THE The Official Publication of the Alaska Nurses Association • Circulation 7,820 Distributed to every Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse in Alaska
Volume 63, Issue 2 • June/July
THE official publication of
THE Alaska Nurses Association
3701 E Tudor Rd., Ste. 208 • Anchorage, AK 99507 907.274.0827 • www.aknurse.org Published bimonthly: February, April, June, August, October, December. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission from the Editorial committee: Contact editor@aknurse.org Advertising: Contact salesaknursepub@gmail.com • 907.223-2801
AaNA Board of Directors • President:
Susan Walsh, RN • Vice President:
Jane Erickson, RN, CCRN • Secretary:
Kristin Fahey, RN • Treasurer:
Jennifer Hazen, BSN, RN • Staff Nurse Director:
Laura Weekley, RN, BC-Orthopedic, BC-Psychiatric • Rural Director:
Julie Serstad, MSN, BSN, RN • Greater Alaska Director:
Colleen Bevans, RN
• Labor Council Chair (Designee):
Donna Phillips, BSN, RN • Directors At Large:
Shelley Burlison, RN, BC-Gerontological Janet Pasternak, BA, BSN, RN Paul Mordini, MS, BSN, RN, BC-Psychiatric Jan Ford, RN Alison Selvik, RN
• Student Nurse Liaison:
Vanessa Glenn
• Past President:
Mary Stackhouse (resigned) AaNA Labor Council • ChaiR:
Donna Phillips, BSN, RN • Vice-Chair:
Deni Callahan, BSN, RN • Secretary:
Susan Walsh, RN • Directors:
Julie Eib, RN Lila Elliott, BSN, RN Jana Shockman, RN, CCRN, CSC Jane Erickson, RN, CCRN Janet Pasternak, BA, BSN, RN
• PAMC BU Rep:
Jennifer Hazen, BSN, RN • soldotna BU Rep: Shelley Burlison, RN, BC-Gerontological • KETCHIKAN BU Rep: Susan Walsh, RN • Affiliate Organizations:
Alaska Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives Alaska Home Care & Hospice Association Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association Alaska School Nurses Association Alaska Clinical Nurse Specialist Association 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 AaNa. 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. Photos are encouraged and may be sent as a .jpg file, as an email attachment or on disc. Photographs send 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 double check the spelling, grammar, and content of your article. It is highly recommended that you have a colleague review your article before submission. Prepare the article as a Word document and attach it to an email to andrea@aknurse.org. You may also mail the article on disc to: The Alaska Nurse, AaNA, 3701 E Tudor Road, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99507. If you have any questions, please email andrea@aknurse.org.
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President’s Letter Susan Walsh, RN
Alaska Nurses Association President • Ketchikan, AK As I write this, Nurses Week is upon us – traditionally starting on May 6th and ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12th. Florence’s career began after a very brief training period (3 months!) which qualified her to become the superintendent of a hospital! By many, Florence is considered to be the mother of modern nursing. Her most valuable training was during her service in the Crimean War and her insistence on basic sanitation practices cut the death rate substantially. As I reflected on this the irony was not lost – many of our modern day practices and advancements in medicine have resulted from our inhumanity towards each other. Nurses have been leading the way for a long time and will continue to do so whether at the bedside, in classrooms, schools, or in public health. We share a common bond and are all professionals. I’ve also been reading quite a lot lately – as most of you have – regarding the tragic event in Boston and would like to recommend an article from Medscape Medical News, “Tragedy in Boston: Nursing Students Get Unexpected Education” by Susan Yox, RN, EdD. The article should be read in its entirety; however, one quote struck me in particular: “One student, who had been near the finish line, said he ‘couldn’t believe how the nurses
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from the medical tent all ran out, just took charge and were so competent and under control and professional.’” The article went on to quote Adrienne Wald EdD, BSN, director of undergraduate nursing at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, who said she hopes that all the nurses involved will be remembered. “There were nurses who had to immediately respond with all of their skills and then afterwards nurses will care for all those people who have lost limbs and who are completely traumatized. Victims will have to rehab for months and there are just going to be so many nurses involved in their care for such a long amount of time. My hats off to all of them for the work they do every single day. We sort of take it for granted but times like this we really just so appreciate each other.” I realize that by the time you are reading this “our week” will be over, but I would like to say thank you to all who touch the lives of fellow Alaskans each and every day. I know that should a traumatic event occur in Alaska, all nurses would respond in a professional and compassionate way. Life is short, so let’s not take that or each other for granted.
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Inside This Issue 2 President’s Letter 3 Nurses Race for Healthy Hearts 4 Nurses Week 6 Emergency Nursing 6 For Immediate Release 7 Legislative Fly-In
8 Legislative Summary 10 Boston Marathon 11 Congratulations Graduates 12 RN Residency Program 14 Calendar of Events
Nurses Race for Healthy Hearts
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2013 Alaska Heart Run
The 2013 Alaska Heart Run, a fundraiser to benefit the American Heart Association, took place on an unusually chilly Saturday morning on April 27th in the U-Med district in Anchorage . The Heart Run is the largest footrace in Alaska – with an estimated 5,000 participants running, jogging, and walking across the finish line in the name of heart health. This year, the event brought in a record amount of donations: nearly a quartermillion dollars.
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Committed to reducing the risk of heart disease among Americans, the American Heart Association takes a multiprong approach to fighting for improved health – initiating public education and outreach programs, advocating for healthier communities, providing CPR training, encouraging healthy eating and participation in physical activity, and investing millions in heart and stroke research. The Alaska Nurses Association sponsored the race for the second year in a row, raising money to combat the war against the nation’s number one and number four killers – heart disease and stroke. A team of nurses from the Alaska Nurses Association laced up their running shoes and made donations to support the quest for healthier lives. AaNA had a booth at each of the bib pick-ups in addition to the race – quenching the thirst of tired-out runners by handing out
cups of water donated by Alaska’s Best Water. The Providence Registered Nurses donated $500 worth of healthy snacks to the hungry participants and their families. Manned by AaNA staff members, nurses from around the community, and student nurses, the AaNA booth also provided free blood pressure checks and first aid to fix skinned elbows and knees. Nurses participated in American Heart Association events in the months leading up the race, including the Anchorage “Go Red for Women” Luncheon, “Hockey with Heart,” and National Wear Red Day. The Alaska Heart Run serves as a great reminder that, as nurses, we are the leaders of our communities when it comes to healthy living. We need to join together on the front lines of the heart disease battle – for the health of children, families, patients, and for ourselves and our fellow nurses.
#1: AaNA Labor Council Chair Donna Phillips, RN and Peggy Ormsby-Tipton, RN. #2: Lynn Gray, RN and Rachael Carlson, ANP; #3: AaNA Director at Large Janet Pasternak helping an injured runner; #4: Janet Pasternak, Donna Phillips, Andrea Nutty, Vanessa Glenn, and Kim Kluckman; #5: The AaNA booth at the 2013 Alaska Heart Run. Left photo: AaNA Vice President Jane Erickson, RN and Dr. Chris Dyke, MD, Cardiologist at Alaska Heart Institute with 2 of his 3 kids. (Photo #4 courtesy of Lisa J. Seifert/ lisa@seifertphoto.com)
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Nurses Week
1 Dose of Humor, Apply Liberally for Best Results
National Nurses Week began May 6th and ended May 12th on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. To celebrate, the Alaska Nurses Association held two banquets to honor nurses – in Anchorage on May 6th and in Kenai on May 7th – and both can be counted as huge successes. In Anchorage, the District 1 Banquet was held at the Kincaid Park Chalet and featured delicious meals from Saucy Sisters Catering and generously donated door prizes from Skinny Raven, ShuzyQ, and Wood Crafted Furniture. Nurses also had a magnificent view of the USS Anchorage as it sailed past Kincaid Park during the banquet. The Kenai Peninsula Banquet was held at the Kenai Senior Center, with meals prepared and served by staff chefs and volunteers. The eventful night included door prizes, a silent auction, and a split the pot raffle. Proceeds from the Kenai Peninsula Banquet benefitted the Kenai Senior Center’s Senior Connection program. The Alaska Nurses Association was fortunate to be able to bring nationallyacclaimed humorist and nurse Patty Wooten to Alaska to speak at both banquets. As matriarch of the modern therapeutic humor movement, Patty entertained and educated the audiences in Anchorage and Kenai by humorously
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explaining how to find comedy in chaos, and how to use humor for professional survival. Nurses Week is about celebrating our dedication to and passion for our profession – a type of work which requires a very special individual and is generally looked at as a no-nonsense career. The greatest takeaway from Patty Wooten’s performance is this: Life is funny. Even in our profession. According to Patty, humor provides relief. It gives us much-needed balance. The body changes with laughter: the feel-good effects of funny help us to relax, to relieve stress, to connect with each other and with our patients, and even diffuse crisis situations. We let go of toxic emotions when we laugh – and after (and during, and before) a long shift, that’s exactly what we need. As Victor Borge said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” For the sake of our patients, our colleagues, our families, and ourselves – let’s try to take that in stride… and the next time you feel the pressures of life and work building up: Just laugh.
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Working Together To Achieve Excellent Health
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T H E A L AS K A N U R S E M AGA Z I N E • J U N E /J U LY 201 3
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Emergency Nursing Over 110 School Nurses Get Ready “I asked my wife why the school nurses would be asking me to do a presentation on orthopedic emergencies, and she replied, ‘Didn’t that young man you treated yesterday break his leg playing sports at school? And didn’t that you girl you treated last week break her arm on the playground? And then there was Sandy Hook…’” Dr. Gary Benedetti’s presentation at the Alaska School Nurses Association’s annual conference touched on the truth that school nurses must be wellequipped to handle any situation. Over 110 school nurses attended this year’s conference – “We’re Ready” Emergency Nursing in the School Setting” – held April 19th to 21st in Wasilla. The conference showcased the wide variety of health challenges school nurses must deal with on a daily basis – with topics including diabetic emergencies, suicidal students and mental health emergencies, eye and dental injuries, severe allergic reactions, and dating violence.
For Immediate Release April 13, 2013 Alaska Nurses Association partners with local publisher AT Publishing & Printing for bimonthly, statewide newsletter The Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA) represents thousands of nurses who are committed to caring for Alaskans, and AaNA is proud to also support local business. The Association has recently signed with Anchoragebased AT Publishing & Printing for the printing and publication of its bi-monthly, statewide newsletter The Alaska Nurse.
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Unfortunately, health emergencies aren’t the only challenges facing school nurses, some of whom are responsible for caring for more than 2,000 students and staff. Budget cuts are making the already challenging job of the school nurse even more difficult. This year, the Juneau School District cut the number of school nurse positions in half, essentially doubling the workload for some school nurses. The Alaska School Nurses Association is an affiliate of the Alaska Nurses Association, and attending the conference for the Association were Patricia Senner, Interim Director of Professional Practice, and Caren Robinson, AaNA Juneau lobbyist. Congratulations to the Mat-Su school nurses who planned this year’s wonderful and educational conference. All nurses in Alaska need to come together to help support school nurses during budget discussions in their local school districts. Our children and communities certainly benefit from their care.
The Alaska Nurse is distributed to every registered nurse and licensed practical nurse in the state of Alaska. The June 2013 edition will be the first from AT Publishing, keeping member dollars local rather than going to an out-of-state printer. The Alaska Nurse, which used to come out quarterly, will now have six editions published each year. “The Alaska Nurse is not only a professional publication but also a means for Alaska nurses to be a part of a community of fellow nurses who share interests, concerns and experiences,” said AaNA Labor Program Chair Donna Phillips, BSN, RN. “We are looking forward to our new partnership with AT Publishing and an improved newsletter for our members to enjoy.” AT Publishing & Printing is a family-owned-andoperated business founded just prior to
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Top photo: Alaska School Nurses Association Legislative Committee members Maureen Hall and Nancy Bale with AaNA Lobbyist Caren Robinson Bottom photo: AaNA Interim Director of Professional Practice Pat Senner with Alaska School Nurses Association President Jordis Clark
Alaska statehood. The company employs over 50 employees and has four locations in Anchorage that offer quick turnaround in digital, offset and web printing, bindery, sign making and mailing services among others. The company also publishes the Eagle River Cache, Military Cache and the Valley Cache newspapers. About the Alaska Nurses Association: Established in 1953, the Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA) strives to advance and support the profession of nursing in Alaska. AaNA is a voice for both nurses and patients and represents more than 7,000 nurses across the entire state of Alaska. For more information about AaNA, visit www.aknurse.org. Media Contact: Thompson & Co. Public Relations 907-561-4488 Liz Baker, liz@ thompsonpr.com Tamar Ben-Yosef, tamar@thompsonpr.com
Legislative CORNER
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Juneau Fly-In
Nurses Fly to Legislative Action Twenty-four nurses from across Alaska attended the 7th annual Nurses Legislative Fly-In on February 27th and 28th in Juneau. The annual Fly-In is an opportunity for nurses to meet with their legislators and discuss issues of interest related to nursing practice. The attendees of this year’s Fly-In included nurse leaders from the Alaska Nurses Association, Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, Alaska Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives, and Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists. This year, attendees took the opportunity to educate legislators on two important topics: nursing wages and a new title for advanced practice nurses. During this legislative session many people testified at hearings about the high cost of healthcare in Alaska, which is sometimes double the cost seen in other parts of the country. At some hearings, blame for this cost extreme has been placed on the high cost of labor in Alaska. The Alaska Nurses Association did a comparison of hourly wages of nurses in Alaska, Washington and Oregon and found that the wages of nurses in Oregon—not Alaska—rank the highest.
The advanced practice nurses attending the Fly-In took the opportunity to start educating legislators on the new title they want adopted in Alaska: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). This title was developed by a national consensus group convened by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing with the hope that it would be adopted nationwide. Included under this title would be nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. Current Alaska Statutes only formally list nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists, with nurse midwives included under the nurse practitioner definition. In addition to meeting with legislators, nurses attending the Fly-In also attended legislative hearings and met government officials. The Alaska Nurses Association attendees discussed topics of mutual interest with Karen Perdue, CEO of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association. While the AaNA representatives were meeting with Karen Perdue to discuss how to get the Governor to accept Medicaid
expansion, the Governor announced he was not going to take up this offer to cover more Alaskans. The AaNA would like to extend a sincere thank you to our Juneau lobbyists, Mark Hickey and Caren Robinson. The annual trip provides an invaluable opportunity for nurses to unite as a group – to share goals, to network, to educate, to learn, and, above all, to be the voice for Alaskan nurses.
Top photo: Representative Peggy Wilson introduces the nurses to the House Top right: Donna Phillips, Velinda AlbrechtaEast, and Cheri Stramecky with Senator Peter Micchiche. Bottom right: Donna Phillips and Donna Patrick with Senator Click Bishop Cutout: Mo Hillstrand, Donna Patrick, Donna Phillips, Representative Peggy Wilson, Susan Walsh, and Kristin Fahey
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Legislative CORNER
Legislative Summary
First Session of the 28th Legislature The Legislative Committee of the Alaska Nurses Association is composed of nurses who are members of AaNA and nurses from our affiliate associations: Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, Alaska Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Alaska School Nurses Association, and Alaska Clinical Nurse Specialist Association. Together these groups share lobbyists in Juneau – Caren Robinson and Mark Hickey. Priorities for lobbying activities and positions on legislation are developed by consensus. Often, nurses contact AaNA with concerns over pieces of legislation. The Association works to research the issues and develop positions which direct the activities of our lobbyists. Some years the Alaska Nurses Association lobbies on legislation directly related to nursing practice, like last year’s efforts to extend the Board of Nursing. Other years we respond to legislation others have introduced. The latter was the case this past session. The first session ended on April 14th, 2013. Listed below are bills that the Alaska Nurses Association and our affiliate organizations were involved in trying to influence. The 28th Legislature occurs over
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a period of two years, so legislation not passed this year can be considered again during the second session from January 21st to April 20th, 2014. HB 53 – An Act establishing a consultation requirement with respect to the prescription of opiates under certain circumstances. Representative Wes Keller from Wasilla, who sits on the Alaska Health Care Commission, introduced this bill because of his concerns over the abuse of prescription opiates in Alaska. HB 53 states that any patient receiving 120 mg or more of morphine equivalent of an opiate per day for over 6 weeks would be required to consult with a pain management specialist. The bill would also require that before prescribing 120 mg morphine equivalent of an opiate, the health care provider would need to consult the prescription drug monitoring database to make sure the patient was not receiving opiates from other providers. Four hearings on HB 53 were held in the House Health and Social Services Committee. Everyone who testified at these hearings shared Representative Keller’s concern about abuse of prescription
T he o f f icial P u b licati o n o f the A laska N urses A ss o ciati o n
opiates. The Alaska Nurses Association, along with nurse practitioners from the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association testified on our concerns about the pain management specialist referral requirements – there are few pain management specialists in Alaska and they are predominantly located in Anchorage. Lesley de Jaray, an ANP from Sand Point, echoed these concerns during her testimony. Many of de Jaray’s patients would not be able to afford to fly to Anchorage to meet with a specialist, and even if they could – there is a long waiting line for appointments. Each person who testified was in support of the continuation of the prescription drug-monitoring database operated by the Alaska Board of Pharmacy. But they also believe that education is needed to encourage more practitioners to use the database. The successful addition of nurse anesthetists to HB 53 by The Alaska Nurses Association and the Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists will allow nurse anesthetists to be able to be designated as pain management specialists if they meet criteria set up by the Board of Nursing. Status – HB 53 is eligible to be heard again next session.
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HB 134 – An Act requiring Medicaid payment for scheduled unit dose prescription drug packaging and dispensing. This bill was introduced by Representative Mia Costello from Anchorage, and is better known as the “Mediset Bill.” In 2012 the Department of Health and Social Services introduced draft Medicaid regulations that would have eliminated the higher dispensing fee paid to pharmacies for packaging medisets for individual patients. If implemented, this regulation would have a profound negative impact on certain groups of patients – namely, patients who need their medications organized in order to be taken properly. This includes persons with mental illness, persons in assisted living facilities, persons with cognitive impairments, and persons receiving Medicaid senior and disabilities services. The Department of Health and Social Services has held their proposed regulation change, but Representative Costello wanted to make sure that Medicaid would continue to pay for the dispensing of medisets. The testimony before the House Health and Social Services Committee was universally in favor of this bill. Several nurses, including members of the Alaska Nurses Association, testified on the important role of medisets in ensuring that our patients take the right medications at the right time. Status – HB 134 is eligible to be heard again next session. HB 187 – An Act relating to professional and occupational licensing fees. The Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing oversees 63,000 Alaskans who are licensed for 39 different professions.. Alaska statutes require that licensing fees pay for the operation of the Division and that the Division completes an annual analysis of fee income and expenses for each Board and adjusts the occupation licensing fees accordingly. There are two problems with this current arrangement. First, most Boards have biennial – not annual – licensing cycles. And second,
some occupations have very few licensees and one investigation could cause that occupation’s licensing fees to be very high. This happened recently when the Division undertook an investigation of a Naturopath that cost $70,000 dollars and there are only 57 licensed Naturopaths in the state. Nurses are the largest group of licensed professionals in Alaska and nurse licenses fees cover 25% of the Division’s overhead. The Board of Nursing is one of the top 5 consumers of investigative time, and the current annual cost to the Board of Nursing licensees is $500,000 to $600,000. Nurses constitute a large enough group that license fees cover the Boards expenses. HB 187 would shift the cost of the Division investigators from licensee fees to general funds. This would add a cost to the general fund of $1.7 million. The Alaska Nurses Association is very concerned about this shift because in times of limited resources, the legislature might not appropriate funds for these investigator positions. We think there are other ways of dealing with the problems outlined above. Status – HB 187 will be in front of the legislature next session. HB 84 – An Act relating to applying military education, training and service credits to occupational licensing. First Lady Michelle Obama has asked the nations’ governors to take legislative action to help returning troops get credentials based on their military service so that they can successfully transition into civilian employment. HB 84 is designed to assist in this transition. The bill states, “Notwithstanding another provision of law, the department or applicable board shall accept military education, training and service for some or all of the qualifications otherwise required of an applicant for a license or certificate issued under this chapter if…” The Alaska Nurses Association was concerned that someone serving as a medic in the military could come to the Board of Nursing and claim they should be granted a nursing license. Because of this we testified about the differences in the roles and training between medics, corpsmen, and nurses. The bill sponsor in the House, Representative Dan Saddler from Eagle River, stated on the record
that it is not his intent to have persons who served in the military trained for non-nursing roles to be licensed as nurses. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing is investigating which military categories relate directly to nursing. The final report of this investigation has not yet been made public. Currently the military does not educate individuals to become Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses in the military are licensed before entering service. The Army does train Licensed Practical Nurses who are licensed in Texas. Status - HB 85 passed both the House and Senate and is awaiting transmittal to the Governor. Alaska Youth Obesity Prevention Funding Based on the efforts of several legislators, the House Finance Committee added $1 million to the capital budget for Alaska Youth Obesity Prevention. These funds, when added to the $400,000 in the operating budget, will allow the Department of Health and Social Services to continue its Obesity Prevention Program with roughly the same amount of funding as in the current fiscal year. These funds will be used for a range of purposes, including school grants, the Healthy Futures Challenge, access to local food programs such as the Farm to School Project and Farmers Market Quest Cards, and professional development for school nurses and educators on health and physical education.
THANK YOUS The Alaska Nurses Association would like to thank the following legislators for their support this past session of nurses and their patients: > Representative Wes Keller and his staff for listening to our concerns about HB 53, and for including Nurse Anesthetists as potential pain management specialists. > Representative Mia Costello for sponsoring HB 134 – the “Mediset Bill”. > Senator Cathy Giessel and Representative Peggy Wilson for always advocating for their fellow nurses. > Representatives Bill Stoltze, Lindsey Holmes, Mia Costello, and Senator Lesil McGuire for getting funding for obesity prevention back into the state budget. > Senators Berta Gardner, Lesil McGuire, Anna Fairclough and Bill Wielechowski for advocating for healthcare for women and children.
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Boston Marathon Providence Nurse Survives Tragedy
Mary Diel is a hard worker. For more than 30 years she has cared for premature infants as a nurse in the Providence neonatal intensive care unit. This year was especially hectic for Mary as she worked her normal shifts, prepared for the opening of the addition to the existing NICU, and trained for America’s most prestigious race: the Boston Marathon. Alaskans who consider themselves “marathoners” will tell you that it’s not easy to train for a 26.2-mile race in the dead of winter. Mary knew the challenge she faced, as she competed in the race four years ago. “Between the cold, snow and working so much, my training for this marathon was really poor. But when you qualify for Boston, you don’t give up the opportunity,” Mary explained. Mary often fit in training after a 12, 13 or 14-hour nursing shift. Due to her dedication,
Mary prepared herself and arrived in Boston ready to run. After intense training and anticipation, Mary’s race was cut short about a half mile from the finish. Preparing for the final push and the rush of emotions that come with finishing the Boston Marathon, Mary noticed something different this time. Runners had stopped running; explosions had erupted at the finish line, sending participants and spectators into a frenzy. Mary couldn’t go back to her hotel in downtown Boston because of its proximity to the bombing. Without anywhere to go, Mary was graciously taken in by a Boston couple. Hours later, she was able to return back to her hotel and to her husband who had made the trip to cheer her on. Upon reflection Mary said, “The fact that I didn’t finish has no bearing anymore, it’s not an issue.” But the Boston bombings didn’t diminish Mary’s desire to run.
“I’m hoping that the Boston Athletic Association allows the 5,000 runners that weren’t able to finish, the chance to run again next year. If they do, I’ll be there.” *The following is the letter to the editor that was published by the Boston Globe on April 20, 2013 and written by Alaska nurse and marathon participant, Mary Diel. Spirit of city expressed in couple’s aid to marathoner I AM a runner from Alaska who had the honor of participating in the Boston Marathon on Monday. I was in the group that was unable to finish because of the horrific events unfolding at the finish line. The cordoned-off area and limited cellphone service prevented me from reaching my husband at our hotel. Uncertain as to where to go, I sat down on a bench. Fortunately a Boston couple happened by and asked if I needed help. Debra (I hope I’m spelling her name correctly) and Charlie invited me into their home, gave me food, warm tea, and a warm blanket, and offered much-needed comfort. We followed the events on television for a short time before they walked with me to finally reunite with my husband. My husband and I want to publicly extend our gratitude to them for their simple act of kindness, which we believe represents the true spirit of the Boston people. We will never forget their generosity. — Mary Diel, Anchorage
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. 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.
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T he o f f icial P u b licati o n o f the A laska N urses A ss o ciati o n
NURSING ALUMNI
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Congratulations UAA Nursing Program Graduates Associate Degree Program Graduates
Brittany L. Gaier Warren C. Gardner Michael R. Golden Rebekah M. Hartley Maria S. Abuan Kaila J. Hayes, LPN Eagle Alldredge Holly K. Anderson, LPN Faith A. Hewlett Sara K. Hinman Rebecca L. Baker Tiffany R. Bennett, LPN Violet R. Kaminski Jennifer A. Larson Misty B. Bolick Natasha R. LeeWayne S. Brant Gilmore Deborah I. Bruening Elinor A. McNeal Lorna J. Burgess Vonda L. McWilliams, Courtney L. Burrows LPN Keagen L. Chase Eli N. Murph, LPN Chandra M. Chipman Michele L. Neithercoat Dessie Cooper, LPN Adrianne M. Paeth Buffie A. Cubit, LPN Shanna L. Pettigrew, Shasta T. Davis LPN Kasey L. Dethlefs Nara Rooser Rachel L. Fontano, LPN Rosalind M. Simmons, LPN Joanne V. Gabriel
Maureen L. Stage MicheaShea Theus, LPN Michelle D. Wait Natasha White Marie T. White, LPN Daneen J. Whitson, LPN Shannon Zizza, LPN
Bachelor Degree Program Graduates Matrika A. Arrington Lauren N. Bachman Nicholas S. Barney James D. Batove Savanna M. Brady Kylie N. Brown Rachel D. Chesser Molly J. Conner Charlene N. Corkery
Jennifer L. Brow Sylvia B. Davis Summer N. Hamrick Britta L. Hanson Rachel A. Johnson Michelle F. Jones Heidi J. Kidd Mara E. Krey Lindsay M. Larson Renee R. Lindow
Willy R. Mamtchueng Carol A. Marsh Sarah C. Masco Camille R. McArdle Johna A. McCaa Brenda R. McMillan Kelly M. Paldanius Molly A. Palm Dawn K. Reishus Leslie Shurtleff
Ellen B. Stonebraker Eric G. Stuemke Harold H. Sunkel Quenna N. Szafran Krista M. Talley Michele E. Todd Casey L. Vralsted Kayla B. Williams
Spirit of Nursing Award – Awarded by faculty vote for the student they feel best demonstrates the spirit of caring, science, love of learning, and compassion. BS – Eric G. Stuemke • AAS – Kasey L. Dethlefs
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. BS – Michelle Jones • AAS – Alyx McNeal < (left to right) Donna Phillips, Labor Council Chair Vanessa Glenn, Student Nurse Liaison Jennifer Hazen, AaNA Treasurer
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NURSING ALUMNI
RN Residency Program
Welcomes First Class of Recent Graduate Nurses The first time Rebecca Unwin experienced a patient’s death, she remembers being unprepared for how it made her feel. Although she knew there was nothing she could do to prevent it, the new nurse replayed the circumstances over in her mind and couldn’t help wonder what she should have done differently. Today, as the Program Manager for Alaska Regional Hospital’s new RN Residency Program, Unwin says this is the type of support included in the curriculum that makes the 18-week program so valuable for newly graduated nurses who are transitioning from the halls of academia to the wings of a hospital. “They learn to be the nurses they are going to be for the rest of their careers,” Unwin explains while taking a break from teaching in the first 18-week session that welcomed nine nurses into the comprehensive, evidence-based residency program. The need for the RN Residency Program was first considered by Alaska Regional administrators as a way to mitigate the Alaska nursing shortage, which mirrors the national trend. While the need for nurses is increasing with the aging population, at the same time, nursing schools are not able to produce enough graduates to meet demand, and the turnover rate—eight to 14 percent, depending on the market—is a serious issue that affects performance and profitability of hospitals and other healthcare
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organizations. Turnover rates for first year nurses are even more alarming: 1 in 5 newly licensed nurses quits within a year, according to a national study, and the cost to replace them is about twice their first year salary, which is why hospitals across the country are trying harder to maintain them. Although medical school graduates receive on-the-job training during residencies that range from three to seven years, most newly licensed nurses do not have a similar period to develop their skills and adjust to being thrown into a fast-paced environment where they are juggling several patients and making critical decisions with little direct supervision. “It’s a culture shock,” Unwin says, that usually results in them leaving nursing because of lack of support during this time. “Alaska Regional wanted to get to a place where we are supporting them.” Some hospitals set up their own more informal shadowing programs that pair novices with more experienced
nurses. Alaska Regional is partnering with Versant, an education and training system that transitions recent nursing graduates from students to professional practitioners. It is the state’s first and only partnership like this. Residents are in the classroom two days a week and also work two 12-hour clinical days. In addition to the core curriculum, the Alaska Regional RN Residency Program offers guided clinical experience, current and emerging clinical guidelines and standards, labs and simulations, and career development guidance. Following the 18week program, participants achieve the same competence and self-assurance as a nurse who has been practicing for 12 to 18 months. “The energy behind this program shows me that nurses really want to help nurses learn,” Unwin says. “It’s nurses teaching the next generation of nurses.”
The curriculum assists new nurses with gaining the experience and confidence needed to navigate hospital culture by advancing them to competency levels quickly, safely and effectively. New nurses complete various competencies including learning how to put in an IV line and urinary catheter; interpreting different heart rhythms and knowing how to treat them; handling a code blue; medication safety; doing hourly checkups on very critically ill patients; knowing how to do a head-to-toe physical assessment on a patient; and informing families about the condition of their loved one. “You don’t learn nursing overnight,” Unwin says. “The program is designed to review all the text book knowledge they have and apply it to real working environments.” Besides the residency’s professional guidance component, new nurses also get personal support from mentors during oneon-one sessions or in groups that gather for debriefing or “venting” sessions. This helps them integrate their personal and work lives and deal with difficult situations they may encounter on the job such as losing a patient to death for the first time—support Unwin says she wishes she would have had early in her career. The 18-week program is offered twice a year and is developed to accept 15 participants in each group, though the number of enrollees is based on the number of positions Alaska Regional is trying to fill. The next group begins August 19, 2013. To apply for the program, applicants should contact Rebecca Unwin, RN Residency Program Manager, at Rebecca. Unwin@hcahealthcare. com or (907) 2641011. < (left to right) Cathy Robinson, Eva Prieto, Caroline Aulie and Katie Parker. RN Residency Program Manager Rebecca Unwin is second from the right.
ALASKA NURSES ROCK! Join our ADVENTUROUS and COMPASSIONATE team delivering health and social services to communities above the Arctic Circle! Maniilaq Association in Kotzebue, AK is Now Hiring In: Inpatient/ER Long Term Care Quality and Utilization Nurse Practioners
EXCELLENT BENEFITS, AMAZING CULTURE & COMMUNITY! Apply Now: https://www.vscyberhosting.com/maniilaq ?s Contact tiffany.west@maniilaq.org (206) 304-4552
2013 Alaska Immunization Conference
CNE available
Registration Now Open
Welcome Keynote Speakers:
www.immunizeak.org
Paul Offit, MD, Chief, Division of Infectious Disease; Director,
Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Anne Schuchat, MD, Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Amy Pisani, Executive Director, Every Child By Two; Carter/Bumpers’ Champions for Immunization T H E A L AS K A N U R S E M AGA Z I N E • J U N E /J U LY 201 3
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Calendar of Events Save the Dates!
Ongoing ............................................................................. AaNA Board of Directors Meeting Fourth Wednesday of each month
Alaska State Board of Nursing – Upcoming Meetings July 10-12, 2013 • Anchorage agenda
4:00 to 5:30 pm
deadline June 19, 2013
AaNA Labor Council Meeting Fourth Wednesday of each month
October 23-25, 2013 • Fairbanks agenda
5:30 to 6:30 pm
AaNA Professional Practice Committee Contact for times: andrea@aknurse.org
or 907-274-0827
AaNA Legislative Committee Contact for times: andrea@aknurse.org
or 907-274-0827
............................................................................. Providence Registered Nurses Third Thursday of each month 4:00 to 6:00 pm
............................................................................. RN’s United of Central Peninsula Hospital Contact for times: 907-252-5276
............................................................................. KTN Ketchikan General Hospital Contact for times: 907-247-3828
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June ............................................................................. AANP 28th National Conference June 19-23, 2013 – Las Vegas, Nevada Dr.
Donna Shalala – IOM, The Future of Nursing Report The Venetian, The Palazzo & Sands Expo & Convention Center
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July ............................................................................. Fourth of July Festivities!
Soldotna, Alaska -
Join your fellow nurses from Central Peninsula Hospital to join the float in the 4th of July parade! Contact Velinda Albrechta-East for more information at nursep5008@att.net
August 1, 2013 AaNF seeks proposals for 2013 grants. Award opportunities and applications can be found at www.aknurse.org
............................................................................. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 2013 Annual Meeting August 10-13, 2013 • Las Vegas, Nevada
www.aana.com
January 22-24, 2014 • Anchorage agenda
September .............................................................................
deadline Dec. 30, 2013
The Alaska Board of Nursing has a listserv 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, visit www.nursing. alaska.gov Inquiries regarding meetings and appearing on the agenda can be directed to: 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
............................................................................. Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
July 28 – August 2, 2013
The Muscular Dystrophy Association of Alaska is looking for volunteer nurses (RN or LPN) and camp counselors. MDA Summer Camp is a magical place where children with neuromuscular disease can participate in a wide range of activities specially designed for young people who have limited mobility or use wheelchairs. Applications are due by Friday, June 28th. Please contact Kathy Archey, Health Care Service Coordinator at MDA Alaska @ 2762131 or email karchey@mdausa.org. For more info, please visit www.mda.org/summer-camp or www.facebook.com/AlaskaMDA
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Alaska Nurses Foundation
Seeks Proposals for 2013 Grants. Please visit:
www.aknurse.org
for award opportunities and applications.
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Alaska Nurses Foundation Grant Proposal Deadline
deadline Oct. 3, 2013
Ketchikan, Alaska -
Join your fellow nurses from Ketchikan Medical Center in a 4th of July celebration! Contact Susan Walsh for more information at alaskancelt@hotmail.com
August .............................................................................
T he o f f icial P u b licati o n o f the A laska N urses A ss o ciati o n
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Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, Alaska Chapter 8th Annual Alaska Asthma & Allergy Conference September 6-7, 2013 • Wheezin’, Sneezin’
and Itchin’ in Alaska Register early – Space is limited! Earn 15 contact hours through AaNA! www.conference.aafaalaska.com
............................................................................. 8th International Neonatal Nursing Conference September 5-8, 2013 Belfast, Northern Ireland http://coinn2013.com
............................................................................. Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association 30th Annual Conference September 12-14, 2013 • Anchorage Marriott Downtown www.anpa.enpnetwork.com
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2013 Anchorage Heart Walk
September 14, 2013
Come out and show your support for the American Heart Association in the fight against heart disease and stroke! Join the AaNA team by visiting www. anchorageheartwalk.org
............................................................................. Emergency Nurses Association 2013 Annual Conference September 17-21, 2013 Nashville, Tennessee • www.ena.org
............................................................................. 1st Annual Scripps Cancer Care Symposium
A Nursing & Advanced Practice Provider Collaboration September 27-29, 2013 • San Diego, California www.scripps.org/events
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w w w w. aknurs e.org
October .......................................................................................
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation www.bbahc.org
AaNA Fall Retreat
October 11, 2013 • Anchorage
Stay tuned for details on continuing education track options and contact hours to be earned! We will also be offering an early bird discount on registration. Look forward to Nurses Night Out, exhibitors, and a keynote speaker! ..........................................................................
AaNA General Assembly October 12, 2013 • Anchorage
AaNA’s 2013 General Assembly will be held the day after the Fall Retreat. More details to be released soon – Check out www.aknurse.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ AlaskaNurses to be the first to know!
..................................................................................... American Association of Colleges of Nursing Fall Semiannual Meeting October 26-29, 2013 • JW Marriott,
Washington, DC www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences The 2013 All Alaska Pediatric Symposium • November 1-2, 2013 Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska New this year: Pediatric Nurse Breakout Sessions! Registration opens August 15th Contact Stephanie Monahan, Executive Director, All Alaska Pediatric Partnership: stephanie@a2p2.com www.a2p2.com
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November ....................................................................................... The 2013 All Alaska Pediatric Symposium November 1-2, 2013 Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska New this year: Pediatric Nurse Breakout Sessions! Registration opens August 15 • Contact Stephanie Monahan, Executive Director, All Alaska Pediatric Partnership: stephanie@a2p2.com • www.a2p2.com
Located in beautiful Southwest Alaska, in the town of Dillingham, BBAHC has many employment opportunites. Come and enjoy the Alaska Native Cultures of the Aleut, Eskimo and Indian. Our town is 2,460 strong and we serve a 44,000 square mile region of 34 villages with a total population of 8000. Please contact Human Resources at (907)842-5201 or by email at personnel@bbahc.org or refer to our website at www.bbahc.org for more information BBAHC is an equal opportunity employer operating under the Alaska Native and American Indian Preference in Hiring provisions of PL93-638. Pre-employment drug screening and a completed background investigation and determination that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria of the Alaska Barrier Crimes Act and, where applicable, the Indian Child Protection Act, are prerequisites to hiring.
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www.aknurse.org/index.cfm/education for frequent updates and information on local nursing continuing education opportunities and conferences!
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For Membership and Involvement Opportunities go to:
www.aknurse.org
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T H E A L AS K A N U R S E M AGA Z I N E • J U N E /J U LY 201 3
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The Alaska chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association invites you to join us in fighting back against muscular dystrophy! JULY 18th: Anchorage Lock-Up at
Sullivanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steakhouse
JULY 20th: Live Ride at House of
Harley-Davidson AUGUST 22nd: Fairbanks Lock-Up at Pikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landing AUGUSTâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;OCTOBER: Fill the Boot season all across Alaska OCTOBER 10th: Anchorage Lock up at TGI
Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in midtown NOVEMBER 2nd: An Affair to Remember gala at the Hilton Hotel Call 907.276.2131 to see how you can help today! www.facebook.com/AlaskaMDA
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Connect with Banner Health Car eers: Careers:
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T he o f f icial P u b licati o n o f the A laska N urses A ss o ciati o n