Shannon E. Perry, RN, PhD, FAAN When I travel I like to interact with the citizens of the country I visit. It is especially rewarding if I can be of some help while there. In November, 2017, I participated in a medical mission to Nigeria with the International Missionary Foundation (IMFmission.org). Our U. S. team was small consisting of one physician, one nurse (me), a photographer, a woman who was a helper, and the executive director (ED) of IMF, who was born in Nigeria. We held two clinics, one in Lokoja, a city of approximately 200,000 and a second one in Bacita, a small rural village, both south and west of Abuja, the capitol of Nigeria. In Nigeria, health care is self-pay; there is no health insurance. We brought with us 18 fifty- pound boxes of medications and supplies including reading glasses. The medications were much needed and distributed free- of-charge. Analgesics, principally for work- related low back pain caused by bending and stooping, antihypertensives, vitamins, and anti-malarial medications were those most needed. In Lokoja, we had five armed guards with us at all times to prevent kidnapping—we were the only Caucasians in the area and probably perceived as rich Americans. Local physicians, nurse-midwives, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, counselors, and optometrists participated. Several young people screened patients at the door and directed them to the nurses. I provided three formal presentations for the nurses. Spreading good will is a major side benefit. With the assistance of local personnel, we saw 895 patients in three days. The U.S. current resident or Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Princeton, MN Permit No. 14 Quarterly Publication direct mailed to over 86,000 Registered Nurses in Arizona Vol. 71 • Number 2 MAY 2018 One Profession. Many Roles. Arizona Nurse Shawn Harrell, MS, RN • Editor We’re Working for You! JOIN US TODAY Brought to you by the Members of AzNA. For more information on the benefits of membership, please visit www.aznurse.org. The Official Publication of the Arizona Nurses Foundation INSIDE President's Message ............... 2 Members on the Move .............. 3 Money CPR ..................... 3 Nurse Practitioner Clinical Symposium . . . 4 Executive Director's Report ........... 5 The Children in Your Life Need a Nurse at Their School ............. 6 AzNA/AzNF Calendar of Events ...... 6 AzNA Chapter Highlight ............ 7 Arizona Nurses Visit the State Capitol . . . 8 Nurse Peer Reviewers are Key to Success . . . 8 "Nurse Honored" ................. 9 The Odds are Against You...How Does That Feel? .................... 10 'Not Graduating is Not an Option:' Phoenix Student Fights Cancer While Finishing Her BSN ......... 11 Welcome New & Returning Members . . 13 What Does a Nurse Scientist Do Anyway? The Road to Research ..... 14 The Power of Poop ............... 15 Membership Application ........... 15 Arizona Nurses Travel Around the World Global Nursing in Arizona Deborah Bain, RN I was an RN for 40 years, retiring in 2014. 98% of my career was in OB. After retiring I wanted to do some active volunteering. An acquaintance told me about Project CURE, the world’s largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. It is ranked by Forbes as one of the 20 most efficient large U.S. charities. Their mission is to collect hospital medical equipment and supplies that would be thrown out and ship them to developing countries around the world. Like me, you have probably opened a disposable procedure or OR pac and discarded it later with items that were never even opened. Project Cure partners with hospitals to collect those useful items and send them where they are desperately needed. I have been volunteering at the Tempe warehouse for about 2 years. For the first year I just did routine sorting of the donated medical supplies. I was happy to offer a little bit of advice from my nursing background. Then I saw a poster about the Care Clinics held in many 3rd world countries. In March of 2017, I signed up for the trip to Ghana, Africa. I had previously traveled extensively but had never been to Africa. I felt this was a good way to combine my love of traveling with my nursing background and help some deserving people. Going to a 3rd world country is an eye opener. The overwhelming poverty and lack of sanitation was one of the big things I first noticed. We held walk-in clinics in 4 different villages in rural Ghana. We were a team of 19, mostly composed of volunteer nurses, one nurse practitioner, Global Nursing continued on page 12 Medical Mission continued on page 12 Deborah traveled to Ghana, Africa with Project CURE Medical Mission to Nigeria Perry's team not only provided care but gave presenations to local healthcare providers
Transcript
Shannon E. Perry, RN, PhD, FAAN
When I travel I like to interact with the citizens of the country I visit. It is especially rewarding if I can be of some help while there. In November, 2017, I participated in a medical mission to Nigeria with the International Missionary Foundation (IMFmission.org). Our U. S. team was small consisting of one physician, one nurse (me), a photographer, a woman who was a helper, and the executive director (ED) of IMF, who was born in Nigeria.
We held two clinics, one in Lokoja, a city of approximately 200,000 and a second one in Bacita, a small rural village, both south and west of Abuja, the capitol of Nigeria.
In Nigeria, health care is self-pay; there is no health insurance. We brought with us 18 fifty-pound boxes of medications and supplies including reading glasses. The medications were much needed and distributed free-of-charge. Analgesics, principally for work-related low back pain caused by bending and stooping, antihypertensives, vitamins, and anti-malarial medications were those most needed.
In Lokoja, we had five armed guards with us at all times to prevent kidnapping—we were the only Caucasians in the area and probably perceived as rich Americans. Local physicians, nurse-midwives, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, counselors, and optometrists participated. Several young people screened patients at the door and directed them to the nurses. I provided three formal presentations for the nurses. Spreading good will is a major side benefit. With the assistance of local personnel, we saw 895 patients in three days. The U.S.
current resident or
Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage Paid
Princeton, MNPermit No. 14
Quarterly Publication direct mailed to over 86,000 Registered Nurses in ArizonaVol. 71 • Number 2MAY 2018
One Profession. Many Roles.
Arizona NurseShawn Harrell, MS, RN • Editor
We’re Working for You! JOIN US TODAYBrought to you by the Members of AzNA. For more information on the benefits of membership, please visit www.aznurse.org.
The Official Publication of the Arizona Nurses Foundation
INSI
DE
President's Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Members on the Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Money CPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Nurse Practitioner Clinical Symposium . . . 4Executive Director's Report . . . . . . . . . . . 5The Children in Your Life Need a Nurse at Their School . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6AzNA/AzNF Calendar of Events . . . . . . 6AzNA Chapter Highlight . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Arizona Nurses Visit the State Capitol . . . 8Nurse Peer Reviewers are Key to Success . . . 8
"Nurse Honored" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9The Odds are Against You...How Does That Feel? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10'Not Graduating is Not an Option:' Phoenix Student Fights Cancer While Finishing Her BSN . . . . . . . . . 11Welcome New & Returning Members . . 13What Does a Nurse Scientist Do Anyway? The Road to Research . . . . . 14The Power of Poop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Membership Application . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Arizona Nurses Travel Around the World
Global Nursing in ArizonaDeborah Bain, RN
I was an RN for 40 years, retiring in 2014. 98% of my career was in OB. After retiring I wanted to do some active volunteering.
An acquaintance told me about Project CURE, the world’s largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. It is ranked by Forbes as one of the 20 most efficient large U.S. charities. Their mission is to collect hospital medical equipment and supplies that would be thrown out and ship them to developing countries around the world. Like me, you have probably opened a disposable procedure or OR pac and discarded it later with items that were never even opened. Project Cure partners with hospitals to collect those useful items and send them where they are desperately needed.
I have been volunteering at the Tempe warehouse for about 2 years. For the first year I just did routine sorting of the donated medical supplies. I was happy to offer a little bit of advice from my nursing background.
Then I saw a poster about the Care Clinics held in many 3rd world countries. In March of 2017, I signed up for the trip to Ghana, Africa. I had previously traveled extensively but had never been to Africa. I felt this was a good way to combine my love of traveling with my nursing background and help some deserving people. Going to a 3rd world country is an eye opener. The overwhelming poverty and lack of sanitation was one of the big things I first noticed.
We held walk-in clinics in 4 different villages in rural Ghana. We were a team of 19, mostly composed of volunteer nurses, one nurse practitioner,
Global Nursing continued on page 12 Medical Mission continued on page 12
Deborah traveled to Ghana, Africa with Project CURE
Medical Mission to Nigeria
Perry's team not only provided care but gave presenations to local healthcare providers
The Arizona Nurse (ISSN 0004-1599) is the official publication of the Arizona Nurses Foundation (AzNF) published quarterly by AzNF, peer reviewed and indexed in Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Arizona Nurse Author Guidelines are available at www.aznurse.org. Call 480.831.0404 or [email protected] for more information.
No material in the newsletter may be reproduced without written permission from the Executive Director. Subscription price: included in AzNA membership or $30 per year. The purpose of the Arizona Nurse is to communicate with AzNA members and non-members in order to 1) advance and promote professional nursing in Arizona, 2) disseminate information and encourage input and feedback on relevant nursing issues, 3) stimulate interest and participation in AzNA and 4) share information about AzNA activities.
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Advertisements do not imply endorsement nor approval by the Arizona Nurses Foundation (AzNF) of the product advertised, the advertisers or the claims made. AzNF shall not be held liable for any consequences resulting from the purchase or use of advertised projects. AzNF, AzNA and Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. reserve the right to reject advertisements. Rejection of an advertisement does not imply that the offering or product for advertisement is without merit, lacks integrity, or that this association disapproves of the offering or product.
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Want to make a difference? Isn’t making a difference why many of us chose nursing? Or did nursing choose us in order to make a difference?
Whether you realize it or not, being a nurse has made you a leader. Some of us are natural born leaders and others gradually grow into our calling as leaders. Many nurses are individuals with families, children, and a significant stake in the communities in which we live and work. We are impacted by issues in our communities that challenge us. During this past legislative session the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) has emphasized the importance of using our power to advocate for the nursing profession and those we serve through voting and speaking out for policy and legislation that affects the healthcare of Arizonians. But did you realize that by serving on a board, we as nurses can exercise even more power by raising our voices in support of services, partnerships, and efforts that serve the greater good?
While there are many groups and individuals demanding our time, take a moment to consider serving on a board. Nurses from all levels (early, mid, late career, and retired) are needed to share their time and talents by stepping forward to serve for a variety of organizations, both in and out of the healthcare arenas. As nurses, we naturally have the skill-set to join and function on boards. We are experts at communication and reading nonverbal cues. We are good at establishing relationships, making others feel comfortable, using data for decision making, and as we are often reminded
by the yearly Gallup Poll we are perceived as honest and ethical. Our perspective and influence is valued at the decision-making tables as we represent the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and play a huge role in the frontlines of care in our schools, hospitals, community health centers, and long-term care facilities, as well as a variety of places where nurses are needed.
The Nurses on Boards Coalition (https://www.nursesonboardscoalition.org/) is currently working to ensure at least 10,000 nurses are on boards by 2020. All boards benefit from the unique perspective of nurses to achieve the goals of improved health and efficient and effective health care systems at the local, state and national levels. The Coalition’s guiding principle is that building healthier communities in America requires the involvement of more nurses on corporate, health-related, and other boards, panels, and commissions.
The Nurses on Boards Coalition website allows us to do two things. First, if you are interested in serving, it is a place to register and volunteer your expertise for joining organizations who could benefit from having a nurse in their midst. By registering on this website, the Nurses on Boards Coalition helps you make an appropriate match to a board based on your background and skillset. Secondly, this website keeps count towards the goal of 10,000 nurses on boards by 2020 by having you register and be counted for your work on boards, panels, and/or commissions. To date, approximately 4,024 nurses are on boards with 242 of these nurses registering in the last 90 days.
After I registered, a day later I got this email message –
Thank you for registering with Nurses on Boards Coalition! We appreciate your efforts to assist us in improving the health of communities across the nation through board leadership.
That for me says it all. Time to get out and make a difference –
Selina BlissPresident - AzNA
Calling All Nurses -We Need You to Serve
Selina Bliss,RN, PhD, CNE,
RN-BC
2018 AzNA ConventionThursday, September 27 –
Saturday, September 29, 2018Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
5140 W. Wild Horse Pass BlvdChandler, Arizona 85226
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Call for Article SubmissionSubmit your article or research for publication in AzNA’s quarterly print publication. The Arizona Nurse is mailed to all 86,000+ RNs in the state.
AzNA welcomes submission of nursing and health related news items and original articles. We encourage short summaries and brief abstracts for research or scholarly contributions with an emphasis on application.
To promote inclusion of submitted articles, please review the Article guidelines available on the AzNA website at www.aznurse.org/Guidelines.
An “article for reprint” may be considered if accompanied by written permission from the author and/or publisher as needed. Authors do not need to be AzNA members.
Submission of articles constitutes agreement to allow changes made by editorial staff and publishers. See Article Guidelines for more information.
Charyl Lacasse, PhD, RN, was honored as a CUES Distinguished Fellow, awarded to University of Arizona faculty members who have demonstrated excellence as scholars and innovators in university teaching and learning. Awardees each receive a CUES Distinguished Fellow appointment with an accompanying $20,000 grant per year for one, two, or three years to support their ongoing work.
Rhonda Anderson, RN, MPA, DNSC(h), FAAN, FACHE has been appointed to the National Quality Forum Medicaid Child task force, developing for CMS’s consideration (as part of the ACA requirements) the Medicaid child metrics for states.
Joy Kiviat, Membership Chair of the Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council, (left) awards the Audrey Rath Scholarship to Minnerva Carroz (right).
For 2017, the recipient of the Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council’s Audrey Rath Scholarship is Minnerva Carroz. Minnerva is a FNP who is now pursuing her DNP, while also juggling a full time and part time job and raising two children on her own. Her goal is to work in academia one day, and to inspire other NPs who may think there are too many obstacles in their paths to return to school, making Minnerva a fitting recipient of this award.
The Audrey Rath Scholarship is designated for NP’s returning to school to advance their education, and who are members of the AZNA. The $2000 scholarship is awarded by the Arizona Nurse Practioner Council each November during NP Week to the applicant who best articulates goals that will advance and promote the NP profession. The scholarship is named to honor Audrey Rath, RN, MSN, NP who worked as the Advanced Practice consultant to the Arizona State Board of Nursing for 20 years. Audrey was a pioneer for nurse practitioners in Arizona, and many of our current daily practices are directly related to Audrey’s influence in expanding our scope of practice.
First of all, congratulate yourself for having your current address on record at the Arizona Board of Nursing (AzBN). They will send you, via the US Post Office, notification of a complaint they received against your license. This is your opportunity to give the Board all the facts of the incident and/or deny the allegation. If the Board does not have your current address and you do not respond to the Board, the Board must assume that the allegation is true and proceed through the disciplinary process. This is not the outcome you want. The Arizona Nurse Practice Act requires you to inform the Board of a change of address within 30 days of moving or changing address. Contact the AzBN in writing or via the Board’s website to update a change of name or address. http://www.azbn.gov/
When you receive notice of a Board complaint in the mail, they will provide instructions on how and when to respond to the Board and how to get more information about the complaint. Do not delay. Follow the directions and get all available facts.
But, why are we talking about a Board complaint in this money column? Because, your nursing license is likely the most financially valuable thing you will ever own. Yes, you own your license; it is considered personal property. When you consider the income you can generate over the life time of your license, its value may even be in the millions of dollars.
The next question is, “Do I need a lawyer?”Every practicing nurse should carry malpractice
insurance. That insurance includes the cost of consulting a lawyer. Pull out your malpractice insurance policy; call the company and talk with a resource person. That person should be able to help you with complaints regarding nursing practice or patient care related issues. The insurance policy may not cover you for unprofessional conduct like substance abuse or crimes, but ask anyway.
You say, “I don’t have malpractice insurance.” Many nurses erroneously believe that the malpractice insurance policy for the hospital or agency where they work will defend them against a claim of malpractice. Don’t depend on someone else’s insurance policy to protect you. The hospital or agency’s insurance company will be looking after the interest of the hospital or agency. That can coincide with your interest, but it is no guarantee. The agency’s insurance company may decide not to defend you. You could find yourself alone with the burden of hiring your own lawyer. Legal fees can mount up fast. And, of course, insurance would also cover you against damage claims made against you if you are sued for malpractice. If you don’t have insurance or your complaint is related to unprofessional behavior, you may benefit from
a consultation with a lawyer. Remember the value of your license; a few hundred dollars for legal consultation at this time could be a good investment.
When you buy malpractice insurance, consider the usual criteria; cost, deductible, coverage, service, and dependability of the company. Recently, using
that same criteria, the AzNA Board selected a new malpractice insurance company. AzNA is now in partnership by NSO to provide quality malpractice insurance. So if you don’t have malpractice or are shopping around consider visiting www.nso.com/Get-a-Quote.
Finally, if you get a complaint from the Board, be proactive, be cooperative, and be civil. Even though a complaint can be an emotional event, unprofessional interaction with Board staff is never in your best interest.
I’ve Been Reported to the Board! Now What?
Shawn Harrell, RN
Many nurses erroneously believe that the malpractice
insurance policy for the hospital or agency where
they work will defend them against a claim of malpractice.
RN to BSN Online Program
• Liberal Credit Transfers
• Nationally Accredited
• No Thesis Required
• No Entrance Exams
MSN Online Program
No Campus Visits — Enroll Part or Full Time
Consult our website: www.uwgb.edu/nursingCall 888-674-8942 or Email [email protected]
Classes That Fit Your Schedule — Competitive Tuition
July 28-29, 2018 • Mesa, Arizona • www.aznurse.org/NP2018
The 30th Annual Southwestern Regional Nurse Practitioner Symposium
is a two day intensive program offering education to review and update current concepts in clinical and practice management for advanced practice nurses and advanced practice nursing students.
AzNA and AZNPC are pleased to o er up to 9.25 hours of Content/CNE hours. Unless otherwise noted, all sessions offer Pharmacy contact hours for part or all of the presentation.
The Western Multi-State Division is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation. Keynote
It’s the Law: New Opioid Statutes Affecting YOUR PracticeKathy Busby, JD; Janeen Dahn, PhD, FNP-C; Karen Holder, MHS, FNP-BC, AHN-BC
NPs are on the front lines in caring for patients who may require acute or chronic pain management. The combination of new state-based legislation and opioid guidelines from the CDC have created a knowledge gap. It is imperative that NPs understand best practice and where to access up to date information relating to the care of these patients.
Breakout OneMedication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Essentials: Life Saving Medications for Substance Use Disorders and Implications for Nurse PractitionersLindsey Adrienne, MA, DBH
This session will cover how the brain is impacted by addiction, common myths and misconceptions surrounding MAT, a review of the evidence for MAT effectiveness, and the process for referring patients struggling with substance use disorders for assessment for these life-saving medications. Also included, NP MAT prescribing privileges and next steps for those interested in becoming MAT prescribers.
Putting the New Hypertension Guidelines into PracticeHeather Ross, PhD, DNP
A review of the guidelines and how to apply them to your practice, including the medication management suggested in the 2017 guidelines.
Wound Care in Primary CareKristina Fawcett, MSN, NP-C
Etiology of wound, pathology, additional assessment tools, local pharmacological interventions, systemic pharmacological interventions, cellulitis/infection and when to refer.
Prescribing in the Elder AdultNancy Johnson, APRN, MS, NP-C
Prescribing considerations with frequent clinical issues relative to polypharmacy, tapering medications, changing medications and dosing changes.
Breakout TwoHormone Replacement and Management of Perimenopause and MenopauseKim Anne Lockhart, MS, WHCNP
Focus on managing the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause using hormone replacement, bioidentical hormones and alternative therapies. Painful sex and atrophy changes are major issues in menopause and options for management will be presented.
Dyslipidemia: Which Drug is BestSharon Morgan, DNP, FNP-BC
High blood cholesterol has been consistent with patients that have cardiovascular (CV) disease. Statins have been the cornerstone treatment for LDL-C reduction, which can help decrease CV disease. This talk will discuss the current guidelines and what medications work best in different populations
Uncommon Skin Presentations for the Primary Care Provider-A Report of 5 CasesTirsa Quartullo, DNP, FNP-C
Evaluate and discuss 5 reports of uncommon dermatological presentations seen in a dermatology practice. How to reach an accurate diagnosis and choose an appropriate treatment course.
Understanding Medications Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Michele Grigaitis-Reys, DNP, FNP-BCPharmacological management of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The pathophysiologic basis for pharmacologic agents will be reviewed, and pharmacologic interventions discussed.
Breakout ThreeTobacco Use Update and Cessation Treatment GuidelinesCarol Chavez, MSN, FNP-C; Mary Gilles, MD
A review of current US tobacco use and evidence based tobacco cessation treatment guidelines (counseling & medication).
Pharmacological Treatments for Heart Failure According to AHA/ ACC GuidelinesSharon Morgan, DNP, FNP-BC
Discussion of pharmacologic treatments for heart failure using AHA/ACC guidelines.
A Pharmacologic Management of Obesity: Today’s Best Evidence for Use of MedicationAngela Golden, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP
Obesity is an epidemic in the US and NPs must be at the forefront of understanding the complex nature of treating this disease. New medications add to the tools that NPs can use to support patients in their management of the disease.
Updates on Medications from ADA and AACE/ACE 2018 Guidelines for Type 2 DiabetesCyndee Garner, DNP, FNP-C
Diabetes management is very complex and a wide variety of medications and devices are currently being used. New information in the 2018 consensus will be reviewed including new devices on the market and what will be hitting the market soon (according to the rumor mill).
Breakout FourPharmacologic Management of Di cult Cases in Type 2 DiabetesJanette Buhl, FNP-BC, CDE
Case studies on customizing pharmacologic options based on your patient’s needs and goals.
Electronic Health Records: Legal Implications for Nurse Practitioners***NO PHARMA CONTACT HOURSMelanie Balestra, JD, MN, PNP; Teressa Sanzio, JD, RN, MPA, esq. & Loretta D’Antonio. MBA, BA
How NPs can implement best practices for navigating and successfully using EMRs, as well as risk management strategies to avoid malpractice litigation or licensing issues.
Current Asthma Management Recommendations and ConsiderationsTraci Arney, MN, FNP-C, FAANP, AE-C
Considerations for educating the family and or patient on the importance of managing this chronic disease while being able to provide appropriate medications based on availability and cost.
Low Back Pain: By the GuidelinesPaula Christianson-Silva, DNP, FNP-BC, ANP-BC
Review differential diagnoses, advanced assessment techniques, indications for imaging, and the research evidence for various treatment modalities.
Sunday WorkshopsTreating Obesity in Your PracticeMelissa Davis, DNP, ANP-BC, CNS, CBN, CNOR, RNFA
Workshop will include current obesity statistics, pathophysiology, and evidence-based treatment options, including clinician evaluation and assessment, management decisions, nutrition, physical activity, behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgery.
Basic Suturing for the Offce***NO PHARMA CONTACT HOURSWayne McLeod, MSN, FNP, APRN-BC; Kellie Keel, MSN, FNP-C
Review instruments and types of sutures as well as basic suturing techniques for simple wound closure including interrupted, running, vertical and horizontal mattress sutures. If time permits, practice of hand tying sutures. $40 Supply Fee, limited space available.
Addresses safe practices for opioid prescribing, including patient selection, risk assessment, initiation and modi cation, ongoing monitoring, and patient and caregiver education. Includes discussion of pain, immediate release as well as ER/LA opioids, cannabis, and addiction and integrates the CDC Guideline (2016). Fully compliant with the FDA requirement for opioid REMS education.
This presentation is geared toward students and new graduate NPs and will provide opportunity to watch videos and patient exams focusing on selected organ systems. Students will receive feedback on their skills, have opportunity to re ne exam techniques and learn how to implement in their practice settings. (limited space available)
Case Studies in Care of Geriatric PatientsChristina Shelley, FNP
Different ways of looking at geriatric management from bowel care to falls. An interactive discussion about home safety, medication prescribing, end of life discussions and more.
Registration InformationSheraton Mesa Wrigleyville West860 N Riverwalk | Mesa, AZ 85201
On-site registration & check-in begins Saturday at 7:30am. The program ends at 12:30pm on Sunday.
Program registration and more information is available at www.aznurse.org/2018NP
Full Conference
Saturday Only
Sunday Only
AzNA Member $225 $175 $150
Non-Members $325 $275 $250
DNP Students $175 $150 $100
Suture Workshop Supply Fee $40 N/A $40
(Registration rates above include an early bird discount of $50. Early Bird discount expires July 13, 2018)
Event Information: www.aznurse.org/2018NP or [email protected] or 480.831.0404
Sponsors and Exhibitors23andMeAllergan
Allergan PharmaceuticalsAMGEN
AstraZenecaFrance Foundation
The Gideons International Hospice of the Valley
MICANovo Nordisk
Save the Cord Foundation/AZ Public Cord Program
Interested in becoming a sponsor or exhibitor? Visit www.aznurse.org/2018NP
Saturday Lunch - Consumer Genetics: Discovery of Heredity and Health (sponsored), Ken Wysocki, PhD, APRN, FAANP
Sunday Breakfast - Famous People with Diabetes: A Case Study Exploring the Use of New and Emerging Basal Insulins (sponsored)
May, June, July 2018 Arizona Nurse • Page 5
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
In our busy lives, we often lose sight of why we contribute to our various professional groups. Your nursing membership strategy should look like this:
• Specialty Associations: focus on clinical area/skills/cultural focus
• AzNA: representing the interests of all nurses to Advance the Nursing Profession and Promote a Healthy Arizona
If you are not a member of AzNA, please consider joining. Think of what else we could accomplish if EVERY AZ NURSE paid annual AzNA membership dues. Association work fits into one
of these four areas: LEAD, ADVOCATE, NETWORK, ADVANCE. Dues have been reduced to just $15/month.
Thank you to all our members whose dues helped with these exceptional accomplishments.
Robin Schaeffer, MSN, RN, CAEExecutive Director, AzNA
2017 Home Run for Nursing!
Robin Schaeffer, MSN, RN, CAE
Continuity Care SpecialistsNow HiringAcute Care & Family Nurse PractitionersFor Acute and Subacute facilities in metro Phoenix
For more information, contact Elizabeth Puentes at: 602-344-9720 [email protected]
WE’RE HIRING EXPERIENCED RN’S & LPN’S TO JOIN OUR EPIC FAMILY
AT LEAST 6 MONTHS EXPERIENCE. FULL/ PART TIME SHIFTS. OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
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CALL US OR STOP BY OUR OFFICE(602)433-1200 4745 N. 7th Street. Suite 432, Phoenix, AZ 85014
Page 6 • Arizona Nurse May, June, July 2018
Nadine Miller, RN, MS
Do you have a child in school? Do they have a school nurse to support their needs? Do they deserve one? Our children are our most vulnerable citizens and it is our responsibility to ensure they are protected and receive the same care we would expect in our time of need as adults.
It is the position of the School Nurses Organization of Arizona (SNOA) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) that every child has access all day, every day to a full time registered professional school nurse. The school nurse serves in a pivotal role that bridges health care and education. Grounded by standards of practice, services provided by the school nurse include leadership, community/public health, care coordination, and quality improvement
(NASN, 2016a). We support the development or adoption of standards of practice for Arizona school nurses.
ARIZONA LAW. STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS: NOT ALWAYS A PRIMARY FOCUS
As chronic health issues in children continue to increase and schools are held responsible for providing health care services, student health and wellness should be a primary focus.
Currently, Arizona law promotes the care of children in the school setting by Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP). Arizona does not have a mandate for licensed registered nurses to provide health care services for students. Delegating health care services, assessments, and management of health emergencies to non-licensed, minimally-trained individuals within the school setting does not promote best practice. We often find that whoever is providing the health care for the student is identified by students, families, and sometimes school staff as the “nurse.”
While we value our UAPs in all areas of health care and work as a team to provide optimum service to our patients, we leave them vulnerable when they are asked to provide the professional service of a licensed nurse.
As schools using UAPs grow in number, the urgency of supporting school nurses grows with every second. With multiple Arizona specific laws promoting and defining the management of health care in the school setting, there is a growing number of children with special health care needs attending schools. These laws impact such issues as diabetes and asthma management, and the assessment and response to emergency care related to anaphylaxis to name a few.
CALL TO ACTIONIf you are a parent, ask these questions: Is there
a school nurse on campus in my child’s school? What are their credentials and training? Extend your questions to a school board meeting or contact a school board member and discuss your concerns. Ask that this topic be on the board meeting agenda.
It is the hope of SNOA that our voices can reach our legislators to advocate for a nurse in every school, promoting and supporting safety in practice and better over-all outcomes for our Arizona students and schools.
If you are interested in joining a concerned and dedicated group of nurses working on this issue, e-mail your name and contact information to [email protected], Subject line: Nurse in Every School.
The Children in Your Life Need a Nurse at Their School
BENEFITS & OUTCOMES OF SCHOOL NURSES
SNOA supports NASN in the belief that “School nurses serve as case managers, bringing providers, families, and schools together to support the health of our children and youth.”
Excerpt from “School Nurse Workload: Staffing for Safe Care:”
“School nurses facilitate children’s access to medical and dental “homes” and coordinate the care essential to addressing and improving their health.1 Schools are identified as primary locations to address student health issues, and the school nurse is often the healthcare provider that a student sees on a regular basis.2 School nursing is a key component of the coordinated school health framework and is included in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model.”3
“Appropriate school nurse staffing is related to better student attendance and academic success.4 When there is a school nurse present, a school principal gains nearly an hour per day and teachers an extra 20 minutes a day to focus on education instead of student health issues.5 Baisch, Lundeen, & Murphy (2011) found that increased school nurse staffing resulted in improvements in immunization rates, vision correction, and identification of life-threatening conditions. Wang et al. (2014) determined that for every dollar spent for school nursing, $2.20 was saved in health care procedures and parent time away from work. Full-time school nurses in the schools studied by Wang et al. (2014) were attributed to preventing excess medical costs and to improved parent and teacher productivity.”
For the Full Position Statement, please visit www.nasn.org.
1 AAP, 2008; Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ACSD), 2014; Engelke, Swanson, & Guttu, 2014; Health Resources and Services Administration, n.d.
2 Albanese, 2014; The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 2010; Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2011, 2012
3 ASCD, 2014; CDC, 2014e4 Cooper, 2005; Moricca et al., 20135 Baisch, Lundeen, & Murphy, 2011; Hill & Hollis,
2012
www.aznurse.org/events
July 28-29, 201830th Annual Southwestern Regional Nurse Practitioner SymposiumLocation: TBD, Phoenix Metro Area
Thursday, September 27 – Saturday, September 29, 20182018 AzNA ConventionLocation: Wild Horse Pass Resort, Phoenix, AZ
Monday, October 22 – Thursday, October 25, 2018Arizona Nurse Leader Academy – PhoenixLocation: TBD
AzNA/AzNF Calendar of Events
CONTACT: Michelle Beasley, BSN, RN Director of Nursing Recruitment Email: [email protected] Phone: 928-729-8394
Relocation bonuses available | Excellent benefitsIHS or NHSC loan repayment program eligible
Hispanic Nurses welcome the opportunity to work with AzNA to improve the healthcare of Arizona. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)-Phoenix Chapter was established in 1991 by co-founders, Bertha Sepulveda and Ester Ruiz and is one of the largest of the 50 chapters in the National Association. The co-founders recognized a need for nurses of Hispanic descent to gather and to discuss health needs and disparities in the Hispanic community and related health policy issues. Over the years, the organization has grown to over 200 members and is very involved in community health fairs, representation in various boards and committees, continuing education, student
scholarship programs, networking, promoting the nursing profession and enhancing professional and leadership opportunities for Hispanic nurses.
Recently NAHN entered into an affiliate agreement with the Arizona Nurses Association
(AZNA). This affiliation will address the needs of NAHN, identify legislation that impacts nursing, and explore how we can work together.
“We welcome the opportunity to connect with AzNA members and look forward to a productive partnership,” says Sepulveda. Individuals interested in becoming involved with
NAHN-Phoenix Chapter can contact Bertha Sepulveda at [email protected] for more information.
Nursing Specialty Associations: To achieve Operational and
Advocacy Excellence, inquire about an affiliate opportunity with AzNA. [email protected]
or call 480-831-0404
AzNA Welcomes The National Association of Hispanic Nurses
(NAHN)-Phoenix ChapterAzNA CHAPTER HIGHLIGHT
Emerging Nurse Professionals Special
Interest GroupAmanda Foster, BSN, RN,
Chapter President and Founder
The Emerging Nurse Professionals (ENP) Special Interest Group will soon be celebrating our 1 year anniversary. This is a milestone that marks a year of strengthening the future of nursing leadership for Arizona. Since the initiation of this special interest group, membership has grown to over 377 new to practice nurses, helping to create a vibrant and diverse group. The mission of the ENP is to create a collaborative and dynamic community of registered nurses, within their first five years of practice, that are dedicated to the growth, development, and advancement of the nursing profession. Together we seek to maintain an environment to exchange ideas and provide information on professional development, education, and workplace issues. We support mentoring and peer networking for new graduate nurses. In the past year, the group has hosted several gatherings, from Happy Hour to workout events, as well as participated in the American Nurses Association Nurse Appreciation Week 5k Walk.
To build deeper connections and provide more resources for our membership, ENP has been working diligently to create an online presence and put together a year of programing for 2018. The group looks forward to hosting social and philanthropic events as well as lunch and learn meetings with speakers on topics ranging from stress management, patient advocacy, resiliency, and professional development. This year we hope to engage our membership and provide the tools and resources that new to practice nurses need to not only succeed but flourish in the profession. If you are a nurse in your first five years of practice, join us. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emergingnurseprofessionals for event information and other ways to participate, and on SocialLink with your AzNA membership for updates!
Amanda Foster, BSN, RN
We are especially seeking staff nurses to join our board and provide their critical perspective to our leadership.
AzNA’s Board members oversee the direction of the association, take responsibility for specific projects and teams, recruit new members, ensure a balanced budget, and represent AzNA members at the American Nurses Association. AzNA’s Board of Directors is an active board that makes a difference in our profession.
Board members have been elected annually for two year terms. A recent bylaws change requires that board positions are elected in a staggered fashion. Last year to accommodate the change, the Vice President and Treasurer were elected for one year terms. This year these positions are will be elected to two year terms. Job descriptions and additional information are posted at www.aznurse.org/page/2018Election.
If you wish to run for one of the AzNA Board of Directors, please submit a bio consent to serve form, available at www.aznurse.org/page/2018Election. Deadline for submission is July 29, 2018.
The committee is seeking nominations for the following:
Officer Positions Two Year Term:
Vice PresidentSupervises event planning committees and serves as ANA Alternate Delegate
TreasurerMonitors the association’s fiscal affairs and long range strategic financial planning and serves as ANA Alternate Delegate
A zNA leadership posit ions provide opportunities for career advancement as well as being professionally and personally rewarding. Volunteer to take a seat at the table.
Nominations Committee: Jason Bradley, Jane Carrington, Debbie Dyjak, Olivia Holt, & John Risi board liaison, Charlotte Russell.
Open Positions Available for Leadership – Call for Nominations
Valley Hospital is a private freestandingpsychiatric hospital specializing in mental health and
chemical dependency care.
Valley Hospital is currently recruiting for Full-Time experienced night shift Registered Nurses. Previous experience as a Behavior Health RN preferred. Valley Hospital offers a competitive salary and a generous benefit package.
For more information or to apply, visit:www.valleyhospital-phoenix.com or call 602-952-3904
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JOIN A GREAT TEAMLittle Colorado Medical Center is a 25-bed, critical access hospital, located 50 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona; a compassionate and caring facility in a family oriented community. Enjoy the stress free pleasures of small town living with benefit of a fast paced stimulating work environment. LCMC is seeking the following experienced staff:
If you are clinically competent, a team player and have excellent interpersonal leadership and computer skills then come excel and grow in an outstanding team environment!
The Western Multistate Division (WMSD) is an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Accredited Provider and Accredited Approver for Continuing Nursing Education (CNE). WMSD is a consortium of state nurses associations, currently comprised of Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. WMSD plans and implements CNE activities, approves activities submitted by nurse planners, and approves other provider units to develop CNE activities for their larger healthcare organization. The consortium is devoted to the support of nursing professional development that positively impacts patient outcomes through continuing nursing education.
WMSD currently reviews approximately 200 individual activities (IA) per year received from throughout the United States and has over 35 Approved Provider Units located in the western region and Hawaii. One key to our success is our dedicated cadre of volunteer Nurse Peer Reviewers (NPR). These NPRs review each individual activity application and Approved Provider Unit self-studies to determine compliance with the ANCC CNE standards. These volunteers diligently assess content integrity, which includes overall activity presentation material, outcomes, and evaluation methodology.
WMSD gratefully recognizes our volunteer Nurse Peer Reviewers who have agreed to have their names published. Their dedication to continuing nursing education is so very much appreciated. We are thankful for their service and vital contribution to WMSD and nursing professional development.
Susan Gonda, DNP, RN (WMSD NPRL and LNP)Cyndie Koopsen, MBA, BSN, HBN-BC, RN-BC,
During the week of February 26, Arizona RNs participated in the second phase of AzNA’s RN Advocacy Day plan. Over several days, nurses met with legislators from their home districts. The meetings were very productive and new relationships between nurses and legislators were established. AzNA is moving forward with our ‘AzNA 90’ Goal: “A Nurse Assigned to Each Legislator.” While the Arizona legislative session has come to a close, you can still take the 1st step by meeting with your legislators! It’s easy to establish a relationship by simply calling their office and scheduling an appointment. This is especially important during an election year!
Kathy Busby, JD, AzNA Lobbyist (left) meets at the state capitol with Denice Gibson, RN, AzNA Governmental
Affairs Officer (center) and Crystelle Johnson, RN, (right) to discuss legislative issues relevant to nurses.
RNs from AZ Legislative District 18 visit with Representative Mitzi Epstein (far right) to discuss issues related to nursing.
Heidi Sanborn, Rita Anderson, Robin Schaeffer and Jennifer Rossetti attended meeting with Arizona Legislators at the
Arizona State Capitol during AzNA’s RN Lobby Week at the end of February.
Rob Wallace, Janice Bovee, and Carolyn Bennett dress for success while representing Nursing at
the Arizona Capitol at the end of February.
Representatives Eddie Farnsworth (left) and Travis Grantham (right) meet with Robin Schaeffer, RN, and Kathy Wruk, RN, during RN Lobby Week at the Arizona Capitol.
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She spent the morning preparing physically and mentally for the events of the day. She pressed her white uniform dress, put on her white stockings, pulled her hair up and placed a cap on her head. Heading to the door, she takes one last look in the mirror before leaving for the church.
The parking lot is full and upon entering the church it is evident that the nurse was well liked. Attendees are spilling out of the auditorium into the foyer. Hundreds of individuals file into the auditorium, the majority wearing nursing uniforms. They have come to recognize and honor one of their own.
Four women walk into the auditorium wearing traditional Florence Nightingale dress; white uniform dresses with caps and capes. They have been asked by a friend of the family to pay tribute to the nurse who has passed; a special person who so selflessly gave to others over the years in her career as a nurse.
The memorial service is somber as family, coworkers, and friends share memories. Before the service concludes the ladies in white uniforms are asked to come forward. One nurse completes the reading, another place’s a white rose on the casket. A chime is struck three times while the deceased’s name is called out by the four volunteer nurses and she is relieved of her earthly nursing duties. As the four nurses leave, they stop in front of the husband to give condolences and present him with a special token representative of the nursing profession.
The Arizona Nurse Honor Guard was founded in 2017 as a way to offer nurses recognition and honor; for those men and women who have dedicated their lives to the nursing profession. The Arizona Nurse Honor Guard pays tribute to those individuals at the time of their visitation or
Nurse Honor Guard
“Nurse Honored”memorial service. This service is free and may be requested by family or friends of the deceased.
Active and retired nurses volunteer their time to travel within the Maricopa County area and honor fellow nurses as part of the Nurse Honor Guard. It is a privilege for the members of the honor guard to recognize nurses and help bring peace to mourners during their time of loss.
At the request of family/friends, the AZ Nurse Honor Guard can:
• Attend all services wearing the traditional white uniforms with cap and cape.
• Stand guard at the nurse’s casket or simply provide a presence at the visitation.
• Recite “A Nurse’s Prayer” reading at the funeral or during a special service.
• Present a memory token to the family.• Place a white rose on the nurse’s casket at the
end of the service, which signifies the nurse’s devotion to his or her profession.
The Nurse Honor Guard is actively seeking volunteers throughout the county who can be
available when services are requested. Currently there is no minimum mandatory time commitment. Meetings are held monthly. Approximately three to six honor guard members are needed at each service or funeral. Volunteers will need to make a small one-time investment to purchase the necessary uniform, cap, and cape that are worn during the service.
Interested nurses (male or female) may obtain more information about volunteering
or donating by contacting Founder/President: Toni Conde, BSN, RN, CCM, at 623-428-9001, Email: [email protected], or find more information on the organization Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nursehonorguard/ or Website page: arizonanursehonorguard.org.
Deanne LewisIt is with a heavy heart that the AzNA
shares with our readers the passing of an amazing and dedicated AzNA member.
Deanne, a nurse since 1979, was always searching for ways to impact nursing at an international level. She moved to Saudi Arabia working for Aramco as a nurse educator and clinical counselor. Deanne set up a unit-based continuing education (CE) program based on US National Standards, ensuring that all programs integrated critical thinking and evaluation. Her critics doubted this population of nurses could learn critical thinking skills. Deanne’s persistence proved them wrong! She developed additional CE programs including peer coaching, management skills and problem solving. Her work has impacted Nursing Education throughout the world. She completed her career in Saudi Arabia after 11 years of service.
Deanne loved nursing history, leading her to “become” Florence Nightingale. She presented at multiple conferences throughout the world, as Florence. She researched Florence’s life in detail and was authentic in her representation. AzNA life member, Jodie Williams, remembers tailoring Deanne’s most often used costume. At Deanne’s request, her Nightingale memorabilia was donated to AzNA including the authentic Nightingale lantern she used in her lectures.
Deanne was not only a member of the state-level board of directors, but also an active member of her local chapter; Northern Arizona Chapter (Chapter 5). At the national level Deanne was recently chosen as a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Political Action Committee and attended the 2016 Republican National Convention representing ANA.
Deanne died January 23rd in her home in Prescott. She is survived by her son Seth and daughter Seree, her 4 grandsons and multiple friends and colleagues. Appropriately, a celebration of her life will be held May 12th (Florence Nightingale’s birthday) at Willow Lake Ramada in Prescott from 10:30-1:30.
Deanne asked that donations go to Salt River Wild Horse Management Group as a legacy in her name. For more information or to donate, please go to www.SRWHMG.org.
We will miss our dear friend,Northern Arizona Chapter – AzNAPresident – Katie Windsor
Registered Voters as of August,2016 3,400,628 64.1% of eligible voters
Ballots cast in Primary Election 989,754 18.0% of eligible votersRegistered Voters as of November 3,588,466 67.7% of eligible voters
Ballots cast in General Election 2,661,497 50% of eligible voterssource: https://www.azsos.gov/elections/voter-registration-historical-election-data
Just think, of all the voters in Arizona, not enough vote in the Primaries where many of the election outcomes are decided. Here’s what that means: Once candidates make it through the Primaries, the voters typically have 2 choices and tend to vote along party lines. In heavily Democratic Districts, a Democrat often wins; in Republican Districts, a Republican often wins. That’s how elections happen! So the Primaries are very important and our votes as Nurses do count and make a difference!
This is a CALL TO ACTION YEAR! AZNA PAC is working hard to interview and endorse candidates that are supportive of nursing and AZ healthcare. We’re going to work hard to help them get elected, starting with informing you of our endorsements, sharing information
on voter registration, and asking for your help. We are 89,000 nurses strong in Arizona and our profession remains the most trusted profession. That’s an important voice to mobilize in our 2018 elections…but only if you register, and only if you vote! See you at the polls.
Colleen Hallberg, MSN, RN, Chair AzNA-PAC
Whenever someone says ‘the odds are against you’ I immediately react and do whatever I can to prove them wrong. Well, the odds ARE against you according to Arizona voting data. Here’s the thing…it’s unlikely you’ll vote in the Primary Election this August, but you do have more likelihood of voting in the General Election in November. Here is the reality; your vote may count much more in the primary election than the general election.
I, along with the entire AZNA Nursing PAC Board, am committed to changing your voting pattern. That includes encouraging you to register to vote if you are not already by visiting www.azsos.gov/elections and making sure that you vote in the primary election.
RN Attendees at Nurse Advocacy Day work in Groups by Legislative District
February’s recent AZNA Advocacy Day was packed with AZ nurses and nursing students who came together to hear more about the opportunity to advocate and get involved. Recent 2016 data on voting was presented and it was fascinating, disturbing, and motivating. Here it is:
Important Links:• Voter Registration: www.azsos.gov/elections • AzNA-PAC: www.aznurse.org/PAC
Mark your Calendar:• Primary Election: August 28, 2018 (voter registration deadline- July 30, 2018)• General Election: November 6, 2018 (voter registration deadline- October 9, 2018)
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU-ARE YOU ONE OF THE 18%?Only 18% of AZ eligible voters
decide who our next lawmakers will be in districts that lean heavily
to one political party. It is estimated that approximately 25 out of 30 districts in the state are decided upon in the primary elections.
Lesly Kelly and Kathy Busby discuss with the AzNA PAC the
positive impact of RN Advocacy Day
The Odds Are Against You…How Does That Feel?
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• Outpatient Clinic Nurse • RN Case Manager Sage Memorial Hospital is located in Northeastern Arizona, Ganado, Arizona
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Applications available at http://sagememorial.com/careers/
Submit applications to the Human Resources Department,Fax#: 928-755-4659, [email protected]
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONERUnder the direction of the Chief Medical Officer, the Family Nurse Practitioner (Board Certified), working within a patient centered care team, provides health care services to clinic patients utilizing professional skills in providing diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic health problems along with preventative care focused on health risk factor reduction within the scope of licensing, training, and privileging/credentialing. Provides care consistent with medical best practices and the policies/procedures/protocols of the Agency.
Qualifications FNP: MSN and a graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program with a current and valid Arizona State license with prescribing authority. Have a Valid DEA number, must be Board Certified. Ability to become credentialed with Canyonlands’ contracted health plans.
For more information, please contact HR at (928) 645-9675 ext. 5505. Applications are required and are available at the Page Administration site at 827 Vista Ave. or on line at www.canyonlandschc.org/. Resumes may be attached to the application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. EOE. Successful completion of a background check and drug screen is a prerequisite to employment. Applications are accepted until position is filled.
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Visit our Website:http://www.tonation-nsn.gov Follow the “Employ-ment” link and click on “Healthcare Opportunities”
It took a while for Loni Smith to realize she wanted to become an RN. Now that she’s almost there, the San Tan, Arizona, mom isn’t going to let anything stand in her way, not even cancer.
Loni went back to school in her mid-thirties after she found herself feeling unfulfilled in her career as a dental assistant. Nursing had been in the back of her mind for years.
“My son was really sick when he was little,” she explained. “He was in and out of the hospital a lot and had fantastic nurses. I remember them to this day, and I told myself that one day I could do that.”
After completing her general education courses at a community college, Loni enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Chamberlain University’s Phoenix campus in 2015.
“From day one, I felt that I had the support of the staff, my professors and my cohort. If anything’s going to happen to you, it’s going to happen in nursing school,” she said with a laugh.
And it did. Work, school and family obligations competed for her attention. Compressed discs and bone spurs on her spine made sitting in class difficult – but her long commute put most pain medications out of the question. A standing desk at Chamberlain helped, but doctors advised her to lose weight quickly in order to avoid extensive back surgery. Loni opted for gastric bypass, returning to class just a few days after release from the hospital.
Ten months later, just when the end of her program was in sight, Loni discovered a swollen lymph node. In October 2017, one week before the start of her final capstone course, she received the diagnosis of stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Along with shock and fear, another feeling emerged – the determination to finish her nursing degree. “I met with my professors and clinical coordinator,” she said. “I told them, ‘Not graduating is not an option. I didn’t just go through the last two-and-a-half years for this to stop me.’ They were so supportive, so caring, like a family.”
Classmates pulled together in a community of care to encourage and support her. Faculty held her to the same academic standards as other students but also allowed some flexibility with deadlines to help accommodate the rigors of chemotherapy.
The biggest challenge came from the course’s clinical component. Phoenix campus professor Ellen Poole, PhD, RN, CPAN, CNE, explained that chemotherapy weakens the immune system, leaving individuals more open to illness, infection and other complications.
“Our concern was Loni’s safety,” she said. “We were constantly re-evaluating the situation, but as long as she was safe and met the guidelines, we did everything we could to support her.”
With the official sign-off of her oncologist, Loni was able to participate in her clinical rotations, but she needed to take special precautions. She herself
wore a mask at times, and she was placed on the floor with nurses who were not caring for patients whose condition required caregivers to use gowns, masks and gloves.
Over the eight weeks of the course, she spent four days in clinicals in between three rounds of chemo. She finished the class with an A- and crossed the stage for her graduation in early January. “It was rough, but the support I had from Chamberlain made the difference,” Loni said. “Having their support and knowing they were not only rooting for me but really doing what they could to help me finish – it was amazing. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”
For now, she’s focusing on her health as she waits to go through the final two rounds of chemo. Once that’s done, she plans to conquer her next challenge – the NCLEX® licensing exam.
And after that? Maybe a job as an oncology nurse. “I had a nurse when I was in the hospital in December who had gone through cancer. Her
words of encouragement meant so much to me, because she knew exactly what I was going through,” she explained.
“After everything is said and done, I’m hoping that my experience will allow me to give something special back to my patients that not everybody can.”
Reprinted with permission from Chamberlain University. All rights reserved.
‘Not Graduating is Not an Option:’ Phoenix Student Fights Cancer While Finishing Her BSN
Loni Smith, BSN, RN
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services is
recruiting RNs for:
Operating Room • ER • ICULabor & Delivery
We offer a great working environment and competitive
compensation package including relocation assistance.
$5,000 Sign on Bonus with 2 years experience(subject to change)
Quality Health Care, Close to Home
Contact Brian LalioHuman Resources Generalist/Recruiter
supported by several non-medical people. At each clinic we had a waiting area for the local people. One clinic was held in a school, two under tents in open fields, and one under the abundant shade of a grove of trees. It wasn’t unusual for chickens or goats to wander through. There were several triage tables at which our nurses and local student nurses checked vital signs and blood sugars when indicated by history. Basic primary care was provided and non-healing wounds were treated. Vision needs were assessed by viewing a reading chart and then trying on a pair of donated reading glasses. All patients received a de-worming pill.
There were three education programs. We stressed breathing cleaner air by not having indoor cooking fires and not smoking. We stressed better nutrition by eating a variety of foods. Locally the people generally eat too much starchy foods and animal foods, neglecting the fruits and vegetables which are readily available there. We taught body pain relief by using proper exercises and body mechanics when working. We served more than a thousand people at these four clinics!
Overall it was an amazing experience and I was happy that my nursing skills enabled me to give some care to very deserving people. If you are ready for an amazing experience, a few hours a week or travel to a foreign country, contact Nadine Armstrong, Executive Director of the local Project Cure office [email protected] or call 480.792.3740. You won’t regret it!
Project CURE served more than a thousand people at four clinics across Ghana, Africa
Perry likes to interact with the citizens of the countries she visits
physician on our team gave a six-hour presentation on current care of trauma patients to approximately 40 local physicians.
Only three of us traveled to Bacita: the ED of IMF, the woman helper and I. Locals helped us: two doctors, a nurse with on-the-job training for advanced skills, a midwife, and several health education students. We again had armed guards, but little help to keep order and process the patients. The helper routed patients. The students and I took vital signs and tried to keep the patients in line to see the doctors and nurse-midwife. We saw many more children in this clinic, some of whom were very ill. In the three days in Bacita, we saw 625 patients. By the end of the third day, we were out of medications. The optometrists, very busy fitting reading glasses, gave out all that we brought.
The majority of people we saw were Muslim. It was wonderful, particularly in Bacita, to see the mutual respect of the people of different beliefs. We all worked together, provided some much- needed care, and grew to love and respect those with whom we worked. I got my wish to interact closely with the citizens of the country. Although I have been retired for almost 15 years, I keep my nursing license and my membership in AzNA active. It provides wonderful opportunities to feel useful when I visit interesting parts of the world. Because this was an outpatient clinic and the physicians were doing basic examinations then prescribing treatment and medications, any bedside nurse traveling from the U.S. could take vital signs and refer patients to the appropriate provider. They could also provide presentations, formal or informal, to the local nurses based on their expertise. Local nurses were eager to hear what is happening in health care in the U.S.
Nurses interested in similar experiences can contact IMF (internationalmissionfoundaton.org, local churches to see if they participate in missions, search the internet for mission opportunities, and speak with
acquaintances who have participated in missions. It is a wonderful way to share your nursing expertise and learn about delivery of health care around the world. If you have the opportunity to participate, know that you will never look at medicine, nursing, and health care the same again.
Global Nursing continued from page 1
Medical Mission continued from page 1
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Summit Healthcare has a CMS 5 star rating, an employee satsifaction score of 89% and was voted the number one employer in the White Mountains!
To learn more about our Career opportunities visit www.summithealthcare.net or call to speak with the Nurse Recruiter, Stevie Billingsley at 928-537-6367
Individual nurses are the drivers who can choose from a variety of roads to apply both the science and practice of nursing. With so many drivers and so many roads available, how do we know that the knowledge between drivers is consistent and they don’t get lost along the way? In the nursing world, the map maker is the nurse scientist. The nurse scientist looks at the world of nursing, listens to colleagues, and recognizes knowledge gaps. Once explored, these knowledge gaps help pave the way for new roads, enabling the science and practice of nursing to advance, while keeping our most important passenger, the patient, safe.
The role of the nurse scientist is not limited to the discipline of nursing; it extends out into the community of scientific scholars for collaboration. This process of collaboration is a feedback loop that helps in the redesign and refinement of our map: nursing knowledge, practice, theory, and application. Every individual nurse and those in
other disciplines are affected by the collaboration of nurse scientists as they apply their unique perspective, discover new knowledge, and share new roads to safe and successful practice. Our passenger, the patient, takes many rides on the health and wellness journey and nurse scientists help provide safe and effective travel.
It has been said that nurse scientists are few in number and they walk the road less traveled (Barrett, 2002). It could be argued that nurse scientists actually paved that road, resulting in expansion of the nursing discipline, application of new knowledge, and advancement of the science and practice of nursing. As we think about those paving our future roads we should remember, that as Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” (Barrett, 1990, p. xxi; Barrett, 2002). If you know any nurse scientists, ask them about their current projects. You may be surprised to find out that what they are studying has an application to your practice setting.
Barrett. E. A. M. (1990). Preface. In E. A. M. Barrett (Eds)., Vision of Rogers’ science based nursing (pp. xxi-xxiii). New York: National League for Nursing.
Barrett, E. A. M. (2002). What is nursing science? Nursing Science Quarterly, 15, 51-60. doi: 10.1177/089431840201500109.
What Does a Nurse Scientist Do Anyway?The Road to Research
Chloe Littzen, RNPhoto credit:
Mirelle Inglefield, Phoenix Magazine
May, June, July 2018 Arizona Nurse • Page 15
Barbara Russell, MPH, BSHSA, RN, CIC, FAPICDirector of Infection Prevention and Control
Director of Sterilization and LinenBaptist Hospital Miami
Reprinted from The Florida Nurse,September 2017 Issue
Historically – What has become known as fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) was first described 1700 years ago. It was an ancient Chinese researcher by the name of Ge Hong. He used what he called ‘yellow soup’ to treat his patients with severe diarrhea. The’ soup’ was administered orally, possibly accounting for the failure of the technique to become widely known. During World War II German soldiers used camel stool to treat bacterial dysentery. The next time we hear of a suggestion for stool being used to treat severe diarrhea was more than 50 years ago when a nurse named Betty suggested taking normal stool from one person and implanting in a person with diarrhea. Her
colleagues, physicians and nurses ridiculed her to the point she gave up her position at the hospital.
Modern day – In 1958 an article was published that indicated patients receiving this treatment had recovered from their antibiotic associated diarrhea. Despite the growing amount of evidence, it wasn’t till 1978 that the value of FMT started to be widely recognized in treating an intestinal condition called Clostridium difficile resistant diarrhea. It still took several more years for it to become easier to have the procedure done in a healthcare setting. In the interim fecal transplant spread on the Internet and many patients started doing by themselves with help of friends and relatives because medical doctors were unwilling to perform such a non conventional treatment.
The process involves using the feces of a well tested healthy individual, liquefying it and inserting into the bowel of an individual with C. diff diarrhea. It is usually through a colonoscope or enema.
Today studies show an 80% cure with first treatment and 90% if two treatments are needed. Most specimens now used for transplant come from a stool bank where the stool is frozen and sent to sites when ordered. Again, the feces are coming from a healthy well tested individual.
In 2013, after more than fifty years from Betty’s action, FDA finally and reluctantly allowed doctors
to perform fecal transplant for limited cases of C-diff infection. More specifically transplants for patients who are not responding to standard therapies for C. difficile infections which includes failing long term treatment with oral Vancomycin. The FDA continues to consider the procedure as use of an investigational new drug (INDs) and the physician must obtain adequate informed consent. During the years Betty enjoyed her peaceful life knowing that the mainstream of the medical community finally accepted fecal transplant, even for limited cases.
Though many individuals are colonized with the organism when they enter the hospital others can acquire it in the hospital. The organism most commonly is acquired through ingestion. Once a patient has it in their gut the most likely way for it to create the diarrhea is from the patient receiving antibiotics.
So as today’s nurse Betty, what can we do to prevent our patients from acquiring and/or hence developing C. difficile diarrhea?
1) Place patients with unidentified cause of diarrhea on Contact Precautions in a private room till testing done. This means any contact with patient or their environment requires wearing gloves and a gown. After removal hands washed with soap and water. The spores that may be present will not be killed by handwashing but if they are present the friction and running water will wash them away. Some facilities say that after drying your hands to still use the alcohol sanitizer.
2) If test positive continue precautions and if negative revert to Standard Precautions.
3) Be sure room is cleaned daily and on transfer or discharge with a product containing bleach or one that says kills C. diff. Also, any equipment that has to be used on another patient should be wiped down by such a product.
4) Follow your facilities protocol for discontinuing precautions.
5) Educate the patient and their family regarding hand hygiene and precautions to take at home.
6) Monitor antibiotics and don’t hesitate to ask physician if they are to be continued.
Unlike what happened to yesterday’s Betty, you will not be ridiculed for doing as just described as it is all evidence based and proven to be effective if done properly. Let’s go for “The Power of the Nurse.”
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