The Alaska Nurse - Vol. 57 No.2 - May 2007

The Alaska Nurse

Circulation 8,000 to every Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and Student Nurse in Alaska

Volume 57 No. 2

The Official Publication of the Alaska Nurses Association

Legislative Fly-In 2007 Nurses headed south to Juneau March 6-7 this year for the second annual Alaska Nurses Association Legislative Fly-In. A reception was held for legislators and the Alaska State Board of Nursing, which was having their Juneau meeting at that time. AaNA nurses from around the state met with legislators to educate and lobby for bills important to nursing and the health care of Alaskans.

May 2007

UAA Alumni Association Page 4

Alaska Nurse Alert System Page 7 Alaskan RNs Ask Don Young to Co-Sponsor Respect Bill Page 7 Rep. Peggy Wilson (in yellow blazer) introduced a bill last session which would limit the use of Mandatory Overtime. The bill did not pass the House that session but has been re-introduced this session on the Senate side by Sen. Davis. Pictured talking with Rep. Wilson during the AaNA Legislative Fly-In are Registered Nurses Paul Mordini, Alaska Psychiatric Institute; Nancy Neely, Advanced Nurse Practitioner with the Veterans Administration; Mary Stackhouse, NICU nurse at Providence; Debbie Thompson (red blazer), AaNA President; Patricia Senner, Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Covenant House; Jane Conard, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, State of Alaska, Wasilla; and Donna Phillips, Adult Critical Care nurse, Providence.

Continued on page 3

Safe Nursing and Patient Care Bill Passes Senate HSS Committee

by Dianne O'Connell, M.Div. Executive Director, AaNA Senate Bill 28, now referred to as the Alaska Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act, passed the Senate Health and Social Services Committee, Monday, April 16, without objection. Those members of the committee in attendance were bill sponsor Bettye Davis, Anchorage, chair of the committee; Joe Thomas, D-Fairbanks; Kim Elton, D-Juneau; Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River; and John Cowdery, R-Anchorage. Motion to move the bill was made by Sen. Elton.

The bill will now go to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, Sen. Johnny Ellis, chair.

This bill is a major priority for nurses working in 24-hour healthcare facilities where mandatory overtime is often required, sometimes in the guise of mandatory on-call.

Testimony has come from nurses employed at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Providence Alaska Medical Center, and Central Peninsula Hospital. Juneau and Matanuska Susitna Valley nurse leaders have also testified.

Providence lobbyists as well as lobbyists for the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing

Inside This Issue Legislative Fly-In 2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 3 Safe Nursing and Patient Care Bill. . . . . . . . 1, 4 President’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 UAA Alumni Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Nurse Pride. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Alaska Nurses in the News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Congratulations New Graduates. . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Alaska Nurse Alert System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Alaska RNs Ask Don Young to Co-Sponsor Respect Bill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Membership Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AaNA’s Professional Practice Task Force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Letter to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AaNA Award Nomination Form 2007 . . . . . . 10 Upcoming Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

The AaNA Vision Senator Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage, a member of the Majority Coalition and chair of the Senate HSS Committee, introduced SB 28 early in the session.

The bill will limit the use of mandatory overtime for nurses in healthcare facilities.

Home Association have actively been campaigning against the legislation.

The Alaska Nurses Association has offered data which shows that the long hours worked by some nurses pose some of the most serious threats to patient safety. Prolonged periods of wakefulness

Continued on page 4

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

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Page —Alaska Nurse—May 2007

President’s Message The Journey of Nursing As I reflect on the journey of nursing, I remembered watching The First Hundred Years of Nursing, a video made by the American Nurses Association (ANA).

When reviewing what the nurses were concerned about then, trying to improve and willing to speak out about, I found that the three main issues were patient safety, nurses’ safety and a fair Debbie wage for hours worked. As you Thompson, reflect on these three issues BSN, RN, CNOR it leads to the question how President, far have we really come as a Alaska Nurses profession and where are we Association going today?

The more that I have become involved in our great profession, the more I realize that for nurses to move forward, make changes and maintain those changes, we need to stand together, work together and support each other in our jobs and in our profession. One of the biggest strides that we are taking is becoming politically savvy and working on our patient’s behalf as well as our own behalf. Getting involved politically and working actively to educate and orchestrate change is in all of our best interests.

The Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA) has a Legislative Committee that actively reviews bills going before the legislature for the impact that proposed legislation will have on the public as a whole and the impact that it will have on the nursing profession in particular. This takes time, diligence and volunteer nurses to make a difference and effect change. This year alone the Legislative Committee has been overseeing about 20 bills and making sure that the experts in each area are available for educational opportunities and for committee testimony. Our Association has sponsored a Fly-In of nurses to Juneau the last two years and has made our presence known on capital hill. This Fly-In has been an opportunity to educate on issues and to gather support for others.

You will see the results of hours of work from many nurses in this issue of the Alaska Nurse from the Safe Nursing and Patient Care Bill on page one to a student trying to find out nurses’ perceptions of suicidal actions of patients on the last page.

What these nurses share with our colleagues of the past one hundred years is a commitment to our profession, our patients, and our fellow nurses.

One hundred years of Nursing. We have come a long way. We have a long way to go. Thank you to all the nurses who have gone before, all those who are working so hard now, and welcome to our new graduates who will lead the way into the next hundred years!

Author Guidelines for the Alaska Nurse The editorial committee welcomes original articles for publication. Preference is given to nursing and health related topics in Alaska.

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

Format and Submission Articles should be 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 jpg. file, as an email attachment or on disc. Photographs sent to the Alaska Nurse will become property of the AaNA. We hope that we will be sent copies, not originals and prefer emailed files. 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 to Editor, AK Nurse, Alaska Nurses Association, 3701 East Tudor Road Ste 208, Anchorage, AK 99507. If you have any questions email the Editor, Lynn Hartz at lhartz@alaska.com.

An official publication of the Alaska Nurses Association, 3701 East Tudor Rd., Ste. 208, Anchorage, AK 99507. Tel: 907/274-0827. 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 AaNA Board of Directors President: Debbie Thompson BSN, RN, CNOR Vice President: Nancy C. Davis, RN, MSN Secretary: Michelle Murphy, RN Treasurer: Martha Clinehens, RN Directors: Labor Council Chair: Donna Phillips, BSN, RN Greater Alaska Director: Sara M. Harvison, RN, BSN Staff Nurse Director: Kathleen A. Gettys, RN, BSN, BA Rural Director: Jane A. Conard, RN Director at Large: Carolyn S. Adkins, RN, MS, COHN-S, CM, COHC Paul T. Mordini, RN Dara M. Whalen, RN, MS AaNA Labor Council Chair—Donna Phillips, RN, BSN Joseph Peacott, RN, OCN Sheri Whitethorn, BSN, RN, CCRN Deni Callahan, RN Jenni Hancock, RN Julie Torres, RN UAN Rep.—Kathleen A. Gettys, RN, BSN, BA PAMC BU Rep.—Marlene Brehmer, RN Soldotna BU Rep.—Steve Baumgardner, RN Ketchikan BU Rep.—Susan Walsh, 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.

May 2007—Alaska Nurse—Page 3

Legislative Fly-In 2007

Nurse Practitioner Nancy Neely, Alaska Board of Nursing Executive Administrator Nancy Sanders, AaNA President Debbie Thompson, and University of Alaska faculty and BON member Terri Olson attend AaNA reception.

AaNA Vice President Nancy Davis checks in Sen. Joe Thomas, D-Fairbanks and Sen. Bill Weilechowski, D-Anchorage. Nancy chaired the First and Second Annual AaNA Legislative Reception held at the Silverbow Café in Juneau, AK.

Registered Nurses Paul Mordini, Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Anchorage, and Ray Southwell, Central Peninsula Hospital, Soldotna, participated in the lobbying effort.

Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, and AaNA Labor CouncilChair Donna Phillips at reception.

Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, Lobbyist Caren Robinson, Rep. Beth Kertulla, DJuneau, and Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, attend event.

Earlier in the Session, AaNA leaders attended the AFL-CIO Legislative Conference, also in Juneau. Pictured are Jamie EAsterly, president of the Ketchikan local; Dianne O’Connell, AaNA Executive Director; Carol Clausson, Providence RN and former Labor Council member; and Donna Phillips, chair of the AaNA Labor Council

Page —Alaska Nurse—May 2007

Safe Nursing Continued from page 1

can produce effects that are similar to the effects produced by alcohol intoxication. This may include decreases in reaction time and the speed of mental processes.

Periods of wakefulness in excess of 16 hours can produce performance decrements equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .05 percent. Alcohol intoxication is defined as .05 percent BAC in several western industrialized nations although the level in the U.S. varies from .08 to .10 among the states.

Research also found that the impact of hours worked, duration of work, and overtime were shown to have a statistically significant impact on patient safety.

“The likelihood of making an error increased with longer work hours and was three times higher when nurses worked shifts lasting 12.5 hours or more….” and “working overtime increased the odds of making at least one error, regardless of how long the shift was originally scheduled.”

Source: Michigan Nurses Association Public Policy Associates, Incorporated—The Costs of Mandatory Overtime for Nurses, August 2004.

In addition, the Institute of Medicine estimates between 44,000 to 98,000 hospital deaths can be attributed to medical errors each year. Mandatory overtime is a serious contributing factor to medical errors. The final recommendation of the IOM is that all overtime, voluntary and mandatory/ involuntary done by nurses should be curtailed.

Eleven states have passed legislation limiting the use of mandatory overtime for nurses: California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Texas,

Maryland, Washington, Minnesota, West Virginia and Illinois.

Legislation is pending in fifteen more states: There is legislation banning the use of mandatory overtime pending in the following states: Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Nevada and Massachusetts.

The nurse testimony encouraged legislators to support SB 28 for the following reasons: It’s common sense; It will protect the individual patient; It will protect the Registered Nurse; It will even protect the healthcare facility; It will enhance the nursing profession; It will help recruit nurses; It will help retain nurses; and It’s good public policy.

The bill itself states that: (1) it is essential that registered nurses and licensed practical nurses providing direct patient care be available to meet the needs of patients; (2) quality patient care is jeopardized by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who work unnecessarily long hours in health care facilities; (3) registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are leaving their profession because of workplace stresses, long work hours, and depreciation of their essential role in the delivery of quality and direct patient care; (4) it is necessary to safeguard the efficiency, health, and general well-being of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, and the health and general well-being of the persons receiving care from registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in health care facilities; (5) it is necessary that registered nurses and licensed practical nurses be made aware of their

rights, duties, and remedies concerning hours worked and patient safety; (6) health care facilities should provide adequate and safe nurse staffing without the need for or use of mandatory overtime.

The specific provision reads: a nurse in a health care facility may not be required or coerced, directly or indirectly, to work over 12 consecutive hours or 80 hours in a 14-day period, or to accept an assignment of overtime if, in the judgment of the nurse, the overtime would jeopardize patient or employee safety. After working 12 consecutive hours, a nurse shall be allowed not less than 12 consecutive hours of offduty time immediately following the end of that work.

These provisions would NOT apply to: (1) a nurse on duty in overtime status because of an unforeseen emergency situation that could otherwise jeopardize patient safety; (2) a nurse fulfilling on-call time that is agreed upon by the nurse and a health care facility before it is scheduled; (3) a nurse voluntarily working overtime so long as the work is consistent with professional standards of safe patient care and does not exceed 14 consecutive hours; (4) a nurse voluntarily working over 80 hours in a 14-day period so long as the nurse does not work more than 14 consecutive hours without a 12-hour break and the work is consistent with professional standards and safe patient care; (5) the first hour on overtime status when the health care facility is obtaining another nurse to work in place of the nurse in overtime status.

The legislative session will be over by the time you receive this issue of the Alaska Nurse. For an update of the status of the Alaska Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act, SB 28, go to aknurse.org.

UAA Alumni Association

by Dan Doyle, RN

of professional development that nurses undergo and found a change from the lay to the professional I remember sitting in my undergraduate image of nursing of the course of their educational research class some years ago when the instructor program. quoted the number of registered nurses in the If professional ideas are born in nursing school, I United States as less than 2 million. Currently, wondered if graduation was a point to intervene to there are approximately 3 million nurses. You can capture those professional ideals. How can I help? view these statistics at the Department of Labor The University of Alaska Anchorage, School of website’s Occupational Outlook Handbook for Nursing Alumni Association at the same time is 2006-2007 at www.bls.gov/oco/. seeking to strengthen itself. We worked very hard Several studies noted that less than 10% of while in nursing school and had some very strong nurses belong to a professional organization. That ties, didn’t we? Aren’t you curious about where is less than 300,000. Professional organizations your fellow alumni are working and traveling to represent the interests of the members as now? If this is a time of professional well as supports political participation at development maybe you can find a the local and national level. Professional mentor, be a mentor or help keep nursing associations represent nursing as a in this great and unique state strong! profession and allow the voice of nursing And so an alumni newsletter is born. to be heard. Common reasons that nurses In addition to the newsletter there give for not belonging include the cost, are opportunities to be active in the lack of information, and lack of time. Many association by contacting the school of nurses don’t feel the costs outweigh the nursing at 786-4550 and sharing your benefits. While, as a nurse I understand interest. this reasoning, I also appreciate the The ultimate goal is to have an voice that 3 million nurses could Daniel M. Doyle, HCA was interactive website. It will be a have in an ever changing health recently awarded an MS. place for alumni to update their care environment. Three million is His graduate project was information and status without a a large number. great deal of time. The use of such a entitled,“Strengthening While in the graduate Health tool and what it could provide is only Community Networks: Care Administration track at UAA, Alumni Association and limited by those creating it. This I was again reminded of these will take time to get running. We are Nurses’ Association” statistics. Some studies indicate hopeful that in the fall of 2007 such that involvement in professional a site will be in place. Check back organizations for nurses is declining. Wow, a often and in the interim share your information continuing nursing shortage and less voice. Do we with the school and it will be manually posted. have an obligation to assume a political leadership There are many things that could happen with an role as patient advocates? Do we have a moral interactive website. obligation to the public and the profession for If you are UAA alumni send an email to the decisions in health care? Do we have an obligation school of nursing, anjes@uaa.alaska.edu. For the to ourselves? website, check back from time to time and watch So, a project is born. As part of my graduate for updates and be ready to get involved. http:// project for an MS at UAA, I have looked at different nursing.uaa.alaska.edu/alumni.cfm. facets and literature of who is the group that is Many nurses reading this newsletter are already most likely to belong to a professional organization involved in many professional activities. Hopefully I found…a theory (whoa). A study by Day, Field, this will be a great tool for you to share your Campbell, and Reutter (2005) that looked at Davis’ experience and skills with other nurses in the state theory of doctrinal conversion to identify phases and vice versa. Keep nursing in Alaska Strong!

May 2007—Alaska Nurse—Page 5

Nurse Pride I am proud to be a nurse I feel it in my soul Nursing is a natural act We help to make folks whole .

As human beings we must choose The role that we will take At an early age we start To know the turns we’ll make .

‘Nurturing’ is inviting How good it makes us feel Caring for our human-kind It’s absolutely real!

I guess we’re pretty lucky With what we chose to do By helping all those others It helps our own lives too We feel it in our daily life With every breath we breathe At work, at home, at play Because we do believe That our choice was righteous We can show our love To a multitude of folks Thanks be to God above!

-Judy Glasspool R .N .

[Ms . Glasspool has been a nurse for over 35 years . She is currently working at Ketchikan General (Peace Health) in Home Health Care .]

Alaska Nurses in the News The Board of the Alaska Nurses Foundation (AaNF) is pleased to announce two awards totaling $6,000 granted for 2006 from the Public Health Nursing Fund . One award went to LeMay Hupp for a Personal Continuing Education grant in the amount of $2,500 . LeMay is the Alaska Nurse Alert System Coordinator for the state . As such, she is responsible for developing a statewide database of nurses interested in volunteering in time of disaster . AaNF funds will support LeMay’s education on emergency preparation for disasters and assist her in the goal of developing an integrated plan for disaster planning and training for nurse volunteers . LeMay will pass on her new knowledge through articles and presentations to nursing groups within the state .

The second award in the amount of $3,500 was granted to Janice Templin-Weller for a Community Project in Delta Junction to develop a parenting/ play group . Ms . Templin-Weller is a Public Health Nurse based at the Fairbanks Health Center .

The goal of the project is to bring parents with babies and preschool children together weekly for 12 sessions to enhance parenting and coping skills . Expected outcomes include the parents increased insight and knowledge of good parenting techniques, childhood development, and new parenting perspectives and coping skills . Janice will be providing information about this project to The Alaska Nurse and in the local newspaper at Delta Junction .

AaNF congratulates LeMay Hupp and Janice Templin-Weller on their awards .

Page 6—Alaska Nurse—May 2007

Congratulations New Graduates!

In May of 2007, the following students received nursing degrees at the University of Alaska, Anchorage . Congratulations on your achievement and welcome to the profession!

Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) Tamila P . Berezyuk Ginger H . Boatwright Eileen M . Bostwick, LPN Linda M . Carlton Rebecca L . Coleman Michelle K . Colgrove Pamela J . Corso Jennifer R . Dancer April M . Diselrod Glenn M . Federenko Todd M . Gebler Heather N . Goetsch Jana Hinson, LPN

Mary L . Holmstrom (Linda) Audrey C . Howard Anya M . Jensen, LPN Laura J . Klein Janel Kosten LPN Pamela J . Kunckel Rebekah R . Land, LPN Julie L . Lee Angelina R . Martin, LPN Guillermo A .

Martinez, LPN Lori S . McAfee, LPN Dori J . McGhan Rhonda McGough

Christy M . Moloney Maile H . Moore Ma Mavel N . Penamora Marianne E . Reitzner Danette Robinson Scott B . Sands Brenda S . Schmidt, LPN

Andrea M . Siegfried, LPN Rita G . Smith Jennifer L . Snyder Vivian ThurmondMontoya Thomas W . Weaver Michelle K . Woods Kristen E . Young

Bachelors of Science (BS) Jamie M . Allison Jill C . Ament Tasha J . Anderson Delphine A . Atu-Tetuh Cynthia L . Beal Sarah R . Bilak Merisue H . Bowerfind, RN Dawn M . Brickel

Matthew A . Byrd Regina I . Chegarnov Holly L . Chinn Jamie L . Clark Emilie J . Coker Amanda E . Dodson Amy C . Downing Carol S . Greenway Kristina L . Gummer Krista B . Guzman Naomi R . Ingram

Vicki L . Kindseth, RN Sara M . Krokos Aimee E . Larimer Jenine A . Laughead Rachel E . Leman Erica J . Martinez Brooke R . Maruskie Bobbi A . Meek Jennifer R . Meritt Sara M . Muir Jeremy B . Nelson

Savannah M . Ortiz Kristy R . Rodriguez Lindsay K . Strawn Colin L . Sullivan Laura R . Szmyd Maria L . Tarrayo Beth H . Vonnahme Elizabeth A . Williams Mary E . Williamson, RN DeAnn L . Wittrock

Masters of Sciences (MS) -Thesis Laura M . Cronick, PMH—Chair Dianne Toebe, Ph .D .—“The Experience of Young Fathers” Kimberly L . Longcake, FNP—Chair Barbara Berner, Ed .D .—“Parental Perceptions of Parentto-Parent Support for Families with a Child with Celiac Disease” Maureen Northway, FNP—Chair Jackie Pflaum, DNSc—“Measuring Hope in Students of an Associate Degree Nursing Program” Christine Sagan, FNP—Chair Dianne Toebe, Ph .D .—“End-of-Life Reflections: Perspectives of Person’s in Hospice”

Masters of Sciences (MS)—Project Leona M . Gillespie, PMH—Chair Fredricka Gilje, Ph .D .—“An RN Orientation Curriculum with A New Graduate Component for an InPatient Psychiatric Setting” Daniel M . Doyle, HCA—Chair Dianne Toebe, Ph .D .—“Strengthening Community Networks: Alumni Association and Nurses’ Association” Denise B . Smith, HCA—Chair Jill Janke, DNSc—“Providence Chart Evaluation: Nursing Attitudes Toward Computerization” Bernadette M . Weldon, HCA—Chair Jill Janke, DNSc—“Providence Chart Evaluation: Nursing Attitudes Toward Computerization” Carolyn S . Wohlers, PMH—Chair Maureen O’Malley, DNSc—“Vinyasa Yoga, YogaFit® Style, for Managing Chronic Low Back Pain” Masters of Sciences (MS)—Second Masters Degree Margaret R . Fitzgerald, MSN completing the Family Nurse Practitioner track Lisa M . Jackson, MS completing the Family Nurse Practitioner track Joan R . Lyke, MS completing the Family Nurse Practitioner track Mary Anne Rowen, MS completing the Family Nurse Practitioner track Stephanie Wrightsman-Birch, MPH completing the Family Nurse Practitioner track

ALASKA NURSE ALERT SYSTEM One Year Later!

LeMay Hupp, RN, MPH, Coordinator—Alaska Nurse Alert System When I think over the past year of the Alaska Nurse Alert System (ANAS) the slogan comes to mind; “We’ve come a long way, baby!” The goal of ANAS is to establish a network of volunteer nurses who will be activated to prepare for, or respond to, natural and manmade disasters or emergencies. These crisis type events could include earthquakes, communicable disease outbreaks, acts of terror, bioterrorism and other unforeseen events within Alaska.

In one year, we are over 320 nurses strong and growing! Alaska is one of only six states that have a disaster related volunteer system that is developed just for nurses. We have an impressive Advisory Committee from Nome to Ketchikan and across many nursing venues including acute care, home health, public health, the military and five hospitals around the state. Our web site has been up since June 2006, and emails and inquiry type phone calls come in regularly. Volunteers get regular e-newsletters on a variety of topics. We have identified five continuing education activities that can be taken online, some for free CEU’s, and are suggested for basic training of all ANAS volunteers. We have also started offering free continuing education mini classes that are pertinent to emergency preparedness and disaster nursing.

After signing up, a new volunteer receives a welcome e-mail and a brochure that outlines how to get prepared in case of a call out and includes tips on items to bring along. Our first “call out” occurred in March during the RSV outbreak to assist at Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital in Barrow.

Our volunteers have been called upon to help at influenza shot clinics around the state and more recently supported the Municipality of Anchorage at a Meningococcal vaccination campaign. In the future, we will be asking volunteers to participate in city and state disaster drills and exercises.

We are meeting new colleagues, learning about unique and different topics and experiencing new ways to give back to our communities. Come join us!

For more information or to sign up, go to www.NurseAlert.org or email me at Info@nursealert.org or call 274-0827. Looking forward to hearing from you!

ANAS Volunteers learning about the CDC Quarantine Station from Shahrokh Roohi, RN.

May 2007—Alaska Nurse—Page

Alaskan RNs Ask Don Young to Co-Sponsor

RESPECT Bill Alaskan nurse leaders Kathleen Gettys and Donna Phillips visited the offices of Congressman Don Young, R-Alaska, as part of the United American Nurses lobby effort, March 22, in Washington D.C. Gettys and Phillips also met with the Congressman's wife Lou who took them as her guests to a D.C. Republican luncheon.

Congressman Young, at the request of the two Alaskan nurses, agreed to UAN Rep. Kathleen Gettys and AaNA Labor co-sponsor an important Council chair Donna Phillips pictured piece of national legislation: with Alaska's Congressman Don Young in the Re-Empowerment of Washington D.C. office.

Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradeworkers (RESPECT) Act. Congressman Young introduced the bill along with Reps. Robert Andres (D-New Jersey) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut), making the bill a bi-partisan effort. The bill (HR 1644 and SB 969) would reverse a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that slashed a long-time federal labor law protection of workers' freedom to form unions. The ruling essentially enabled employers to designate as "supervisors" any worker—including nurses —who has the authority to assign or direct another and uses independent judgment. This ruling, in many cases, would have applied to charge nurses. Under federal labor law, supervisors are not protected against retaliation for forming unions.

The NLRB ruling has the potential of negatively impacting Alaska's 6,000 nurses and their patients. During the meeting, Young agreed that the NLRB decision undermined workers' ability to form unions and was a form of "union-busting."

With Congressman Young's support, the UAN and American Nurses Association are optimistic about the newly introduced legislation's chance of becoming law.

Page —Alaska Nurse—May 2007

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

A Benefit of Membership: AaNA Member Name: __________________ E-mail: ________________________________ Informational E-mail q Various Nursing Information—If you would like National, State and Local nursing information e-mails from AaNA on a weekly basis. q 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. q Professional Nursing Practice Issues— Taskforces will consider issues relating to AaNA’s policy on RN practice and other professional issues. q Health and Safety Issues—Taskforces will consider safety and health issues of nurses and patients. q 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. q Other interest? Let us know what you would like to work on:______________ AaNA Committees q 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. q 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. q 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. q 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.

AaNA’s Professional Practice Task Force Patti Hong, Chair I’m a bit chagrined as I write this overview article! When the Task Force began meeting in 2005 (more about this later), I thought we were meeting as a Standing Committee of AaNA, as outlined in the 2004 Bylaws. Then I realized, that, because the original Committee on Professional Nursing Practice had been dormant for so long, the General Assembly voted to address issues of nursing practice using a task force model, in which issues could be addressed as they arose, thus decreasing the requirements for regular meetings and business.

The original bylaws for the Committee on Professional Nursing Practice outlined the functions as follows: a. Develop policies for Board approval addressing issues of professional practice essential to the mission of AaNA. b. Promote adherence to standards of nursing practice. c. Receive and take appropriate action upon complaints and related problems in nursing practice from the public and the profession. d. Establish working relationships to correlate professional needs and practices with economic and political aspects of nursing practice. e. Identify trends within professional practice settings and report to the Board of Directors as information items or with recommendations for action. f. Provide a forum for members to share information and discussion of professional practice issues promoting concerted action. g. Establish a plan for providing and evaluating programs within the committee’s area of responsibility. h. Establish a plan of operation for carrying out the committee responsibilities.

I hope that members will agree that it’s time for the Professional Practice Task Force to be reborn as a standing committee! The Task Force’s experiences from 2006 and 2007 are clear evidence that AaNA must be proactive with recommendations about nursing practice, not reactive. Here’s why: • Spring 2006: a legislator introduced a bill that would have required the Alaska Board of Nursing to write regulations under which nurses would administer nutritional and/

or dietary supplements. The Professional Practice Task Force convened to research and develop a position paper to help guide a response from AaNA Board of Directors and as a resource for individual nurses in Alaska.

That position paper is now available at www. aknurse.org.

• December 2006: a newly elected legislator prefiles a bill that would require the Alaska Board of Nursing to write regulations that would enable staff RNs to train EMT/Paramedic students in the performance of IV cannulation and administration of medications. The Board of Nursing opposes this bill, opining that, as EMTs and paramedics are regulated by the Board of Medicine and are unlicensed assistive personnel, it is outside the RN scope of practice to train EMTs and paramedics.

AaNA’s Professional Practice Task Force has been meeting to draft a position paper for the AaNA Board of Directors since January 2007.

Look for this position paper to be available at the AaNA’s website soon.

• Alaska’s nurses practice in an ever-changing and complex health care environment. The rapid pace of change in that environment is so important that the AaNA Board of Directors recently hired a Professional Practice Director, V. Kay Lahdenpera, MPH, BSN, RN. The Professional Practice Task Force uses the following framework to guide discussion and deliberation when practice issues arise: • Recognition that nursing is a dynamic discipline with shifting practice boundaries as the health care industry and the needs of consumers change. We look at four main institutions for their impact on the profession of nursing (L. Hartz, personal communication):

May 2007—Alaska Nurse—Page

1. Nursing education curricula 2. State and national professional nursing association standards, scope of practice statements, and certification bodies 3. State nurse practice acts 4. Workplace job requirements • Recognition that the right care given to the right person at the right time is an optimal approach to safe patient care. We’ve received permission from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing to modify and use a Nursing Practice Guide they developed for individuals to use as a framework: 1. Is the practice permitted or prohibited by the Alaska Nurse Practice Act or regulations?

2. Does the practice require the nurse to have, and does the nurse in fact have, the specialized nursing knowledge, preparation, experience, skill, and competency?

3. Is the practice consistent with the ethical and quality standards embraced by the professional nursing community in the state?

4. Is the practice contained in standards of practice developed by appropriate nursing associations?

5. Is the nurse prepared to accept full responsibility for his/her actions and be accountable to the client or patient?

Over the next issues, I’ll be featuring members of the Professional Practice Task Force: these outstanding nurse colleagues live in all areas of Alaska, and represent the full range of practice arenas! It’s an honor and a privilege to work with each and every volunteer member of the task force, as well as with Kay Lahdenpera!

[Patti Hong, MA, RN, CCRN, is a Professor at UAA School of Nursing and can be reached at mikepat@gci.net.]

Page 10—Alaska Nurse—May 2007

AaNA Award Nominations Nominations are now being accepted for the 2007 Alaska Nursing Association (AaNA) nursing awards. The awards will be announced at the October 2007 Alaska Statewide Nursing Conference. Start thinking of your colleagues who should be nominated. AaNA awards are an excellent way to recognize fellow nurses for their contributions to nursing and health care.

Letter to the Editor UAA student hoping for high survey return rate from Alaska RNs ­—Feels nurses hold key position to address suicide risks and prevent suicide Suicide is a widespread public health problem in the United States, and Alaska’s suicide rate is among the highest in the nation. The state of Alaska’s Suicide Prevention Council has developed a plan to reduce Alaska’s high suicide rate by utilizing a variety of strategies along with supporting community involvement. While there is some research conducted in other states and countries about nurses’ responses to suicidal patients, no researchbased literature was found addressing perceptions about suicide among Alaskan registered nurses (RNs). I am a student nurse at UAA conducting research regarding Alaskan RNs perceptions of suicidal actions. This research is important because nurses encounter patients at risk for suicide in various settings and they have a critical role in addressing suicide risk and preventing suicide. In May, I mailed out a survey to collect data from a random sample of Alaskan registered nurses. If you are one of the nurses who have received the survey, please fill out and return this very important research tool because suicide affects all Alaskans.

-Doreen Broderick [Ms. Broderick is a student nurse at UAA conducting an honors research project.]

If you are interested in writing a letter to the Alaska Nurse, we are interested in printing it! Do you have comments, opinions or questions about nursing and health care in Alaska? Send your letter as an email to editor@aknurse.org. Letters should be limited to 500 words or less. They may be edited for length, clarity and grammar. Remember, the AK Nurse is published every three months so be careful about sending time sensitive material. Be sure to include your name and contact information.

Alaska Nurses Association Award Nomination Form 2007 Deadline: August 1, 2007 Please select application you are submitting: q AaNA Service Award—Presented to an outstanding AaNA member who has made significant contributions to AaNA by promoting the purposes outlined in the AaNA bylaws: (a) Work for the improvement of health standards and the availability of health care services for all people, (b) Foster high quality standards of nursing, and (c) stimulate and promote the professional development of nurses and advance their economic and general welfare. Nominees must be members of AaNA. q AaNA Excellence in Practice Award—Presented to a nurses selected by peers as an outstanding practitioner, currently doing excellent work in nursing. Nominees must be licensed RNs presently involved in nursing practice in Alaska. q AaNA Hall of Fame—Presented to, or on behalf of, exceptional AaNA members, either living or deceased, who have made exceptional contributions to nurses, the nursing profession or AaNA. 1. Nominee Information (print or type): Name and Credentials _ _______________________________________ Address, City, State and ZIP _____________________________________ Position and Title _______________________________________________ Daytime Phone _______________Evening Phone __________________ 2. Narrative Summary (Please attach 1-2 pages in length) of the candidate’s: q Accomplishments and contributions that make them an outstanding nominee for the above category q Position and Title (give a brief description of duties, length of time in position) q A brief summary of the nominee’s career q Date of arrival in Alaska, and q Educational background.

3. Nominated By Name and Credentials __________________________________________ Title _______________________Daytime Phone___________________ Address, City and Zip __________________________________________ Please return to AaNA Office by August 1, 2007 FAX (907)272-0292—e-mail dao@aknursre.org—3701 E. Tudor, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507

May 2007—Alaska Nurse—Page 11

Upcoming Events Associaton of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses to Present at Largest SCI Conference in North America

New York—The American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN) will present their 24th annual conference at the 2007 North American Spinal Cord Injury Conference and Disability Expo (NASCICDE). This educational and networking event will bring together over 1,200 multidisciplinary professionals dedicated to the care, treatment, research and rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).

Hosted by United Spinal Association, the conference will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from August 27 through August 29, 2007. It will feature over 80 platform and poster presentations, the latest in clinical interventions, advances in SCI research in assistive technology and evidencebased practice, clinical advances in spinal cord injury care, aging with SCI and much more.

To register for the NASCICDE log on to www. sciconference.org or call 1-800-404-2898. Special travel discounts are available including discounted airfare and car rental fee, reduced ticketing fee, and discounts on area attractions.

Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association’s 24th Annual Conference September 13, 14, and 15th, 2007 Anchorage Downtown Marriott Margaret Fitzgerald DNP Key Note “Hot Topics in Primary Care NP Practice” • Pediatric Tract • Women’s Health Tract • Psychiatric Tract • Family Practice • Geriatrics •· Alternative treatments Workshops: • Splinting • CXR Interpretation • Grief • Dermatologic Procedures in Primary Care Some topics to look for are: hormones revisited, asthma, functional bowel disease, prescribing for the elderly, antimicrobial therapies, infertility, global warming, acupuncture, tuberculosis update, radiology, hypertension medications, diabetes, SAD, opiod diversion, MRSA, prostrate screening update, Ashville project, thromolytics, lesbian health, childhood obesity, women’s mental health, childhood behavioral problems and much more Brochure available: www.AlaskaNP.org or 907-786-4596 Alaska Statewide Nurses Conference October 22, 23, and 24 2007 Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage, AK

Brought to you by: • Alaska Nurses Association • Emergency Nurses Association, Alaska State Council

Please call the Alaska Nurses Association, at 907/274-0827, for information The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) National Clinical Conference is scheduled for October 24-28, 2007 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. This year’s conference will feature more than 120 clinical CE sessions as well as exciting and challenging keynote speakers.

ACNP’s Clinical Conference has continued to grow strong over the past six years, and in San Antonio it is anticipated more than 1,200 Nurse Practitioners will be in attendance for the premier educational and clinical event for Nurse Practitioners.

For more details about ACNP and the 2007 National Clinical Conference, please visit www.acnpweb. org ************************************************************************************