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Bringing Immunity to Every Community ANA Initiative

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: September 8, 2011

Fall is almost here – time to go back to school, a change in the weather, and, unfortunately, influenza!  As nurses gear up for influenza season, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has created a tool-kit of information on influenza prevention, especially vaccination, that nurses can use in their practice. Influenza vaccine is a safe, effective way to prevent this disease, and the thousands of unnecessary deaths that it can cause.

ANA’s theme this year, Unite to Fight the Flu, represents the part all nurses play in preventing the spread of influenza through vaccination. The tool-kit offers resources for all types of settings and roles in nursing, and emphasizes important themes for nursing:

  • The importance of nurses being vaccinated to protect themselves and their patients.
  • Joining with other nurses and co-workers in being a vaccinated health care team.
  • Talking to patients, families, co-workers, and communities about being vaccinated.
  • Using standing orders to empower nurses to vaccinate independently and enhance vaccine access.
  • Always administering vaccine using a safety needle to prevent needlesticks.

Nurses have the power to protect by being champions of immunization. With ANA’s tool-kit, nurses can do more with their power!

Posted in General News, Patient Safety and Quality | Tagged , | Comments closed

Influencer: The Power to Change Anything (Webinar)

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: August 19, 2011

From the people who brought you The New York Times bestseller, Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, the American Nurses Association (ANA) presents another exciting webinar from Vital Smarts on Influencer: The Power to Change Anything, Thursday, September 15, 1-2:15pm ET, 10:00 – 11:00a.m. PDT.

» Learn More & Register

Posted in Environment of Care, Future of Nursing, General News | Comments closed

Washington State’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP)

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: August 11, 2011

The Washington State Department of Health reviewed comments about the PMP received during the public comment period, made necessary changes, and filed the rules for adoption on July 27, 2011. The rules become effective on August 27, 2011.

Dispenser Requirements: In order to meet the requirements of the new rules, dispensers need to take the following steps:

1. Log on to the WA PMP website (www.wapmp.org) and read the Dispenser’s Implementation Guide by selecting the WA PMP Data Uploader link from the menu on the left.

2. Create an account for submitting data to the program (available September 14, 2011).

3. Begin working as soon as possible with your pharmacy software vendor to make necessary updates and begin testing with our PMP vendor in order to begin submitting data on October 7, 2011. You may begin sending files to test data submission on September 14, 2011.

Technical or Policy Related Questions: Health Information Designs, Inc. (HID) hosts the WA PMP. It is a nationally-recognized leader in the PMP and healthcare automation solutions and services industry.

If you need any technical assistance as you prepare to begin data submission, please call HID’s WA PMP Helpdesk at (877) 719-3121, or send an e-mail to wapmp-info@hidinc.com. If you have policy related questions please contact Chris Baumgartner, PMP Director at 360.236.4806, or at prescriptionmonitoring@doh.wa.gov, or at:

WA Department of Health
PO Box 47852
Olympia, WA 98504-7852
Fax: 360.236.2901
Web: http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/PMP/default.htm

Posted in Advanced Practice, General News | Tagged , | Comments closed

Four New Serious Reportable Events Approved by NQF for Endorsement

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: June 16, 2011

The National Quality Forum board has announced that it has approved for endorsement a list of 29 serious reportable events in healthcare. The list includes four new events, along with 25 updated events from an earlier endorsement in 2006.

The four new serious reportable events are:

• Radiologic events that cause the death or serious injury of a patient or staff associated with the introduction of a metallic object into the MRI area;

• Death or serious injury of a neonate associated with labor or delivery in a low-risk pregnancy;

• Patient death or serious injury resulting from the irretrievable loss of an irreplaceable biological specimen, and;

• Patient death or serious injury resulting from failure to follow up or communicate laboratory, pathology, or radiology test results.

The recommendations are outlined in the report Serious Reportable Events in Healthcare–2011 Update: A Consensus Report. The full list of events will be available for a 30-day public appeals process closing July 7.

Posted in Environment of Care, Patient Safety and Quality | Tagged , , | Comments closed

RWJ Foundation Presents: A Day of Dialogue

Posted by admin | Published: June 7, 2011

June 29, 10:00am – noon PST

A panel of nurses and nursing leaders will answer your questions about the Institute of Medicine / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation landmark report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health”

Special focus: Nursing education

RWJF Day of Dialogue Flyer

Posted in Events | Comments closed

Nursing Scholarship Program Accepting Applications

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: May 25, 2011

 The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP) application cycle is now open.  

  • What is the NSP?  The NSP awards scholarships to students enrolled or accepted for enrollment in accredited RN training programs.  Scholarship recipients receive tuition, fees, other educational costs and a living stipend in exchange for at least 2 years of post graduation service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.
  • Who is Eligible to Apply? U.S. citizens (born or naturalized), nationals or lawful permanent residents enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a professional RN program (baccalaureate, graduate, associate degree, or diploma) at an accredited school of nursing located in a U.S. state or territory may apply.
  • How Does Someone Apply?  Visit www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/scholarships/Nursing to learn more about the program and begin the application process.  Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT June 1, 2011.

 Please forward this announcement or direct prospective scholars to www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/scholarships/Nursing for more information or to begin the application process. We appreciate your dedication and support.             

Applications are due June 1!

  • Read the Application and Program Guidance (PDF – 39 pages) carefully for complete information on the program and application instructions.
  • Awards are subject to the availability of funds. Individuals selected to receive awards will be notified by email no later than August 31, 2011. Applicants not selected to receive funding will be notified by email no later than September 30, 2011.
  • Sign up to be notified by e-mail when the 2012 application cycle opens.

The Nursing Scholarship Program is a selective program of the U.S. Government that helps alleviate the critical shortage of registered nurses currently experienced by certain types of health care facilities by helping needy students complete their registered nurse training. In exchange for the scholarship, upon graduation, the newly minted nurses work at these types of facilities for at least 2 years.

Posted in Education | Tagged , | Comments closed

Healthy People 2020 Objectives: Now Available

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: January 12, 2011

On December 2, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled the Nation’s new 10-year goals and objectives for health promotion and disease prevention. The launch marked the beginning of Healthy People 2020. 

For more details about the initiative and how you can get involved, visit the newly redesigned Healthy People Web site at www.healthypeople.gov. The Web site allows users to view the new Healthy People 2020 topic areas and objectives, tailor information to their needs, and explore evidence-based resources for implementation.  WAys you can be involved include:

Subscribe to the Healthy People E-mail Updates
Get the latest information about Healthy People 2020. Sign up for the Monthly e-Bulletin or the periodic News You Can Use, which features new tools, events, and resources to help you implement Healthy People.  Updates are also available on Twitter.

Join the Healthy People Consortium
The Consortium is a diverse, motivated group of agencies and organizations that is committed to achieving the goals and objectives of Healthy People 2020.

Posted in General News, Patient Safety and Quality | Tagged | Comments closed

Wash Your HandsingTon – a Washington State DOH flu education campaign

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: December 13, 2010

Wash Your HandsingTon – where everyone washes their hands, covers their cough, and gets a flu vaccine!  Wash Your HandsingTon  is a flu education campaign by the Washington State Department of Health that started the first week of December.  This campaign includes radio ads, a YouTube video, online banner ads, bus cards, billboards, and print materials.  All materials are available online at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/FluNews/handsington.htm.

Posted in Environment of Care, Patient Safety and Quality | Tagged , | Comments closed

NQF Backs Guidelines for Adverse-Event Reporting

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: October 12, 2010

The National Quality Forum (NQF) has endorsed a framework it says will standardize public reporting of adverse events such as patient accidents and healthcare-associated infections.

The framework is made up of seven guidelines for use in collecting data and reporting patient-safety events, the NQF said in a news release. For instance, the framework provides guidance on how best to protect patient confidentiality; how to report serious, low-frequency events; and how to display adverse-event data in ways that are most accurate and easy-to-understand.

“Clear, focused, consumer-oriented public reporting of safety events is vital to truly improve the safety of patient care,” said Janet Corrigan, NQF’s president and CEO. “This framework helps us focus not only on what should be reported, but also on how it should be reported.”

The guidelines will help providers convey complex information in a way that is meaningful for consumers, Ann Monroe, president of Community Health Foundation of Western & Central New York, said in the news release.  Monroe co-chaired the NQF’s steering committee on public reporting.  

To follow the work of the project, “Serious Reportable Events in Healthcare”, go to: http://www.qualityforum.org/projects/hacs_and_sres.aspx#t=2&s=&p=

 To read more, the complete news release is available at: http://www.qualityforum.org/News_And_Resources/Press_Releases/2010/NQF_Endorses_Framework_for_Public_Reporting_of_Patient_Safety_Events.aspx

Posted in General News, Patient Safety and Quality | Tagged , | Comments closed

IOM Issues New Report on The Future of Nursing

Posted by Karen A. Benson, Ph.D., MS, MN, RN | Published: October 6, 2010

With more than 3 million members, the nursing profession is the largest segment of the nation’s health care workforce. Working on the front lines of patient care, nurses can play a vital role in helping realize the objectives set forth in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, legislation that represents the broadest health care overhaul since the 1965 creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. A number of barriers prevent nurses from being able to respond effectively to rapidly changing health care settings and an evolving health care system. These barriers need to be overcome to ensure that nurses are well- positioned to lead change and advance health.

In 2008, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched a two-year initiative to respond to the need to assess and transform the nursing profession. The IOM appointed the Committee on the RWJF Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the IOM, with the purpose of producing a report that would make recommendations for an action-oriented blueprint for the future of nursing. Through its deliberations, the committee developed four key messages:

  • Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training.
  • Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.
  • Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States.
  • Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure.

The United States has the opportunity to transform its health care system, and nurses can and should play a fundamental role in this transformation. However, the power to improve the current regulatory, business, and organizational conditions does not rest solely with nurses; government, businesses, health care organizations, professional associations, and the insurance industry all must play a role. Working together, these many diverse parties can help ensure that the health care system provides seamless, affordable, quality care that is accessible to all and leads to improved health outcomes. 

To read more, go to: http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspx.

IOM’s news release:  http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12956

Link to the IOM website (you may download the prepublication PDF of the report; final copies are available for sale).  http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12956

To view the Washington Center for Nursing’s statement in response to this report, go to: http://www.wcnursing.org/the-latest-news/WCNs statement on the IOM.pdf.

Posted in Environment of Care, Future of Nursing, General News | Tagged | Comments closed

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