The Alaska Nurse - Vol. 62 No. 2 - June 2012

The Official Publication of the Alaska Nurses Association Circulation 7,700 to every Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and Student Nurse in Alaska

Volume 62 • No. 2

June 2012

Hospitals Join Forces to Train Nurses

Nurse Fly-in 2012

Page 3

Congratulations UAA Graduates

Page 8

Labor Lines

Page 11

Pictured are the first graduating class of the APNC with their instructors. Graduation took place June 4th.

F

acing a shortage of qualified perioperative nurses in Alaska, six hospitals formed the Alaska Perioperative Nursing Consortium (APNC) to deliver advanced training and professional development for specialty nurses.

Gena Edmiston, chief nursing officer for Fairbanks Memorial Hospital/Denali Center assumed the role of chair for the consortium. Working together, the consortium developed a training program based on an emerging best practice model of the NorthWest Perioperative Consortium. Each facility sponsored students—some of whom were already working at their facilities in other capacities—for 17 weeks of training.

Barbara Welte of Providence, and Jamie Britton of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, were lead educators. Each nurse educator assumed a portion of the teaching responsibilities and planning.

Other nurse educators included: Peggy Robinson and Gail Augdahl (Alaska Regional) Merisue Bowerfind and Amber Nakazawa (Alaska Native Medical Center). Bartlett Regional Hospital’s Diane Bigge assumed the responsibility for the preceptor training component of the program.

The consortium intends to provide training twice a year and hopes additional hospitals will join the consortium to provide instructors/ students/leadership for the program. The consortium has a long range vision of using this model of collaboration to address training needs for other sub-specialties in nursing. Already members have identified Obstetrics as an area of interest.

APNC commended Tracey Jones and Diana Frawley, who came to Alaska to help the consortium with the feasibility study, for being such tremendous resources in support of Alaska’s efforts.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting consortium members or: Dennis Murray, Program Officer Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association 1049 W. 5th Ave, Suite 100 Anchorage, Ak. 99501 Phone: 1-907-6456-1444 Email: dennis@ashnha.com

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News You Can Use from the Board of Nursing —It’s almost RENEWAL time. Start Planning Early!

All LPNs, RNs, ANPs and CRNAs must renew in 2012.

The biennial renewal fee for nurses is $175, the same as last renewal period. ANP and CRNA renewal authorization is an additional $60. Each profession will have a two month period in which to renew…hopefully on-line. It is quick and easy!

A reminder post card will be sent to you at the start of the renewal period.

News from the Board of Nursing continued on page 12

Inside This Issue Executive Director’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

AaNA Election 2012—Call for Nominations . . . . 9

Handy Apps in Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Update from the ANCC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Alaska Nurses Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association Update. . 10

Nurses in the News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Nurse Exec Comments on Collaborative

Essay on a Graduating Class. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Bargaining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Membership Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

What are “Crisis Standards of Care?” . . . . . . . . . . 9

Upcoming Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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

Page 2 • Alaska Nurse

June 2012

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. Photos should be provided with a caption and photo credit info and be high resolution. 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 lhartz@alaska. com. 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.

Executive Director’s Corner In the past few months national nursing organizations have been focusing on how we as nurse professionals treat ourselves and our peers; at the end of the day none of us should be happy with the findings nor should we continue to accept the behaviors. It is estimated that 18% to 31% of nurses are bullied in the workplace Debbie Thompson, as written in an article for BSN, RN, CNOR Health News Digest on April 9th of this year.

It is important that as the national nursing organizations take a stand on zero tolerance for bullying and lateral violence, as JCAHO makes zero tolerance for this behavior a must, and as nurse employers take a zero tolerance stand, nurses must take a look at this pervasive problem and begin to address it. It is up to nurses to stand up and stop this behavior, as no one can do it for us, we must stand together and do this for ourselves.

A bully, defined in the dictionary as a “blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates…” can be encountered early or late in one’s career. It can be a supervisor, a supervisee or a colleague. It doesn’t matter what the reasons are for this treatment it only matters that it is wrong. Participating in or not stopping the bullying behavior is wrong. It is up to each and every nurse to stand up, be noticed and stop this behavior; ignoring this behavior only acts as an acceptance of the behavior, not a

Corrections In the March issue there was an error in the caption of one of the photographs in the article, “Alaska Public Health Nursing: Videos Expand Recruitment Reach.” The caption of the photograph showing the inside of an airplane should have read, “Scott Favorite, State of Alaska Videographer filming Alaska Public Health Nurse, Mary Berliner, on the way to Russian Mission from Bethel, AK Photo Credit: Regina Moran, State of Alaska DHSS Public Information Team.”

deterrent to it. It is when we start to do this on a regular basis that we will begin to put a dent in the behavior itself. This will bring respect back to all nurses and our profession. Bullying on any level is just plain wrong and should not be tolerated by anyone.

Nurses need to step forward and begin to address this issue, make the behavior unacceptable and become part of putting an end to this phenomenon. We have all been in a situation that was embarrassing and uncomfortable for the nurse involved as well as to those witnessing the behavior but have we taken a stand to stop it or have we stood by, thankful that it was not us?

Each time a bully is allowed to get away with this behavior it reinforces the bully giving them power where there should be none. When we take no action we are in essence supporting the bad behavior and allowing a fellow nurse to be taken down unnecessarily. When we take the path of least resistance we are sending the wrong message and hurting nurses as individuals and the nursing profession as a whole.

When the AaNA board of directors decided to create organizational policies and procedures regarding bullying and lateral violence, no one knew how difficult this would be. There are many articles about bullying but there are not model policies or procedures set out for consequences of this behavior. This is the missing link that does not allow this problem to be stopped. It is easy to make a zero tolerance policy but not easy to define the behavior and consequences. To a find a policy that has teeth with repercussions for these types of actions is difficult. Defining the problem and making a blanket statement is easy, defining the behavior has become easier but how do you enforce consequences which seem to be elusive?

This article is due to come out around July 4, It would be my wish that all nurses allow themselves the gift of independence; independence from the way we have ignored this problem in the past, independence from acceptance of this type of behavior and liberation to stand up to any bully; stating clearly and concisely that the behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated on any level. It is when we allow ourselves to think in this manner that we begin the process of gaining our self respect, respect for our nursing practice and respect enough for both, that we are able to right the wrongs bullying has caused. It is my hope that each nurse in Alaska will be empowered to stand for all that is right in each of us and in our nursing practice. I look forward to standing next to each of you as we use our collective voice to eradicate this behavior.

Happy Independence Day to You All, Debbie

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 every March, June, September and December.

Materials may not be reproduced permission from the Editor.

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Editor: Lynn E. Hartz, MSN, FNP lhartz@alaska.com Contributing Editor: Candice Hughes, BSN candicerhughes@gmail.com AaNA Board of Directors President: Pam Embler, MSN, RN Vice President: Mary Stackhouse, RN Secretary: Michelle L. Marshall, MSN, RN Treasurer: LeMay Hupp, RN, MPH Directors: Rural Director: Susan Walsh, RN Greater Alaska Director: Linda Worman, D.M., RN, PHN Staff Nurse Director: Jennifer Hazen, RN Directors at Large: Stacy Allen, RN Patricia Barker, BSN, RN Julie Eib, RN Justine Muench, RN Rhonda Richtsmeier, RN, MN, NEA-BC Labor Council (designee): Donna Phillips, BSN, RN Student Nurse Liaison: Sarah Van Abel Past President Nancy D. Davis, MS, RN AaNA Labor Council Chair—Donna Phillips, BSN, RN Vice-Chair—Deni Callahan, BSN, RN Secretary—Susan Walsh, RN Treasurer—Colleen Bevans, RN Directors: Julie Eib, RN Lila Elliott, BSN, RN Janet Hilleary, RNC Mary Stackhouse, RN PAMC BU Rep.—Jennifer Hazen, RN Soldotna BU Rep.—Shelley Burlison, RN Ketchikan BU Rep.—Susan Walsh, RN Affiliate Organizations: Alaska Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives Alaska Home Health and Hospice Association Alaska Nurse Anesthetists Association Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association Alaska School Nurses Association Forensic Nurses Association, Alaska Chapter Executive Director: Debbie Thompson, BSN, RN, CNOR For advertising rates and information, please contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., 517 Washington Street, PO Box 216, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, (800) 626-4081, sales@aldpub.com. 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.

Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or approval by the Alaska Nurses Association of products advertised, the advertisers, or the claims made. Rejection of an advertisement does not imply a product offered for advertising is without merit, or that the manufacturer lacks integrity, or that this association disapproves of the product or its use. AaNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences resulting from purchase or use of an advertiser’s product. Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of AaNA or those of the national or local associations.

www.aknurse.org

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June 2012

Alaska Nurse • Page 3

Nurse Fly-In 2012

Annual Legislative Visit Fun and Fruitful The 6th annual AaNA legislative fly-in was held February 22-23 in Juneau.

The fly-in is organized by the Alaska Nurses Association and ‘hosted’ by the legislative committee representing association members as well as six association affiliate members.

This year nurse leaders arrived from Fairbanks and Anchorage representing the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, the Alaska Chapter of the American College of Certified Nurse Midwives, Alaska Nurse Anesthetists Association and AaNA.

Legislative Updates Board of Nursing Extended

With the passage of HB 279, the Board of Nursing’s sunset will be extended through 2019. The bill was signed by the Governor May 21.

There was a controversial felony provision that led to a veto by the Governor last year. This provision was removed from the bill this year at a cliffhanger end of the session; the bill was the second to the last to pass the legislature. Senator Cathy Giessel led the charge to fix the bill.

State Immunization Program Approved

HB 310 sponsored by Representative Bob Herron reinstates the child and adult immunization program as it was in 2009 before federal funding was drastically cut. The bill which was signed by the Governor on May 24th, provides stop-gap funding for the program for the next three years while the state evaluates long-term options.

Loan Repayment and Employment and Incentive Program Passes

HB 78 sponsored by Representative Bob Herron establishes the Alaska Health Care Professions Loan Repayment & Incentive Program (HCPLRIP) - a loan repayment and direct monetary incentive program for which both registered nurses and advanced nurse practitioners will qualify. While more nurses may be able to participate each year, a minimum of three slots will be reserved specifically for registered nurses and another three for nurse practitioners. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 24th.

Lt to Rt front row: Dianne Tarrant, Assc. Professor, SON, UAA, Caren Robinson, AaNA lobbyist, Judy Dearborn, VP, ANAA, Debbie Thompson, ED, AaNA. Back Row: Christy Potter, President, ANPA, Chris Logan, President ANAA, Laura Sarcone, CNM. Meetings began Wednesday shortly after 7 am and ran until 5 making for a busy day which started again early Thursday. In addition to legislators, the group met with Karen Perdue, President and CEO of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association as well as Jason Hooley, Director of Boards and Commissions in the Governor’s office. The tight schedule and multiple meetings would have been impossible without organizational skills and political know how of AaNA lobbyists Caren Robinson and Mark Hickey.

çèInsurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder SB 74 sponsored by Senator Johnny Ellis was transmitted to the Governor on June 4th; as of press time it had not been signed. The bill would require insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders, describing the method for establishing a covered treatment plan for those disorders and defining covered treatment. ê Denali Kid Care SB 5, sponsored by Senator Bettye Davis, never got the needed votes to be put back on the Senate floor. You may remember the bill didn’t pass the Senate last session on a failed 10-10 vote. It was returned to the Rules Committee. The bill would have restored the qualifying income eligibility percentage to what it was in 1997, raising Alaska from its current cellar status with four other states that fund their program at less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

WHEN EXPERIENCE COUNTS

L - R: Lawrence R. Strawbridge, M.D., William R. Clark, M.D., Andrea S. Wang, M.D., Kim Loran, PA-C, Robert C. Allen, M.D., Linda Holmes, ANP. Zachary Posey, M.D.

Lt to Rt: Lynn Hartz, Editor, AK Nurse, Debbie Thompson, ED, AaNA, Jason Hooley, Director of Boards and Commissions, Office of the Governor, Christy Potter, President, ANPA. The annual legislative fly-in serves multiple purposes. Nurses educate legislators on nursing issues: in turn, they are educated in various meetings set up with experienced government and non-government staff. The chance to network is also invaluable; for many participants this is the first time they have gathered in person as a group to share goals and strategies. The benefits accrued by the Juneau fly-in are not limited to those attending, they benefit all Alaskan nurses by serving as a voice for nursing in Juneau.

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Page 4 • Alaska Nurse

Alaska CRNAs Visit Capitol Hill

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists met in WA DC last April. Pictured are the Alaska contingent. L to R: Christine Zambricki, CRNA, Sarah Moore, CRNA, Judy Dearborn, CRNA, Senator Lisa Murkowski, April Foster, CRNA.

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June 2012

Alaska Nurses Foundation Issues a Call for Proposals Nurses interested in carrying out a community or clinical project, conducting a research project, or completing a continuing education activity are invited to apply for grant funding from the Alaska Nurses Foundation. Grant applications can be accessed on the Alaska Nurses Foundation section of the Alaska Nurses Association website (www.aknurse.org). To find the grant applications, click on the ABOUT button and then on the About the Foundation tab. The actual applications can be accessed by clicking on the “Award Opportunities” button on the left side of the Foundation page.

Technical support is available and applicants are strongly encouraged to take advantage of such advice in advance of the submission date.

Applications, with all attachments, must be submitted electronically by August 1, 2012.

Questions can be directed to Tina DeLapp (tdelapp@ak.net).

In recent years, the Foundation has funded a research project designed to examine access to and utilization of child care services in Juneau and to identify the needs of underserved children in Juneau. Another grant provided partial funding to cover expenses associated with becoming certified as a Professional in Healthcare Quality.

And recently, the Foundation funded a distance delivered prenatal education program to moms in interior Alaska. So if you have an idea in search of funding, check out the Alaska Nurses Foundation small grants program.

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Handy Apps in Health Care Dear Reader, We are trying something new!

Our contributing editor, Candice Hughes, is collecting names of applications for smartphones and pads that prove handy for nurses. This is a work in progress so feel free to send in suggestions. If you have apps to be included that cost money, we may ask that you provide additional information as Candice can’t buy all those apps to review!

Free Apps for Healthcare Providers for iPad and/or iPhone 1. Medscape (free download for iPad and iPhone) Provides 5,000 offline clinical references, 2,500+ images and 150+ videos (images and video require an internet connection).

Medscape has four menu choices: drugs, OTCs, & herbals; diseases and conditions; procedures & protocols; and interaction checker.

The drug interaction feature describes the interaction and its severity.

The anatomy section features descriptions, videos and images. The procedures and protocols section is often not as detailed as it should be, but Medscape is a good app overall with references for more in-depth information.  2. Epocrates (free download for iPhone) Epocrates has several features available for the iPhone and there are several additional features for purchase. The free features include a drug database, interaction, pill id, resource centers, essential points, tables, and calculators.

The pill id portion of the app is beneficial as it can assist in identifying a pill by shape, color, coating, imprint, etc. The resource centers are sorted by topic such as COPD and includes articles, clinical news, and scientific abstracts.

The tables include information ranging from normal laboratory values to APGAR scores to vaccination guidelines.  3. American Journal of Nursing (free download for iPad only) Allows subscribers to download the AJN for viewing on the iPad. It is easy to navigate, but it would be nice if it had a search feature.

This app is in its infancy, so perhaps they will expand on its features in the near future.  4. Electronic Preventive Services Selector (free download for iPad and iPhone) This app allows a provider to retrieve recommendations from the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force, Preventive Services Database based on age, sex, tobacco use, and whether the patient is sexually active or pregnant. It can be downloaded as an individual app or as part of the Epocrates app. You can also browse by topic and further filter by counseling, preventive, and screening. There is also a tools menu that contains a lot of topics ranging from a patient brochure for HTN management to a fracture risk assessment tool to a summary of the USPSTF recommendation on colon cancer screening. I like the fact that this app quickly identifies screening recommendations, counseling, and PDFs for patient counseling.  Rating = 0 - 5  Thank you to Beth Conklin, ANP, Terri Tope, ANP, and Dianne Tarrant, ANP for their contributions!

(Please note that I do not have access to Android products at this time. Readers are welcome to e-mail me at candicerhughes@gmail. com with reviews for Android products and more suggestions for iPhone/iPad apps.)

June 2012

Alaska Nurse • Page 5

Nurses in the News Gail Holtzman Recognized for Professional Excellence Gail Holtzman is the recipient of the 2012 Theta Omicron/Tina DeLapp Professional Excellence Award. Ms. Holtzman has been a full time member of the UAA nursing faculty since 1994; prior to that, she provided part-time clinical instruction to senior level students in the baccalaureate nursing program. She retired at the end of the Spring 2012 semester as an associate professor, having served as chair of the baccalaureate nursing program since 2003.

She began her career in 1970, completing a nursing diploma from Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Lincoln, NE. She went on to earn a BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1987 and two years later earned an MS. Degree with a focus in critical care nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Over her 40+ year career in nursing, Ms. Holtzman’s career has exemplified a pattern of professional excellence that has extended beyond the academic setting. Her clinical expertise is evident in her long time certification in critical care nursing and in numerous clinical positions in hospitals across the country (Texas, North Dakota, Missouri, Virginia, Washington, Nebraska, and Alaska). Her commitment to professional service has been exemplified in her involvement in the Alaska Nurses Association; she served as secretary of the statewide organization and as a member of the District I Board of Directors.

for

Additionally, she was active in and filled leadership roles in chapters of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses in Houston, TX and Richmond, VA. In Anchorage, Ms. Holtzman served as vice-president of Theta Omicron from 1995-1997 and followed that service with a four year term of service as chapter President, from 1998-2002. She continues to serve on a variety of committees for both Theta Omicron and the Alaska Nurses Association. And, Ms. Holtzman shares her expertise with colleagues; her articles have appeared in several professional journals, including Critical Care, the Journal of Nursing Education, and Clinical Issues in Critical Care.

since 1990. Previous awardees are now employed in nursing in Fairbanks and elsewhere.

The fund is named for Dixie Orsini, who was an active member of the Fairbanks Nurses Association whose family and friends established the scholarship fund after her death in 1984.

The scholarship board gives special consideration to applicants who have received scholarships in the past, and those who may not meet criteria for other nursing scholarship programs.

We are proud to be in a position to make these awards, and encourage prospective studentcandidates to apply. For information call Ruth Benson, RN, at 907 479-6912.

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Dixie Orsini Nursing Scholarship Awarded

Brandy Wendler, ANP, of Eagle River was crowned Mrs. Alaska International this month and will go on to compete for the title of Mrs. International 2012 during the final competition in Chicago, July 17-21, 2012. Wendler is a nurse practitioner at St. Elias Specialty Hospital and an active community volunteer, conducting free monthly blood pressure checks at her church and working with the Special Olympics. During her reign as Mrs. Alaska International, she will continue to support her platform of Celiac disease awareness. Diagnosed with this digestive disease herself, Wendler currently manages a Celiac Disease Support group in Anchorage and a related web site for Alaskans living with the disease, as well as creating gluten-free menus for local restaurants. [news release, Intl.Pageants,4/24/12]

Fairbanks District 4 Nurses Association awarded the Dixie Orsini Scholarships recently to local students, Leah Jeglum and Kimberly Doudna. Ms. Jeglum is studying for a Bachelor’s degree at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, and Ms. Doudna is at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. The scholarships are awarded to Fairbanks area residents enrolled in university programs leading to degrees in nursing, and nurses who may be enrolled in various continuing education programs to fulfill job requirements.

Scholarships of $2000 were awarded this year, and various amounts have been awarded every year

Balance

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Page 6 • Alaska Nurse

June 2012

Essay on a Graduating Class

by Marianne Schlegelmilch, RN UAA Kachemak Bay Campus Nursing Class of 2011

lt to right: Tom Bursch, Joshua Geibe, Julie Schockro-Arness, Ashley McCaughey, Robin George, Jill Garnet, Sarah Ott, Professor Carol Klamser. Not pictured Yvette Kiehl.

It was on a late August day that I was invited to sit with seven of Carol Klamser’s eight nursing students on the second day of the last semester of their studies. There, during the last few minutes before class, I was suddenly struck by the realization that two full generations had passed since the time that I had been in their position.

Wow! How quickly forty-three years had gone by.

Now, just as I was getting ready to wind down my career in nursing, these seven were about ready to launch theirs. For me it was a sobering moment.

As I sat there, I couldn’t help but notice how things had changed since the days when I had been a young student nurse enrolled in one of the now nearly extinct hospital based diploma programs that were the norm for the 1960s.

Whereas my studies had been held in a rather rigid and formal setting, these students were immersed in a comfortable, relaxed, informal setting, with all of them sitting around a gigantic square table with their instructor, each whipping out a smart phone to fact check various subjects under discussion, each dressed more casually than was the norm in my day, and each free to get up, move around, have coffee, or generally attack their subject matter in a relaxed manner that was not typical of the classrooms I attended.

The atmosphere here was open, with ready reference to both textbooks and references accessed via smart phone technology. The mood

felt free lacking the classroom regimentation that had made me force myself to memorize as many facts as I could or fear failure, yet not teaching me to make the connections between the facts that would help me function more holistically as a nurse—a process that I would only later learn through real life experience.

I had been taught to follow regimens, procedures and protocols and it would be years before I would develop the independent thinking skills that would lead to sound judgment, a collaborative demeanor, and the surprise realization that there might possibly be more than one correct way to do things.

These students had the edge. Whereas I had reached academic milestones by passing tests and demonstrating proficiency with skills, they were already beginning to bridge the gap between book smart and functionality by learning to exercise critical thinking skills.

Make no mistake, despite the casual atmosphere, real learning was happening here.

I felt honored to be there, trusted with the very unique privilege of trying to use my long experience as a nurse to help them begin to hone that skill—at least for this one short afternoon.

I’m not sure if the students saw any benefit to my being there, just as I initially was not sure if I had really contributed anything to their learning experience. But in thinking about it later, I think my being there—and I say that to include their instructor’s vision in coming up with the idea in the first place—did contribute positively to their learning. It certainly was a valuable experience for me. In particular I concluded that each of us who were there—the students, their instructor and myself—had accomplished one of the key elements of being a successful working nurse, that of the ability to engage in collaboration.

It is such an important word, collaboration, and the realities of working life as actual nurses will quickly reinforce to these students its importance.

In the span of this one last semester of formal learning, they will be thrust into a world beyond their current dependency on textbooks and each other.

They will be out there, functioning as newbie’s alongside crusty old salts and a full array of practitioners, trying to establish communication

with each, and struggling to effectively bridge gaps between patients, their families and all of the above.

The ability to engage in collaboration was going to be an important, if not vital skill, and these students were already way ahead of the place I had been so many years ago as I prepared to graduate.

For that I can only credit their forward thinking instructor—a person who had, in addition to being amazingly academically accomplished, spent many long hours and years working directly at the bedside with patients. I wondered if they even knew how fortunate they were to have her as their instructor, all the while knowing that someday they would.

As the exercise progressed I watched them with interest, anxious to see how they were approaching their roles. From years of having worked with every possible personality and skill level of nurse there was, I could almost imagine the paths they would follow—guess who would be the first to get burnout, see who would blossom later, and who would be the calm, steady voice of reason—always, for everyone—no matter when, no matter where. It was as though through my own past experience, I could see their future.

I wondered about compassion. Did they have it? I think so, but it seemed mostly hidden for now—buried under bravado and insecurity and trepidation at what lie ahead—a current lesser priority than study and graduation, and, perhaps, a consequence of the distance between clinical study and actual hands on contact with real patients. I had no doubt, though, that it would surface when it needed to, just as I knew it would hinder the careers of those who did not manage to develop it.

How about critical thinking? I watched. With a little encouragement from their instructor, there it was. Yes, these students were going to be okay.

Sure, there was going to be a learning curve.

Academics only get you so far, and there’s a reason someone once coined the phrase reality shock for that time when the rubber meets the road and the student becomes the practicing nurse. But these students were eagerly embracing learning right Essay on a Graduating Class continued on page 7

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June 2012 Essay on a Graduating Class continued from page 6 there before my eyes. I felt humbled to be a part of it—to witness it in its rawest form.

Bit by bit what I was seeing was beginning to make sense. They were building a foundation for the lifetime of learning they would embark upon.

There would be no sudden epiphany, like when you climb a mountain and reach the top. For these students, there would be completion of their basic studies and then the pursuit of the broader education of learning and practicing the art of nursing. The art of nursing—not the job, not the punch in/punch out of an assembly line, but the ongoing development of skills, and techniques, and interventions, and collaborations—and the caring, the pain, the stress, the immense reward of making a difference in the lives of those most vulnerable.

Later, some might even choose to pursue higher academics, but within months, each of these students would be a graduate nurse, fully prepared to pursue licensure and enter the work force.

These students, these seven students, are part of the future of nursing. Some of them may even take care of you or of me. I want you to meet them, learn a bit about who they are and what makes them tick. I want you to embrace them and help nurture them and give them the strength they will need to care deeply. Here, in brief, are summaries of the individual stories of some of the soon-to-be nurses who will be here for our future.

Jill St. Clair Garnet Jill spent 12 years working as an EMT before enrolling in the UAA Nursing program.

While living in Denver, Colorado, she worked for seven years at Children’s Hospital where she worked in both the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department. photo credit: Amy Berga In the ED, she participated in a unique staffing opportunity where, after triage and selection of patients by a nurse, she was allowed to care for up to 5 patients under the supervision of a physician independent of the nursing staff—including treatment, documentation and discharge teaching for those patients.

She describes this unique program as being very successful and explains that it was developed with a series of criteria and protocols specific to working with patients in the ED. This system was developed to allow for better patient flow and she credits it with allowing her to gain valuable prioritization and organizational skills.

In a separate and fulfilling facet of her private life, she cares for rescued sled dogs at her home in Kasilof.

Ashley Brandon-McCaughey Ashley grew up with a keen interest in medicine, even obtaining her CNA while still only a junior in high school. While helping her family to care for an ill uncle, her desire to become a nurse overcame any fears she might have about caring for others and so she applied for and was accepted into the nursing program at UAA Kachemak Bay Campus.

In asking her about her future, she shares that she may pursue her education to a higher level, possibly to the Masters level and says that she may even aspire to teach nursing herself one day.

Going through nursing school has made me very aware of the importance of passionate teachers.

I would enjoy teaching other nursing students someday.

What I do know more specifically about my place in nursing is that nurses encounter patients and their families at very vulnerable and

Alaska Nurse • Page 7 distressing times in their lives, and a nurse’s mark is easily left, whether it’s a positive one, a mark is left and the experience will be remembered.

Nursing is a career that requires passion and heart and a strong desire to genuinely help and care for others and I believe I contain these qualities. I believe my place in nursing is to compassionately care for my patients and their families.

Ashley further shares her belief that providing culturally sensitive care is a big deal and feels that nurses who were born in or who have lived in Alaska for extended periods of time are most knowledgeable about Alaska cultures and thus best able to deliver that culturally sensitive care.

Tom Bursch Tom is a 48-year-old father of two who has been married for 24 years. He has been a commercial fisherman for 25 years, gillnetting salmon, and having served as a crewman for halibut, black cod, crab and herring. He and his wife have been setnetting red salmon in Ugashik, where they own their own permit, since 1988. For the Bursch’s, fishing is a family affair.

We’ve raised our two daughters, now 18 and 19, fishing every summer, and we all continue to fish Ugashik in the salmon season—my oldest daughter fishing with me on a drift boat and my wife and youngest daughter running the set-net operation.

Tom says that he first became interested in healthcare through hands-on care of his parents in their battles with cancer. He credits the seasonal nature of his fishing career with giving him both the income and the time to devote to helping them.

Although he is not sure what field of nursing he will pursue, he says that he is intrigued by psychiatric nursing, and as of the time of this writing, was looking forward to his psych clinical rotation as a student.

Joshua Geibe Josh is a veteran who served as a medic in the United States Army. Although he says he did not put in any time in Iraq or Afghanistan, he did do a 6-month rotation in Kosovo from 1999-2000.

The best thing I learned from the experience is to continually prepare for the unknown. You never know what you will run into so you have to be thinking about many different scenarios that you might run into.

Also, I learned the value of preventative actions.

I want to always try to prevent things vs. reacting to them. I was very fortunate that the men I served with did not suffer from any serious injuries.

Maybe (that was) bad for my experience, but all I wanted was the men I served with to return home safely.

One thing I did enjoy about being a medic in the Army was the state-of-the-art equipment you had at your hands.

With his exposure to advanced technologies already imbedded into his experience level, and with his very evident compassionate nature, Josh is on his way to a bright future in nursing.

Sarah Ott Robinson Sarah spent her high school years caring for her grandparents, who had Alzheimer’s, and her father, who had multiple health issues related to a history of substance abuse.

In many ways, I found nursing to be a natural extension of my familial role as caregiver. I’m 28 now and I’ve been a nursing assistant for ten years, slowly working toward my RN. Nursing is all I’ve ever done.

I hope to apply my knowledge and skills toward the pediatric population as well as forensic nursing.

Alaska is very unique with its cultural diversity as well as largely rural population. It will be neat to see how the ever-growing advancements in health science and technology improve outcomes for clients in the remote areas of our state.

In pointing out her view that Alaska desperately needs more health care resources, programs and outreach facilities for a full array of social issues, it seems that Sarah’s path in nursing will be wellbalanced by her personal passion to better the lives of others.

Robin George Robin began her working life doing what she describes as, “every job under the sun that didn’t require formal training.”

After becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, she decided to become a nurse and entered the program at UAA Kachemak Bay Campus at the age of 26.

Prior to that, her main focus in life had been to travel—a passion she plans to continue after she finishes her studies and becomes a nurse, possibly as an international travel nurse, although she doesn’t have any solid plans at this point and writes, “We’ll just see what happens.”

She has been to South America, Europe, Asia, Mexico, Canada, and to most of the US. She has also lived in six states.

Through her travel she brings a well-rounded focus to understanding people, which should serve her well as a nurse, just as nursing should serve her well in her quest to see the world.

Julie Schockro-Arness Julie decided to enter the field of nursing while visiting her sister who had just undergone a C-section.

My sister was flat exhausted, uncomfortable, and in need of someone to mother her while she mothered her own baby.

Those OB nurses just doted on her. They were so motherly and sincerely caring, and I thought to myself, that’s the kind of job I want. I was inspired.

Though we don’t have children of our own, my husband says I have a strong maternal nature. I suppose that is reflected in the menagerie of spoiled critters that I insist on bringing home—from dogs to chickens, to stray friends who need a place to crash.

While I am currently planning to focus my nursing skills on helping mothers deliver healthy babies, I am also very interested in preventative health care. I’ve always loved teaching people about healthy eating habits coupled with simple lifestyle modifications, and I view my nursing degree as a podium for spreading that information.

I think the best thing about nursing is that the avenues for helping people improve their health and, thereby their lives, are countless. In nursing, everyday offers a new opportunity to truly make a difference.

I’m a pretty simple gal. I enjoy the simple things in life, like fresh air and a good dog walk. I am hopeful that the healthy choices I make in life will serve as a model for the people I care for as a nurse. One of the most valuable things I’ve learned thus far in nursing school is that if you believe in the care you are giving, your patients will believe in it too, and that will be reflected in their recovery.

Page 8 • Alaska Nurse

June 2012

Congratulations UAA Graduates Associate Degree Program Graduates

This graduate list is particularly long as the December 2011 graduates from the outreach program were mistakenly not included in the last issue. A belated but sincere congratulations and welcome to these graduates!

December Associate Degree Program Graduates from outreach programs across the state.

Danielle Baham Deseree Baker Samuel E Hancock DeLys Y Hendrix Jennifer MacKenzie Francesca May Margaret L McClane Sara Mooney Ben R Moore Rachel Osborn Lisa A Rockwell Thomas J Schulz Sandra J Scrase Karri VanDeventer Lynn Wages Thomas L Bursch Julie C Shockro Ashley McCaughey Sarah E Ott Joshua Geibe Robin M George Jill Garnet Yvette M Kiehl Leanne Dapcevich Autumn S Giordiano Kathryn C Rabung Bryce Markey Cindy Marble Michelle Clark Maia Aspinwall Charlene M Burns Anastasia Connolly Hilary C Vincent Janelle Hyatt Lauren Ernst Kirsten Henrickson Christine Ewing Marcy Johnson Jeremiah Smith Duane Farring Anna Enzweiler Cassandra Espinoza Chandra Lewis Ryan Van Ausdal Drina Wallis Natasha Latta Erin LeBon-Stark Lauren Vallespir

Location Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Fairbanks Homer Homer Homer Homer Homer Homer Homer Homer Juneau Juneau Juneau Juneau Juneau Juneau Ketchikan Ketchikan Ketchikan Ketchikan Ketchikan Ketchikan Ketchikan Matsu Matsu Matsu Matsu Matsu Matsu Matsu Matsu Valdez Valdez Valdez Valdez

Margaret Balster, MS, RN, CNE, RN-BC, CHC, gave the keynote address at the May graduation. photo courtesy of Lisa J. Seifert/lisa@seifertphoto.com

The University of Anchorage conferred degrees upon the following students in May. Special honors were bestowed on these graduates: Spirit of Nursing Award— Awarded by faculty vote for the student they feel demonstrates the spirit of caring, science, love of learning, and compassion.

AAS – Olin Raidmae BS – Nicole Zonzel Peer Award— Awarded by the senior class to a fellow classmate who has completed their nursing studies while balancing the daily demands of life. Sponsored by the AaNA. AAS – Olin Raidmae BS – Linda Roe Directors Award – Awarded to the student with the highest GPA AAS – Keely R. Agler-Hanson BS – Melia L. Renfer

Keely R Agler-Hanson Tiffany R Marable, LPN Julie A Blake, LPN Gena M Marks Suzette N Blaser Nikki M McDermott, LPN Camerin L Bogard Caitlin E Pendergrast Jeremy A Bon, LPN Cynthia G Petterson Stefania Burke, LPN Olin T Raidmae Lacey R Burnham Lee A Reynolds Lacey M Centeno Anthony Robinson Jennifer Coffey Jenny M Schwartz Joshua E Cohen Alison M Selvik Christy A Coovert, LPN Traci N Sickich Sharon H Crawford William B Skinner Simone E Fletcher, LPN Bethany K Sliwa Gina L Gregoire Joshua M Toombs Katrina T Kearney, LPN Arturo Tovar, LPN Rachel F Kemp, LPN Sarah J Van Abel Jheri Jean M Kuramoto Aaron M Von Boeckmann Jean C Lauer Kaitlin R Walker Jillian L Lees Morgan H Welker, LPN Ryan C Malevich Cheniah M Yamoto Karol E Malone, LPN Jessica L Yuill Meg U Mapili, LPN

Baccalaureate Degree Program Graduates Kimberlyn D Arellano Kelli A Cassidy Jasmine M Cho Kristin N Cross Kathlyn Mae C Ferandez Ashley M Finch Erin J Frolander Cortni M Hostetler Kristin E Howard Danielle C Jabaay Paree D James Dana M Jenski Patricia L Johnson Kandice H Kasten Breanna D Klann Rachel L Kozlowski Staci L Kruger Kimberly C Lamson Philip G Lindeke Trina M Marvin

Larissa R Matlock Benjamin B McCormack Megan M Morse Mydzung T Nguyen Zachary L Owen Jihae Park Jeffery A Patterson Megan M Piper Melia L Renfer Linda M Roe Elizabeth M Rohloff Ashley A Rymer Ashley Scroggins Amanda M Skinner Olivia S Stone Gretchen F Sumabat Kathleen R Torpy Isabel C Vesely Nicole S Zonzel

Master’s Degree Program Graduates Jennifer A. Gehrke Chair –Susan Wilson, PhD Thesis, Nursing Education Track ‘Staff Nurse Perceptions of Working with Student Nurses in an Obstetrical Clinical Setting’ UAA nursing graduates at May ceremony. photo courtesy of Lisa J. Seifert/lisa@seifertphoto.com

Allied Health Dept. – Anchorage Campus

SEEKING INSTRUCTORS for New ADN-RN Program • Medical-Surgical Instructor • Psychiatric Instructor Requirements: AK RN License, MSN minimum & one year clinical nursing experience for specific area.

Substitute Instructors needed for all programs.

Send resumes to: dick.harrell@avtec.edu www.avtec.edu

Visit aknurse.org Online CE Nursing News “Alaska Nurse” on the web Alaska nursing links Job Listings And More!

Zelda Swain Chair- Barbara Berner, EdD Thesis, FNP Track ‘Older Adult Perceptions on the Role of the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner’ Joscelyn E. Vanduren Chair- Maureen O’Malley, PhD Project, FNP track ‘ANCA Vasculitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment’

June 2012

Alaska Nurse • Page 9

Membership Application Advancing and Supporting the Profession of Nursing

What are “Crisis Standards of Care?”

Have you ever been in a situation where you were making the decision of two patients needing an item and you only have one? How about 10 patients? ...... or 50 patients? Maybe you work in a smaller facility, a major earthquake occurs and the only physician is injured. You know there are going to be many people needing medical care.

Have you any guidelines for emergency discharge to free up beds? What if all communication is down and critical decisions need to be made?

These are just a few aspects of “crisis standards of care.”

There are states that have adopted guidelines to assist in making these types of decisions. A committee has been meeting to look at some of these issues. ADEC (Alaska Disaster Ethics Committee) has produced a survey to send around the state asking if these questions have been discussed or guidelines produced. Our group plans to utilize these results to assist in developing guidelines that could be adopted in a disaster or public health emergency.

Over the past year, our committee has reviewed current laws in Alaska regarding licensed medical professionals and working in disasters.

We have also developed a lengthy bibliography of issues surrounding volunteer liability, resource allocation and crisis standards.

This is just one more aspect of how AK RESPOND can keep you informed. For more information on the ADEC group or on Alaska Respond go to www.akrespond.alaska.gov.

Integrity Professionalism ~ Advocacy Empowerment~ Representation

Membership Categories

❑ AaNA Collective Bargaining Full Members (PAMC, CPH & KGH) contact AaNA (907)274-0827 ❑ Full Membership—Employed Full-time or Part-time ❑ 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—62+ years or totally disabled (not employed) Reduced

Special

Monthly

$17.50 $9.00 $4.75

& Fairbanks Yearly

$204.00

All Other

Monthly

$16.87 $8.20 $4.10

Locations

Yearly

$196.50

$102.00

$98.25

$51.00

$49.12

For monthly credit card payments subtract $.50 per month ____________________________________________________________ Last Name/First Name/Middle Initial ____________________________________________________________ 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 Check—Please make checks payable to the Alaska Nurses Association MasterCard or Visa—available for:  Annual payment

 Monthly payment

_________________________________ _____/_____ $_______ ______________________________________ Card Number Expiration Amount Signature

AaNA Election 2012 —Call for Nominations

Simplify your nursing research... with access to over 10 years of nursing publications at your fingertips.

nursingALD.com Simply click on the Newsletter tab on the far right and enter your search term.

Name: ____________________________________

Informational E-mail ❏ Various Nursing Information—If you would like National, State and Local nursing information e-mails from AaNA on a weekly basis. ❏ Action Alerts—If you would like political action alerts for National and State legislative issues involving nursing and health care issues.

AaNA Committees ❏ 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 third Tuesday of the month. ❏ 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. ❏ 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. ❏ Professional Nursing Practice Issues— Members will consider issues relating to AaNA’s policy on RN practice and other professional issues.

Screening Saves Lives

Vice President Secretary Greater Alaska Director Director at large

All offices are for a two year term.

Contact the AaNA office for information and nomination forms at 907-274-0827, or Debbie Thompson Executive Director, c. 907-441-9726 Descriptions of responsibilities are at aknurse. org; pick Bylaws; see page 11.

To get involved check off any of the boxes below:

Return Get Involved form, application and payment to: AaNA, 3701 E. Tudor, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507 • Questions? (907) 274-0827 or (800) 811-2576

Come be a part of Alaska nurses making a difference! Join your nurse colleagues in representing your district and your profession as we address critical nursing issues that face us today. The Alaska Nurses Association will allow you to hone your leadership skills and network with nurses across the state.

Open state offices on the AaNA Board of Directors are:    

Taskforce Members Taskforce 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. ❏ Health and Safety Issues—Taskforces will consider safety and health issues of nurses and patients. ❏ 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. ❏ Other interest? Let us know what you would like to work on:______________

AaNA Only Anchorage

E-mail: ___________________________________

❑ Reduced Membership—Not Employed

Dues Full

• • EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

BBAHC has a wide range of available positions in the health care field.

When you join BBAHC, you’ll find a community of capable healthcare professionals dedicated to providing quality care to the Native community of the Bristol Bay region. While working and living in Southwest Alaska, you’ll also enjoy rugged, pristine landscapes matched by few places on Earth.

As an employee of BBAHC, you’ll serve the healthcare needs of a diverse population with others who love their work and the beauty of rural Southwest Alaska. The quality of the workplace and co-workers is important to you, and to us. BBAHC, a Joint Commission accredited organization, offers what few other hospitals and healthcare organizations can - a modern facility and a must-see-to-believe rural environment.

We believe you’ll find our pay and benefits to be competitive and attractive.

For more information about any of these positions or to submit an application, contact the Human Resources Department.

Toll free in Alaska: 1 (800) 478-5201, ext. 6325 Direct: (907) 842-9325 BBAHC’s Human Resources Department P.O. Box 130, Dillingham, Alaska 99576

www.bbahc.org

•

Will you help Alaskan women by reminding them to get their regular breast cancer screening?

Encourage your patients to call today

1-800-410-MAMM (6266)

Page 10 • Alaska Nurse

June 2012

Update from the American Nurses Credentialing Center New and Retiring APRN Certifications

[2/16/12 news release] Changes are being made to the ANCC certification exams in response to the new Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education (APRN Consensus Model). ANCC has initiated plans to retire specific certification programs and develop certifications to more closely reflect the roles and populations required by the APRN Consensus Model regulations.

Currently certified nurses will be able to retain their existing credentials for as long as they renew their certification. We are mailing a letter and FAQs that will answer questions. For those whose certifications are due to be retired, please contact us at 1.800.924.4194 or APRNInfo@ana.org with questions specific to your situation.

Continuing APRN Certifications • Family Nurse Practitioner • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner • Family Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the life span) • Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (across the continuum from wellness through acute care) New Certifications Launching in 2013–2014 • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, expected 2013 • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, expected 2013

• Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (across the continuum from wellness through acute care), expected 2014 Certifications Retiring in 2014—Can Be Renewed • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner • Adult Nurse Practitioner • Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner • Gerontological Nurse Practitioner • Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist • Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist • Child/Adolescent Psychiatric & Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist • Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist

How Do I Know if My Practice Hours Count for Renewal?

Clinicians should ensure that their practice hours allow them to engage in direct patient clinical care. A minimum of 1,000 practice hours in the certification you are renewing is required and can be completed either through employment or as a volunteer.

As an APRN, your practice hours must be at the advanced level, serving in the role of an NP or CNS, depending on the board certification you hold. Additionally, faculty can use hours of direct clinical supervision of APRN students to satisfy their practice hours requirement. For additional details, please review the ANCC Certification Renewal Application. Or go to www. nursecredentialing.org

Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association Update

The Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association is excited for the upcoming events of 2012. We are busy at work dissecting the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Consensus Model. Underway is the formation of a task force consisting of Nurse Practitioners from a variety of different backgrounds who are also members of the ANPA. This task force will be looking at every piece of the model, evaluating it for the potential effects to the Nurse Practitioner scope, and its eventual effects on healthcare consumers in Alaska. The task force will present a position paper discussing the findings of the task force at our annual conference in September of 2012. Monthly updates will be posted on the ANPA website and there will be the availability to provide feedback and make comments on the progress updates.

The Alaska Nurse Practitioners’ Conference begins on September 19th, 2012. This is shaping up to be an exciting year! With a keynote address and several pull out sessions led by Margaret Fitzgerald, poster presentations and a rapid fire 6 minute speaker panel, it’s a conference you won’t want to miss! Much of the conference information will be posted on the website within the next month, including speaker biographies, the ability to register and much more.

Now is the perfect time to get involved with the ANPA. We have a lot going on, and there are plenty of opportunities for NPs and NP students Our advertising should inc to contribute to projects and discussions that have the potential to shape futurerecruiting Advanced forNursing experienced Practice in Alaska. The ANPA website can be · accessed at anpa.enpnetwork.com

JOIN ANMC The Alaska Native Medical Center is looking for experienced RNs: Clinical Nurse Specialist Clinical Nurse Manager Critical Care Unit Emergency Department Operating Room Postpartum/Labor & Delivery

Alaska’s only magnet-designated hospital and Level II Trauma Center.

ALASKA

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June 2012

Alaska Nurse • Page 11

Labor Lines Featuring Stories from the Collective Bargaining Unit Nurses of AaNA

AaNA Labor Program Member Kathy Bell Helps Initiate School-Based CPR Program

by Dianne O’Connell Kathleen Bell, RN, is a school nurse with the Anchorage School District currently assigned to Goldenview Middle School, and a pediatric nurse at Providence Alaska Medical Center. Many know her because of her participation in the Providence Registered Nurses Bargaining Unit, but others in the community know her through her work with the American Heart Association and the Loren Marshall Foundation (LMF). Ms. Bell sits on the Board of Directors for the foundation.

Bell and the foundation’s president, Jim Foster, have been working on the implementation of a school-based CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training program for children for the past several years. They are recognized as being the “lead volunteers” for the effort which is sponsored by the American Heart Association.

Students practice CPR skills at Goldenview middle school.

Bell first learned of the program when teaching a Basic Life Saving (BLS) class with Foster. Kathy and Jim are both BLS instructors at Providence

in Anchorage. Jim told Kathy about the heart association’s ‘CPR Anytime Program’. Kathy was intrigued. Foster and Bell came up with a plan to find funding to do a pilot program for eighth graders at Goldenview. Each student would receive a homework assignment to train five to ten additional family members. Called the multiplier effect, the system could result in 400 students teaching ten others equaling 4,000 additional people in the community per year with a basic knowledge CPR. Could eighth graders effectively learn in a fiftyminute class period how to administer CPR in an emergency situation? After investigating further, Bell was determined that they could and she was further determined to initiate such a program in Anchorage.

One big question, however, was funding.

“I knew Al Parrish, chief executive officer for Providence, and invited him along with Carol Comeau, Anchorage School District Superintendent, to attend a demonstration. Parrish was so impressed by the kids and the program that he pledged the support of Providence for a pilot program and has continued the funding for the last three years along with the Alaska Heart Institute,” Bell says today.

“This program would not have come to fruition without the hospital’s support and the support of the American Heart Association and the foundation,” she adds.

The Loren Marshall Foundation is a nonprofit organization which promotes educational endeavors in emergency medicine (http:// lorenmarshallfoundation.org).

The organization partners with Alaskan fire departments, police departments, medical community, and community leaders to improve outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest across the State of Alaska. This catastrophic event claims the lives of hundreds of Alaskans every year.

“We are all in this together, making Alaska a heart safe state one compression at a time,” comments Foster.

“The Providence and the Alaska Heart Institute

funding for the “CPR Anytime” program provided a kit for every eighth grader in the Anchorage School District,” says Lisa Sauder, heart association executive director. “Through a partnership with the Loren Marshall Foundation we are requesting state funding to purchase kits and make the program available to every school district in the state of Alaska. We estimate that if fully implemented, we could train 70% of the population of the state in only five years through this program.” The CPR Anytime kits include an inflatable mini manikin, a DVD, written CPR instructions, and two barrier devices. It all comes in a box and costs about $30 a piece.

Kathy Bell taught the first “CPR Anytime” classes in Anchorage beginning with her home school, Goldenview Middle School, during the 2007-2008 school year. The kids responded enthusiastically to the course, trained their friends and relatives, and word spread. The model developed by Goldenview Middle School and the Anchorage School District is also being implemented in several other states including Montana where the American Heart Association has been active in securing funding and sharing this life-saving skill with students.

In Alaska, thanks to legacy funding that was available, the CPR Anytime program was introduced this school year in the Kenai area, thanks to Jane Schultz, the program’s champion on the peninsula.

This fall, all eighth graders received the training and today we have a two year old that will live to see another birthday because of the volunteers, funders and organizations that helped implement this lifesaving project in the school.

The Alaska Nurses Association and its Labor Program want to thank their colleague Kathleen Bell, the Anchorage Fire Department, the Anchorage School District, Providence Alaska Medical Center, Alaska Heart Institute, Jim Foster and the Loren Marshall Foundation, Lisa Sauder and the American Heart Association, the dozens of trainers and multitude of students who have, working together, made this program a success.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Nurse Exec Comments On Collaborative Bargaining

By Dianne O’Connell “I was impressed with the nurses’ initial proposals. They were prepared with an appreciation of the current economic climate and also with an understanding of the intrinsic needs of nurses in the work place,” says Deb Hansen, Chief Nurse Executive for Providence Alaska Medical Center. “Proposals dealt with improving the on-call situation, better parking, and how to clarify issues of equitability among the nursing staff.” Ms. Hansen was one of the PAMC administrators who sat across the table to craft the new three-year agreement reached between Providence and the Alaska Nurses Association Labor Program. She has been chief nurse executive since January of 2010, has worked at Providence since 2008, and came to Providence from the Alaska Native Medical Center. This was her first experience at the bargaining table with the AaNA Labor Program and it was a positive one.

“The nurses responded to our concerns, as well.

For instance, in the past registry nurses have had to work a minimum of three shifts a month. This really isn’t enough to keep up with changes and review skills. We asked to change the requirement to four days per month for new registry nurses and they agreed,” she added.

“I had said even before negotiations that I wanted to provide an hourly bonus for nurses who have various certifications. The union brought such a proposal to the table and we accepted it.

“We also clarified rest periods between shifts so that everyone is guaranteed a ten hour rest period if they want one.”

Nurses overwhelmingly voted to accept and ratify the resulting tentative agreement.

PRN President Deni Callahan agrees that the settlement was an unprecedented collaborative effort, reached in record speed with virtually no acrimony.

“Two days, two sessions. That’s what it took,” beams Ms. Callahan, speaking of the actual time at the table teams spent crafting the agreement.

Times have changed since the difficult days, months, actually years, leading up to the Nurses Strike of 1999. Seasoned leadership representing both management and the nurses, paired with new blood and new approaches resulted in a three year contract including many workplace improvements sought by nurses for years as well as a five to sixteen percent salary adjustment over the same time period.

“We prepared much in the same way we always have,” Callahan explains. “We sent out surveys to our membership, we selected a team who in turn met several times prior to negotiations, to develop proposals and rationale to share with the hospital management.

“There are some areas where we didn’t make much progress, like providing nurses with ‘a bridge to Medicare’ for those years between retirement from Providence and eligibility for Medicare,” Callahan states. “But we are quite proud of the agreements we did reach and the atmosphere in which we worked.”

As reported in the Anchorage Daily News on April 13, the agreement provides longer rest periods between shifts for on-call nurses, establishes a committee to review on-call

scheduling to ensure individual nurses aren’t worked too hard, ensures dedicated parking for nurses on mandatory night call and guarantees that nurses who face disciplinary proceedings can have a union representative with them.

Representing the nurses were President Callahan, Vice President Janet Pasternak, Secretary/Grievance Officer Joe Peacott, Treasurer Donna Phillips, as well as Grievance Officer Terra Colegrove, and Julie Eib and Debbie Leach.

Spokesperson for the nurses was Mike Tedesco, Oregon labor attorney and educator. Callahan, Peacott and Phillips have served on previous nurse teams. Pasternak, Colegrove, Eib and Leach were new to the process.

Representing the hospital administration were Ms. Hansen; Marian Jones, Regional Director of Human Resources; Karen Edmondson, Director of Patient Care Resource Services; Cindy Gough, Director of Behavioral Health Services; Janet Chapman, Clinical Manager RN, 4 North; and Sharon Toncray, PAMC Employment Labor Counsel, Oregon. Edmondson and Gough have served on previous teams. Hansen, Jones and Chapman were new to the process.

“A secure employment relationship with the hospital is key to ensuring that our nurses can continue to deliver the high standard of care for which Providence Alaska Medical Center is known,” commented Donna Phillips, Alaska Nurses Association Labor Council chair.

The association’s labor program later this year will negotiate agreements with Ketchikan General Hospital and Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna.

Page 12 • Alaska Nurse

June 2012 News from the Board of Nursing continued from page 1

Celebrating 25 Years of Service

Registered Nurses North Star is Alaska’s premier behavioral health provider that specializes in helping young people with life’s challenges. Our programs at North Star work with the family and the community to help facilitate optimal growth and nurturing throughout times of childhood adversity. Our goal is to help young people get on a track that leads to a life of youthfulness—the life that child and adolescents deserve.

North Star is seeking registered nurses to join an outstanding nursing department. The registered nurse is responsible for delivering quality general and psychiatric nursing care to patients with emotional or psychiatric disorders; serves actively and constructively as a member of the multi-disciplinary treatment team, supporting the organization and program philosophy of care; ensuring the safety and well-being of each patient. Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Alaska.

To apply, please visit www.northstarbehavioral.com and go to the employment section.

Follow the instructions to apply online.

North Star Behavioral Health is Equal Opportunity Employer.

Profession Expiration Date Renewal period

LPN 9/30/2012 8/1 - 9/30/2012

On-line!

Look for e-mail address on reminder postcard Yes

RN ANP CRNA

Yes Yes, after renewing RN license.

Yes, after renewing RN license.

11/30/2012 11/30/2012 11/30/2012

10/1-11/30/2012 10/1-11/30/2012 10/1-11/30/2012

It is YOUR responsibility to renew by the deadline. Please renew early! There is no grace period; you cannot work if your license or authorization lapses. Today is a good time to review regulations 12 AAC 44.610, 12 AAC 44.620, 12 AAC 44.630 and 12 AAC 44.640 (available at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/pub/ NursingStatutes.pdf) so that you know what the current requirements are for renewal. Make sure you find your certificates of completion of continuing education requirements before renewing. If you are audited, you will be required to provide documentation for all contact hours. Do not assume all of your educational opportunities at your place of employment have contact hours.

You are responsible for keeping track of your contact hours, not your employer. Since not all continuing education courses may be accepted, the Board recommends that you have more than 30 contact hours. Starting June 1, 2011, renewal hours of ACLS, PALS, trauma nursing and similar courses will not be counted toward the 30 contact hours of continuing education.

Please read the questions on the renewal form carefully. If you have any questions, contact the Board of Nursing (907-269-8161 or boardofnursing@alaska.gov) before submitting your renewal application either on-line or by hard copy. If any information is found to be incorrect, you will have falsified your renewal application and disciplinary action will be taken.

Remember, contact the Board of Nursing if you have scope of practice questions. Review the website at http://www.nursing.alaska.gov so you are practicing within your scope of practice. Each state has determined their own scope of practice for nurses and you are held accountable to Alaska’s statutes and regulations (available on the above website). Please take time to review Alaska’s regulations (12 AAC 44). Take a few moments to review the latest advisory opinion titled Disciplinary Sanctions for Sexual Misconduct Affecting Patients. Other interesting links on the website include the Advisory Opinion database and the Disciplinary database.

The 2012 Alaska State Board of Nursing

ARE YOU READY...

TO

RESPOND? Our purpose is to identify and mobilize licensed Alaska healthcare professionals to serve as volunteers in a disaster or public health emergency.

For more information and to register online visit us today.

Left to right: Kevin Dougherty, Public Member, Beth Farnstrom, RN, BSN, Board Chair, Rochelle Lehrer, LPN, Julie Gillette, Public Member, Erin Evans, RN, MS, Denise Valentine, RN, ANP, Tom Hendrix, PhD, RN.

www.akrespond.alaska.gov

The Board of Nursing has received legislative approval to continue until June 30, 2019. Keep up on current activity of the Board by signing up for the Listserv. The next Board meeting is July 25-27th, 2012 in Anchorage and then October 24-26 in Fairbanks. All are welcome and encouraged to attend or to listen telephonically on the 800 number. Sign up for free for the Listserv at the above website. Look for the “Subscribe Now” link. The Board meeting agendas, proposed regulations, etc. are distributed through the Listserv.

43335 Kalifornsky Beach Road Suite 36 Soldotna, AK 99669 Phone: 907.262.6331 Fax: 907.262.6351 Email: work@fcsonline.org

NURSES . . .

At Central Peninsula Hospital, you can have the job of your dreams AND enjoy an active lifestyle!

Click on “Careers” for more information and application or contact Debi Honer, Director of Human Resources at dhoner@cpgh.org Central Peninsula Hospital 250 Hospital Place Soldotna, Alaska 99669 (907) 714-4770 – (907) 714-4674 Fax Drug screening is required prior to employment. EOE

Photo taken by active CPH employee Alan Thye.

We invite you to learn more about our organization at www.cpgh.org. Some of the highlights are: • State-of-the-art equipment • Education & professional support • Excellent pay with benefits • Outstanding lifestyle – work balance

Is your back sore? Do your feet hurt?

Are you ready to move to something less physically strenuous?

Do you believe people are healthier and happier living in their own home and community?

Then FCS has the job for you!

We are a nationally accredited agency serving individuals with disabilities for over 30 years. We are looking for the right RN who is organized and accurate with strong computer and writing skills.

If this sounds like you, let’s talk! Resumes can be sent to work@fcsonline.org or to HR Department, Frontier Community Services, 43335 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Suite 36, Soldotna, AK 99669

June 2012

Alaska Nurse • Page 13

Resources Scholarships/Funding/Volunteer Opportunities/Nominations Alaska:

Volunteer— Seasonal Vaccines for Elders—Nurses Needed Nurses are needed to provide seasonal influenza and pnuemococcal vaccines to residents in Anchorage Assisted Living Homes. Supervision of student nurses from UAA may also be requested. A small group of Registered Nurses have been providing this service for two years. Requests from additional facilities continue to provide the encouragement to expand. We provide the immunizations in late September/early October. We go out on Saturdays by 9:00 and return to debrief by 1:00. The last two years we’ve gone out on two consecutive Saturdays.

Providence provides the vaccines and supplies so the immunizations are provided at no cost to the Residents. While Providence is very supportive of this project - It is not a Providence project. For more information call Lisa Nash 240-8905 or e-mail lisa. nash99@yahoo.com.

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Volunteers for Student Physicals at Romig Middle School: Romig Middle School offers free Sport Physicals, Health Screenings, Dental Screenings and Vision Screenings during fall and spring registration.

If you can volunteer email school nurse Adrienne Voss at voss_adrienne@asdk12.org.

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National: General Resources—Guidelines/Websites: Join the Nurses’ Health Study The Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are excited to announce that the Nurses’ Health Study is growing. Started in 1976 and expanded in 1989, the information provided by its 238,000 dedicated nurse-participants has allowed NHS to produce key advances in literally hundreds of important topics—altering medical practice and changing national dietary guidelines. Nurses’ Health Study 3 is now accepting nurses into their newest study. We hope you will act as an ambassador to encourage your colleagues to join this new study.

For the new cohort, the plan is to enroll more than 100,000 female nurses (RNs and LPNs) and nursing students between 20 and 46 years old (born after Jan. 1, 1965). The new study is entirely Web-based. To learn more and to join, nurses should visit www.nhs3.org ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Updated CPR guidelines effective for “non-shockable” cardiac arrest A study published in Circulation found that people suffering from “non-shockable” cardiac arrest are more likely to survive if they receive CPR in accordance with the American Heart Association’s updated guidelines which call for more chest compressions with fewer interruptions.

Researchers compared the survival rates of people who experienced cardiac arrest and didn’t respond to a defibrillator and found that the likelihood of survival increased from 4.6% to 6.8% after the guidelines were changed. The percentage of patients who survived with good brain function also rose from 3.4% to 5.1%. [ANA Smartbrief, 4/5/12] ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

HHS panel updates HIV treatment guidelines The HHS Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents has released new guidelines for the treatment of patients with HIV. The new guidance includes revisions in the recommendations on starting antiretroviral therapy, drug interactions tables, co-infection and prevention of secondary transmission. [AANP Smartbrief 4/11/12]

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New guidelines address hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes The American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes issued new guidelines urging clinicians to use an individualized, patient-centric approach in type 2 diabetes management. “The message is to choose an appropriate goal based on the patient’s current health status, motivation level, resources and complications,” said ADA president Dr. Vivian Fonseca. The guidelines appear in both the Diabetes Care and Diabetologia journals.[ANA Smartbrief, 4/23/12] ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Guidelines address blood clot risk on flights The American College of Chest Physicians has released new guidelines on the risk of developing blood clots during travel. Flights that last eight hours or longer are the riskiest, according to the guidelines, which were published in the group’s journal Chest. The risk is no greater in economy class and getting up and moving around helps.

The Washington Post/The Associated Press (2/7) [AANP Smartbrief 2/7/12] ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

ACP practice guideline recommends metformin use Metformin should be the first medication to be used when diet, exercise and weight loss do not show significant improvements in the blood glucose levels of patients with type 2 diabetes, the American College of Physicians stated in a new clinical practice guideline. Endocrine Today (2/6) [AANP Smartbrief 2/7/12] ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

CDC releases new guidelines for latent tuberculosis treatment The CDC has issued new guidelines for “latent” tuberculosis that suggest reducing the length of treatment from nine months to three months.

In the new recommended regimen, people with latent tuberculosis will take 12 weekly doses of isoniazid, together with rifapentine. CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said that the regimen “has the potential to be a game-changer in the United States when it comes to fighting TB.” HealthDay News (12/8) [AANP Smartbrief 12/9/11]

who have not already received the vaccine. [ANA SmartBrief, 2/24/12] ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Alaska: Final statewide suicide prevention plan released Plan details five-year strategy, 2012–2017 ANCHORAGE—Alaska’s Statewide Suicide Prevention Council released its new statewide suicide prevention plan, Casting the Net Upstream: Promoting Wellness to Prevent Suicide in Alaska, this week.

The plan is a call to action that stresses each Alaskan has a role to play in preventing suicide. It also marks a shift from intervention to prevention—not just how best to reach out to people in crisis, but how best to keep people from reaching a point of crisis.

“This plan is the first to have specific measurable components. It will allow us to issue scorecards and map our progress,” said Kate Burkhart, executive director of the council. “I thank Alaskans for sharing their experiences and suggestions with us. Hearing from hundreds of survivors, youth, elders, and health and prevention professionals allowed us to pinpoint our collective goals.”

The plan is posted on the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council’s website, www.hss.state. ak.us/suicideprevention; and the state suicide prevention portal, www.StopSuicideAlaska.org.

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Vaccines: Those interested in subscribing to the Alaska Section of Epidemiology Bulletins including information on vaccines can subscribe at: http://www.epi.alaska.gov/bulletins/subscribe. htm ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Statewide Safe Rx Drug Disposal Event A semi-annual event in April and October to provide sites for safe disposal of prescription drugs. For all Alaska disposal sites go to: www. dea.gov.

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AHRQ releases patient safety toolkit The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released its Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals, which will offer resources for using the agency’s Inpatient Quality Indicators and Patient Safety Indicators to boost patient care. United Press International (1/24) [ANA Smartbrief 1/25/12] ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Policy statement recommends HPV shots for boys Boys age 11 and older should receive the Gardasil human papillomavirus vaccine, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement published in the journal Pediatrics. The group is still recommending three shots of Gardasil or Cervarix for girls ages 11 and 12. The updated statement was based on data from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on the effectiveness and safety of HPV vaccines. Reuters (2/27) [ANA SmartBrief, 2/28/12] ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

CDC panel recommends Tdap vaccine for all U.S. adults The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that adults aged 65 and older be given the tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine. Previously, the vaccine was recommended for this age group only if they have close contact with infants less than 1 year old. The advisory panel also recommended giving a single dose of Tdap to adults aged 19 to 64

Find the perfect nursing job where you can

work smarter, not harder on

nursingALD.com Registration is free, fast, confidential and easy!

You will receive an e-mail when a new job posting matches your job search.

Exceptional Opportunity in Fairbanks Clinical Operations Supervisor Busy friendly health center seeks full-time supervisor.

Requirements: Two year’s experience in staff supervision. Two year’s experience in a health care facility. One year recent nursing experience in an outpatient family medicine setting preferred.

Graduation from accredited Registered Nursing program.

Salary $75,000+ DOE

Application will only be accepted electronically.

Please visit www.myhealthclinic.org Call Amy in Human Resources with questions at 455-4567 EOE/smoke free/drug free employer

Page 14 • Alaska Nurse

June 2012

Upcoming Events Alaska Maternal & Child Health & Immunization Conference September 27-28, 2012 Anchorage Marriott Hotel www.alaskamchconference.org

Alaska State Board of Nursing— Upcoming Meetings July 25-27, 2012 Anchorage agenda deadline

July 3, 2012

Oct. 24-26, 2012 Fairbanks agenda deadline

Oct. 3, 2012

Jan. 16-18, 2013 Anchorage agenda deadline

Dec. 26, 2012

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The Alaska Board of Nursing has a list-serve that is used to send out the latest information about upcoming meetings, agenda items, regulations being considered, and other topics of interest to nurses, employers and the public. To sign up for this free service, go to www.nursing. alaska.gov. Choose the “Subscribe Now” box, just above Board Staff information.

Inquiries regarding meetings and appearing on the agenda can be directed to:

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Alaska Chapter of Case Management Society of America Seminar September 29, 2012 CEU’s for RNs, CCM and social workers available Topics include: Selecting an Assisted Living Home, Palliative Care, Caregiver Evaluation and Support. Check for updates on our web site: www. akcmsa.org ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Nancy Sanders, PhD RN Executive Administrator Alaska State Board of Nursing 550 West 7th Ave, Ste 1500 Anchorage, AK 99501 Ph: 907-269-8161 Fax 907-269-8196 Email nancy.sanders@alaska.gov To attend by audio conference call 907-269-8161 for access number.

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Ongoing Free CE The Division of Public Health provides notices of webinars and updates on women’s health, many of which provide continuing education credit.

To join the Alaska Women’s Health Program clinical network list go to this link: http://list. state.ak.us/soalists/AWHPclinicalnetwork/jl.htm If you have difficulty with the link, contact: Sherrell Holtshouser RN, MPH, Women’s & Reproductive Health Nurse Consultant 907-2693426 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Our Nurses of the Year

Locations we Service: • Angoon • Craig • Haines • Hoonah • Hydaburg • Juneau • Kake • Kasaan • Ketchikan • Klawock • Klukwan • Pelican • Petersburg • Sitka • Skagway • Thorne Bay • Wrangell • Yakutat

International Council for Nurses 25th Quadrennial Congress May 18-23, 2013 Melbourne, Australia “Equity and Access to Health Care” deadline for abstract submission 9/14/12 www.icn2013.ch.

JOIN US IN OUR MISSION:

To provide the highest quality health services in partnership with Native people.

RNs – CNAs – All Areas RN Case Managers Flight Nurses Midlevel Practitioners For more information Contact our Human Resources Office at 1-907-966-8311, send an email to hr-web@searhc.org, or visit www.searhc.org Preference given per PL 93-638.

Save the Date!

Alaska Nursing Summit October 12-13 Crowne Plaza, Anchorage CE will be offered AaNA General Assembly October 14

June 2012

Alaska Nurse • Page 15

ALASKA... A Career, A Lifestyle, An Adventure!

Southcentral Foundation (SCF) is an Alaska Native owned, nonprofit health care organization located on the Alaska Native Health Campus. We pride ourselves in our Nuka System of Care based on customer-owner relationships, integrated care teams and traditional Native values.

SCF is seeking experienced Registered Nurses to perform as Case Managers in the Pediatrics, OB/GYN and Primary Care Clinics. $2,000 Sign on Bonus available through August 31, 2012 with accepted offer.

Wishing upon a star?

Positions are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. with holidays off.

Benefits include an excellent health care package, 401(k) retirement, over three weeks of paid leave, and 12 paid holidays.

For a complete job description, visit our website at www.southcentralfoundation.com. For more information, please contact Tess Johnson at (907)729-5011 or tjohnson@scf.com.

Find a nursing career where you can become a star!

nursingALD.com Registration is free, fast, confidential and easy!

You will receive an e-mail when a new job posting matches your job search.

PERSONAL BEST. ANCC Board-Certified.

I’m proud and in charge of my nursing career.

And I trust ANCC certification to help me maintain and validate the professional skills I need to remain a confident and accomplished nurse for years to come.

Find out how to be the best at www.nursecredentialing.org/Certification

© 2012 American Nurses Credentialing Center. All Rights Reserved.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA).

Page 16 • Alaska Nurse

June 2012

A balanced lifestyle... ...is just what the doctor ordered.

Your New Backyard.

Adventure awaits. Imagine the possibilities. Skiing, hiking, camping and fishing make Alaska a pleasure-seeker’s dream.

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is located in Golden Heart of Alaska in the second largest city in Alaska – the perfect jumping off point for exploring the state. We at Fairbanks put the patients first and remain steadfast in our commitment to providing the highest quality healthcare to our friends and family.

Opportunities available for Nurse Practitioners & Staff Nurses in various departments If you’re looking for a career with great benefits that makes your future a priority, look to Banner Health. Visit www.BannerHealth.com or call 1-888-303-5402.

Please reference keyword “Alaska Careers” when applying.

ALASKA ARIZONA CALIFORNIA COLORADO NEBRASKA NEVADA WYOMING EOE/AA Banner Health supports a drug-free work environment.

Join the Alaska VA Healthcare System!

• We are now recruiting and hiring health care professionals (ANP, RN, LPN, OR Nurse Manager) • Join the nation’s largest health care delivery system.

• Excellent benefits • Call 907.257.4750 or visit www.vacareers.va.gov • Nurse Recruiter, Margaret Balster, 907.257.4819