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New Directions: The e-newsletter of the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative | |
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 Volume
1, Issue 2
April 26, 2004 Welcome
to the second issue of New Directions, a publication of the
Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative (HGNI). This e-newsletter
is designed to inform interested academic and practice leaders,
faculty members, students, practitioners and others about the work
of the HGNI and provide the latest news and information relevant
to geriatric nursing.
As many of you know, the HGNI is preparing professional nurses to play leadership roles in improving the health of older adults. In partnership with the nation's nursing schools and a variety of health care organizations and systems, this dynamic, national Initiative, supported through a $34 million investment from the John A. Hartford Foundation, works in five areas, including: We are proud to represent this critically needed effort, which is involving the nation's top nurses—including you—in making a difference in the health care of our nation's older adults. If you would like more contact information about, and links to all of the programs of the HGNI, please see the HGNI's Evaluation Web site at www.geriatricnursing.info. In
this Issue
1. Illinois Supreme Court Rules Only Nurses Can Testify on Standard of Care for Nurses 2. Tools, Resources and Opportunities 3. HGNI People 4. HGNI Link of the Month 5. HGNI "Brand" Now Available 1.
Illinois Supreme Court Rules Only Nurses Can Testify on Standard
of Care for Nurses
Pensacola, Fla — The Illinois Supreme recently ruled in the case of Sullivan v. Edward Hosp., No. 95409, 2004 WL 228956 (Ill. Feb. 5, 2004) that only a nurse is qualified to offer opinion evidence as to the nursing standard of care. At issue was whether a physician, who is not a nurse, should be permitted to offer expert opinion evidence as to the standard of care for nurses. The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) position was that nurses and only nurses have the authority and responsibility to define the scope and practice of nursing. Opposing the TAANA position, the Illinois Trial Lawyers argued that physicians can do anything a nurse can do and, therefore, a physician can always testify as to the standard of care for nurses. This case is a real victory for the nursing profession. For a copy of the decision, contact the TAANA National Office, which submitted an Amicus Brief in the case. TAANA is a professional association that serves as a resource network for nurse attorneys and educates the public on matters of nursing, health care and the law. 2.
New Tools, Resources and Opportunities
Hartford Trustees Renew "Creating Careers" Program At its March Board meeting, the trustees of the John A. Hartford Foundation approved the renewal of the Creating Careers in Geriatric Advanced Practice Nursing Program. Through this initiative, AACN will continue to provide scholarship monies to schools of nursing with geriatric advanced practice nursing program to expand their student base. An RFP will be posted online in late April with a due date in June. For more information, contact AACN's Deirdre Thornlow at dthornlo@aacn.nche.edu. 2004 Baccalaureate Awards Application Due May 3rd The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU, in collaboration with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), has announced an annual Awards competition for four (4) awards for baccalaureate education in geriatric nursing (replacing previous criteria). These include: For more information, or for an application (due May 3rd), go to http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/Hartford/baccaward03.htm. GSA/Hartford Institute Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award The GSA/Hartford Institute Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award recognizes a nurse from any section of the GSA who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to geriatric nursing research that have led to changes in practice, service and quality of life for older adults. The recipient must be able to attend the GSA Annual Meeting (November 19-23, 2004) to accept the award and make a presentation to the Nursing Care of Older Adults interest group. For more information, go to: http://www.geron.org. Nominations are due by May 5, 2004 and should be sent to: Christina Leone, Awards Coordinator The Gerontological Society of America 1030 15th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Specialist Competencies for Older Adult Care Now Available The Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies for Older Adult Care is a set of gerontological competencies for all advanced practice nurses. This includes both nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) who provide care to older adults. The Competencies document builds on AACN's The Essentials of Master's Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (1996) and nationally recognized guidelines and standards established by other APN organizations. This new document outlines the competencies and critical content areas that should be integrated into the educational programs of all NPs and CNSs who care for older adults. For more information go to: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/APNCompetencies.pdf "Try This" Dementia Series: Assessing Pain in Persons with Dementia The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU has developed the newest issue of the "Try This Dementia Series" in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association. "Assessing Pain in Persons with Dementia" supports nursing assessment of pain in the cognitively impaired older adult. Each "Try This" issue is a two-page document. On the first page is a description of why the topic is important when caring for older adults. On page two is an assessment tool that can be administered in 20 minutes or less. To download this and other "Try This" assessment tools, click here: http://www.hartfordign.org/resources/education/tryThis.html The ACP Foundation is pleased to announce the publication of the Executive Summary of its second national health communication conference, Strategies to Improve Health Care by Removing Communication Barriers. Please visit the ACP Foundation's Web site at http://foundation.acponline.org to download a copy. The conference emphasized programs that improve the quality of care by identifying and removing communication barriers and efforts that improve interpersonal communication within care-giving teams and with patients. E-mail the Foundation at foundation@acponline.org or call its toll-free number: (877) 208-4189, if you would like to have a hard copy mailed to you. Shifting Paradigms: Teaching Gerontological Nursing from a New Perspective (Quinn, M.E., et al. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 2004, 30(1): 21-27.) This thoughtful article by faculty of the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing at Athens discusses a theoretical rationale for the incorporation of gerontological content in nursing education, and offers a model for enhancement of the clinical nursing component. Person-Centered Care: A Model for Nursing Homes, by Marilyn J. Rantz, RN, PhD, FAAN and Marcia K. Flesner, RN, PhD, MHCAA is now available. Through the story of the Crestview Home in Missouri, this book describes a model facility that encourages respect of residents by staff and a greater connection to the community, thereby creating a homelike environment for its patients. The authors describe the challenges of managing this facility in terms of the clinical, financial, staffing and regulatory outcomes. For all engaged in long-term care. 2004/112 pp. Pub #04PCCCS, List $22.95/Member $18.25. In addition, the ANA website offers a Gerontology Package, which is an essential resource for all gerontological nursing professionals. The package contains Person-Centered Care: A Model for Nursing Homes as well as Standards of Nursing Practice, 2nd Edition. Buy this package and save 20%. Pub# 04GPKG. List $31.95/ ANA Member $24.95 Order both books online at: http://nursingworld.org/books/ Funding Opportunities for Aspiring Nurses, Nurse Educators Did you contact your legislator in support of the Nurse Reinvestment Act, but are not sure what it all could mean for you? Maybe you know someone considering nursing as a career who would benefit from some financial support. If so, take a look at Greer Glazer's recently posted Legislative Column in Nursing World, which features an interview with Denise Geolot, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Nursing. It can help you understand the multiple provisions of the Act. Dr. Geolot also discusses the various funding opportunities available to nurses, aspiring nurses or nurse educators and explains what steps nurses can take to ensure continued funds for their education or programs. See: http://nursingworld.org/ojin/tpclg/leg_14.htm Financial Aid Matters The Survey of the Recipients of Maryland Nursing Scholarships, conducted by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, recently found that 99 percent of the nurses who received financial assistance and are now completing their service obligation said they planned to remain in nursing after their service obligations are completed. For the whole story, see: http://www.nursingworld.org/news/ananews.htm#mdsch Forward In Time: Our Parents, Ourselves In cooperation with PBS affiliate KRCB TV, Parallel Lines has created two documentaries on productive and creative aging in America that are proving to be practical resources for dozens of small and large schools around the country. Among those using the pieces include Syracuse University, Penn State University, Georgia State University, Hocking College, Langston University, University of Miami, Ohio State University, University of Southern California, California State, Long Beach, University of Montana, University of Northern Michigan, University of Indiana, South Bend, the University of Georgia and others. Airing now around the country and hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Mercedes Ruehl, the first video, the 54-minute "Forward In Time," profiles a variety of older adults in their 60s, 70s and 80s (including Emmy-winning actress Doris Roberts and noted sculptor Bob Berks) who are examples of the potential for productive and creative aging in America. Hosted by Shelley Fabares and produced in cooperation with KRCB, the second documentary, "Our Parents, Ourselves" was broadcast on more than 170 PBS affiliates in 47 states around the country between 1998 and 2000. The focus of this program is caregiving, an issue that affects millions of working adults and their aging dependent relatives. To see three-five minute previews of "Forward In Time" and "Our Parents, Ourselves," please go to: http://www.ForwardInTime.com/purchase.shtml Going Low-Tech, Low-Cost to Ease Terrors of Dementia The University of Rochester School of Nursing and the John A. Hartford Foundation are working with area nursing homes to explore new low-tech ways to ease dementia among residents. For more information, please see: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=491 Nurse Competence in Aging is pleased to announce the latest recipients of the American Nurses Association-Specialty Nursing Association Partners in Geriatrics (ANA-SNAPG) grants. Two-year Implementation grants have gone to: the American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA), American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA), and National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). A one-year Planning grant has been awarded to the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC). Nurse Competence in Aging (NCA) is a five-year initiative funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies (USA) Inc. working with specialty nursing associations to incorporate a geriatric presence and enhance member competence in aging. NCA is a strategic alliance between the American Nurses Association (ANA), American Nurses Foundation (ANF), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University, The Steinhardt School of Education, Division of Nursing. Please visit http://www.nursingworld.org/nca/ for more information. 3.
HGNI People
Congratulations to the first-ever Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) Scholars, who completed their two-year award program during the last six months of 2003.They set a standard of excellence and have now joined the growing leadership in the field of geriatric nursing. In this and subsequent issues, we highlight two of these graduates, where they are and what they're doing post-award. To view the call for BAGNC Scholar Award Applications issued in March 2004, visit the program's Web site. Here, we feature two of this inspiring class of Scholars. Rita A. Jablonski, PhD, RN, received her doctorate in nursing from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, May 2003. She was finishing her second year of course work when awarded a BAGNC Predoctoral Award. The support from the scholarship helped Dr. Jablonski complete her dissertation, "Nursing Home to Emergency Department Transfers: The Experience of Key Decision Makers." After graduating, Dr. Jablonski accepted a position at Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to this academic appointment, Dr. Jabloski, an adult nurse practitioner, today provides primary care to nursing home residents through an appointment with the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Long-Term Care, Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems, and consults for the Department of Gerontology and the Virginia Geriatric Center. Dr. Jablonski remains committed to improving the nursing home environment. Her area of focus is infections in the nursing home populace, and she intends to study the link between oral health and nursing home-acquired pneumonia. If you would like to contact Dr. Jabloski, please e-mail pfrankli@ana.org. Jennifer Hagerty Lingler, PhD (c), CRNP, began the BAGNC Predoctoral Program in 2001 as a master's student at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Bioethics and Health Law and a third-year doctoral student at the School of Nursing. With the BAGNC Scholarship support, she took a leave of absence from her clinical position at Pitt's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and immersed herself in full-time study. By the end of her scholarship support period, Ms. Lingler completed the bioethics program at Pitt and advanced to candidacy in the nursing program. With her dissertation defense scheduled for this spring, she is now preparing applications to postdoctoral programs. Using her dissertation as a springboard, she plans to begin building a program of clinical research that both emphasizes a dyadic approach to dementia care and integrates the examination of ethical issues. If you would like to contact Ms. Longler or learn more about her research, please e-mail pfrankli@ana.org. Congratulations to Dr. Cornelia Beck, PhD, RN, Director of Research of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence and Director of the UAMS Alzheimer's Disease Center on receiving the 2004 Annual Barry Reisberg Recognition Award. In 2001, the Hearthstone Alzheimer's Family Foundation established the annual Barry Reisberg Recognition Award and lecture series to honor Dr. Reisberg as well as other researchers carrying out exceptional work in primarily non-pharmacological areas of Alzheimer's Disease treatment. For more information: http://www.thehearth.org/Foundation/foundation.html Meet the HGNI Communications Team Each issue of New Directions will highlight a member of the HGNI Communications Working Group. This month we start with HGNI Program Officer Sarajane Brittis, Ph.D. Dr. Brittis joined the John A. Hartford Foundation as a Program Officer in January 2001. She oversees the portfolio of geriatric nursing projects to which the Foundation has committed close to $35 million. Before joining the Foundation, she worked in community long-term care for five years. She was the inaugural director of Village Center for Care's two adult day health care programs in New York City, where she was responsible for the creation (including the hiring of staff, recruitment of program participants, program design and interior decoration of each center), opening, and day-to day management of the centers. Dr. Brittis has a strong background in the study of quality of care in nursing homes and community care settings. Her focus is on translating research into everyday practice with specific emphases on quality of care, organizational behavior and staff/resident/ administration relationships. Having conducted her research in New York, England and Japan, she also has concentrated on the cross-cultural aspects of care delivery in multiple settings as well as cultural attitudes towards old age. After receiving her B.A. degree cum laude in Psychology and English from Wellesley College, Dr. Brittis received a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study attitudes towards old age in London, England and Tokyo, Japan. She received her M.Sc. degree in Sociology from Oxford University in England and her Ph.D. in Sociology from Case Western Reserve University. Her doctoral work, a cross-cultural study, examined the quality of care in nursing homes with a special emphasis on the components leading to excellence in high quality nursing homes in London, England and New York City. 4.
HGNI link of the month — Health Funding Watch
A new electronic newsletter from The Foundation Center, Health Funding Watch, is available to registered visitors of The Foundation Center's Web site, and is devoted to health-related news, job listings, requests for proposals, and more. The e-newsletter is sent out the third Wednesday of each month. To sign up for Health Funding Watch,visit: http://fdncenter.org/focus/health/ 5.
HGNI "Brand" Now Available
Like the look of the HGNI logo and this newsletter? Now you can use the new graphic identity developed for the HGNI on your print materials, Web sites and PowerPoint presentations. Click here to see the design guidelines for using this new brand, as well as several versions of the logo and a variety of helpful templates, including two PowerPoint slides that you can adapt for your next presentation. Using these graphics is not only a good way to freshen up your communications, it is an important tool for the HGNI, a way of demonstrating that all of our good work providing leadership to improve the health of older adults is part of a larger national movement. Write
to Us
We are committed to creating a monthly publication that serves your needs and interests. New Directions, therefore, welcomes your feedback and encourages you to supply ideas, stories, resources, news and other content for subsequent issues. To make a contribution, please contact Patty Franklin at pfrankli@ana.org, Deirdre Thornlow at dthornlo@aacn.nche.edu or Elaine Gould at elaine.gould@nyu.edu. Please
Note
If you know of someone or a group of people who would like to receive this newsletter, please send an email to John Beilenson at jbeilenson@aboutscp.com, and we will subscribe them. If you have received this message in error or would like to unsubscribe to this newsletter, please reply to this e-mail and type the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. For more information about the HGNI's ongoing Evaluation, please see: www.geriatricnursing.info. |
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Copyright 2003-2007 Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative (HGNI) |