The Alaska Nurse - Vol. 55 No. 4 November 2005

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The Alaska Nurse Circulation 8,000 to every Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and Student Nurse in Alaska Volume 55 No. 4

The Official Publication of the Alaska Nurses Association

New Director at UAA School of Nursing Jean Ballantyne, PhD, RN joined the University of Alaska, Anchorage as the new Director of the School of Nursing last summer. After a welcome reception hosted by AaNA in August, Rebecca Bolling, (ex AaNA president and now ace reporter!) interviewed Dr. Ballantyne by email: Question: What was attractive to you about UAA and Alaska?

Answer: The commitment to quality nursing education on the part of all stakeholders, including nursing organizations, the industry partners and of course the faculty, staff, and administration at UAA. The model of “one school” for nursing education in Alaska was attractive to me.

It operationalizes an integrated and coordinated approach to nursing education, which improves access for students in a rural state.

UAA also appealed to me because gerontology is an area of research focus in the College of Health and Social Welfare.

As for the state of Alaska, it is awesome in its beauty and for the friendliness of the people. The rural nature of Alaska is appealing to me.

Q: What will you be unlikely to miss in Montana?

A: I won’t miss driving over the Bozeman

mountain pass in the winter! I won’t miss the hot summers either.

Q: Can you tell me about your gerontological studies at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU)?

A: The major for my doctoral studies at Oregon Health Sciences University was gerontological nursing. As you may know, OHSU is nationally renowned for its research programs in geriatric nursing excellence. I am interested in issues around community-based care for elders and how their health care needs are met.

In the doctoral program, my clinical interest focused on detection of late-life depression.

Q: What do you see as priority issues/hope to accomplish at UAA? A: In the present, the School of Nursing is expending its efforts in the process of fully implementing the enrollment expansion in the BS and AAS programs and also initiating a new track in the masters program for nursing education.

This is an online program. In addition, the BS completion program is being developed as an online offering. Much energy is going toward ramping up our capacity for distance delivered education.

Along with the expansion of enrollment and programs, a priory issue is Continued on page 3

November 2005

Dorothy Fulton Retires Page 4

Legislative Committee Gets Ready for New Session Page 7

Michelle Murphy on Health and Safety for Nurses Page 11

Inside This Issue New Director at UAA School of Nursing . . . . . 1 AaNA Announces New Executive Director . . . 1 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

AaNA Announces New Executive Director In September, the AaNA Board of Directors selected Dianne O’Connell, M.Div., as the new Executive Director for the Alaska Nurses Association. Ms. O’Connell has served the AaNA as Labor Program Director since May 1999. The two positions have been combined and she will now serve in both roles.

Ms. O’Connell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, and a Masters of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary. A former hospital chaplain and newspaper reporter, Ms. O’Connell also has some 35 years experience with non-profit organizations and unions.

Ms. O’Connell’s appointment came as the result of the departure of Camille Soleil, JD, AaNA Executive Director since October 2001.

Ms. Soleil resigned to accept a position with the American Nurses Association as Director, Special Projects. She will work out of the ANA headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, beginning September 26.

Continuing to serve Alaska Nurses Association members are:

Dorothy Fulton Retires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Alaska Nurses in the News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Alaska State Board of Nursing News . . . . . . . . 6 Legislative Committee Gets Ready for New Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Membership Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AaNA General Assembly Meets . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 General Assembly Resolutions Guide. . . . . . . 10 Michelle Murphy on Health and Safety for Nurses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Dianne O’Connell M.Div., AaNA Executive Director and Jean Ballantyne, PhD, RN, Director, UAA School of Nursing at AaNA Reception.

Valerie Baffone, Labor Specialist, val@ aknurse.org Norma Monsen, Continuing Education Director, nmonsen@aknurse.org Louise Mink, Membership Specialist, louise@aknurse.org Ms. Baffone will assume additional responsibilities for servicing AaNA’s three Continued on page 4

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 New Products/Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The AaNA Vision Empowering Alaska nurses to be dynamic leaders, powerful in both the health care and political communities.

Page 2—Alaska Nurse—November 2005

President’s Message Debbie Thompson, BSN, RN, CNOR President, Alaska Nurses Association Who is There for Nurses?

As I reflect back on my professional career as a nurse, I can remember asking myself this question: Who Is There for Nurses? I have never had a concise, strong answer until now. It is the American Nurses Association (ANA).

After pondering the common issues that face Debbie Thompson nurses today, I remembered watching a video put out by ANA called “ANA: the First Hundred Years.” Those early nurses were concerned with patient safety, fair and safe working conditions, and a fair wage for nurses.

Upon reflection, I came to the conclusion that the issues that nurses face in the 21st Century are about the same issues that our foremothers faced back in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

These forward-thinking women wanted nurses to be a uniting force for the common interest, working through the ANA. With a strong united voice, they could work together to eradicate the problems facing all nurses, no matter what their job description or who their employer.

With this in mind, it becomes easy to answer the question, “Who Is There For Nurses?” We are. We are there for ourselves and for each other through our active membership and involvement in our professional organization.

Specialty groups have their place, but in order to have one strong voice, nurses must also join together based on the similarity of their practices and challenges. The synergy and energy that common goals generate will help us realize our greatest unifying goal: To provide the best care possible for each of our patients.

The current Alaska Nurses Association Board of Directors is a very forward thinking and energized group of nurses. The number and types of resolutions that were put before

Author Guidelines for the Alaska Nurse The editorial committee welcomes original articles related to nursing for publication.

Authors are not required to be members of the Alaska Nurses Association.

Format and Submission Articles should be word-processed as Word documents in 10 or 12 point font, single or double spaced. There is currently no limit on the length of the article. Include the title of the article and headings if applicable. Author’s name should be placed after the title with credentials, organization/and or employer and contact information. Authors must identify potential conflicts of interest, whether of financial or other nature and identify any commercial affiliation if applicable.

All references should be listed at the end of the article. Pictures in black and white or color are encouraged and may be sent as a jpeg. file, as an email attachment or on disc. Be sure to spell check, grammar check and second check the article, any website addresses, references or phone numbers. It is recommended you have a colleague review your article before submission.

Prepare the article as a WORD document and attach it to an email to editor@aknurse.org. If you do not have WORD, try pasting the text of the article directly into the body of the email. You may also mail the article on disc in a Word document to Editor, AK Nurse, Alaska Nurses Association, 3701 East Tudor Road Ste 208, Anchorage, AK 99507. If you have any questions call Lynn Hartz 907-248-4877 or email lhartz@alaska.com.

the General Assembly in early October highlight this. The Board’s Strategic Planning, short and long term goals also proves this. This Board has worked and continues to work hard to make AaNA the answer to: “Who’s There for Nurses?”

This Board is committed to make AaNA the strong unified voice for all Nurses in Alaska as well as the backbone of support and reference for our Professional Practice no matter what job we do or who we work for. This is a very large undertaking, very admirable and I believe very attainable. We need to do for ourselves and protect ourselves, our practice and our patients, as we are the ones who know what we do and what is expected of us.

As we move into the Holiday Season and reflect on the traditions and meaning of this time of year, I would hope that we would move forward carrying the tradition of our early foremothers and forward thinking Nurses as we work for the Common Goals of Nurses everywhere.

Carry On!

An official publication of the Alaska Nurses Association, 3701 East Tudor Rd., Ste. 208, Anchorage, AK 99507. Tel: 907/2740827. Web site: www.aknurse.org. Published quarterly.

Materials may not be reproduced without written permission from the Editor. Views stated may not necessarily represent those of the Alaska Nurses Association.

Editor: Lynn E. Hartz, MSN, FNP lhartz@alaska.com Editorial Committee: Naomi Kirkwood Foody, RN, Kodiak and Jodi Stack, RN, Fairbanks, Rebecca Bolling, RN, BS, Ketchikan, Sara M. Harvison, RN, Fairbanks AaNA Board of Directors President: Debbie Thompson BSN, RN, CNOR Vice President: J. Pauline Stubberud, BSN, MBA Secretary: Gail M. Holtzman, MSN, CCRN Treasurer: Martha Clinehens, RN Directors: Labor Council Chair: Donna Phillips, BSN, RN Greater Alaska Director: Sara M. Harvison, RN, BSN Staff Nurse Director: Geri Brady Kelly, RNC Rural Director: Nancy Davis MS, RN Director at Large: Lynn E. Hartz, MSN, ANP Julie Torres Susan Walsh, RN Lonnie Hosley, RN AaNA Labor Council Chair—Donna Phillips, RN, BSN Secretary—Joe Peacott, RN, OCN Treasurer—Carol Clausson, RN-C Sheri Whitethorn, BSN, RN, CCRN Deni Callahan, RN Ray Southwell, RN UAN Rep.—Kathleen A. Gettys, RN, BSN, BA PAMC BU Rep.—Michelle Murphy, RN Soldotna BU Rep.—Janet Hilleary Ketchikan BU Rep.—Julie Moon, RN Affiliate Organizations: Alaska Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives Alaska Nurse Anesthetists Association Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association Alaska School Nurses Association Forensic Nurses Association, Alaska Chapter Executive Director: Dianne O’Connell, M.Div. Advertising Rates Contact—Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., 517 Washington St., P.O. Box 216, Cedar Falls, IA 50613, 800-626-4081.

AaNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. reserve the right to reject any advertisement. Responsibility for errors in advertising is limited to corrections in the next issue or refund of price of advertisement.

November 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 3

New Director Continued from Page 1 building the faculty. We have engaged in an extensive recruitment effort that resulted in six new faculty hires at the Anchorage campus. This is admirable given the nationwide nursing faculty shortage. At our distance campus sites around the state, we have recruited faculty who have ties to the communities which seems to work quite well.

One of the things I see as vitally important for me to do is to work closely with the community to maintain and enhance a mutually supportive relationship. Community as a term in the broad sense, and there are many entities, including AaNA. Q: How do you see UAA meeting the need for an increased numbers of nurses in AK? A: UAA has made a commitment to an enrollment expansion. We are meeting the goal of doubling enrollment and our graduation rates are high, about 92%.

Beyond the infusion of new graduates into the market, retention of nurses in the workplace continues to be an issue. If there is a way to collaborate with community partners to develop programs targeting improved retention, I would be very interested in that. Also, I am interested in pipeline types of activities, which encourage young people to consider nursing as a career. It is also of paramount importance that we continue to support the recruitment and retention of Native Alaskans in nursing education.

Q: What is your leadership style?

A: My philosophy and beliefs about leadership embrace the participatory style and collegial support that fosters collective commitment to our mission. I am teamoriented and results-driven!

Q: How active is the student nurses association at UAA and do you have ideas on how to increase participation?

A: Participation in SNA hopefully can be enhanced here at UAA. I’ve been told a reason for low involvement is students’ busy schedules. Since the school moved to a trimester model in the BS program, students attend school year-around without a summer break.

Increasing participation certainly needs to be addressed. Looking at ways to foster student leadership is a first step.

Q: What kinds of things do you think might inspire new graduates to become members of their professional organization?

A: Increase the welcome! Somehow we need to think of ways for new graduates to become connected. A substantial discount on first year membership might help.

Q: What are your hobbies and personal interests?

A: My newest hobby is knitting, which will be nice in the cold of winter! I enjoy the outdoors, walking & hiking. I also plan to learn how to play a string instrument.

Q: Do you have specialty nursing interests?

A: Having worked in rural hospitals for many years, I am a “rural nurse” at heart.

Educationally, my master’s focus was in medical surgical nursing and my doctoral work was in gerontology.

Launches CEs from the comfort of your own computer!

Alaska Nurses Association has teamed up with CEU4U to provide Alaskan Nurses online continuing education, in nursing and many other professional continuing education areas.

Simply go to www.aknurse.org Click on Online CEs! You will be able to access a variety of ANCC approved CE options, from one CEU hour to multiple hours. Pay online. Get your certificate online. Easy and convenient.

And—a portion of your payment returns to AaNA to benefit the nurses in Alaska!

Page 4—Alaska Nurse—November 2005

New Executive Director Continued from Page 1 bargaining units, effective immediately.

Lynn Hartz, AaNA Board member, has agreed to represent the organization in monitoring and reporting on the Alaska State Board of Nursing.

Additional structural changes will be considered and/or implemented over the next few months.

Offices are open at our new location: 3701 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Suite 208 Anchorage, Alaska, 99507 (907) 274-0827 Fax (907) 272-0292 aknurse@aknurse.org www.aknurse.org Dorothy Fulton, RN, MA was honored at a retirement event on September 17, 2005 at the Anchorage Marriott Hotel. Presenting letters of commendation were (l-r) Lynn Hartz, Alaska Nurses Association; Mary Ellen Roberts, president of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners; and Alaska Lt. Governor Loren Leman.

Dorothy Fulton Retires

by Lynn Hartz

husband Gus and three children. After getting an associate degree in nursing in 1978, Dorothy After 16 years of dedicated service with the worked at Providence Hospital. Still working, State of Alaska Dorothy Fulton retired August she received a Bachelor of Arts in Human 31. Her position as Executive Administrator for Resources Development in 1984 and then a the Alaska Board of Nursing afforded Masters degree in adult and her the opportunity to work closely community education in 1985. with nurses throughout the state and As the Board of Nursing’s chemical the nation. dependency expert, Dorothy was the Dorothy spent five years with the first person contacted when a nurse State as a program manager for the has a substance abuse problem. Of Alaska State Board of Nursing before this part of the job she noted, “It’s becoming the executive rewarding because there are people I administrator in 1994. During helped 15 years ago that are still Dorothy’s tenure as Executive clean and sober today—plus many Administrator, the Board of Nursing have pursued advanced education dealt with controversial issues such New Retiree, and are positively contributing to as nurse practitioners dispensing Dorothy Fulton, our community”. medication and the regulation of MA, RN. So ends the first part of Dorothy’s certified nursing aides. She also career. Forty-two years in nursing. served on the Board of Directors of the Now she begins the second half of her nursing National Council of State Boards of Nursing as career; retired but very busy! According to well as chairing the National Disciplinary Data Dorothy, she plans to travel, write a couple of Bank. books, and wants to get a doctorate. We wish Dorothy came to Alaska in 1969 with her Dorothy as much happiness and success in the second half of her career as she has had in the first!

November 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 5

Alaska Nurses in the News Nancy Kent-McDonnell, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, was recognized as Alaska’s Nurse Practitioner of Excellence 2005 from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The annual award recognizes a nurse practitioner in each state who has demonstrated exemplary patient care.

Kent-McDonnell works for Matanuska-Susitna Community Health Agency in Wasilla. She has been a nurse practitioner in Alaska for 20 years, specializing in women’s health. State Representative Sharon Cissna, D-Anchorage was recognized as Alaska’s Nurse Practitioner Advocate 2005. The award recognizes a person who has promoted the role of nurse practitioners as providers of health care.

Cathy Stange, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, was recognized as Nurse Practitioner of the Year by the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association at its annual conference on September 16. Ms. Stange received her Masters degree from Arizona State University and has been a pediatric nurse practitioner in Alaska for 16 years. She currently works in the Pediatric Primary Care Clinic at the Alaska Native Medical Center.

The Ketchikan Nurses Association hosted Ketchikan’s 3rd Annual Community Nurse’s Retreat on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at the Narrows Inn. Nurses enjoyed free massages, yoga, watching movies, and having time to sit and relax. This year’s Nurse of the Year award went to Belinda Reno, RN. Belinda has worked at Ketchikan General Hospital’s Long Term Care unit for over 10 Belinda Reno, years. She has earned Ketchikan Nurse the respect of the medical of the Year community over the years and is a vital member of this community’s healthcare team.

Belinda won a flightseeing trip for two from Promech Air, and a gift certificate for a dinner

for two and a night in their suite donated by Cape Fox lodge in honor of Elaine Caskey, RN. The American Civil Liberties Union honored Anchorage nurse Maryjane Hinman, among others, at its 2005 annual Liberty Awards ceremony October 29, at the Anchorage Senior Center. The ACLU recognized the efforts of five individuals whose outstanding contributions to the protection and advancement of individual liberties have bettered our state. Ms. Hinman received the Citizen Activist Award for taking on the fight to preserve the personal privacy of nurses in the State of Alaska. She is the lead

plaintiff seeking to compel the state to stop publishing nurses’ home addresses on its licensing website. The ACLU recognized her dogged insistence in upholding the principle of individual privacy guaranteed under the US and Alaska Constitutions.

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) recognized Lynn Hartz ANP as one of 10 national recipients of the 2005 NAMS/ Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Nurse Practitioner Excellence Award at their annual conference in San Diego, California. The award recognizes nurse practitioners that have demonstrated excellence in the field of menopause practice.

Hartz has worked with George Stransky, MD in a private women’s health care practice for 15 years in Anchorage, Alaska.

Page 6—Alaska Nurse—November 2005

Alaska State Board of Nursing News—Board of Nursing Listserv Now Available Some exciting changes have been made to the website for the Board of Nursing. The changes went online In September, providing a much more user-friendly site, loaded with information.

One of the most exciting parts of the website is the listserve that you can sign up for: Subscribe to the Alaska Board of Nursing electronic mailing list and receive: * meeting agendas * meeting minutes * quarterly newsletters * position statements * notice of regulation changes You may cancel your subscription at any time. You are subscribing to a group email for informal communications from the Board of Nursing.

To access the Board of Nursing website and sign up for the listserve, go to http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pnur.htm

Medication Delegation: Nurse Delegation of Medication Administration to Unlicensed Persons New regulations concerning nurse delegation of nursing tasks to unlicensed persons became effective October 14, 2004.

The regulations primarily concern the process used by a nurse to safely delegate nursing tasks to unlicensed persons; also known as unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs). An unlicensed person is anyone who is not licensed to practice nursing, medicine, or any other health occupation that requires a license in Alaska. Delegation of medication administration to unlicensed persons is addressed in the new regulations. The ability of a nurse to delegate medication administration to an unlicensed person is strictly limited to a few community agencies and assisted living facilities.

According to 12 AAC 44.965 (b), administration of medication may only be delegated to an unlicensed person working for an agency licensed by the state and regulated

by Health and Social services regulation 7 AAC 43.1110(8) and (15). These agencies

would provide care in the home to those individuals who are still able to live at home, and in the community such as Adult Day Care services. Residential supported living services are provided by agencies who assist, in a residential setting, a recipient with the activities of daily living and are designed for a recipient who can no longer live alone and who does not need 24 hour care provided by a nursing facility, but who would be placed in a nursing facility for lack of alternate placements. Some examples would be assisted living homes, group homes for the disabled or homes for the mentally retarded or developmentally disabled.

Delegation of intravenous, intramuscularly or subcutaneous administration of medication is not allowed under any circumstances, in any setting. For nurses who do work in the limited settings where delegation is allowed, additional regulations specify training for the unlicensed person and the process of delegation to insure patient safety. The new regulations can be found at www.legis. state.ak.us/folhome.htm; click on the Alaska Administrative Code and continue on through title 12, chapter 44, article 9, or go to www. dced.state.ak.us/occ/pnur.htm and click on statue and regulations. Questions can be directed to the Board of Nursing executive administer at 269-8194.

Mary Weymiller, LPN Boardmember, Alaska Board of Nursing Lynn Hartz, MSN, ANP Alaska Nurse editor

November 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 7

Legislative Committee Gets Ready for New Session The Alaska Nurses Association hosts the Nurses Legislative Committee, which consists of members of the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, the Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Alaska Chapter of American College of Nurse Midwives and the Alaska School Nurses Association along with representatives from the Alaska Nurses Association and the AaNA Labor Council.

This group advises the Alaska Nurses Association on the hiring of a lobbyist to represent nurses in Juneau. Currently we are honored to have John Bitney as our lobbyist.

Each year before the legislative session starts the legislative committee meets to discuss which pieces of legislation they plan to monitor promote or oppose in the next session. Each nursing organization brings their priorities to the table and there is a discussion of how to best support each group in their efforts. A lead group or individual is identified for each piece of legislation on which the committee decides to take action.

During the session the legislative committee meets monthly to review the status of the bills we are following during the session. John Bitney, our lobbyist, will keep in contact with the individuals or groups who are working on specific bills to let them know

when hearings are being scheduled, what legislators are thinking about bills we are following, and generally give advice about how best to meet our goals.

When a specific nursing group needs assistance of other nursing organizations they contact the Legislative Committee as a whole for assistance.

The first “preseason” meeting of the Legislative Committee was in November. We are Pat Senner, Chairperson, AaNA Legislative Committee, Rebecca already gearing up Bolling, Nominating Committee, John Bitney, AaNA lobbyist. to work on bills Stay tuned for further updates from your related to the banning of mandatory overtime for nurses, funding for health care, and nursing organization. Anyone with a hopefully some initiatives related to funding concern about an issue before the for demonstration projects for safe patient legislature or who wants to attend committee meetings should contact the handling in hospitals and nursing homes.

Other states envy the fact that in Alaska the Alaska Nurses Association at 274-0827 for nurses speak with a unified voice and we hope information on the next committee meeting. it stays that way for a long time to come!

Page 8—Alaska Nurse—November 2005

Membership Application Advancing and Supporting the Profession of Nursing Integrity Professionalism ~ Advocacy Empowerment ~ Representation

Membership Categories

Full Membership—Employed Full-time or Part-time Reduced Membership—Not Employed Full time student New graduate from basic Nursing Education program, within first six months after graduation (first year only), or 62 years of age or over and not earning more than Social Security allows.

Special Membership—Not employed and 62+ years or totally disabled

* EDPP is the monthly Electronic Dues Payment Plan Amount = Yearly dues/12 months + $.50 per month service charge

Integrity ~ Advocacy Professionalism Empowerment Representation

Share your Expertise!

Get Informed! >>check off and return form to AaNA

A Benefit of Membership: AaNA Member Name: ________________ E-mail:

____________________________ Informational E-mail

Dues Anchorage & Fairbanks

Monthly (*EDPP) Yearly

Full $28.00 $330.00

Reduced $14.25 $165.00

Special $7.38 $82.50

All Other Locations

Yearly Monthly (*EDPP)

$322.50 $27.38

$161.25 $13.94

$80.62 $7.21

__________________________________________________ Last Name/First Name/ Middle Initial

______________________________________ Social Security Number

__________________________________________________ Street or PO Box City/State /Zip

______________________________________ Home Phone

__________________________________________________ Employer Name Unit City/State/Zip

______________________________________ Work Phone

________________________________ RN License Number/ State

________________________ FAX Number

______________________________ E-mail Address

Payment Method—see above for categories and amounts Apply Online at www.nursingworld.org—Join Today! Alaska!

Check—Please make checks payable to the American Nurses Association MasterCard or Visa—(available for annual payment only) ____________________________________ Card Number

_____/_____ $_______ Expiration Amount

Return application and payment to: AaNA 3701 E. Tudor, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507

____________________________ Signature

Monthly Electronic Dues Payment Please (1) read and sign the below authorization form and (2) enclose a check for the first month.

1/12 of your yearly dues will be withdrawn from your checking account monthly along with a monthly service fee.

AUTHORIZATION to provide monthly electronic payments to the American Nurses Association (ANA): This is to authorize ANA to withdraw 1/12 of my annual dues and any additional service fees from my checking account designated by the enclosed check for the first month’s payment. ANA is authorized to change the amount by giving the undersigned thirty (30) days written notice. The undersigned may cancel this authorization upon receipt by ANA of written notification of termination twenty (20) days prior to the deduction date as designated above. ANA will charge a $5 fee for any return drafts. ______________________________________________ Signature for EDPP Authorization

K Various Nursing Information—If you would like National, State and Local nursing information e-mails from AaNA on a weekly basis.

K Action Alerts—If you would like political action alerts for National and State legislative issues involving nursing and health care issues.

Taskforce E-mail Pools Taskforce E-mail Pool members will receive requests to work on a variety of projects on nursing issues, and may choose to participate in only the projects that interest them.

K Professional Nursing Practice Issues— Taskforces will consider issues relating to AaNA’s policy on RN practice and other professional issues.

K Health and Safety Issues—Taskforces will consider safety and health issues of nurses and patients.

K AaNA Event Planning—Taskforces will plan events such as the AaNA Fall Retreat, open house events, AaNA General Assembly, or other events for AaNA members.

K Other interest? Let us know what you would like to work on:______________

AaNA Committees

K Legislative Committee—Actively involved in reviewing and coordinating strategy and testimony for legislative issues related to health and nursing. Works closely with the AaNA Lobbyist. Usually meets on the second Monday of the month. Current Chair is Pat Senner.

K Conference Planning Team—Participates help plan the Alaska Statewide Nurses Conference.

Roles include working with program planning, marketing, vendor and sponsor recruitment and onsite assistance.

K Continuing Education Committee— Members individually review applications for continuing education approval based on the established guidelines of the American Nurses Credentialing Center and in coordination with the CE Director. Makes recommendations for improvements in the application process. The current CE Director is Norma Monsen.

K Alaska Nurse Newsletter Editorial Board— Members work with the editor to recruit articles and pictures for the quarterly newsletter. The current editor is Lynn Hartz.

Return to: AaNA, 3701 E. Tudor, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507 or fax (907) 272-0292 or e-mail aknurse@aknurse.org and tell us your selection.

November 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 9

AaNA General Assembly Meets in Fairbanks Sara Harvison BSN, RN The Alaska Nurse’s Association General Assembly was held in conjunction with a Health and Safety Retreat October 1-2 in Fairbanks at the Westmark Hotel. District IV (Fairbanks and the interior) were happy to welcome the Board members to our town. The weekend began with the AaNA Board of Directors meeting Friday evening and progressed to a very interesting training presented by Michelle Murphy RN and Maggie Flanagan RN, BSN called “Secure your own oxygen mask first.” Michelle and Maggie have attended extensive safety training through ANA and affiliated labor organizations. The training presented the latest information on ergonomic controls in the workplace, safe patient handling and OSHA regulations and protection. Nurses from all over the Alaska attended the training and worked in groups to learn about ergonomic job design, changing the organization of tasks to protect against injury; health safety and collective bargaining law, nurses’ rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, controlling hazards in the workplace, attitudes of workers and management about controlling hazards, the hierarchy of hazard control and a presentation on the latest in assistive equipment in healthcare fields. The nurses attending also represented a diverse set of work experience and background, which contributed greatly to the training materials and their applicability.

The weekend retreat concluded with the Alaska Nurses Association General Assembly Sunday morning. Rebecca Bolling, outgoing president gave her report and welcomed incoming president Deb Thompson. Dianne O’Connell gave the Executive Director report with a fond tribute by both ladies for Camille Soleil, our previous executive director who has moved on to a position in the national

Camille Soliel departing AaNA Executive Director with gift at her farewell reception at AaNA headquarters in September. organization. All of our outgoing Board members and staff will be sorely missed, though we look forward to the opportunity to work with new members and staff in the coming year. There were several District and committee reports followed by the ratification of Bylaws changes. The General Assembly then heard and voted on resolutions for 2006. [see accompanying article]

Page 10—Alaska Nurse—November 2005

General Assembly Resolutions Guide AaNA for 2006 The General Assembly of the Alaska Nurses Association passed eleven resolutions at their October meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska. Subjects ranged from the elimination of mandatory overtime for nurses to support of nurses in the military. General Assembly resolutions are sometimes in response to national events such as hurricanes: they also serve to define a policy base that helps guide activities by organization.

The following is summary of the resolutions.

The complete text can be found on the AaNA website, www.aknurse.org.

NO. 3 AaNA to Monitor Changes to the Alaska Nurse Practice Act Therefore Be it Resolved that AaNA, through their Board of Directors, Practice Committee and Legislative Committee, will monitor proposals brought before the Alaska Legislature to modify the Nurse Practice Act and will take any action necessary to maintain a statute that promotes the practice of nursing in Alaska.

NO. 1 AaNA to Encourage Improved Emergency Preparedness

NO. 4 AaNA to Promote Due Process and the Board of Nursing

Therefore Be It Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association encourage Alaskan RNs to be involved in disaster and diseases outbreak planning on the local, regional, state, and national level, and That the Alaska Nurses Association advocate and lobby for funding for public health efforts including disaster and disease outbreak preparedness.

The Alaska Nurses Association continue to include disaster preparedness and infectious disease updates in their continuing education offerings, and promote and advance the need for nursing involvement in disaster preparedness and That the Alaska Nurses Association will work with other organizations and government agencies to develop and improve existing disaster response systems including support and advocacy for a fully operational Alaska Nurse Alert System.

Therefore Be It Resolved that AaNA will work on behalf of Alaskan nurses to reform the investigative and hearing process of the Board of Nursing in order to allow for a fair process for licensees as well as for the party bringing a complaint; Be It Further Resolved that AaNA will work with other licensed professionals to further this issue through administrative, legislative and other appropriate methods of change; Be It Further Resolved that AaNA will work to inform nurses about any changes made in order to help them better understand and respond to complaints filed against them to the Board of Nursing.

NO. 2 AaNA to Work to Eliminate Mandatory Overtime Therefore Be It Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association continue their support of Alaska HB 271 which would ban mandatory overtime for nurses.

Be it Further Resolved, that the Alaska Nurses Association educate nurses about the hazards of working overtime, both in terms of patient safety and nurse injuries.

Be it Further Resolved, that the Alaska Nurses Association continue to support nursing education in the state and the maintenance of good working conditions that lead to nurse retention and an adequate nurse workforce.

Be it Further Resolved, that the Alaska Nurses Association work collaboratively with employers to identify ways to staff their facilities in ways without the use of mandatory overtime for nurses.

NO. 5 AaNA to Promote Safe Nurse Staffing Therefore, let it be resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association will educate the nursing profession and the community at large about the principles for safe nursing staffing and support nurses in their efforts to advocate for safe staffing.

Be it Further Resolved, that the Alaska Nurses Association will support nurses in their efforts to work with management to develop organizational policies and practices that support safe staffing patterns.

NO. 6 AaNA to Promote Safe Patient Handling and Avoiding Injuries to Workers Therefore Be It Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association will work with employers to adopt policies and procedures to control the risk of injury to patients and nurses associated with the lifting or moving a patient.

Be It Further Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association and the Alaska Nurses Foundation will work to acquire public

funding for a no manual lifting demonstration project in Alaska.

Be It Further Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association educate nurses about the hazards of manually lifting patients and the availability and proper usage of patient transferring and reposition devices.

NO. 7 AaNA to Support Nurses Working in the Public Sector Therefore Be It Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association support RNs in the public sector in their efforts to obtain salaries equivalent to private sector counterparts, and will work with agencies and elected officials to identify methods to recruit and retain qualified RNs for these positions.

Be It Further Resolved that AaNA requests the Alaska Department of Administration to review salary levels for public sector RNs, and to take appropriate action in addressing salary issues.

NO. 8 Importance of Reducing Injuries to Nurses and Maintaining a Good Worker’s Compensation Program in Alaska Therefore Be It Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association will monitor efforts to modify Alaska’s Workers Compensation program, in order to prevent decreases in proper compensation benefits for injured nurses.

Be It Further Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association will continue to support workplace safety education and advocacy efforts in order to prevent injuries to nurses in the workplace.

Be It Further Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association will continue to be proactive by identifying sources of injuries to nurses and work to mitigate these injury producers.

NO. 9 Presumptive Compensability For Nurses Exposed To BloodBorne Pathogens Therefore, be it resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association seek legislation to provide a presumption that a claim for workers compensation for nurses exist for any contagious diseases transmitted through exposure to blood-borne pathogens.

NO. 10 AaNA to Actively Support Nurses in the Armed Forces Whereas there are a large number of RNs stationed with the military in Alaska, and Whereas many of these nurses have served in armed conflicts, or may be deployed soon, and Whereas many of the nurses and nurse leaders in Alaska come from the military, Be It Resolved that the Alaska Nurses Association reach-out to the RNs stationed in Alaska and involving them in AaNA activities and work with them to provide special activities to meet their unique needs as nurses.

NO. 11 Regarding Application of Toxic Pesticides/Herbicides Be It Resolved that AaNA will continue to advocate for the health of all Alaskans and public awareness of such; and Be It Further Resolved that AaNA opposes aerial or large scale application of pesticides/herbicides except in those cases affecting public health; and Be It Further Resolved that AaNA will work with other organizations and governmental bodies to address this issue.

November 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 11

Michelle Murphy on Health and Safety for Nurses Part Two: Biological/Infectious In my previous column, I referenced an article written by Dr. Bonnie Rogers, RN, COHN, FAAN and the five areas of health hazards that nurses face in their job. This article addresses the first of the five health hazards that Dr. Rogers speaks of in her article written for The American Nurse (11/12/ 1997)—Biological and Infectious exposures.

Every day, we go to work and expect to go home in the same state of health as we arrived to work in. But in reality, we know that it may not happen that way.

We are all at increased risk of having the “life-changing” Michelle Murphy, RN, Health and experience of receiving a dirty Safety Officer for the Providence needlestick and experiencing Alaska Medical Center bargaining the overwhelming stress of unit and member of the Alaska exposure to Hepatitis or HIV. Safety Advisory Council.

Do we have the attitude that these risks and hazards are “just a part of the job” that we have chosen?

If so, we need to change that attitude.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there are more than eight million health care workers in the United States working in hospitals and other health care settings.

It is estimated there are approximately 800,000 needlestick injuries annually to these health care workers. From 1981–2002 the statistics show that most of the documented cases of occupational HIV transmission occurred among nurses (42.1%).

In 2001, responding to the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, OSHA revised the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030).

The revised standard clarifies the need for employers to select safer needle devices and to involve non-management employees in identifying and choosing these devices. The updated standard also requires employers to have an Exposure Control Plan in place and to maintain a log of injuries from contaminated sharps. OSHA can cite health care facilities for failure to use safety devices.

Other provisions of this standard require the employer to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, lab coats, face shields or masks and eye protection, resuscitation bags, pocket masks or other ventilation devices. PPE will be considered “appropriate” only if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through to or reach the employee’s work clothes, street clothes, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the durations of the time which the protective equipment will be used.

Are you using these devices in the facility where you work? Studies

have shown that when front-line staff chooses the safety devices they are working with, they will be more likely to use them. Some safe needle devices work better than others. There are stories of nurses getting stuck with the safe needle devices, even with the safety mechanism in place. I have also heard stories of nurses disabling the safe needle devices. We have to ask why? Were they not a device that was easy for the nurse to use? Or was there a resistance to the change in using the safe needle device? When exposures happen, ask why? Get down to the root cause of the problem and fix it.

We are also at increased risk of exposure to airborne pathogens such as SARS and TB. The need for a properly fitted respirator mask was demonstrated in Toronto during the SARS outbreak when several health care workers whose respirators had not been fit tested contracted SARS. OSHA has standards for employers to follow regarding respiratory protection of their workers. The employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used in their workplace. OSHA also requires an additional fit test when facial changes have occurred that could affect the proper fit of the respirator.

These conditions include (but are not limited to) the use of a different size or make of respirator, weight loss, cosmetic surgery, facial scarring, and the installation of dentures or absence of dentures that are normally worn by the individual. Most employers “fit test” their employees upon hire and leave it at that. It is important that if you have had any of these changes that you ask to be fit tested again.

The Alaska Nurses Association has made it a part of their legislative agenda this year to push for protection for nurses in their working environment. One of these legislative pieces is for “presumptive compensability” for nurses. This legislation would basically say that nurses that are exposed to and become infected from bloodborne pathogens are “presumed” to have been exposed to these infections on the job. Not many states have this legislation in place. We must make Alaska a safer place for nurses to work by supporting this legislation.

Watch for more information on this bill on the AaNA website and call your state representatives and ask for their support of it.

If we don’t care for ourselves, we can’t care for our patients. Nurses need to report injuries, needlesticks and abuse, and share experiences; nurses need to educate themselves about the dangers in their workplace; and nurses need to be aggressive and demand a safe working environment from our employers for ourselves and our peers.

Page 12—Alaska Nurse—November 2005

Upcoming Events Now Open for Registration!!!

Alaska Statewide Nurses Conference!

Featuring: O Shelly Cohen—Leadership and Management Training O Bill Marras—Safe Patient Handling, the latest in techniques and equipment O Mel Wilson—Emergency medicine and trauma Thursday March 30–Saturday April 1, 2006 Captain Cook Hotel, Anchorage For Registration, schedules and speaker information check www.aknurse.org

November 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 13

New Products/Publications/Resources The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a nationwide program bringing together pharmacies, health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients get the medicines they need. This program offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs.

The idea is that a health care provider, a patient or an advocate can call 1-888-477-2669 where a live person answers and has access to 150 different languages. They may also sign on to www.pparx.org, enter the names of their medications; complete a very short application and they will be informed of which assistance plan they may be eligible for. Some 180 pharmacy assistance programs provide medications at no cost or nominal fees. If a patient is eligible for Medicare Part D, they will be informed. The program will match them with an appropriate assistance program.

They will be assisted in completing the individual program application.

Assistance is coordinated with health care providers by attaching a prescription to the application or having the health care provider sign the application. Medications are sent directly to patient, to the health care provider or patient is given a prescription card for the local pharmacy, depending on policy of the participating pharmacy.

Resource Helps the Next Generation Of Health Professionals Address Domestic Violence A Domestic Violence Campus Organizing Guide for Health Professional Students and Faculty is available to health professional students and faculty free of charge through the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s web site, at http://endabuse.org/programs/healthcare/files /studentfolio.pdf It is also available through the National

Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence’s toll-free number, 1-888-RX-ABUSE or 1-800595-4889 (TTY).

Applications for Medicare Prescription Program (Part D) will begin November 15, 2005. Links below contain information that will be useful to Nurse Practitioners and your patients in the implementation of this benefit.

More information can be found by going to the Academy Home page (AANP) and clicking on Medicare Part D on Hot off the Press. www.aanp.org http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/news/ http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/drug coverage.asp http://www.cms.hhs.gov/map/map.asp JCR ANNOUNCES DO-NOT-USE ABBREVIATIONS KIT, HAND HYGIENE BUTTONS (OAK BROOK, Ill.—October 5, 2005) Joint Commission Resources (JCR) today announced the release of the Spell It Out! toolkit and hand hygiene buttons, two new products designed to help health care organizations eliminate the use of dangerous medical abbreviations, acronyms and symbols, and to promote staff handwashing. JCR is an affiliate of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

For more information or to order Spell It Out! and the hand hygiene buttons, call JCR Customer Service toll-free at 877-223-6866, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, weekdays, or visit www.jcrinc.com.

American Nurses Credentialing Center Announces New Certification for Pain Management Nurses In September, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced to the inauguration of the first nurse-focused pain management certification available in the United States. The first ANCC Pain Management Nurses will be certified in October 2005. www.nursingworld.org/ pressrel/2005/pr0920.htm New Publications from ANA: Faith Community Nursing : Scope and Standards of Practice Published in co-operation with the Health Ministries Association Pub# 05SSPM. List Price $16.95/Member $13.45 1-800-274-4ANA (4262) www.nursingworld. org School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice Published in co-operation with the National Association of School Nurses Pub# 05SSPS. List price $16.95/Member $13.45 1-800-274-4ANA (4262) www.nursingworld. org

Page 14—Alaska Nurse—November 2005

Letters to the Editor I was reading The Alaska Nurse story on completing your legislative agenda. One item you might not have considered is HB 219, Strangulation Crimes. This bill was the brainchild of forensic nurse Tara Henry and one of the most significant bills passed benefiting domestic violence victims. The governor signed it into law May 19.

I’d suggest you call Tara for a personal story on her experiences getting this through the legislative process. It could make an interesting report beginning with her recognition of the problem, the work it took to get me to understand the problem, challenges in the bill drafting process, the committee hearings (these went incredibly well) and the final push to get the bill through the Senate before the end of session.

Representative Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage) In Reply, We sincerely regret not reporting earlier on this legislation, both because of the content of the bill itself but also in view of the efforts of a nurse (Tara Henry) in getting it through! We appreciate Representative Hawker for bringing it to our attention and will add a request to Tara to add it to a number of other articles we have requested from her. (Tara has tried to imply she is busy being a graduate student). Below is a summary of the bill : (JUNEAU)—HB 219, legislation that would allow felony prosecution for every assault involving strangulation or suffocation, was signed into law by Governor Murkowski in May of 2005. The bill, sponsored by Representative Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage), closes a loophole in our current criminal statutes that has allowed violent criminals to escape appropriate felony prosecution for lifethreatening assaults. Strangulation can cause life-threatening injuries without obvious external marks that can be photographed and

presented to a jury as evidence of “serious physical injury,” which is required by current statute for felony prosecution. Without visible injuries, many cases are inappropriately tried as misdemeanors even though the victim was minutes from death. During strangulation or suffocation, unconsciousness can occur within ten seconds, followed closely by irreversible brain damage and death within five minutes.

Representative Hawker said of the bill, “HB 219 closes a dangerous loophole in our criminal statutes that has allowed violent predators to escape felony prosecution. This bill is part of my commitment to making our communities safer by doing everything possible to combat rape and domestic

violence.” Hawker continued, “I am particularly grateful to my constituent, Tara Henry, for helping me to understand the need for this important legislation and providing the critical analysis and professional testimony that carried this bill to a successful vote today,” said Hawker. Tara Henry, Forensic Nurse Specialist, explained the need for the bill. “Strangulation is a very serious, sometimes fatal physical force that perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual assault commonly use to control their victims,” said Henry. “Strangulation is a life threatening assault and I am very pleased that our state is recognizing this assault for the level of lethality that it is.”

The American Nurses Association

The Voice, The Power of Nurses

Win Photo by

n / FEMA Henderso Photo by Win Hen derson / FEMA

From the front lines of disaster relief...

...to the U.S. Capitol

Throughout history, nurses have always answered the “call to care” in times of war, epidemics and natural disasters.

When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck, the American Nurses Association and its state nurses associations were already on the ground.

The American Nurses Association became the information clearinghouse for the nursing community, aiding state and federal governments, the American Red Cross and other emergency relief efforts. More than 20,000 nurses from all across the nation responded — far exceeding the immediate need.

When the federal government needed to recruit certified psychiatric/mental health and gerontological nurses — they came to ANA, and the need was met.

Janice E. Bussert, BSN, RN, a member of the ANA Board of Directors, spent three weeks in Mississippi helping hurricane victims. She says, “We would load up our car with toys, clothes, ice and water and visit neighborhood homes in the area.

It was so rewarding because these people really needed this help.”

Janice Bussert

As a way “for nurses to take care of their own,” the American Nurses Foundation created the Katrina Fund. One hundred percent (100%) of funds donated to this fund will be contributed to assist nurses personally affected by storms in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

To donate to the Katrina Fund, visit www.NursingWorld.org/anf/katrina.htm.

The ANA thanks all the nurses who are responding to these disasters.

Following Hurricane Katrina, it was ANA who was called to testify before a joint subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives at a hearing to assess the public health and delivery of health care following Hurricane Katrina.

“As a nurse practitioner who has worked with the homeless, I know that people from the Gulf Coast will require many months of medical and mental health services to deal with the consequences of this horrific storm. Their needs are not temporary, and neither should the response be. That is why I am here today asking this Committee to abandon plans to reduce funding for Medicaid in the reconciliation process. Now is not the time to further unravel the health care safety net.”

– ANA President Barbara Blakeney, MS, RN September 22, 2005

Join ANA and tell your members of Congress to preserve the health care safety net.

For updates, visit the ANA Web site at www.NursingWorld.org.

Just as you are there for your patients – Let ANA be there for you.