The Alaska Nurse - Vol. 55 No. 3 - August 2005

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The Alaska Nurse Circulation 7,000 to every Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and Student Nurse in Alaska Volume 55 No. 3

The Official Publication of the Alaska Nurses Association

Alaska Nurses Complete Large Legislative Agenda The first regular session of the 24th Alaska Legislature adjourned May 10, 2005.

A special session called by Governor Murkowski ended May 25th. The second regular session will begin on January 9, 2006.

Any bills that did not pass last session will carry forward into the second session from where they left off. At the end of the second session, all bills not acted upon expire.

The AaNA Legislative Committee, which includes members from our Affiliate groups, the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, American College of Nurse Midwives— Alaska Chapter, Alaska Nurse Anesthetists Association, and the Alaska School Nurses Association met, monitored and acted on the following bills. John Bitney, the AaNA lobbyist, works with the legislative committee and provided the following bill summary.

Bill Summary HB31 (by Rep. Tom Anderson) would provide a presumption in law for worker compensation claims related to blood borne pathogens, cancers, and other specific diseases. The presumption would be that these illnesses were the result of employment, but the benefit of this automatic presumption is provided only for certain health care workers. An early version of the

bill provided for the presumption to all health care workers (including nurses) for blood born pathogen illnesses. However, the bill was later limited to only police, fire fighters, and emergency responders.

AaNA Legislative Committee supports this bill with modifications to include nurses.

Bill Status: House Rules Committee HB85 (by Rep. Kevin Meyer) permits students to self-administrate medication for asthma or anaphylaxis. The bill establishes requirements on the part of the school, including written authorization from parents and health care provider and a release of liability.

AaNA Legislative Committee supported this bill.

Bill Status: Passed Legislature.

HB95 (by Governor Murkowski) updates Alaska’s public health emergency and quarantine laws.

AaNA Legislative Committee supported this bill.

Bill Status: Passed Legislature HB120, by Rep. Peggy Wilson, amends Alaska’s “needlestick” law to conform with the more recent federal rules by removing Continued on page 3

August 2005

Nurses Week Proclamation Page 3

Spotlight on March of Dimes Page 4

A History of the Nursing Workforce Project in Alaska Page 6

Inside This Issue Alaska Nurses Complete Large Legislative Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Invitation to Retirement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

In expression of gratitude for her years of service, You are invited to Retirement events honoring Dorothy Fulton, RN, MA, Executive Administrator of the Board of Nursing Anchorage: Fairbanks:

September 17, 4-5:30 pm at the Downtown Anchorage Marriott Please RSVP to CathyGiessel, cjiessel@mac.com September 22, 6-7:30 pm in the McGowen Room at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

Please RSVP to Mary Weymiller, weymiller@gci.net

Thanks to Nurses Week Supporters . . . . . . . . . 3 New AaNA Office—We’ve Moved . . . . . . . . . . 3 Spotlight on March of Dimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Nurses in the News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A History of the Nursing Workforce Project in Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Events Sponsorship by Alaska Board of Nursing Members Alaska Nurses Association Alaska Regional Hospital Providence Alaska Medical Center

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Alaska Native Medical Center American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Sigma Theta Tau-Theta Omicron chapter

Medical Malpractice Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Membership Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 New Products/Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

AaNA Executive Director Accepts National Position It is with a little sadness and much excitement that Camille Soleil, AaNA Executive Director, announces that she has accepted a position with the American Nurses Association (ANA) in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. “I have enjoyed working with Alaska nurses tremendously and am proud of the leadership and commitment to nursing that I have

witnessed while living and working in this beautiful state,“ Camille said.

Camille will be the Director of Special Projects for ANA, reporting to ANA CEO Linda Steirle and working closely with Chief Programs Officer Pam Hagan and Chief Operating Officer Bill Powers to assist with strategic approaches to advance the mission of Continued on page 3

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

Page 2—Alaska Nurse—August 2005

President’s Message The More in Nursing Rebecca Bolling, RN, B.S. President When I first decided to be a nurse it was essentially because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. It sounds rather trite but it’s true. And, I wanted a career that would be challenging, engaging and provide many possibilities and Rebecca Bolling opportunities over time. I was also looking for a career with hours and days that were flexible because I had a family to raise. Now, looking back over the years, I can say that nursing has been all I had hoped it would be, but it has also been more than I hoped. The more is what I wasn’t counting on when I chose nursing as a career. The more turned out to be an incredibly important part of my nursing career and I have come to value it more as each year passes; the more in nursing has turned out to be my nursing colleagues.

The daily privilege and honor of working with my nurse colleagues has made nursing a very satisfying career for me, as it has for many other nurses. ‘Together’ we do what ever it takes to get the job done each day. We are so intimately involved in the most vulnerable of human conditions that in the process of doing our daily work we find ourselves enmeshed with our nurse colleagues in ways that are remarkably unique and difficult to articulate. It is a kind of “knowing” that nurses share with one another, both on and off the job, that make our collegial relationships and friendships so

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

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

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

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

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

intuitive and ultimately intertwined. Nurses are different and in our different-ness we “know” each other and rely on each other.

Over time the professional and personal lines begin to blur and we spill over into each other’s lives. This intimacy and comradery has been the unexpected jewel in my professional career . . . the more in nursing.

In recent months, a nurse leader and friend died from cancer and the impact on the nursing community in our small hospital has been tremendous. Elaine Caskey was the epitome of the more in nursing. She blended the professional and the personal so beautifully you could not tell where one ended and the other began. The work she did on behalf of her patients, her community and her nurse colleagues is unforgettable. Elaine embodied the spirit of service to all humanity and embraced the virtues of nursing in all she did. Because of Elaine and many other great nursing leaders, we have experienced the more in nursing and been richly blessed.

March On, Rebecca Bolling

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

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

Editor: Lynn E. Hartz, MSN, FNP lhartz@alaska.com Editorial Committee: Naomi Kirkwood Foody, RN, Kodiak and Jodi Stack, RN, Fairbanks, Rebecca Bolling, RN, BS, Ketchikan, Sara M. Harvison, RN, Fairbanks AaNA Board of Directors President: Rebecca Bolling, RN, BS Vice President: J. Pauline Stubberud, BSN, MBA Secretary: Gail M. Holtzman, MSN, CCRN Treasurer: Dianne M. Toebe, PhD, RN Directors: Labor Council Chair: Donna Phillips, BSN, RN Greater Alaska Director: Sara M. Harvison, RN, BSN Staff Nurse Director: Geri Brady Kelly, RNC Rural Director: Nancy Davis MS, RN Director at Large: Lynn E. Hartz, MSN, ANP Julie Torres Martha Clinehens, RN Lonnie Hosley, RN AaNA Labor Council Chair—Donna Phillips, RN, BSN Secretary—Joe Peacott, RN, OCN Treasurer—Carol Clausson, RN-C Sheri Whitethorn, BSN, RN, CCRN Deni Callahan, RN Ray Southwell, RN UAN Rep.—Kathleen A. Gettys, RN, BSN, BA PAMC BU Rep.—Michelle Murphy, RN Soldotna BU Rep.—Janet Hilleary Ketchikan BU Rep.—Julie Sherrill, RN ANA Delegates: Rebecca Bolling, Kathleen Gettys, Jackie Pflaum, Donna Phillips, Pat Senner ANA Alternate: Debbie Thompson Executive Director: Camille Soleil, JD Director of Labor Program: 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.

August 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 3

Legislative Agenda Continued from Page 1 exemptions for dental offices and small employers AaNA Legislative Committee supported this bill.

Bill Status: Passed Legislature HB271 (by Rep. Peggy Wilson) prohibits health care facilities from requiring nurses to work overtime shifts on a mandatory basis, while protecting voluntary and emergency situation overtime. Critical care hospitals in small communities are exempt from the bill. In cases where facilities violate the law, nurses compelled to work mandatory overtime shifts are entitled to triple-time pay for the hours worked.

This bill had one hearing last session and moved through the House Labor and Commerce committee. It is now pending in the House HESS Committee (chaired by Rep. Wilson), and hearings will be scheduled sometime later this Summer or early Fall. HB271 needs to pass next year or it will expire.

HB271 is a top priority bill for nurses. The Legislative Committee will be working hard for its passage next session. All nurses are encouraged to ask their legislators to support the passage of this bill AaNA Legislative Committee supports this bill.

Bill Status: House Health, Education & Social Services Committee SB22 (by Senator Bettye Davis) qualifies birthing centers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for health facility fees contingent upon approval by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

AaNA Legislative Committee supported this bill.

Bill Status: Passed Legislature.

SB42 (by Senator Ralph Seekins) extends the Task Force on naturopathic medicine that was initially created two sessions ago. Naturopaths are attempting to obtain prescriptive authority, and have also requested the ability to perform minor surgery. We are looking for a Task Force report which includes baseline competency, continuing competency and patient safety oversight.

AaNA Legislative Committee supported this bill.

Bill Status: Passed Legislature.

SB67 (by Senator Ralph Seekins) establishes a non-compensatory cap of $250,000 on medical malpractice claims. (See article on Medical Malpractice Reform page.)

Alaska Nurse Practitioners supported this bill.

Bill Status: Passed Legislature

Association

Nurses Week Proclamation

SB130 (by Governor Murkowski) dealt with worker’s compensation insurance legislation, and passed during the Special Session. Nurse Practitioners are included in the law as being able to treat individuals with work place related injuries or illnesses.

AaNA Legislative Committee monitored this bill.

Bill Status: Passed Legislature.

Budget AaNA testified against reductions in public health nursing and supported funds for breast/ cervical cancer screening and prevention. Both of these efforts were successful.

Total spending levels for next year were based on an estimated average price of $38.60/bbl for oil. With prices hovering around $60/bbl at the time of writing this article, it appears that next session will find the Legislature flush with revenues. AaNA is looking at ways to advocate for uses of these revenues that will improve public health and nursing programs.

Summary Out of the nine bills we were watching closely—seven passed. This meant that members of the Legislative Committee involved in tracking day to day actions on the bills had to spend a significant amount of time and effort working on bills that affected nurses and/or their patients.

The AaNA Legislative Committee provides a vehicle for all Alaska nurses to work cooperatively to protect and advocate on nursing issues. Our success comes from our ability to show elected officials that we are knowledgeable, active, united and prepared to respond.

Reviewing, monitoring, discussing, and testifying on these bills takes a lot of commitment from the nurses from all of nursing groups who volunteer their time to serve on the AaNA Legislative Committee. Please be sure to express appreciation to those nurses who spend so many hours of their personal time representing all of us.

Members of the AaNA Legislative Committee include, among others, Chair person, Pat Senner, MS RN ANP Rebecca Bolling—AaNA President Carole Edwards—AaNA Cathy Giessel—ANPA Patti Hong—AaNA Lonnie Hosley—AaNA Mo Hillstrand—ANPA Wanda Katinszky—AaNA John Mitchel—ANAA Laura Sarcone—ACNM/AaNA Nancy Tone—AaNA Sheri Whitethorn—AaNA

Thanks to Nurses Week Supporters The Alaska Nurses Foundation and AaNA hosted a Nurses Week Celebration on May 6, at AaNA Headquarters. Door prizes were offered to attendees, who enjoyed food, networking and fun.

In addition to celebrating Nurses Day, the event served as a fund raiser for the Alaska Nurses Foundation, raising over $300 to fund grants to nurses for research, continuing education and community improvement projects.

A number of supporters of nursing from the community made donations that ensure the success of our celebration and fundraising efforts. The Board of Directors of the Alaska Nurses Foundation would like to acknowledge and express thanks to the following businesses and individuals who made contributions to the Nurses Day Celebration and encourage you to patronize and thank corporate donors who support nurses.

Thank you!

Ichiban Restaurant Hotel Captain Cook Alaska Distributors Hot Spot Coffee Shack Curves for Women Merry Maids Carrs/Safeway Janice Parten And a special thank you to the Alaska Nurses Association, which donated a number of nifty gifts, won by the enthusiastic attendees.

Celebrating Nurses Week May, 2005. Nurses Week was proclaimed by Ketchikan Mayor Weinstein at a City Council Meeting last May. Pictured are AaNA President Rebecca Bolling and Board of Directors member Geri Kelly who accepted the Proclamation on behalf of Ketchikan Nurses.

New AaNA Office— We’ve Moved!

Our new home is at 3701 East Tudor, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507, near the corner of Bragaw and Tudor. The new offices, with larger conference and meeting facilities are in the Sunrise Plaza, a two story brown building. The office is on the second floor with elevator access. All phone numbers and teleconference phone-in numbers will remain the same. Office hours will be 8 am -12, 1pm to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Please drop by and see your new state headquarters.

AaNA Executive Director Continued from Page 1 ANA and its members. As Director of Special Projects, Camille will work to support and strengthen ANA’s 54 Constituent Member Associations, such as AaNA, as well as working on a wide variety of other projects to support and advocate for nurses, and the profession of nursing, nationally.

In announcing her departure, Camille offered her appreciation to the nurses in Alaska.

She said, “Thank you for the opportunity to work with all of you. I wish you continued growth and development of all of nursing in Alaska and gently remind all nurses to support the AaNA and the work that it does on behalf of all RNs in the state.“ Camille served as AaNA Executive Director since October 2001. The AaNA leadership will conduct a search for Professional Practice and Executive Director candidates. Dianne O’Connell, AaNA’s current Director of Labor, will serve as interim Executive Director while continuing as administrator of the AaNA Labor Program.

Page 4—Alaska Nurse—August 2005

Spotlight on March of Dimes Perinatal Resources, Funding Opportunities, and Nurse Recognition from March of Dimes This year March of Dimes is celebrating 50 years since the Salk vaccine was declared “safe, effective, and potent” against polio. March of Dimes went on to adopt the mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Like me, some of you may remember sliding dimes in the dime cards to raise money for March of Dimes. More recently, after a successful campaign to promote the use of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, like spina bifida, March of Dimes has turned its attention to the problem of premature birth. March of Dimes carries out its mission through programs of education, community services, advocacy, and research.

Alaska has a March of Dimes office in Anchorage with a staff of four. We could not do our jobs without the many wonderful volunteers

across the state from Barrow to Ketchikan! Our volunteers not only help us by working to improve the health of babies, but also by raising funds to accomplish our goals.

Nurses and March of Dimes have been partners since the earliest days of March of Dimes, 65 years ago. March of Dimes has an abundance of educational materials for both nurses and their clients or patients, including printed materials, CD-ROMs, DVDs and videos, online resources, and prenatal education curricula. Many materials are available in Spanish.

Educational resources for nurses include: Nursing modules with contact hours for RNs, in print and online. A few of the 30 titles include: Cultural Competence in the Care of Childbearing Families, Preterm Labor: Prevention and Nursing Management, 2nd Edition, and Assessment of Risk in the Term Newborn

Genetics and Your Practice CD-ROM and Genetics and Your Practice Online to learn the basics of clinical genetics and help integrate it into your practice Peristats, a fabulous, free, interactive, easy-touse, online source for perinatal data Facts Sheets, about 60 topics including: Newborn Screening Tests, Diabetes in Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy Laminated Genetic Screening Pocket Facts Advocating for Folic Acid, a web-based module in conjunction with Association of Schools of Public Health at www.folicacid.net Nursing and Medical Grand Rounds funds for continuing education programs

By Debbie Golden, MS, RN, BC Director of Program Services March of Dimes Announcing nominations for the 2005 Alaska March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards The Alaska March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards program recognizes nurses in 16 professional categories. The recipient in each category will be a nurse, RN or LPN, whose leadership and contributions have made a significant impact in the community and to the profession of nursing. Colleagues, friends, patients, businesses and organizations may nominate nurses.

Nominate a nurse today!

Applications available at www.marchofdimes.com/alaska or call 1-800-478-5245 or (907) 276-4111 Nominations Due: Friday, September 30th, 2005

August 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 5

Nurses in the News The Alaska Nurse would like to recognize nurses who have received awards, made an exciting career move or made the News since our last issue. You might notice this issue’s section is pretty big; nurses have been in the news a lot in the last few months.

Congratulations to all of you!

Gail White, R.N., M.Ed., NCSN, was recently named the 2005 Alaska School Nurse of the Year by the Alaska School Nurses Association. The award was announced at the annual ASNA state Spring Conference. Ms. White has been employed by the Anchorage School District for 15 years, the last eight at Goldenview Middle School. She holds a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in school nursing, she is nationally certified school nurse, she is an ASD school nurse mentor, and a former president of the Alaska School Nurse Association.

White has a special interest in the care of students with severe allergies. Each year, White trains her fellow Goldenview staff to recognize the signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction and shows them how to administer an auto-injector. She has written an in-service training guide titled Training Program for School Staff in the Identification and Management of an Anaphylactic Reaction that is available to all school nurses for use in their schools.

Jo-Ann Fortier, ANP received the Outstanding Employee Award at Planned Parenthood’s 2005 Choice Awards. A nurse practitioner with Planned Parenthood of

Barbara Berner, newly inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, is an associate professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Alaska, Anchorage and coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program.

Deborah Kiley, newly inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners is a Family Nurse Practitioner working in private practice at Advanced Medical Centers of Alaska.

Alaska since 1998, Ms. Fortier has continued to expand her clinical skills in order to provide quality care for patients at an affordable cost.

She is an organizer of the Alaska chapter of the National Abortion Federation’s “Clinicians for Choice” and a member of the Alaska ProChoice Alliance.

Terri S. Olson, MSN, Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, UAA, has been appointed by Governor Murkowski to the Alaska State Board of Nursing as the educator boardmember. Ms. Olson has worked at the School of Nursing, University of Alaska in Anchorage for nine years. Her specialties are

medical-surgical nursing and obstetrics. She received her baccalaureate degree from Loretta Heights College in Denver Colorado and her Master’s degree from Arizona State University.

She has taught in different institutions across the United States.

Two Alaska nurse practitioners have been inducted as Fellows into the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Barbara Berner and Deborah Kiley have been recognized as nurse leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through clinical practice, research, education and public policy.

Ms. Berner is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a doctorate in education. She is past president of the Alaska Nurse Practitioner’s Association, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She served on the Alaska State Board of Nursing. She is currently on the Board of Directors for both the Alaska Youth and Parent Foundation and Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis.

Deborah Kiley, MSN, is a Family Nurse Practitioner in private practice at Advanced Medical Centers of Alaska. She currently serves on the State of Alaska Medicaid Advisory Committee and is the Region 10 Director for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. An active member of the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, Ms. Kiley also has experience in nursing education having been an assistant professor in the school of nursing at UAA for five years.

[Readers are invited to submit items for “Alaska Nurses in the News” to editor@ aknurse.org.]

Page 6—Alaska Nurse—August 2005

“A History of the Nursing Workforce Project in Alaska” A Workforce Survey was included in the relicensure applications last Fall. This article will answer your questions about funding of the Workforce Project and review its accomplishments.

HISTORY OF THE Cathy Giessel, MS, WORKFORCE PROJECT FNP-CS, The Alaska workforce Chairperson of the project began in 1996 as State of Alaska Colleagues in Caring Board of Nursing (CIC), part of a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Alaska joined many other states in a project to obtain data on the nursing workforce. The data was to be used for strategic planning to address the existing nursing shortage and to help develop a plan for future nursing workforce needs of Alaska and the United States.

Phase I, 1996-1999 Initial funding for the project came from RWJF in the amount of $199,861 in 1996. To support the project, a Nursing Workforce Consortium was formed, comprised of Alaska’s hospitals, Pioneer Homes, Alaska Nurses Association, public health system, University of Alaska Anchorage School of Nursing, and the Board of Nursing, all of whom made contributions to match the RWJ Foundation funding. In 1998 the Alaska Board of Nursing voted to fund the CIC project with licensing fees and to become the lead agency overseeing the project. A questionnaire was authored with extensive input from the University of Alaska Anchorage School of Nursing. The questions explored the demographics of the nursing workforce and future plans concerning retirement or continued work in nursing, education levels and plans to continue education in nursing.

Employers were also included in the data collection and were asked to provide information about their needs. This provided a comprehensive assessment of current and

projected nursing needs for Master’s prepared nurses, BSN and Diploma RNs, and LPNs. At the end of Phase I, in 1999, the following goals were met: identified need for enhanced job mobility, identified skills and competencies for nurses that need augmentation, identified employer’s perceptions of educational needs and topics for education, and a formal mechanism was put in place to keep the consortium continuing.

Phase 2, 2000–03 The RWJ grant for this phase provided $150,000 ($50,000 annually) with an annual cash match of $151,000 from CIC Consortium members. The goals set for Phase 2 were: accurate descriptions of the gap between supply and demand, which required, modifications in the questionnaires, asking what barriers to education exist, strategies to address the gap (work with Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association (ASHNHA), increase Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN, a UAA School of Nursing program)), efficient use of nursing workforce via differentiated practice (work with ASHNHA to develop retention strategies), find permanent home for CIC in the Board of Nursing.

In 2000, the Alaska legislature allowed the Board of Nursing to commit up to $140,000 annually for the project. However, the funds actually spent by the Board of Nursing never reached this cap amount. In 2001-02, $112,000 was spent, and in 2000-01, the Board spent $109,000. The funds were spent to hire UAA staff for data analysis and to pay for report printing and distribution. By this time, the Alaska CIC Project had done an outstanding job and became recognized as the primary source of valid and reliable data on Alaska’s nursing workforce. Alaska’s participation in CIC ended in 2003.

OVERALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS of Colleagues in Caring Identify the nursing population: Prior data on the nursing workforce identified only the number of licensees: now we had reliable data on the nursing workforce, demographics, goals and needs

Share information with stakeholders: No formal data collection existed prior to the CIC project, with analysis and dissemination to stakeholders.

The CIC project established a formal survey process to obtain data with characteristics of the workforce and the needs of the market The information was published and circulated to all nurses in the state as well as the stakeholders/employers.

Engage Stakeholders participation: The CIC project allowed employers to collaborate on recruitment and retention issues.

Identified employer’s perceptions of their staff’s educational needs and topics for education Identified need for enhanced job mobility for nurses in the institutions.

Identified skills and competencies for nurses that need augmentation.

Providence Hospital and AaNA collaborated to produce recruitment ads and programs were started to train nurses in differentiated practice to allow nurses to cross-train in other specialty areas such as OR and OB. ASHNHA used this information to begin preceptor programs, CE programs for mentors, and grants for role expansion in OB and OR. Identify nursing education needs: Now there is a statewide program to educate MSNs, RNs and LPNs as well as CNAs RRANN program focuses on Alaska Native nursing students and is attracting them to nursing careers.

AVTEC has begun programs for CNAs and LPNs CURRENT WORKFORCE PROJECT STATUS In July 02, the Workforce project was transferred to the Board of Nursing. In September 2003, Division of Occupational Licensing Director Rick Urion informed the Board of Nursing that they would no longer be authorized to expend licensure fee income to fund the Workforce survey, analysis and report printing.

Workforce data was collected with the 2004 license renewal and has been forwarded to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). As a member board of NCSBN, Alaska’s data will be analyzed by this national organization, then be included in their overview of the national nursing needs. A separate Alaska report will be requested for use here. The statewide Alaska Workforce Investment Board Healthcare Taskforce will do separate data collection of stakeholders and employers. All of this ongoing work is being done at no cost to nurse licensees in Alaska.

WORKFORCE DATA BENEFITS YOU The information gathered by the surveys can be invaluable to you professionally. By reviewing the needs of the employers, you could set a course for yourself that would fill needed positions. The salary information can be invaluable in negotiating employment contracts ; you can cite the wages and benefits that are currently being paid in our state.

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

Cathy Giessel, MS, FNP-CS Alaska Board of Nursing, Chair All the previous years’ reports are available on the Board of Nursing website: http://www. dced.state.ak.us/occ/pnur7.htm Alaska Re-licensure Survey for Registered Nurses (RNs) 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002 Nursing Employer Survey, 1998, 2000, and 2002 Alaska Re-licensure Survey for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) 1996, 2000, and 2002 Alaska Recertification Survey for Certified Nurses Aides (CNAs), 2002

August 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 7

Medical Malpractice Reform On June 7, the Medical Malpractice Reform bill (SB 67), was signed into law by Governor Frank Murkowski, in the lobby of Providence Alaska Hospital. Mo Hillstrand, President of Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, and Cathy Giessel were present for the bill signing.

The new law lowers the cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases to $250,000, and to $400,000 in cases involving wrongful death or severe physical disfigurement if a patient is more than 70% disabled. Previously, noneconomic damages were capped at the greater of $400,000 or $8,000 times the patient’s life expectancy, while noneconomic damages in cases of wrongful death or severe disfigurement were capped at the greater of $1 million or $25,000 times life expectancy.

The Alaska State Medical Association (ASMA) and Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association (ASHNA) supported the legislation as a mechanism to attract more physicians to the state, ensure that malpractice insurance providers remain in the state and stabilize insurance premium rates.

The Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association supported the legislation as well. Alaska’s Advanced Nurse Practitioners have been experiencing liability insurance premium

increases of 30-50% annually for the last two years. Some have had premiums triple in 2005.

Yet the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Practitioner Data Bank shows that Alaska Advanced Nurse Practitioners have had license actions for practice errors only 3 times in last 15 years (1990–2005). Alaska doctors had 143 actions in the same time period. So the increasing rates for ANPs cannot be justified based on liability judgments. One theory on the rising liability insurance rates for nurse practitioners is that it is a trickle down effect from the increasing physician rates.

Cathy Giessel, MS, FNP-CS Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, Legislative Affairs Liaison

is looking for a few Great Nurses!

Executive Director (full time) And Director of the Professional Nursing Practice Program (.75 FTE) Strong leadership and commitment to nurses and the nursing profession is a must, masters degree preferred.

Please see www.aknurse.org for further information or send your resume to AaNA, 3701 E. Tudor, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507, or fax (907) 272-0292

Page 8—Alaska Nurse—August 2005

For information about the last Alaska State Board of Nursing meeting, please see the BON website, at www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/ .

Upcoming Events Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association Conference September 15-17, 2005 Anchorage, AK (907) 222-6847 Alaska AWHONN Conference 2005 Two Concurrent Locations: Anchorage & Fairbanks September 22 and 23, 2005 Post-Conference September 24, 2005 Post Conference sessions: • Anchorage: STABLE workshop & Advanced EFM • Fairbanks: STABLE workshop & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Watch the mail for your conference brochure Alaska Section Conference Planning Contacts: Anchorage-Nancy Heynen @ 907-261-4951 Fairbanks-Melody Simmons @ 907-458-5200 “Secure your own oxygen mask first” Safe Nurses=Safe Patients: Resources for You! AaNA Health & Safety Fall Retreat October 1, 2005 Westmark Hotel, Fairbanks, AK All nurses welcome!

Followed by the AaNA General Assembly Membership Meeting October 2, 2005 Westmark Hotel, Fairbanks, AK For information about attendance, registration or attending by teleconference, please contact AaNA at (907)274-0827 or e-mail aknurse@aknurse.org Alaska Statewide Nurses Conference!

Thursday March 30–Saturday April 1, 2006 Captain Cook Hotel, Anchorage Please keep your eyes on www.aknurse.org for more information

August 2005—Alaska Nurse—Page 9

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

Membership Categories

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

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

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

Integrity ~ Advocacy Professionalism Empowerment Representation

Share your Expertise!

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

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

____________________________ Informational E-mail

Dues Anchorage & Fairbanks

Monthly (*EDPP) Yearly

Full $28.00 $330.00

All Other Locations

Yearly Monthly (*EDPP)

$322.50 $27.38

Reduced $14.25 $165.00

Special $7.38 $82.50

$161.25 $13.94

$80.62 $7.21

__________________________________________________ Last Name/First Name/ Middle Initial

______________________________________ Social Security Number

__________________________________________________ Street or PO Box City/State /Zip

______________________________________ Home Phone

__________________________________________________ Employer Name Unit City/State/Zip

______________________________________ Work Phone

________________________________ RN License Number/ State

________________________ FAX Number

______________________________ E-mail Address

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

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

_____/_____ $_______ Expiration Amount

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

____________________________ Signature

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AaNA Committees

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page 10—Alaska Nurse—August 2005

New Products/Publications The University of Alaska Press is proud to announce the publication of a new book by Robert Fortuine entitled “Must We All Die?”: Alaska’s Enduring Struggle with Tuberculosis.

This volume is a comprehensive history of the institutional and public policy measures taken by state and federal governments in the fight against tuberculosis. Dr. Fortuine places special emphasis upon the 20th-century history of the disease, and focuses on the critical role of individual doctors, nurses, and public health professionals in combatting the threat.

“Must We All Die?” is now available in hardcover from the University of Alaska Press

6 x 9, 304 pages, black and white photographs, maps, bibliography $39.95 To order the book, or to receive more information, please contact: fypress@uaf.edu www.uaf.edu/uapress 1-888-252-6657 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the availability of Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 41, Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy.

TIP 41 contains detailed information about group therapy modalities, techniques, and practices that are valuable to substance abuse treatment counselors as well as supervisors and trainers of counselors.

A Quick Guide for Clinicians Based on TIP 41 (NCADI No. QGCT41) is also available. This collateral product clearly and concisely presents the information from TIP 41 in a portable, easily accessible format. It is divided into sections to help readers locate relevant material quickly. Corresponding page numbers from TIP 41 are referenced, so readers can easily find detailed information when needed.

TIP 41, Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy, and the Quick Guide for Clinicians are available free of charge from SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI). Ask for publication order numbers BKD507 and QGCT41.

Phone: 800-729-6686 or 301-468-2600 800-487-4889 (TDD hearing impaired) 877-767-8432 (toll free) Hablamos Español Web: www.ncadi.samhsa.gov

Launches CEs from the comfort of your own computer!

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

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

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