Elections
The HPNA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the outcomes of the 2007 elections. Of a total of 6305 RN member ballots mailed with a return deadline of June 30, 2007, 586 ballots were returned, which represented a 9% response from the voting membership. According to bylaws, 50% of the members of the board are elected and 50% are appointed. With this requirement in mind, the newly elected, reappointed, and re-elected members of the board for 2008 are
Deborah Childs, MS, RN, CNAA
Todd Hultman, PhD, APRN-BC, ACHPN
Beverly Paukstis, RN, MS, CHPN
Beth Werner, RN, CHPN
Deborah Childs is the Vice President of Clinical Services for the Hospice Agency, the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care. She initiated the Greater-Niagara-Ontario Area of Western New York HPNA Chapter and has continued to be actively involved.
Todd Hultman is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. He was previously an advanced practice practitioner at the Hospice of the North Shore. Todd is active in the Boston HPNA Chapter and served as its first president.
Beverly Paukstis is the Vice President of Clinical Services at the Montgomery Hospice. Bev served on the NBCHPN board of directors for 6 years, served as their president from 2001 to 2002, and was the chairperson for the HPNA Education Committee in 2005 and 2006.
Beth Werner has served on the HPNA Board of Directors since 2005 and has been re-elected for a second term of the board. Serving in her third year, Beth is currently the Secretary-Treasurer of the board and a member of the Executive Committee and the chair of the Finance committee.
The HPNA Nominating Committee continues to dialog about adding a board member with expertise in research. We are thrilled to have these new board members and look forward to working with them in the coming years.
Clinical Practice Forum
HPNA held their first Clinical Practice Forum (CPF) addressing "Managing Non-Cancer Patients" on September 7 and 8, 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With nearly 300 people in attendance, the CPF was extremely successful. The planning committee consisted of Janet Snapp, Sherry Sevier Rogers, Elaine Glass, Rhonda Oakes, and several members of the National Office staff. A preconference presentation by Virginia Valentine that featured the play B.O.A.T.I.N.G., which was written and performed by Jill Bixby along with members of the National Office staff, was also held with more than 150 people in attendance. Faculty for the event included Janet Snapp, Judy Lentz, Dena Jean Sutermaster, Deena Butcher, Nancy Grandovic, Linda Gorman, Meg Campbell, Beth Fahlberg, Judy Bartel, Dr. Chuck Wellman, Connie Dahlin, and Betty Ferrell. On Saturday, September 8, 2007, Judy Lentz presented the outcomes of a survey completed by HPNA members and conducted by Wyeth on opioid-induced constipation. Linda Boeye was selected by Edelman, the public relations firm used by Wyeth to conduct this survey, as the random winner and was surprised by the presentation of a PDA for being a participant in the survey. It was a fun event for everyone. The success of this CPF led to the approval by the HPNA Board to host one annually. Planning has already begun for the 2008 event. Watch the Web site for more details in early 2008.
Additional Preconference Added to Annual Assembly
HPNA is offering a free evening preconference workshop as part of a grant proposal through the AAHPM "College." This preconference is intended to target advanced practice and senior experienced hospice and palliative nurses who are interested in clinical practice leadership skills development through mentoring. A great faculty has been acquired for this workshop, which will be offered from 6pm to 10pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 in the Tampa Bay Convention Center. To obtain more information about this event and to register, visit the AAHPM Web site at http://www.aahpm.org. For information on the other HPNA preconferences being offered and to register for those precons, please visit the HPNA Web site at http://www.hpna.org.
Gifts of Thanksgiving
"Wow! These are beautiful!" These are the words heard over and over at Leadership Weekend in July and the Clinical Practice Forum in September regarding the 2007 Butterfly Key to Your Heart case. People are amazed at how attractive they look up close! Members have given donations for 50 cases and 66 cases at these events, respectively. Good news for the Foundation; good gifts for others! To give "a gift that comes from the heart, not from one's wallet" is priceless, and that is the theme behind Key to Your Heart gift cases, according to our artist who designs them. They make wonderful Thanksgiving gifts because they celebrate with thanks a friendship between giver and receiver. Of course, we think they would make good gifts anytime! Order yours at http://www.hpnf.org or by calling 412-787-9301.
Annual Member Appeal Continues Through December 2007
Please join HPNF in celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the HPNA by donating $21 to HPNF in honor of the 21 scholarships, grants, and awards of HPNF. The HPNF is conducting the annual member campaign to encourage "every member" to contribute $21. To date we have collected more than $8000! Won't you please help us by donating $21 for the 21st Anniversary of HPNA? We are grateful for all the gifts the HPNF receives. All proceeds from this campaign benefit the nurses and other healthcare professionals who provide end-of-life care. To make online donations, please go to http://www.hpnf.org and click on "donate now."
HPNF Goal Achieved
The Foundation received wonderful support from the attendees at Clinical Practice Forum! We received close to $1000 in donations the first day and had an ambitious goal to surpass that amount on the second day. We are happy to report that through donations to the silent auction, the Key to Your Heart project, and the Apple Tree, we received more than $2000 in support of end-of-life care and surpassed our event goal! Thanks to all for your support at Clinical Practice Forum.
Memorial Tributes
The Foundation recently updated its Web pages (http://www.hpnf.org) and can now accept memorial donations online. The donors will be thanked and the survivors will be advised of the donation. Please consider sharing this information with anyone who is looking for a significant way to remember loved ones.
Exciting News for Hospice and Palliative APNs
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is adding the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN(R)) to the list of recognized national certifying bodies for NPs and CNSs at the advanced practice level. The effective date is November 19, 2007. Further details regarding NPs and CNSs who bill Medicare carriers and Medicare administrative contractors (A/B MACs) for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries are available on the NBCHPN(R) Web site (http://www.nbchpn.org).
Testing Windows for NBCHPN(R) 2008 Computer-Based Testing
Computer-based testing (CBT) is about to begin! NBCHPN(R) continues to work with our professional testing company, Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP), toward CBT in 2008! See the chart below for testing window dates and "received by" deadlines for 2008.
* To receive membership benefit of discounted exam fee, candidate MUST be an HPNA member with a membership number BEFORE applying for certification exam in order. The membership number is required for the exam application process to receive the discount.
* Applications will not be accepted BEFORE the application start date, and applications are always for the next available window only. The 2008 CBT Candidate Handbook can be downloaded from our Web site (http://www.nbchpn.org) or requested by calling AMP at 888-519-9901.
For more information regarding CBT, please contact the National Office at [email protected] or 412-787-1057.
2008 APRN and RN Hospice and Palliative Alternative Recertification Applications Available
Recertification through the Hospice and Palliative Alternative Recertification (HPAR) method is now available for APRNs. HPAR continues to be an option for recertification for RNs. The appropriate packet and application can be downloaded from our Web site (http://www.nbchpn.org) or a packet can be mailed to you by calling the National Office at 412-787-1057. Both groups follow the same timeline.
2008 NBCHPN(R) Certification Recognition Event
NBCHPN(R) will host its 7th Annual Certification Recognition Event during the Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. The luncheon will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2008 from 12:45 PM to 2:00 PM at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. Larry Fabrey, PhD, Senior Vice President of the Psychometrics Division of Applied Measurement Professionals, will be the keynote speaker presenting "Certification Linked to Practice." Seating is limited to the first 250 registrants. Registration details are available through the Web site (http://www.nbchpn.org) or by calling the National Office at 412-787-1057.
NBCHPN(R) Announces the 2007 Employer of the Year Award
NBCHPN(R) takes great pleasure in announcing Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Florida as the recipient of the 2007 Employer of the Year Award. This award is presented each year to a hospice that is currently part of the NBCHPN(R) Employer Supporter Program and has demonstrated consistent and exemplary support of certification. Hospice of the Comforter recognizes certification for nurses and nursing assistants through several financial, formal, and professional development activities. Hospice of the Comforter has proved that their organization is deserving of this special recognition. NBCHPN(R) is planning to present the prestigious award onsite at the Hospice of the Comforter in November 2007.