nursingmatters august 2014

August 2014 n Volume 25, Number 8

NursingmattersP

RS

T S

TDU

S P

OS

TAG

E

PAID

MA

DIS

ON

WI

PE

RM

ITN

O.

1723

www.nursingmattersonline.com

InsIde:non-partisan

redistricting reform in Wisconsin

3double the number

of nurses with doctoral degrees by 2020

4WnA’s ‘nurses Caring for nurses’ celebrates

20th anniversary

8

Capitalizing on the theme of “Nurses Leading the Way,” represen-tatives from the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) visited Capitol Hill and joined 350 representa-tives and observers to the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Membership Assembly June 10 to 15.

Represented by WNA President Lea Acord, Ellen Murphy and non-voting member, Executive Director Gina Dennik-Champion, WNA par-ticipated in dialogue forums to offer strategies on three key topics: nurses’ full practice authority, access to pal-liative care and high-performing interprofessional teams. Assembly representatives subsequently voted on specific recommendations for the ANA Board of Directors to consider.

Before participating in Membership Assembly, the WNA representatives visited Reps. Paul Ryan, Sean Duffy, Reid Ribble and Mark Pocan, in addition to Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, to advocate for safer nurse staffing, expansion of safe patient handling and mobility programs, removal of restrictions that prevent certain nurses from certifying patients for a home health benefit and order-ing durable medical equipment, and the removal of barriers that restrict nurses and APRNs from practicing to their fullest scope of practice.

At Membership Assembly, the first forum addressed “Scope of Practice – Full Practice Authority for All RNs.” Participants engaged in table discussions around legislation mandating physician supervision of APRNs over a certain period of time before APRNs could gain full prac-tice authority; major practice barriers

for RNs; and potential strategies to move past “turf battles” as new roles and categories of health care workers evolve.

Representatives voted to recom-mended that ANA support interpro-fessional education; practice and research to promote the full scope of RN practice; encourage nursing research to compare full practice authority states, transition to APRN practice states, and restricted APRN states; educate the public, policy makers and other health professionals about emerging roles and overlapping responsibilities; and support elimi-nating practice agreements between APRNs and physicians.

In the second forum, they tack-led “Integration of Palliative Care into Health Care Delivery Systems: Removing Barriers, Improving Access.” After sharing information, Assembly representatives formally voted on recommendations asking ANA to promote and support pay-ment models to improve access to palliative and hospice care, including nursing care provided by both RNs and APRNs; advocate for compre-

hensive integration of palliative and hospice care education at all levels of nursing educational programs and professional development pro-grams; and support developing and expanding models of nursing care that include advanced care planning for early identification and support of patients’ preferences for palliative and hospice services.

The final forum explored high-performing, interprofessional teams, and Assembly representatives ulti-mately recommended asking ANA to consider educating nurses about the application and impact of evolv-ing patient-centered, team-based care models on patient outcomes, and identify metrics that evaluate the impact of high-performing, interdis-ciplinary health care teams on patient outcomes.n

WnA goes to Washington, joins AnA assembly

WNA Executive Director Gina Dennik-Champion and WNA President Lea Acord with Mark Pocan.

WNA Executive Director Gina Dennik-Champion and WNA President Lea Acord with Sean Duffy.

PHOTO BY RON GOGSWELL

August • 2014 Nursingmatterswww.nursingmattersonline.com

Nursingmatters is published monthly by Capital Newspapers. Editorial and business

offices are located at

1901 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53713FAX 608-250-4155

Send change of address information to:Nursingmatters

1901 Fish Hatchery Rd.Madison, WI 53713

Editor .........................................Kaye Lillesand, MSN608-222-4774 • [email protected]

Managing Editor ......................Teresa Bryan Peneguy 608-250-4166 • [email protected]

Recruitment Sales Manager .................... Sheryl Barry608-252-6379 • [email protected]

Art Director ....................................... Wendy McClure608-252-6267 • [email protected]

Publications Division Manager...............Matt Meyers608-252-6235 • [email protected]

Nursingmatters is dedicated to supporting and fostering the growth of professional nursing. Your comments are encouraged and appreciated. Email editorial submissions to [email protected]. Call 608-252-6264 for advertising rates.

Every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy, but the publisher cannot accept responsibility for the correctness or accuracy of information herein or for any opinion expressed. The publisher will return material submitted when requested; however, we cannot guarantee the safety of artwork, photo-graphs or manuscripts while in transit or while in our possession.

EDITORIAL BOARDVivien DeBack, RN, Ph.D., EmeritusNurse ConsultantEmpowering Change, Greenfield, WIBonnie Allbaugh, RN, MSNMadison, WICathy Andrews, Ph.D., RNAssociate Professor (Retired)Edgewood College, Madison, WIKristin Baird, RN, BSN, MSHPresidentBaird Consulting, Inc., Fort Atkinson, WIJoyce Berning, BSNMineral Point, WIMary Greeneway, BSN, RN-BCClinical Education CoordinatorAurora Medical Center, Manitowoc CountyMary LaBelle, RNStaff NurseFroedtert Memorial Lutheran HospitalMilwaukee, WICynthia WheelerRetired NuRSINGmatters Advertising Executive, Madison, WI Deanna Blanchard, MSNNursing Education Specialist at uW HealthOregon, WIClaire Meisenheimer, RN, Ph.D.Professor, UW-Oshkosh College of NursingOshkosh, WISteve Ohly, ANPCommunity Health Program ManagerSt. Lukes Madison Street Outreach ClinicMilwaukee, WIJoyce Smith, RN, CFNPFamily Nurse PractitionerMarshfield Clinic, Riverview CenterEau Claire, WIKaren Witt, RN, MSNAssociate ProfessoruW-Eau Claire School of Nursing, Eau Claire, WI

© 2014 Capital Newspapers

Nursingmatters

Kaye Lillesand

edITORIALnMBy Kaye Lillesand, editor

“There can be no complaining without responsi-bility,” someone once said to me. I thought it was very appropriate for an election year. What is the connection,

you ask? Think about this. Where are deci-

sions made about such things as licensure, prescriptive authority, entry into practice, reimbursement for nurses, cutbacks in Medicare and Medicaid (look at what is happening in Wisconsin today), and money for education and research? Decisions like these directly affect a nurse’s prac-tice on a daily basis. These decisions impact what nurses can do, how and what they are paid, how their work set-ting is staffed, whether there is money for education and how much research is done. Who makes these decisions? Our elected officials!

So let us choose to use our energy in a positive way by accepting our responsibility rather than in a nega-tive way by complaining. As profes-sionals, what is our responsibility to our elected officials? There are many responsibilities, but two of them

seem to leap right out at me.First, it is our responsibility to help

the legislators understand the tremen-dous contribution that professional nurses make to the health of this nation. We must tell our stories. We must show how our work helps peo-ple to attain and maintain high-level wellness, how we prevent illness, how we heal body, mind and spirit rather than just cure a body. We have a responsibility to demonstrate, with “facts and figures” and with “anec-dotal notes,” how we have saved this nation billions of dollars by teaching people good nutrition; good exercise habits; how to cope with chronic ill-ness; how to breastfeed properly; how to avoid getting pregnant; how to deal with grief and loss; how to deal with stress; how to maintain balance in our lives; how to parent; how to get through the “passages” in our lives in a positive manner; etc., etc., etc.

When the legislators understand the facts, they will make decisions that will support professional nursing practice. We are, INDISPUTABLY, the best solution to this nation’s

health care crisis. We just have to get the word out. We have to value what we do enough to take action.

Second, it is our responsibility to get those candidates who understand and value nursing’s contribution to society elected. It is not enough just to vote. The best way to get to know a candidate and to have his/her ear after an election is to work on the campaign. There are many ways you can help: hold fundraisers, distribute literature, make calls, help with mail-ings, give and get money, and many more. It is really fun to get caught up in the fervor of the campaign. Better yet, encourage nurses to run for office, local, state, or national! If nurses get elected, it will help us get our value articulated in the legisla-ture.

I still hear nurses say, “I’m not political,” or “I don’t like get-ting politically involved.” Getting involved is not a matter of whether one “likes it” or not. IT IS A MATTER OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. If you choose not to accept this responsibility, your forfeit the right to complain!

stop complaining, start doing

Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), in Mequon, has announced a new dean of its School of Nursing. Dr. Sharon Chappy will take over the top position in the School of Nursing beginning August 1.

Dr. Chappy most recently served as the Graduate Program Director and Assistant Dean of the School of Nursing at University Wisconsin-Oshkosh where she also taught as a profes-sor. Currently, Chappy serves as the Research Editor of the “AORN Journal” and is an active member of the Association of periOp-erative Registered Nurses (AORN). She specializes in perioperative nurs-ing and has been an academic educa-

tor since 1992.“I was attracted to Concordia

because of its very strong nursing pro-gram and the excellent reputation of

the University, the School of Nursing and its graduates,” said Chappy. “I was ready to move my career to the next level and Concordia’s Core Values match my personal and professional beliefs.”

As the Chief Nursing Officer of the University, Chappy will provide leader-ship for all academic pro-

grams within nursing, including all graduate, undergraduate, and certifi-cate programs. She will be a visionary leader in the dynamic world of health care education and innovative, deliver-

ing high quality nursing education in the most efficient and convenient way possible for students.

“During my career, I have estab-lished strong collegial relationships with nurses, academics, and health care agency leaders across the state and beyond. I look forward to building on those relationships as Dean of the School of Nursing, as well as devel-oping new partnerships in the greater Milwaukee area,” said Chappy. “I look forward to continuing the successes that the School has in place and build-ing upon the excellence already estab-lished here.”

Dr. Chappy will take over for Dr. Carol Ott who became Interim Dean of the School of Nursing at CUW ear-lier this year.n

Concordia announces new dean for its school of nursing

Dr. Sharon Chappy

August • 2014www.nursingmattersonline.com

By Jay Heck

Wisconsin nurs-es, like all citizens, are deeply affected by decisions made by their elected representatives in the Wisconsin Legislature and in

the U.S. House of Representatives on public policy matters important to nurses. It follows that whom those elected officials are, and how they were elected, is critically important in determining what pub-lic policy is advanced and what is rejected in both Madison and in Washington, D.C.

But it is a good bet that not many nurses (and not many other citizens) know or care much about non-partisan redistricting reform in Wisconsin. After all, redistricting – or “gerrymandering” as it is often

called – is an activity that seems to matter only to political “insiders.” It is a process undertaken in total secrecy and directed by partisan leaders with taxpayer money with no information about what they were doing available to the public or with any public input. But that is exactly the problem – on every count!

The U.S. and Wisconsin Constitutions mandate that every 10 years, following the Census, that states reconfigure the district bound-aries for congressional and state legislative districts to reflect the changes and movement of the popu-lation in each state that occurred during the previous decade. But this process can, and has, become increasingly partisan and unfair and has a significant detrimental effect on citizens of all political persua-sions and on public policy.

The 2011 redistricting process

was the most hyper-partisan, secre-tive, expensive and outrageous in Wisconsin’s history. Majority Republicans, in less than a week, introduced and rammed through the Legislature their new, secretly-drawn state legislative and congressional district maps – designed to ensure them majorities in the Wisconsin Legislature and in Wisconsin’s eight-member U.S. House delegation for the decade. And they charged the taxpayers of Wisconsin over $2.1 million to create far fewer competi-tive general elections for the State Senate, State Assembly and for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican legislators even had to sign “secrecy oaths” during the process to keep their gerrymander-ing from the press and public.

The same thing happened in our neighboring state of Illinois. But there, the process was totally con-

trolled by partisan Democrats. In both Wisconsin and Illinois, the citi-zens were the losers.

In Wisconsin, we now have only 15 of 99 competitive Assembly districts, 4 of 33 competitive State Senate districts and none (zero) of our eight U.S. House districts are competitive. That is a travesty and it is greatly diminishes the power of you, the voter, to effect change.

The problem when legislators choose their voters in a partisan redistricting process, rather than voters picking their legislators – as it should be, is that legislators seek to create “safe” seats, particularly for members of their own party, in districts devoid of competition. Legislators who occupy safe dis-tricts are not and do not have to be as responsive, or even have to listen

Why nurses (and all citizens) should know and care about non-partisan redistricting reform in Wisconsin

Jay Heck

continued on page 6

August • 2014 Nursingmatters

Welcome to the sixth in a series of articles presented by the Wisconsin Center for Nursing (WCN) on its 2013 report, “The Wisconsin Nursing Workforce: Status and Recommendations.” Each article contains a unique issue in Wisconsin with rec-ommendations and strategies to address it. The relevant key message from “The Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report (2011)” is also included. Consider actions your organiza-tion can take to address these issues to avoid a future nursing workforce shortage in our state.

IOM report key message: Nurses should achieve higher lev-

els of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic pro-gression toward 80 percent of work force with BSNs and double the number of nurses at the doctoral level by 2020.

Wisconsin issue: Currently, 0.6 percent of

Wisconsin nurses hold a doctoral degree in nursing. To assure an adequate faculty supply, along with increasing diversity, Wisconsin will need to double the number of nurses with doctoral degrees by 2020.

Recommendation:Remove salary inequities for nurse

faculty to provide market competition between practice and education to recruit /retain faculty and researchers.

strategies:1. Explore and expand creative public-

private funding models to support additional nurse faculty positions to increase student enrollment.

2. Increase dual faculty positions between two educational institu-tions, or an educational programs and a clinical agency.

3. Actively recruit faculty from underrepresented groups.

4. Expand and enhance loan forgive-ness and traineeship programs for nursing faculty.A critical resource affecting

schools to educate an adequate future supply of nurses is the avail-ability of faculty. The dearth of qualified nursing faculty is impeding the ability of many nursing schools to maintain and expand current enrollments at a time when nursing programs must attempt to dramati-cally increase enrollments.

This is due to several fac-tors. Currently, the mean age of Wisconsin nursing faculty is 58, and 33 percent plan to retire in four years or less.

Additionally, dwindling resources has impacted the ability of nursing schools to pay salaries adequate to compete for enough nursing fac-ulty to teach the next generation of nurses. Scarce resources also have decreased the number of graduate students able to make a commitment to doctoral education, thus decreas-ing the profession’s ability to educate the next generation of faculty.

A trend in nursing education nationally and in Wisconsin is the transition from master level prepara-tion to doctoral level preparation for APRNs. Several new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs were initiated in both public and pri-vate universities in the past three years. Reported graduates from DNP pro-grams numbered only 10 in 2010 and 12 in 2011, but a significant increase is projected for 2015 and beyond.

Wisconsin Ph.D. nursing pro-grams showed significant increases in program capacity measures from 2010 to 2011. Qualified applicants almost doubled from 20 to 38, the number of admitted students

increased from 18 to 36, and new enrollees increased from 16 to 31. Although the number of gradu-ates decreased from 29 to 25, the increased enrollment is projected to result in an increased number of graduates in future years.

The major challenge in meeting the nursing supply gap in Wisconsin is the capacity of nursing schools in the state to admit qualified appli-cants. There is a high interest in nursing across the state and a large pool of qualified applicants to nurs-ing programs. However, recent data indicate that insufficient capacity in nursing second degree programs resulted in 61 percent rejected appli-cants. Throughout the past decade, there have been many more qualified applicants to nursing education pro-grams than can be admitted due to limited capacity.

Innovative exemplars in Wisconsin are beginning to emerge to address the critical need to increase numbers of faculty. A $3.2 million initiative, Nurses for Wisconsin, was funded in November 2013 through a UW System Economic Development Incentive Grant. This program, led by UW-Eau Claire College of Nursing and Health Sciences and with nurs-ing programs at UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and UW Oshkosh, offers pre-doctoral and postdoc-toral fellowships to support stu-dents pursuing a Ph.D. or DNP, and loan forgiveness to new faculty, in exchange for a three-year teaching obligation. The program has already awarded over $1 million to individu-als committed to joining the nurse educator work force in Wisconsin. For more information on Nurses for Wisconsin, go to http://www.uwec.edu/nursesforwisconsin/.

The complete report is available for free download at http://www.wisconsincenterfornursing.org/work-force_report.html.n

Watch for upcoming articles in this series, “Improve Retention of New Nurses,” in the September 2014 issue of Nursingmatters.

The Wisconsin nursing Workforce: double the number of nurses with doctoral degrees by 2020

Viterbo is . . .NursingBSN Program• Offered on campus

BSN Completion• One morning a week• FourWisconsin locations• Classroom and online

Doctor of NursingPractice (DNP) Program• BSN to DNP

Family NPAdult-Gero NP

• MSN to DNPFor practicing NPs

• Hybrid course delivery

1-888-VITERBO • www.viterbo.edu/nursing • La Crosse,Wisconsin


Cipriano elected President of American nurses AssociationRepresentatives at the American

Nurses Association’s (ANA) Membership Assembly recently elected Pamela Cipriano, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, of Charlottesville, Va., to serve as president of the profes-sional association that rep-resents the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million regis-tered nurses (RNs).

The voting representatives of ANA’s Membership Assembly also elected three other members to serve as officers of the 10-member board of directors.

Cipriano, senior director at Galloway Consulting, which helps hospital groups, health care payers and providers improve their opera-tions, outcomes and profits, succeeds Karen A. Daley, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. Cipriano, who is also a research asso-ciate professor at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, served as the inaugural editor-in-chief of ANA’s official journal, American Nurse Today, and is a member of the Virginia Nurses Association.

Cipriano oversaw more than 3,000 University of Virginia Health Systems employees as the chief clini-cal officer and chief nursing officer. She earned her doctorate in execu-tive nursing administration from the University of Utah in 1992 and a master’s of science in physiologi-cal nursing from the University of

Washington in 1981. She previously served two terms on the ANA Board of Directors, including one term as trea-surer, and has served for more than 30 years on state and national committees for ANA and the American Academy of Nursing.

From 2010 to 2011, Cipriano served as the Distinguished Nurse

Scholar in Residence at the Institute of Medicine, where she helped study the safety of health information-technology assisted care. She cur-rently chairs the Task Force on Care Coordination at the American Academy of Nursing.

“This is indeed the most impres-sive honor in my entire career. I look forward to working with you to serve nurses, improve the safety and quality of care for our patients, and continue to transform our nation’s health,” Cipriano told 350 nurses attending ANA’s annual Membership Assembly, the association’s governing body.

Elected as officers were Vice President Cindy R. Balkstra, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, Georgia Nurses Association; Secretary Patricia Travis, Ph.D., RN, CCRP, Maryland Nurses Association; and Treasurer Gingy Harshey-Meade, MSN, RN, CAE, NEA-BC, Ohio Nurses Association and Indiana State Nurses Association. Jesse M. L. Kennedy, RN, Oregon Nurses Association, was

elected to serve as a director-at-large, recent nursing school graduate.

Remaining on the board to com-plete their terms are Devyn K. Denton, RN, Oklahoma Nurses Association; Andrea Gregg, DSN, RN, Florida Nurses Association; Faith Jones, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Wyoming Nurses Association; and director-at-large staff nurse mem-bers, Linda Gural, RN, CCRN, New

Jersey State Nurses Association and Gayle M. Peterson, RN-BC, ANA Massachusetts.

Elected to serve on the Nominations and Elections Committee are Edward Briggs, DNP, ARNP, Florida Nurses Association; Linda Beechinor, DNP, RN, APRN-BC, Individual Member Division; and Elissa E. Brown, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC, ANA\California.n

Pamela Cipriano

nurses urge lawmakers on Lobby day

More than 200 registered nurses met with congressional representa-tives June 12 in Silver Spring, Md. to advocate for safer nurse staffing, expansion of safe patient handling and mobility programs and removal of restrictions that prevent certain nurses from certifying patients for a home health benefit and ordering durable medical equipment.

The Capitol Hill visits were organized for the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) annual Lobby Day, which leads into the asso-ciation’s two-day Membership Assembly, ANA’s governing body.

“If there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that when nurses talk, Washington listens,” ANA’s then-President Karen A. Daley, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, told RNs from state nurses associations before they fanned out on Capitol Hill. “Whether you are advocating for legislation to advance safe staffing, or working to remove barriers that prevent consumers from benefitting from advanced practice registered nurses’ full scope of practice, be proud that we speak with one strong voice for nursing.”

continued on page 12

Come seeWhat Is Possiblehere.

froedtert.com/careers

Froedtert Health’s strong partnership withthe Medical College of Wisconsin hasbenefited patients, health care professionalsand the region since 1980. With threehospitals and more than 30 primary andspecialty care health centers and clinics,the Froedtert & the Medical College ofWisconsin health network provides a workenvironment where medical and non-clinicalprofessionals can feel encouraged, respected,valued and highly regarded. We currentlyhave the following opportunities available:

MCU – Registered Nurses –Night Shift

Wound Care Registered NursesSt. Joseph’s Hospital – West Bend, Wisconsin

Medicine/OncologyRegistered NursesOperating Room Registered NursesFroedtert Hospital – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Emergency DepartmentRegistered NursesCommunity Memorial Hospital –Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

To learn more about the Froedtert & theMedical College health network and toapply, please visit froedtert.com./careers

We are proud to be an Equal OpportunityEmployer. As a federal contractor/subcontractor,we take affirmative action in employmentbased on race, sex, disability and status asa protected veteran. We welcome protectedveterans to share their priority considerationstatus with us at 414-777-1680. We maintaina drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.


to all of their constituents because if they have no fear of losing in a general election, they can ignore the concerns of citizens with whom they disagree. There is none of the accountability and search for bipar-tisan solutions that are critical for a legislator who represents a competi-tive district.

The bottom line is that now in Wisconsin, the overwhelming major-ity of state legislators and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives can ignore you and your concerns if they don’t agree with you. Why? Because they have “safe” seats and need to please only those of their own political party and philosophy. That is not democracy.

The 2011 gerrymandering process has polarized Wisconsin politics in a way we have never seen before and has made for an ideological, dismis-sive and unresponsive Legislature bent on achieving only their own narrow, divisive agenda instead of working in the interest of all Wisconsinites in a bipartisan, rea-sonable and cooperative manner.

Redistricting reform would great-ly help to reduce this hyper-partisan

polarization because it would force legislators to be more responsive to all of their constituents through more competitive general elections instead of just to the most extreme voters of their political base in pri-mary elections – as is increasingly the case now.

Fortunately there is a solution to this problem. During the 2013-2014 legislative session a measure was introduced that would remove the redistricting process from the direct control of partisan legislative lead-ers and delegate the redrawing of new district boundaries after the next Census (in 2020) to the non-partisan state Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), without partisan consider-ations. The Legislature could only vote the new maps created by the LRB up or down without amendment – they could not interfere or change the district line drawn by the LRB.

This plan was put into effect in Iowa in 1981 and elections in Iowa are competitive, legislators are much more responsive to all of their con-stituents, it costs the taxpayers of Iowa next to nothing and Iowans have confidence in their elections and elected officials.

For an Iowa-type redistricting process to be in effect in Wisconsin

for 2021, we need to get it passed and enacted into law next year because the closer we draw toward the 2020 Census, the more difficult it becomes to get the necessary sup-port from legislators to change the system.

The good news is that almost every newspaper editorial board in Wisconsin supports non-partisan redistricting reform and thousands of citizens now realize how impor-tant it is to every other concern that they have. Obviously, this includes the concerns of Wisconsin nurses.

You can send a powerful mes-sage to candidates for the Wisconsin Legislature and for Congress this year by telling them that you sup-port a non-partisan redistricting pro-cess for Wisconsin like the one Iowa has. This common sense, fundamen-tal reform will enhance and greatly empower the voice and concern of nurses in Wisconsin – and the voices of all Wisconsin citizens.n

Jay Heck is the state director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, the state’s largest non-partisan politi-cal reform advocacy organization with nearly 3,000 members. Contact them at (608) 256-2686, common-causewisconsin.org, or [email protected].

Redistrcting reformcontinued from page 3

AnA calls for women’s health care protectionsThe American Nurses

Association (ANA) has issued the following statement, attributable to ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, FAAN:

“The American Nurses Association (ANA) is disappointed in (the recent) ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States in Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby.

“This ruling circumvents the health care reform law the Supreme Court upheld in 2012 and allows closely held, for-profit employers to interfere with the patient-health care provider relationship and deny access to coverage that protects the health and well-being of women and their families.

“The Court stated that the deci-sion only covers the contracep-tive mandate and does not mean that every religious objection will prevail over insurance coverage mandates, such as those for blood transfusions and vaccinations. ANA hopes that other employers will take note of that and are not emboldened in their effort to limit

coverage. “The Affordable Care Act

(ACA) sought to provide millions of Americans with access to basic health care and preventive ser-vices, including contraception, an essential component to women’s health. However, this ruling places an unfair burden on some women, particularly those with lower incomes, who may not be able to access medically appropriate contraceptive care due to the addi-tional expense.

“When employers are allowed to interfere with private health care decisions, it endangers the health and well-being of employees and the general public.

“ANA calls upon the federal government to act quickly to pro-

vide needed access to the services that will be denied because of this ruling.”n

ANA represents the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses.

PHOTO BY NICHOLAS EARHARDT

PARTICIPANTS NEEDEDFOR RESEARCH

PurPose: To describe the experiences ofregistered nurses who were not initially successfulon the NCLEX-RN, then subsequently passed.

InclusIon crIterIa:1) Currently be a registered nurse2) Not initially successful once or more than once

on the NCLEX-RN in the last three years3) Proficient in speaking and reading English

IntervIew: As a participant in this study, youwill be interviewed about your thoughts, feelings,opinions, beliefs, memories, images, impressions,and ideas about your experiences taking theNCLEX-RN more than once.

tIme: Your participation would involve a one-timeinterview lasting approximately 1-2 hours that willbe audiotaped, transcribed, and deidentified.

IncentIve: In appreciation for your time, youwill receive $25.00 gift card upon completionof the interview.

contact InformatIon:Tammy Kasprovich Marquette University College of

Nursing PhD student via email

This study has been reviewed by and received IRBapproval through Marquette University Office of

Research Compliance.

[email protected]


Reflections of our Heritage Signe Skott Cooper’s legacy

Ruth M. straub

Reprint in a series written by Signe Cooper and introduced by Laurie Glass in March Nursingmatters

On July 9, 1942, Army Nurse Lt. Ruth Straub was honored at a Red Cross Rally in Milwaukee. The rally paid tribute to a heroic nurse and was designed to urge even more nurse partici-pation in the war effort. Over 800 uniformed nurses marched into the Milwaukee Auditorium. Straub was presented an illuminated scroll testimonial to her valor under fire at Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippine Islands.

Straub was a 1933 graduate of Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Nursing in Milwaukee, and took a post-graduate course at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago before joining the Army Nurse Corps on Dec. 31, 1936. After serving in this country, she was sent to the Philippines, arriving in Manila July 18, 1939.

She was assigned to Sternberg Army Hospital in Manila for two months before being transferred to Fort Slotsenberg, 60 miles away. Just before the war broke out, she was sent back to Sternberg, and was there when the Japanese bombed Manila on Dec. 8, 1941. Twenty days later she was evacuated to Bataan, and sent to Corregidor.

Straub’s diary of her experiences during this time was published in the Pittsburg Post-Gazette in September 1942. The diary is a record of false hope of rescue, incredible hardship, exceptional courage and the will to survive.

In the beginning of her diary, Straub wrote, “It’s good to have something to occupy one’s mind when all you hear is the whee of shells and you are always tight with hunger and your head is whirling with quinine.”

The diary includes a poignant note. Her fiancé, Glen Adler, whom she met on the ship on the way to the Philippines, was acci-dently killed on Dec.10, 1941. A pilot stationed at Clark Field, he was hit by an incoming plane when he could not get out of the way. Her overwhelm-ing sense of loss is felt throughout the diary.

Living in what she describes as a “hobo

camp” in Bataan, the beds were placed near a creek the nurses used for bathing and laundry. She wrote of a huge iguana that prowled around the beds at night, and rats that chewed up clothes and bit one nurse, and a cobra that was killed just before it struck.

Personnel were given five grains of quinine a day to prevent malaria, but eventually the quinine gave out, and many suffered from malaria, as well as malnutrition and dysentery. The food was dreadful, meals were limited to two a day and she writes of losing weight.

During March the Japanese bombed the area continuously. “Where is all the bravery I thought I possessed?” she asked in the diary. On March 28: “Bombers getting very close. Once this afternoon the bombs whizzed right over our heads. After it was over we shook like leaves.”

She noted that the Japanese bombed a hospital in Bataan clearly marked with a huge red cross, apolo-gized, and then bombed it again with three distinct hits.

On April 11, just before Bataan surrendered, the nurses were evacu-ated to Corregidor, and she spent the next three weeks living and working in the tunnel hospital carved out of

the rock of Corregidor. She escaped from Corregidor three days before it fell, one of 13 women, a Navy wife, a Navy nurse, and 10 other Army nurses, chosen by lot to be evacuated by submarine to Australia, arriving 17 days later.

In her diary she wrote, “What about those others? Would they get away?” (Sixty-six American nurses did not escape and were interned in Manila. See Marcia Gates’ story in Nursingmatters August 1992.)

Straub returned to the United States in July. Following hospital-ization for a bout of malaria, she was assigned to the Sixth Service Command for Army Nurse procure-

ment. In 1944 she was promoted to Captain while stationed at Kennedy General Hospital in Memphis, and was later promoted to Major.

For her outstanding contributions as an Army nurse, she was awarded the Legion of Merit citation, the Bronze Star medal, the American Defense medal, and the Asian Pacific Campaign medal. She served with the Army Nurse Corps for 20 years.

Ruth Straub died Sept. 6, 1994 in Littleton, Colo.. She was bur-ied in the Fort Logan Cemetery in Colorado.n

The author thanks Professor Beth Norman, New York University, for information about Ruth Straub.

Courage under fire – Army nurse survives Bataan bombings

Ruth Straub

45 S. National Ave. l Fond du Lac,WI 54935-46991-800-2-MARIAN ext. 7650 l [email protected]

Founded 1936 • Sponsored by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes

New! Fall 2014100% ONLINE RN-BSN degree

MSN program beginning this August inWest Allis!

Apply today!www.marianuniversity.edu/apply

Inspired to serveto serve


WnA’s ‘nurses Caring for nurses’ celebrates 20th anniversary

By Penny L. Mathison, RN, MS, CNS

Talks began in 1990 about estab-lishing a peer assistance network to help nurses having problems with substance use disorders. Formal meetings at the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) office began in 1993 between volunteers interested in the network and the WNA staff.

In March 1994, an extensive two-day training for volunteers was conducted. Later that year, a Workplace Advocacy Grant was used to produce a video produc-tion called “Identification of Impaired Nursing Practice: the Puzzle of Chemical Dependency Identification.” (The video has since been replaced with an updat-ed PowerPoint presentation.) The Peer Assistance Network (PAN), as it was called then, was off and run-ning! PAN was officially a part of the Peer Assistance Program (PAP) of the WNA.

After the Board of Nursing changed the name of its assis-tance program from the Impaired Professionals Procedure (IPP) to Professional Assistance Procedure (PAP), the WNA and PAN volun-teers decided to change its name to Nurses Caring for Nurses (NCN), to avoid any confusion. This change was made in 2012.The purpose of the NCN program is:1. To provide confidential support

and advocacy for nurses who perceive a need for assistance in seeking treatment, remaining in recovery, or for work place re-entry.

2. To serve as a resource for any nurse (LPN, RN, WNA members or nonmembers, student nurses), employer, family or friend con-cerning treatment options avail-able.

3. To educate health care work-ers and to promote awareness and knowledge of substance use disorders, and to develop knowledge and skills in identifi-cation and needed and unneeded

reporting.4. To educate others about NCN assistance for the dependent nurse and his/her employer.

The NCN program functions within the Workforce Advocacy Program of the Wisconsin Nurses Association. WNA’s Nurses Caring for Nurses program does not pro-vide counseling, intervention, treatment, or monitoring during recovery.

The need for the nCn programChemical dependency, or sub-

stance use disorder, is a primary disease that is progressive, chronic, and can be fatal, if left untreated. It is an “equal opportunity ill-ness,” affecting persons of all races, religions, sexes, economic circumstances, and occupations. Of course, nurses are included.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) estimates 6 to 8 percent of RNs have a substance use disorder (SUD); other authori-ties put the rate at about the same as for the general population at 10 to 15 percent. This translates into approximately 155,000 RNs nation-ally.

The goal of Wisconsin’s Professional Boards, under the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), is to protect the public from those who attempt to provide services while impaired by alcohol or other drugs. The Boards also want to promote the rehabilitation of the licensees so they may return to confident, productive practice in their com-munities, and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct.

Nursing practice is impaired when the individual is unable to meet the requirements of the Code of Ethics for Nursing and Standards of Practice because cognitive, interpersonal, and/or motor skills are affected by conditions of the individual in interaction with the environment. These factors include psychiatric illness and substance

use disorders.The Code of Ethics for Nursing

states that nurses act “to safeguard the client and the public when health care and safety are affected by incompetent, unethical, or ille-gal practice by any person.” Nurses recognize that their first obligation is to protect the patient.

Under Chapter N7 of the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code, nurses have a responsibility to report any impaired practice that is witnessed. The nurse is obligated to notify his/her supervisor. Hopefully, the nurse in question will be referred to the Employee Assistance Program for an assessment to determine the true nature of the problem and what type of treatment is needed. The employer is not required to notify the Board of Nursing in Wisconsin. Many employers seem to be con-fused about this.

Part of the responsibilities for nurse administrators should include developing nursing department guidelines to manage impaired practice and re-entry of the recover-ing nurse, as well as following up with organization-wide education. They should also take an active interest in the development of Employee Assistance Programs.

For nurses who are involved in misconduct, such as diver-sion of drugs, due to a SUD, they may self-refer to the Professional Assistance Procedure (PAP) of the Board of Nursing, or be referred by their employers. This program is an alternative to discipline by the Board of Nursing. It is important that the nurse ask for the PAP spe-cifically when calling and not just talk to the Board of Nursing. The nurse must follow the established guideline. If the nurse needs treat-ment, she/he gets it.

The nurse must sign a contract, obtain treatment, attend 12-Step programs, and provide random witnessed urine screens. The RN license may be restricted regarding

limitation to access of controlled substances. The nurse, supervisor, and therapist must each provide quarterly reports to the PAP liaison. If the nurse relapses, he or she may need to start over again, and may need to increase the frequency of urine screens. There may also be further limitations placed on the RN license. This is up to the liai-son.

The PAP does not provide treatment, but monitors partici-pants progress in treatment with an approved treatment provider. Potential participants must com-plete an application and obtain a current assessment for a substance use disorder. For those motivated to self-report to the PAP, participation will be considered without referral for full investigation. If accepted into PAP, each participant is offered an agreement for participation con-taining a statement of facts which describes the basis for the referral and stating all requirements neces-sary to complete participation in the PAP successfully. Early identifi-cation is the goal; once “substantial harm” has been done, the PAP is not an option.

For random urine screens, the client has to call in every day. If selected, the client has five hours to appear at the collection site. (The PAP used to be a two-year program, but in 2003, it expanded to a five year program.)

Nurses who lose their jobs and health insurance face bigger hurdles because of the cost of obtain-ing treatment and providing urine screens. The cost for special chain-of-custody urine screens is about $50 each. Each client is asked to provide about 64 random screens per year.

If there is chronic noncompliance or the nurse drops out of the PAP, the case then goes before the full Board for disciplinary procedures by the Bureau of Enforcement.

The majority of nurses are unaware of all of these particulars.


That is why the Wisconsin Nurses Association NCN volunteers can be of so much assistance in providing guidance and answering questions.

WNA NCN volunteers, Executive Director Gina Dennik-Champion, and consulting attorney Burt Wagner, have met with various members of the Board of Nursing and the PAP liaison on numerous occasions to clarify the role of the NCN volunteers and to offer sug-gestions and feedback.

The WNA and its NCN pro-gram are not affiliated with the Wisconsin Board of Nursing.

How nCn worksThe WNA Executive Director

conducts the process of intake and assignment of the client to a NCN volunteer and reviews each volun-teer’s caseload to assure that both clients and volunteers are receiving the assistance necessary to carry out the program’s goals and objec-tives.

When the Executive Director receives a call for assistance, she will determine the nature of the call and the type of assistance needed. All information received is handled confidentially. She will also com-plete the Initial Contact Form and determine if it is appropriate to refer the client to a NCN volunteer. Volunteers are chosen according to geographic proximity to the caller and the current caseload of the vol-unteer. The Executive Director will then obtain permission from the client to give his/her phone number to the NCN volunteer; she will call the volunteer with this information and the client’s first name only.

The NCN volunteer will contact the client and determine needs and offer to provide support. The vol-unteer and client may make all con-tacts by phone or they may agree to meet for discussion at a neutral site. The client can refuse services from the volunteer for any reason with-out explanation.

The NCN volunteer will provide support per WNA NCN volunteer guidelines. The NCN volunteer acts as a resource person for a nurse who wants to get involved in recovery or is newly recovering. The volunteer can direct the person

to treatment options that are avail-able, including AA/NA meetings, while suggesting helpful literature and providing encouragement and moral support.

If the volunteer has questions about how best to assist the nurse seeking help, she/he may discuss the situation in a confidential manner with the WNA Executive Director. The NCN volunteer will provide an update of volunteer activities as part of the regularly scheduled WNA NCN Advisory Council meetings.

The NCN volunteers usu-ally meet face-to-face with the Executive Director at the WNA office in Madison on an annual basis. Other contact is made via conference calls two to three times annually, and as needed.

Volunteers who have served on the NCN Advisory Council have come from many different back-grounds: nursing educators, middle management nurses, staff nurses, and nurse practitioners, to name a few.

Besides working with clients who call for assistance, the NCN volunteers also do a lot of edu-cation: volunteers have visited schools of nursing, hospitals, nurs-ing homes and other facilities that employ nurses to give in-servicing to the nursing students and facil-ity personnel. Mailings have also been sent out across the state of Wisconsin to schools of nurs-ing, including technical colleges, and nurse employers, i.e., human resources personnel. Contacts have also been made with AODA treat-ment providers.

Volunteers may also staff an information booth about the NCN Program at nursing conventions/workshops.

A brochure was developed early-on and has been revised several times. A subcommittee of volunteers also developed a WNA Position Paper on Impaired Nursing Practice and Peer Assistance.

Those involved in the WNA NCN program strongly believe that a nurse should not lose either job or license due to a substance use dis-order if he or she is willing to seek treatment and continue with the

appropriate rehabilitative care.

Volunteers neededDue to several retirements and

moves by former NCN volunteers, there is availability for volunteers. Anyone interested can contact WNA Executive Director Gina Dennik-Champion at (608) 221-0383 x. 202 or [email protected]. Volunteers must be RNs or LPNs from Wisconsin. WNA membership is not required.

nCn volunteer qualifications:1. A nurse with a past or present

personal or professional experi-ence with drug or alcohol abuse or in the field of psych/mental health nursing.

2. A nurse in recovery for at least one year (individual exceptions will be considered).

3. A volunteer must have some level of knowledge about addic-tion to alcohol or other drugs and hold the belief that chemical dependence, or substance use disorder, is a disease and is treat-

able. The volunteer must also possess personal traits of open-mindedness, empathy, patience, and be nonjudgmental. Good communication skills are essen-tial. Training and orientation will be

provided prior to any assignments being made. To view educational tools on impaired practice, visit the NCN affiliate page on WNA’s website, www.wisconsinnurses.org. If you are a school of nurs-ing or organization interested in a formal presentation, contact WNA Communications Director Joe Vande Slunt at [email protected].

Contributions:Persons wishing to offer finan-

cial support to NCN may do so through the Nurses Foundation of Wisconsin. Contributions should be made payable to the NFW and mailed to Nurses Foundation of Wisconsin, c/o Nurses Caring for Nurses, 6117 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716.

For more than 160 years, nurses have enjoyed a rewarding career at Columbia St.Mary’s. That includes all the benefits of a strong, stable organization. But our nurses

are also part of a team of healthcare providers who receive our full support indelivering the highest quality and most personal care to their patients. And that

means we’re not the only ones showing our appreciation for a job well done.

How rewarding can it be to practice nursing at Columbia St. Mary’s?To begin to find out, visit PASSIONFORPATIENTCARE.ORG


Bellin College faculty recognized at international conference

Dr. Lori Kulju, of Bellin College, Green Bay, was awarded second place for her poster presentation at the 13th Annual International Nursing Simulation/Learning Resource Centers Conference spon-sored by The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning on June 19 in Orlando. Dr. Kulju’s presentation was entitled “The Effect of Simulation on BSN Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Clinical Judgment Regarding Pain.” She was one of 96 poster presentations focusing on research, education, and practice. This was Dr. Kulju’s first time attending this

conference, which is the primary venue for nursing simulation in the United States.

Bellin College organization earns national recognition

Bellin College, in Green Bay, has announced that the Bellin College Chapter of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing (BAAMN) has earned the 2014 “Newcomer of the Year” award from the AAMN nation-al organization. In a short period of time, the Chapter has demonstrated remarkable progress in membership recruitment, outreach and program-ming. BAAMN is being recognized for promoting positive role modeling for men in nursing and for encourag-ing more men into the profession.

This Chapter was established in October 2013 and its goal is to provide resources, knowledge, and opportunities for individuals inter-ested in gender equality and advo-

cating for men in nursing. The Bellin College chapter will serve as a place of social connectedness for nurses/nursing students interested in pro-moting gender equality in nursing.

If you are interested in promoting

gender equality in nursing, no matter what your gender, join this new and nationally-recognized organization. For more information contact Dr. Jason Mott at [email protected]

Dr. Lori Kulju

Presented by Keith Rischer, RN, MA, CEN, CCRN and Jason Mott, Ph.D., RN

6 to 7:30 p.m. August 20Bellin College, 3201 Eaton Road, Green Bay

Tiered classroom, Room 113 This program will provide a framework for the history of men in

nursing, current barriers facing men in nursing, ways to improve cli-mate for men in nursing, and discuss the incivility in nursing. The target audience is nurse educators, other health care educators, nurses, and all other interested educators.

About the speakers: Mr. Rischer has been a nurse since 1983 and currently works in the critical care float pool of a large metro hos-pital where he works between the ED, ICU and the circulating/rapid response team. He is a national speaker who has presented at the Elsevier Faculty Development Conference, Nurse Educators Institute, ATI National Nurse Educator Summit, as well as many other speaking engagements both in the US and Canada.

Jason Mott is an instructor at Bellin College in both the traditional and 15-month program options. He teaches pathophysiology, nursing research, various laboratories, and various clinical groups. He has over 12 years of nursing experience and the founder of the Bellin College Chapter of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing (BAAMN).

Registrations will be accepted between until August 15. For regis-tration information, contact Jason Mott at (920) 433-6685 or [email protected]. Space is limited; first-come, first served.n

Free Bellin program:Men in nursing and the

Incivility in nursing

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF FRASER VALLEY

CeLeBRATIOnsNM

Wisconsin’s professionalpublication for nurses can help.Nursingmatters is mailed or e-maileddirectly to nurses, nursing students andnursing facilities throughout theState of Wisconsin.

Recruiting Nursing Professionals?

To schedule your ad, contactSheryl Barry • 608-252-6379 • [email protected]

Internet Bonus:Ads placed in Nursingmatters are also posted on

• www.nursingmattersonline.comand will be accessible through

• Monster.com• Madison.com• WiscNews.com

Nursing matters

Nursing Research

Scientist – PhD

Gundersen Health System in scenic La Crosse, Wisconsin is seeking a Nursing Research Scientist to lead evidence-based clinical research re-lated to nursing practice, patient outcomes, nursing leadership and education. This opportunity offers flex-ibility to conduct research in area of personal scientific interest. Salaried position - approximately 64 hours every two weeks. EEO/AA/Veterans/Disabilities

Please visit our website and apply online at:

http://www.gundersen-health.org/

nursing-careers

Meriter–UnityPoint HealthLead RN – Cardiovascular Lab

Meriter–UnityPoint Health is a not-for-profit, 448-bedcommunity hospital providing a wide-ranging scope ofmedical and surgical services, located in Madison,WI.

The Cardiovascular Lead RN role is specialized,workingin coordination with the management team to effectivelyrun each line of service offered in the CardiovascularLabs.The Cardiovascular Lead is a key contributor

in all aspects of the Cardiovascular Labs day-to-dayoperations, educational opportunities, orientation,advancement for staff through the clinical ladder,

blue standards and physician relationships.

Qualifications:• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing and current

licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Wisconsin.• 5 years of Cardiovascular Lab experience• BLS Certification• ACLS Certification• Advanced certification in Cardiac, Electrophysiology

or Vascular

For more information about Meriter – UnityPoint Health andto apply visit www.meriter.com.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

CHARGE NURSEMile Bluff Medical Center has a full time, 12 hour night shift charge position available in our Med/Surg department. Five years nursing experi-ence required. Supervisory experience preferred, along with ACLS, BLS, PALS, NRP or must be obtained within one year of hire. Benefit package available.

Mile Bluff Medical Center is a rural facility located in South Central Wisconsin on I90/94, 70 miles from Madison and LaCrosse.

For more information on our facility, please visit our web-site at www.milebluff.com.

Interested candidates may send resume to:

Mile Bluff Medical CenterAttn: Human Resources

1050 Division St.Mauston, WI 53948

(608) 847-1461

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Connect with

on Facebook

Enjoy updates, find links and

information about upcoming events

and job listings, make comments and

see photos from events like the

Nursingmatters Expo.

Nursingmatters

Contact Kaye Lillesand,editor of

Nursingmatterswith news or events youwould like to submit at

608-222-4774or

email [email protected]

Not only will you find career

opportunities in the

classified section of

Nursingmatters, you will also

find them posted continually throughout the month

onNursingmatters

online.com

Nurse Clinician 4Department ofCorrectionsWe are currently recruiting for full time Nurse Clinician 4 to fill avacancy at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage.

The NC4 functions as an expert in providing direct and indirectnursingcare to patients who have complex care needs. Activelyparticipates as a member of the multidisciplinary team inassessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care.Identifies, develops and implements plans to meet the learningneeds of inmate patients, staff, students and community agencies.Initiates and participates in research and quality improvementactivities.

Salary : $68,794 to $95,000 annually, depending on qualifications.

Current licensure is required. Excellent benefits package toinclude: immediate coverage under the Wisconsin RetirementSystem, Health Plans available to meet your needs at lowpremiums, Sick Leave, Unused sick time converted to extendedhealthcarebenefitsuponretirement,paidvacation,4.5personaldayseach year,paid legal holidays per year, Life insurance,Supplementalretirement saving program, and Worker’s compensation.

Application Information

For a detailed job description and application information,please see http://wisc.jobs JAC 1403484

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

UW Hospital eliminates restrictions on family visitsUniversity of Wisconsin Hospital

and Clinics has eliminated restric-tions on visiting and welcoming patients’ families and loved ones to be with patients 24 hours a day. UW Hospital joins other hospitals across the country in a national cam-paign, “Better Together: Partnering with Families,” spearheaded by the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care in Bethesda, MD, along with several partner organiza-tions. The campaign aims to educate hospitals about the need to change restrictive visiting policies so that families are no longer treated as “vis-itors” but seen as essential members of the health care team.

“We want to recognize hospi-tals that are takings steps to engage patients and family members as care partners,” said Beverley Johnson, President and CEO of IPFCC. “These hospitals understand how important it is to welcome families as partners instead of treating them as outsid-

ers who are interfering in their loved one’s care.” Rather than interfering, families and loved ones can actually help improve care. Studies show that having unlimited access to family and loved ones reduces complications and stress, and improves the patient’s experience of care in the hospital. The Joint Commission, the accredit-ing body for health systems, recom-mends that hospitals accommodate access to a patient’s support person to encourage safer care.

The change includes addressing staff concerns about new policies, training staff, changing signage and website language to make families feel welcome, and assembling a planning team – including patient and fam-ily advisors, doctors, nurses, security personnel, receptionists, and everyone else affected – to lead the effort.

While these new policies mean families have 24/7 access, that doesn’t mean there are no boundar-ies; safety and patient preference are

among the factors considered. Family members and loved ones

are being encouraged to be involved in planning and decision-making and

in the transitions to home. For more information on the Better

Together campaign, visit http://www.ipfcc.org/bettertogether/.n

Ansell, a global leader in protection solutions located in Iselin, N.J., has announced the winners of the 2014 Ansell HERO (Heal, Educate, Reach, and Overcome) Nurse Service Award, established to recognize nurses who have made lasting impressions on their peers, patients, pro-fession and community.

The 2014 contest was launched at the 61st annual AORN (Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses) Congress held this spring in Chicago. The program began with nurses being nominated by their peers, followed by a voting period. The 10 nominees receiving the most votes from peers, friends, and family, were named the winners of the 2014 Ansell HERO Nurse Service Award. Each winner will receive a HERO Nurse Service Award Plaque, nursing reference book of their choice, and will have their story profiled at www.ansellhero.com. This year’s winners include:

• Grace Gildea, RN, Overlook Medical Center, NJ • Patricia Decker Boniello, RN, Monmouth Medical Center, NJ• Betsy Ball, RN, Englewood Hospital, NJ• Marilyn Azuelo, BSN, RN, CNRN, Morristown Medical Center, NJ• Jodi Gauthier, RN, Case Manager, Hospice of Michigan• Linda Easter, Neurology Specialty Nurse, Arkansas Children’s Hospital• Rita Sanders, RN, Noble Hospital, MA• Jeanne LaFountain, RN, Educator & Lt Col in Air Force Reserves,

Ross Heart Hospital (Ohio State University) and U.S. Air Force• Belva Dyer, Rehabilitation Specialty Nurse, Arkansas Children’s Hospital• Jennifer Butch, Nurse Manager, Operating Rooms, Penn State

Hershey Medical CenterIn addition to highlighting outstanding nominees, this year’s program

saw monumental jumps in participation. Year-over-year results rose by hundreds, and in some categories, thousands of percentage points. Votes came in at 32,172 – a 50,000 percent increase over last year. Total visits to the Ansell HERO website soared from 818 to 39,358. Overall nominations climbed from 20 to 81, and confirmed nomina-tions rose from nine to 56. These numbers become even more impact-ful when you take into account that the 2013 program ran two months longer.

“On behalf of everyone at Ansell, we would like to congratulate all of the nominees, especially the very deserving top 10,” says Anthony López, President and General Manager, Medical Solutions at Ansell. “Our appreciation and admiration for what nurses do is endless, and we are thrilled that this year’s program has received such exceptional exposure, so that these nurses can be widely recognized for their tire-less contributions.”

Stay tuned for more details on the 2015 HERO Nurse Service Award, including entry and nomination dates. To learn more about the 2014 winners, visit the Ansell Gallery of HEROs at www.ansellhero.com.n

Ansell announces winners of the HeRO nurse service Award


Six RNs from ANA-New York briefed Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). As the co-sponsor of The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (H.R. 2504/ S. 1332), Schumer said he would be “pushing the home health bill pretty hard” and looking for an opportu-nity to offer it as an amendment to another health care bill with a good chance to advance. That bill would allow nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants to certify home health services for Medicare patients. Current law requires a physician to sign home care plans, which can cause delays in care and lead to hospital readmis-sions.

The ANA-New York contingent emphasized to Schumer that the restriction on advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) ordering durable medical equipment, such as oxygen equipment and blood glucose monitors, without a physician signa-ture should be addressed at the same time. The nurses contended that

it would be “nonsensical” to gain the authority to sign home health care plans and certify patients for the benefit, but be prohibited from ordering necessary equipment for those same patients. Schumer agreed he would work to move such a bill as a co-sponsor if nurses could secure a lead sponsor in the Senate.

Seven members of the Oregon Nurses Association urged a staff aide to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to support the same issues, noting that in many rural areas of Oregon, there are no physicians and APRNs serve as primary care providers. They also commended Merkley for sponsoring the RN Safe Staffing Act of 2013 (H.R. 1821) and supporting The Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 2480), which would require health care facilities to implement safe patient handling and mobility programs.

In association with Lobby Day, ANA also honored U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) for their advocacy and work on behalf of issues impor-tant to nurses and the health care system.n

Lobby daycontinued from page 5

nursingmatters august 2014

Documents