the tenth consecutive year we have maintained our dues at $90 and have no immediate plans to increase them. Also, we will be implementing an interactive Web-based membership database that will enable our members to check membership and CE status and update contact information. These are exciting times for INS!!
MEMBERSHIP
In 2006, INS membership increased by 178 members, bringing the total membership to 5,650, a 3.2% increase from the 2005 membership number of 5,472. Over the past 3 years, membership has increased by 11%. Corporate membership programs with BD and Smiths Medical continue to support the membership rolls. Improved retention efforts, effective marketing plans, and increasing awareness of who we are and what we offer have contributed to the positive membership numbers.
Currently there are 45 active chapters, and INS receives frequent inquiries about new chapter formation. INS has undertaken some initiatives that will be helpful to our chapters' successes. In addition to sending a monthly chapter officers' e-newsletter that highlights chapter management tips, program announcements, and other pertinent information, a chapter officer toolbox has been developed that includes a handbook, scholarship and education program templates, and sample forms.
At this meeting, there are 2 scheduled chapter events. Earlier today we hosted a luncheon for the chapter presidents. In addition to the opportunity to network with their colleagues, this information session gave the chapter presidents ideas for chapter management and growth and steps to maximize their relationship with the national office. On Tuesday, from 12:30 to 2:00 PM, the Chapter Officer Roundtables will be conducted, allowing the attendees to share their chapters' successes and challenges and discuss ideas for future programs and events. We continue to be encouraged by an engaged membership on both the local and national levels.
INS EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS
The Allegiance for Associations membership surveys continue to show that our members remain active because we have been able to develop programs, products, and services that meet their infusion needs. Member responses to surveys conducted in the INS exhibit booth have been useful in determining the direction for future product development, while the e-mail messaging system has yielded many responses from members who are interested in serving on INS committees or task forces.
The Flushing Protocols Task Force has been working diligently to address the wealth of information and controversial issues associated with flushing vascular access devices. A white paper will be developed, as will resources to highlight the task force's recommendations for best practices in flushing procedures. The External Jugular (EJ) Cannulation Task Force has been convened to address the issue of registered nurses inserting EJ catheters. This procedure seems to be a common practice, so the task force will be surveying each state's scope of practice and determining competencies for this procedure.
INFUSION EDUCATION
Providing quality education programs is an integral part of our mission. We continue to offer programs that address cutting-edge infusion therapy information, and the meeting evaluations consistently receive high grades from our attendees, thanks in large part to the work of the National Council on Education (NCOE). I would like to recognize those NCOE members who have completed their terms: Rick Frithsen, Linda Hall, and Dana Runde. A special thanks goes out to Cora Vizcarra, who has served as the NCOE chair for the past 5 years, for her leadership and commitment to this vitally important committee.
The 2006 Fall National Academy of Infusion Therapy, held in Crystal City, Virginia, was well attended. The 1-day special program, "Autoimmune Diseases of the Connective Tissues," was fully funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. We are looking forward to the 2007 Fall National Academy to be held November 9-11 in Anaheim, California. This year's National Academy will also be preceded by a special 1-day program sponsored by Bard Access and Bard Medical, titled "PICC Tip X-Ray Verification and Stabilization."
PUBLICATIONS
As editor of the Journal of Infusion Nursing, I'm extremely proud to be part of the Journal's 30th anniversary celebration of publication excellence. As INS' flagship publication, the Journal continues to be the number-one member benefit. A year-long recognition plan has been implemented to recognize this significant milestone. An anniversary logo and guest editorials written by INS past presidents have been added. Commemorative reprints of the first issue of NITA, including the advertisements, were printed in the January/February issue of the Journal, and articles from NITA and the Journal of Intravenous Nursing will be reprinted throughout the year. Two new columns have been introduced: "Speaking of Standards [horizontal ellipsis]" written by Lisa Gorski, INS president-elect, and "IV P.U.M.P. (Politically Useful Messages for Practicing Nurses)," from Craven & Ober, Policy Strategists, LLC. You will be familiar with the "IV P.U.M.P." column because it was previously published in Newsline. In "Speaking of Standards [horizontal ellipsis]," Lisa provides a focused discussion on INS Standards that have generated questions from nurses, highlights research that supports the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice, and adds updated references as available. I hope you'll enjoy the new look of the Journal; we welcome any feedback you may have.
I also want to acknowledge INS' 30-year relationship with our publisher, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. This productive partnership has contributed to the success of the Journal as well as increased revenue from licensing, reprints, permissions, and advertisement sales.
INS has moved to an online manuscript tracking system for the Journal. We have instituted Editorial Manager(R), a Web-based manuscript submission and peer review system for scholarly journals. Authors submit original and revised manuscripts, editorial staff sends manuscripts out for review, reviewers conduct reviews and return comments, and editors make final publishing decisions. This efficient system will help authors, reviewers, and editorial staff save time since all the work is completed online, with reports generated to maintain the status of the submission process. I encourage you to think about submitting a manuscript for possible publication. Each of you has valuable information that needs to be shared, especially as we seek to support evidence-based practices.
INS's newsletter, Newsline, continues to be a popular value-added member benefit. Readers look forward to the featured columns, such as the "President's Message," "Frequently Asked Questions," and "IV Drug Safety" by Michael Cohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. This year we added 2 new columns-one on risk management provided by Nurses Service Organization and one entitled "Clinical Concepts of Infusion Therapy." This is another opportunity for submission of clinical articles or chapter information that can be shared with the membership.
INS just launched our new member e-newsletter, INS Connection. Sent quarterly, it will include INS information as well as other news of interest to nurses from other organizations. During the upcoming year, the revision process for the INS textbook, Infusion Therapy in Clinical Practice, will begin. Editors and authors will be identified, and the current version will be reviewed, changes will be incorporated, and references will be updated.
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
For the sixth consecutive year, INS sponsored a speaker at the National Student Nurses Association's (NSNA) Midyear Conference. Director-at-Large Lynda Cook represented INS on the specialty nurses panel. As always, the students were interested in the scope of practice and competencies aligned with infusion nurses. Having been one of the original members of the Nursing Organizations Alliance (The Alliance) when it was formed in 2001, INS has continued to play a key role in the organization. I want to thank Roxanne Perucca for representing INS while serving on The Alliance's Coordinating Team. She completed her term this past November.
For the fourth consecutive year, INS presented a preconference workshop, "The Ins and Outs of IV Therapy," at the Nursing2007 Symposium. The program was presented by infusion experts Lynn Hadaway and Roxanne Perucca. This well-received program prompted lots of interest at the INS exhibit booth in the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice, Policies and Procedures for Infusion Nursing, and the CRNI(R) certification exam.
As Lynn Czaplewski mentioned, INS was the only nursing organization to submit comments on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter <797>. Also, USP approved INS' membership for another 5 years.
INS is constantly in discussions with pharmaceutical companies interested in developing infusion-related programs and resources that generate enduring materials. Work is being completed on the CD-ROM education program on the administration of monoclonal antibodies, as requested by Biogen/Idec. In collaboration with Centocor, INS has developed a program covering the area of biologics administration. This program, titled "Immunology Academy: The Critical Role of Nurses in the Treatment and Management of Biologics in Immune-Mediated Diseases," is a series of education programs for rheumatology, dermatology, and infusion nurses. They are presented at regional dinner meetings, via teleconferences, and as Web-based programs.
Last July, I was invited by Alexion Pharmaceuticals to be part of their Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Working Group. PNH is a rare blood disorder that exhibits a triad of clinical features: intravascular hemolysis, thrombosis, and aplastic anemia. Alexion Pharmaceuticals developed Soliris, a monoclonal antibody designed to stop the chronic intravascular hemolysis characteristic of PNH. This IV drug received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval this March. A patient education brochure was created with input from INS.
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
There is still a lot of interest in infusion therapy from our international colleagues. In fact, we have members in 32 foreign countries. In September, at the invitation of 3M, I had the pleasure of returning to China. I presented "Applying Standards and Guidelines to Clinical Practice: Prevention of Intravenous Infusion Complications." The Chinese nurses continue to be interested in best practices as they relate to infusion therapy and in INS' role as a member organization.
In February, PiSA Pharmaceuticals invited me to return to Mexico to introduce the first infusion education course being offered through a university. Groupe Angeles, a prominent Mexican healthcare system, in collaboration with the University of Mexico, developed an infusion course for nurses that consisted of 40 hours of classroom and 60 hours of clinical practice. The course content was based on the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice and the Core Curriculum for Infusion Nursing. Over 20 nurses completed the course in March. They intend to conduct a second course at the end of this summer.
With regard to having INS publications, in particular the Standards, translated in foreign languages, we are in talks with the interested parties and our publisher, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. The process, including protection of INS' copyright of the document, is being discussed. The languages of primary interest are Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese.
HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY
As part of the larger healthcare community, INS continues to remain engaged with other organizations that are addressing issues of critical importance for the nursing profession. We are 1 of 50 national nursing organizations that belong to the Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief Alliance, a collective that is identifying and creating strategies to address the nursing shortage. As a signatory, INS endorsed letters and testimony addressing funding for the 2008 fiscal year for the Nursing Workforce Development Programs. The critical issues highlighted in the submissions include the impact of the nursing shortage on patient care and homeland security, the growing shortage of nurses, and the desperate need for nurse faculty.
INS is pleased to report that our membership in the National Quality Forum (NQF) was approved. With more than 300 members, INS is one of only about 7 professional nursing organizations that are members. To ensure that nursing's perspective is included as NQF develops consensus standards, INS collaborates with the other NQF nursing organization members.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health received funding from the state legislature to develop a comprehensive infection control and prevention program. The Expert Panel for Healthcare-Acquired Infections was convened, and INS was invited to sit on the panel. We are also working on the Bloodstream Infection Task Force, which will be sending recommendations to the Expert Panel for review.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be revising the 2002 version of the Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-related Infections. INS has been invited back to participate in that process.
INS OPERATIONS
In December, INS relocated its office to another building within our existing office complex. A 7-year lease was negotiated for the new office at 315 Norwood Park South that gives us an additional 2,300 square feet of space and room for growth.
INS is implementing a new association management system that will combine the Web site and database into one. The revamped INS Web site will have a password-protected "members-only" section that will enable members to access their own information on their own time. Members will be able to update contact information, access CE information, and purchase products from the on-line store. In addition, a dedicated Web site is being developed for the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC) and when up and running can be accessed through http://www.incc1.org.
The online Career Center continues to post job vacancies in the field of infusion nursing. The anonymous resume function allows employers to browse the resumes of potential hires while maintaining the privacy of the job seeker. I encourage you to take a look at this service, which is part of the INS Web site.
GARDNER FOUNDATION
The Gardner Foundation continues to support our members through its scholarship and awards program. Individual and corporate donations, profits from the sale of IV Nurse Day products, and proceeds from the Gardner Foundation raffle (to be held on Wednesday during the Industrial Exhibition) increase its endowment. All members are encouraged to take advantage of the Foundation awards and scholarships that are available.
INCC
The INCC was pleased with the successful transition of the CRNI(R) examination from a paper-and-pencil test to a computer-based test (CBT). Candidates were able to take advantage of flexible testing schedules, multiple test locations, and immediate score reporting. This year, the CRNI(R) exam will be offered in more than 150 assessment centers, Monday through Friday, during the month of September. Beginning in 2008, the exam will be administered during 2 testing periods-March and September. Also, INCC will be conducting a job analysis to ensure that the exam content is relevant to current practice. Achieving certification continues to be a goal for many infusion nurses. Even with the change in testing to CBT, our 2006 candidate numbers exceeded those of 2005. Four hundred thirty-three nurses took the CRNI(R) exam in 2006, and 72.6% passed. Of the new passers, 95.8% were newly certified, and 4.2% renewed their credential. The 2006 recertification rate was 74.6%, which is consistent with the industry average of 70% to 75%.
At their March meeting, the RN Examination Council, chaired by Nancy Mortlock, in collaboration with INCC's psychometric company Applied Measurement Professionals, approved the September 2007 and March 2008 exams and diligently worked on other exam-related activities. I would like to recognize Gayle Fuller, whose term has expired, for his hard work and commitment while on the council, and welcome new member Debbie Potts.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CRNI(R) of the Year award. The previous winners will be recognized at the INCC Reception, to be held on Monday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. INCC is pleased to announce that the 2007 CRNI(R) of the Year is Marla Spadafora.
Preparing for the exam is an important aspect in the journey toward certification, so INCC continues to provide resources to assist candidates in this process. The series, "Preparing for the CRNI(R) Exam," is being revised and will be produced on CDs and DVDs. Check the INCC Web site for news about the release date of these study aids. INCC is proud to announce that the CRNI(R) examination program has achieved accreditation through the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS). ABNS, a membership organization with an accreditation function, has a membership of 28 specialty nursing certification organizations and exists to promote the value of specialty nursing certification to all stakeholders. To achieve accreditation, INCC conducted a rigorous assessment to demonstrate that our program met the stringent criteria for the 18 ABNS Accreditation Council standards. This accreditation recognizes the CRNI(R) exam as a valid program that is psychometrically sound and legally defensible. The accreditation is effective until 2010.
As part of a joint research effort among ABNS member organizations, INCC participated in the Value of Certification Survey project. In response to identified priority research areas, ABNS chose to undertake a study that would validate nurses' perceptions, values, and behaviors related to certification. The study sought to address the perceptions of the value of certification, challenges and barriers in achieving certification, benefits and rewards to nurses for being certified, and the impact certification has on nurse retention. Over 11,000 responses were obtained from certified nurses, noncertified nurses, and nurse managers. A manuscript on the research results has been accepted by Nursing Outlook, the official journal of the American Academy of Nursing. On Monday after the keynote address, Melissa Biel, DPA, RN, who has served as research liaison to ABNS, will be presenting INCC's data on this research, so be sure to attend her session.
INCC continues to play an active role in ABNS. As of July 1, I will have completed my 2-year term as ABNS president. Brenda Dugger, INCC chair, was the chair of the Awards and Recognition Committee. In November, at the National Organization for Competency Assurance Annual Conference, I was a co-presenter of "The Meaning and Value of Certification: A Multi-organizational Research Initiative."
The INCC Board of Directors meeting in May was the last one for Chair Brenda Dugger and Director Sharon Weinstein, as they have completed their terms. We want to thank them for their commitment and leadership and recognize the important roles they had in the successes that INCC has achieved. New board members were welcomed-Chair-Elect Pamela Jacobs and Director Richelle Hamblin.
SETTING THE STANDARD FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS
INS has seen dramatic growth over the past 34 years. This growth would not have occurred if our co-founders did not have the vision or passion to formally organize the infusion specialty practice. It's with deep sadness that I report that Ada Plumer, our co-founder, passed away this past March. She was a remarkable woman and champion for our specialty. Her leadership directed the organization, National Intravenous Therapy Association (NITA) at the time, to provide continuing education and share information for those professionals involved in administering intravenous therapy. Her vision continues to guide INS as we strive to meet our organizational mission.
Finally, I would like to thank the INS Board of Directors. Despite their busy personal and professional lives, they have remained committed and worked passionately to ensure INS' successes over the past year. The past 10 years have brought about many tremendous successes for INS. As a result of the dedication and commitment of our members, INS is well positioned for even more successes and growth in the months and years ahead. Your dedication to the specialty practice and to INS is to be commended.
It has been my distinct pleasure and honor to serve as CEO these past 10 years, and I look forward with much enthusiasm to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead and to watch INS continue to "Set the Standard for Infusion Care" and our continued success!!