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Tag: Nursing Channel Featured Story 2

  • Rapid Telehealth Consults Improve Care for Rural Patients With Stroke

    Rapid Telehealth Consults Improve Care for Rural Patients With Stroke

    Newswise — Minutes matter when a patient may have had a stroke, but being far from a physician with advanced training in neurology no longer needs to be a barrier to rapid diagnosis and intervention.

    Telestroke programs are designed to improve access to the limited number of specialists, regardless of the geographic isolation of patients who may have experienced a stroke. Telestroke, or stroke telemedicine, is a form of telehealth in which physicians with advanced training in stroke care use technology to provide immediate consultation to a local healthcare professional to recommend diagnostic imaging and treatment for patients with stroke at an originating site. Patients who present within 4.5 hours of when they were last known to be well may be eligible for thrombolytic drug therapy or endovascular intervention, often measured as door-to-needle time. 

    After launching a telestroke consultation program, Essentia Health, an integrated health system serving patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota, increased the percentage of patients receiving thrombolytics in less than 60 minutes and decreased the average door-to-needle time.

    “Use of Telestroke to Improve Access to Care for Rural Patients With Stroke Symptoms” describes how Essentia Health’s program ensures that patients are evaluated rapidly to expedite decisions about their course of treatment. The article is published in the October issue of Critical Care Nurse (CCN).

    Essentia Health initiated the telestroke program in fall 2019, with coverage provided by a team of four interventional neurologists, three of whom work in the system’s Comprehensive Stroke Center in Fargo, North Dakota. In addition to this center, telestroke services are provided to five other acute stroke-ready hospitals throughout rural areas in the upper Midwest.

    Through the telestroke program, neurology consultations are available to all of the sites 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and can be used for both inpatient and emergency department stroke activations at each of the facilities.

    The team developed a tiered stroke alert algorithm and telestroke workflow chart to help healthcare professionals at rural sites determine eligibility for telestroke consultation to decide the treatment plan.

    The algorithm categorized strokes as level I to III according to the symptoms and time when the patient was last known to be well. Telestroke consults were most often used for patients with level I stroke alerts since they were within the timeframe when they may be eligible for thrombolytic drug therapy or endovascular intervention.

    Once staff members determine whether a telestroke consultation will be initiated, they refer to the step-by-step workflow chart, which specifies actions needed for each member of the multidisciplinary team.

    Co-author Chelsey Kuznia, BSN, RN, SCRN, is the stroke program manager for Essentia Health’s Comprehensive Stroke Center in Fargo, one of only two such facilities in North Dakota.

    “Regardless of the type of stroke, rapid diagnosis and intervention are critical for improving survival rates and reducing the long-term effects of stroke,” she said. “People living in rural areas not only have increased stroke risk factors, but they also face challenges to getting the advanced care they need in a timely way, which leads to higher rates of disability and death.”

    In 2022, telestroke connections for 42 patients were completed, with a stroke diagnosis confirmed in 25 of them (61%). Fourteen of the patients with confirmed stroke received thrombolytic therapy while others were not eligible, either because of patient-related contraindications or because more than 4.5 hours had elapsed since their last-known well time.

    Of the 25 patients with confirmed stroke, 18 (72%) were discharged home, while three were discharged to skilled nursing facilities, one to an inpatient rehabilitation unit, one to hospice and two died.

    The year prior to implementation of the telestroke program, 11 of 15 eligible patients (73%) received thrombolytic therapy in less than 60 minutes, with a mean door-to-needle time of 61 minutes. During the year after implementation, the results improved: 11 of 12 eligible patients (92%) received thrombolytic therapy in less than 60 minutes, and the mean door-to-needle time decreased to 38 minutes.

    As the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ bimonthly clinical practice journal for acute and critical care nurses, CCN is a trusted source of information related to the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients. Access the article abstract and full-text PDF by visiting the CCN website at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org.

    About Critical Care Nurse: Critical Care Nurse (CCN), a bimonthly clinical practice journal published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, provides current, relevant and useful information about the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients. The award-winning journal also offers columns on traditional and emerging issues across the spectrum of critical care, keeping critical care nurses informed on topics that affect their practice in acute, progressive and critical care settings. CCN enjoys a circulation of about 130,000 and can be accessed at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/.

    About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and nearly 200 chapters in the United States.

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27071 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

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  • Analysis Reveals Factors Associated With Patients With Sepsis Who Require Mechanical Ventilation

    Analysis Reveals Factors Associated With Patients With Sepsis Who Require Mechanical Ventilation

    Newswise — An analysis of 10 years of health data showed that risk factors for needing mechanical ventilation changed for patients with newly diagnosed sepsis as more time passed after onset. 

    In the study, 13.5% of patients with a new diagnosis of sepsis required initiation of mechanical ventilation. More than half of these patients required mechanical ventilation within the first 24 hours after sepsis onset, while initiation of mechanical ventilation occurred after 24 hours in 47.4% of patients.

    “Factors Associated With Initiation of Mechanical Ventilation in Patients With Sepsis: Retrospective Observational Study” examined 10 years of data from the University of Michigan Medical Center electronic health data warehouse. The analysis included adult patients with sepsis who were not receiving mechanical ventilation at sepsis onset. The study is published in American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC).

    Co-author Robert Freundlich, MD, MS, MSCI, is an associate professor, department of anesthesiology, and chief of the anesthesiology informatics research division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. The research was conducted during his research fellowship in critical care at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

    “Requiring mechanical ventilation is often a pivotal point for patients with sepsis, and their risk of respiratory failure may vary with time,” he said. “Identifying patients at high risk and implementing targeted interventions in a timely manner has the potential to significantly improve outcomes.”

    A total of 35,020 patients met sepsis criteria, and 28,747 patients were eligible for inclusion after exclusion criteria were applied. The dataset spanned July 10, 2009, to Sept. 7, 2019.

    Of all eligible patients, 3,891 (13.5%) required mechanical ventilation within 30 days after sepsis onset. Of these, 2,046 (52.6%) required mechanical ventilation within 24 hours of diagnosis. Mechanical ventilation was subsequently initiated for 441 (11.3%) patients from one to two days after sepsis onset, and for 312 (8.0%) patients from two to three days following diagnosis. The remaining 1,092 (28.1%) experienced late respiratory failure or required mechanical ventilation three to 30 days after diagnosis.

    Patients requiring mechanical ventilation had higher baseline illness severity and a higher prevalence of 27 of the 35 comorbidities on the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, which measures overall severity of comorbidities.

    They also had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (21%) than patients who did not require mechanical ventilation (7%). Further analysis revealed that of the patients who received mechanical ventilation before but not after sepsis onset, only 35 (4% of 822) died prior to hospital discharge.

    Factors that were independently associated with an increased likelihood that mechanical ventilation would be needed included race, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and congestive heart failure. Risks decreased with time for the SOFA score and congestive heart failure and varied with time for four comorbidities and three culture results.

    The researchers recommend future proactive studies focus on the effects of fluid resuscitation and other processes of care on the need for mechanical ventilation in this patient population. The use of noninvasive ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula may also impact the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation and should be evaluated.

    To access the article and full-text PDF, visit the AJCC website at www.ajcconline.org.

    About the American Journal of Critical Care: The American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC), a bimonthly scientific journal published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, provides leading-edge clinical research that focuses on evidence-based-practice applications. Established in 1992, the award-winning journal includes clinical and research studies, case reports, editorials and commentaries. AJCC enjoys a circulation of about 130,000 acute and critical care nurses and can be accessed at www.ajcconline.org.

    About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and nearly 200 chapters in the United States.

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27071 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

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  • Susan McMullan Receives AANA’s 44th Annual Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award

    Susan McMullan Receives AANA’s 44th Annual Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award

    Newswise — Rosemont, Ill. (AANA) – The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) presented Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Susan McMullan, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA, FAAN with the 44th Annual Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award during its 2023 Annual Congress, August 18-22, in Seattle.

    The Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award, established in 1980, is presented to a CRNA who has made a significant contribution to the education of nurse anesthetists. The award recognizes the individual’s commitment to the profession of nurse anesthesiology and to the advancement of educational standards that further the art and science of anesthesiology and result in high-quality patient care.

    Throughout her 35 years as a CRNA, including 12 years in nurse anesthesia education, McMullan has made a tremendous contribution to the education of CRNAs and a meaningful impact on the profession of  nurse anesthesiology.

    McMullan is an associate professor and director of the BSN-DNP Pathway in Nurse Anesthesia at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Since joining the UAB Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP), McMullan has made significant improvements in making a positive impact on the nurse anesthesia workforce in the southeast. Under her leadership, the UAB NAP successfully transitioned from a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to the Bachelor of Science (BSN)-Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program of study, graduating the first doctorally prepared class of nurse anesthetists in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. McMullan was also key in increasing the number of CRNAs in Alabama during a critical workforce shortage by doubling class cohort size and securing additional clinical training sites.

    In addition to improving the CRNA workforce numbers, McMullan is passionate about increasing the diversity of the CRNA workforce. Due to her leadership and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, she participated in the inaugural Leadership Excel and Achievement Program, working with Case Western University to increase and sustain diversity in the nurse anesthesiology profession.

    McMullan is a key contributor to advancing nurse anesthesiology education standards at the national level through her work on the Executive Committee of the National Board for Certification Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). She is serving her second three-year term in the current role of vice-president and will become president in fall 2023. Her work with the NBCRNA has been instrumental in developing policies to include research-based, innovative methods for improved certification/recertification processes and lifelong learning for CRNAs, ensuring patients continue to receive the high quality, safe, and cutting-edge care they deserve. Among her other honors, McMullan was recently inducted as a Fellow of the AANA and American Academy of Nursing.

    “Like the leader that came before her, Helen Lamb, Dr. Susan McMullan unambiguously represents everything a nurse anesthetist should aspire to be,” her nomination said. “She is passionate about and devoted to uplifting the nurse anesthesia profession through educating and cultivating nurse anesthesia leaders.”

    “I am so honored to follow in Helen Lamb’s footsteps and continue her tradition of training nurse anesthetists at our medical center.  It has truly been an honor and one of the greatest achievements and highlights of my life, “said McMullan of the award.

    McMullan is a graduate of Rutgers College of Nursing, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, with a PhD in nursing science and a Master of Nursing in nurse anesthesia from Rush University in Chicago. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • AANA Launches MOTION Career Exploration Platform to Empower CRNAs with Better Career Choices

    AANA Launches MOTION Career Exploration Platform to Empower CRNAs with Better Career Choices

    Newswise — ROSEMONT, Ill. – The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has launched its new interactive career exploration platform, MOTION, to assist each of AANA’s nearly 61,000 members in making informed career choices.

    MOTION is a cutting-edge, map-based career-exploration platform that is purpose-built to assist CRNAs in making well-informed career decisions and locate the best opportunities for personal and professional growth. The platform empowers members to take control of their job search by providing them with the most comprehensive database of virtually every CRNA employer location in the United States.

    “At AANA, our mission is to be tireless advocates for all Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), supporting their careers and enriching their lives and those of their families,” said Chief Executive Officer Bill Bruce. “As the healthcare landscape evolves, we recognize the need to equip our members with better tools to navigate their career paths. MOTION will provide our members with the resources they need to thrive in their profession.”

    Created by MedGeo Ventures, MOTION was born from the belief that the right career move can be transformative, not just for pay scale and hours, but for every aspect of life. CRNAs, upon login, will be presented with a map that features CRNA employer locations. Each location on the map will be flagged and searchable as one of three designations:

    • INACTIVE SITES: Employers have the option to add branding and update the information for their practice sites and providers at any time, free of charge.
    • NETWORKING SITES: Employers can upgrade their sites to “networking” status to build a talent pipeline or hire opportunistically. The Networking Sites offer detailed employer information, including contact information.
    • HIRING SITES: Employers can upgrade to hiring sites, allowing them to identify locations with active job openings. Hiring Sites provide all the features of Networking Sites, plus unlimited job postings for that location.

    Additional features unique to AANA’s MOTION platform include map layers of community information such as housing costs and commute times; employer messaging to directly engage with employers before submitting an application; the ability to follow a site or entire market to get notifications of material changes; and AANA career liaisons to assist members with career option research and facilitate member referrals to employers.

    MedGeo, a partially held subsidiary of AANA, strives to equip members of the healthcare profession with better tools to navigate their career paths.

    “We are living through a unique time in the history of our field, and we are committed to supporting CRNAs with a platform that delivers more data and better ways to connect with employers,” said MedGeo Co-Founder, Jarod Collins.

     

    About MedGeo

    MedGeo is a map-based career exploration platform that’s purpose-built for medical association members. Our white-labeled, interactive experience gives associations more ways to improve the member experience with advanced search filters, robust comparative data, and an enjoyable search experience for job seekers.

     

    About AANA

    Founded in 1931 and located in Rosemont, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) is the professional organization representing nearly 61,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student registered nurse anesthetists across the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs are anesthesia experts who administer more than 50 million anesthetics to patients in the United States each year and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America. CRNAs represent more than 80% of the anesthesia providers in rural counties. For more information, visit www.aana.com.

     

     

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • Oregon Patients Access to Quality Anesthesia Care Protected with Signing of HB 3425

    Oregon Patients Access to Quality Anesthesia Care Protected with Signing of HB 3425

    Newswise — ROSEMONT, Ill.  The state of Oregon took a significant step towards streamlining anesthesia care for patients with the signing of House Bill 3425 by Governor Tina Kotek on July 18. This landmark legislation repeals redundant provisions and provides clear guidelines for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) practicing in the state.

    The bill reaffirms the Oregon State Board of Nursing’s authority to establish rules regarding CRNA scope of practice, ensuring safe and effective anesthesia care for patients.

    “State nursing boards are uniquely qualified to oversee the practice of nursing,” Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists (ORANA) President Andrea Hargis, DNP, CRNA said. “Nursing boards understand the nurse-patient relationship and honor the expert care provided by nurses. We thank Gov. Kotek for preserving this important relationship.”

    Oregon opted-out of federal physician supervision requirements for CRNAs in 2003, recognizing their expertise and capabilities. As of 2023, 24 states plus Guam have taken this action in acknowledgment of CRNAs as highly skilled healthcare professionals capable of providing safe and quality care independently.

    CRNAs provide all aspects of superior anesthesia throughout Oregon. Nationally, CRNAs safely administer more than 50 million anesthetics to patients each year working in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered.  CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural settings, enabling facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management, and trauma stabilization services. CRNAs have full practice authority in the Army, Navy, and Air Force and are the predominant provider of anesthesia on forward surgical teams and in combat support hospitals.

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • AANA Appoints Amy Sherwood as Chief Membership Officer

    AANA Appoints Amy Sherwood as Chief Membership Officer

    Newswise — ROSEMONT, Ill. — The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has named Amy Sherwood, CAE to serve as AANA’s Chief Membership Officer. She will report to Chief Executive Officer Bill Bruce.

    Sherwood is responsible for developing and executing the strategies necessary to support AANA’s state associations, their leadership and viability as well as AANA overall membership. 

    “With nearly two decades of association leadership experience, Amy is a proven association leader with experience not just in implementing best practices, but leading groups in continuous improvements and creating member value,” said Bruce. “Her vast association leadership knowledge will add value not just to AANA, but to all our state associations.” 

    Sherwood most recently served as the executive director for the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses where she led the group through the development and execution of a multi-year strategy plan. From 2015-2020 she was the director of society management services at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, orchestrating the management of 14 independent societies, including serving as interim executive director for several.

    Sherwood is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Association Forum of Chicagoland. She was honored by the Association Forum as an Inspiring Leader in 2022 and one of its Forty Under 40 in 2014.

    “I am honored to be chosen to lead the membership division of AANA and look forward to working with AANA members and staff to ensure our state association and member experience is consistent with the mission and core values of the organization,” Sherwood said. “Strong membership on both the state and national level is vital to the success of any association, and I am thrilled to be chosen to continue that work at AANA.”

    Sherwood earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational/corporate communications at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and has achieved the Certified Association Executive credential from ASAE.

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • AANA Wins 2023 Gold Circle Award from ASAE for Membership Retention

    AANA Wins 2023 Gold Circle Award from ASAE for Membership Retention

    Newswise — Rosemont, Ill. (AANA) – The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has been recognized by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) with a 2023 Gold Circle Award in the Membership Retention category. The Gold Circle competition is the premier association marketing, membership, and communications award that recognizes excellence, innovation, and achievement in association/nonprofit marketing, membership, and communications campaigns and activities.

    ASAE recognized AANA for its “Power in Membership” campaign, launched in 2022. The campaign messaging focused on AANA members being much more than a number: The unique experiences of these advanced practice providers demonstrate there is power in purpose, in passion, in knowledge, and in connection with colleagues in nurse anesthesiology. The campaign celebrated the power of the CRNA community and the benefits members enjoy as they continue their professional journey with AANA by their side.

    Collateral for the renewal campaign was aspirational and inspirational, appealing to CRNAs’ confidence and desire to make a difference in patient lives, the profession, and healthcare overall. It highlighted the power CRNAs possess, and how that power can grow with the backing and benefits of a professional association and, ultimately, tens of thousands of nurse anesthesiology colleagues. Communications assets were created and shared with members through email, social media, a landing page, direct mail, popups on aana.com, a voicemail drop, and paid ads.

    “As the leading organization representing CRNAs, AANA is committed to reacquainting CRNAs and students with the strength of our community and the importance of our collective voice when it comes to advocacy for the profession,” said AANA President Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA. The “Power in Membership” campaign illustrates the commitment of the association to its members and the profession. We are honored to be recognized by ASAE.”

    This year’s competition received nearly 170 submissions across 16 categories, including convention/meeting campaign, member retention campaign, print magazine, and video. Entries for the Gold Circle Awards are judged consistently in each category based on criteria established by the ASAE Gold Circle Award Committee for excellence in association marketing, membership, and communications programs.

    “I am thrilled to extend my congratulations to the winners of the 2023 ASAE Gold Circle Awards,” said Diana Dabdub, CAE, director of Admissions & Recruitment Affairs at the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges and chair of the ASAE Gold Circle Awards Committee. “The Gold Circle Awards recognize and highlight the significant role that marketing, membership, and communications association professionals play in promoting and supporting the growth of associations and their members. This year, the Gold Circle Awards categories have been updated to encourage and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in campaign development. The winning campaigns showcase innovation, collaboration, creativity, and thoughtful incorporation of the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility perspective in their design and implementation.”

    For more information on the winners, visit Gold Circle Awards.  To learn more about ASAE, visit asaecenter.org

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    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • Access To Quality Anesthesia Care Increased for Indiana Dental Patients

    Access To Quality Anesthesia Care Increased for Indiana Dental Patients

    Newswise — Rosemont, Ill. (AANA) – Indiana dental patients now have increased access to safe anesthesia care with the enacting of Indiana Senate Bill 273. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) applauds the new law, as it expands the scope of practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), allowing CRNAs to administer moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia to a patient in a dental office, under the direction of and in the immediate presence of a physician.

    Megan Engelman, DNP, CRNA, president of the Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists, applauded the legislation citing, “It is an important step in advancing patient safety and providing skilled anesthesia care throughout the state.”

    “As an increasing number of patients of all ages and health comorbidities seek sedation and anesthesia for dental procedures in office-based settings, patient safety is the top priority in the delivery of these services,” said Engelman.

    Sedation for any dental procedure increases the complexity of care and emphasizes the importance of having sedation and anesthesia provided by an anesthesia professional, such as a CRNA, who is focused only on patient safety, monitoring, and vigilance. “Each patient has a unique response to medications utilized for sedation and anesthesia. As anesthesia experts, CRNAs are available to continuously monitor the patient, and can focus on changes in the patient’s condition and intervene as necessary in emergent situations,” said Engelman. “Even for what would be considered routine dental care like cavity fillings, a discussion of the anesthesia delivery plan is important to address any concerns and help the patient and the patient’s caregivers move forward to treat the dental health issues.”

    CRNAs are highly educated, trained, and qualified anesthesia experts. They provide 50 million anesthetics per year in the United States, working in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered. CRNAs are skilled to provide safe, high-quality, and cost-effective care as members of patient-centered dental care teams in all settings, including dental offices, in accordance with state law.

    As trained anesthesiology professionals, CRNAs have the education and experience to react quickly to emergency situations in dental care settings, possess the expertise to administer the anesthesia and focus solely on the patient’s condition, and intervene as necessary if critical events occur during the procedure.  

     

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • AANA Presents Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award to New Mexico

    AANA Presents Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award to New Mexico

    Newswise — ROSEMONT, Ill.   (AANA)— The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) will honor the New Mexico Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NMANA) with the Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award at its Mid-Year Assembly, held in Washington, D.C., April 29 – May 3.

    The Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award, established in 2016, is presented annually to a state association based on the quality of its efforts in the state legislative or regulatory arena for the nurse anesthesiology profession. The recipient is chosen by the AANA Government Relations Committee.

    In connection with legislative efforts to pursue full practice authority, the NMANA determined a need for more outreach to its membership and made great improvements in its ability to communicate with members quickly and frequently. This includes monthly communications from the president regarding legislative efforts, weekly zoom meetings during the legislative session, and increased grassroots involvement. These new communications tactics have resulted in a 40% growth in NMANA membership, from 180 to 250, during the past five years.

    The NMANA leadership includes CRNAs with years of experience, as well as new NMANA board members who are mentored and empowered to work to their full potential. “Utilizing the strengths of CRNAs with diverse backgrounds and thinking has brought strength to the NMANA team and a bright future for New Mexico CRNAs,” NMANA President Shannon Allen, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA, said. “We are honored to be recognized by the AANA for our achievements.”

    To further engage its membership and raise the visibility, awareness and influence of CRNAs in New Mexico, the NMANA board traveled the state, connecting with CRNAs and their legislators, improving CRNA engagement, and educating legislators about the high-quality care that CRNAs provide to patients in the state. Increased member engagement resulted in a record breaking increase in PAC donations.

    “As a result, the relationships NMANA developed with the governor and legislators will benefit CRNAs for years to come,” Allen said. “Thank you to the many New Mexico CRNAs who continue to fight to protect CRNA practice in the state.”

    To support their legislative efforts, the NMANA secured strong backing from a broad coalition, including APRN and nursing associations, and the state hospital association, as well as individual physicians and surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, patients and facility CEOs. NMANA also launched a strong public relations advocacy campaign to educate legislators and the public through social media, billboards, newspapers, radio ads and interviews. The NMANA also worked with the New Mexico State University to get the state’s first CRNA program off the ground and it is on track to begin this fall.

    As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs are members of one of the most trusted professions according to Gallup. CRNAs provide anesthesia care across all settings and in all patient populations and are the primary anesthesia providers in rural and underserved areas and on the battlefield in forward surgical teams.

     

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • Future of Nursing Scholars: Reflections on Forward-Thinking Nursing Doctoral Education

    Future of Nursing Scholars: Reflections on Forward-Thinking Nursing Doctoral Education

    Newswise — PHILADELPHIA (April 28, 2023) – As the distinguished Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars (FNS) program ends, a special section of an issue of the journal Nursing Outlook offers an in-depth review from University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) leaders about the program’s success and its long-lasting impact on nursing scholars, faculty, and institutions.

    The FNS Program Overview

    During the course of the FNS program, nurses from 46 schools pursued their PhDs as Future of Nursing Scholars and more than 180 scholars graduated. In the article “Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars Program: An Overview,”(available online), the authors describe the state of the field at program launch, the program development, and operations.

    “Preliminary results suggest accelerated PhD programs featuring intensive mentoring and financial support can produce well-prepared nurse researchers ready for post-doctoral positions and leadership roles,” says Heather J. Kelley, Deputy Director of the RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars Program and the article’s lead author. “Given the critical need for more PhD-prepared nurses in the United States and the concerns about the length of time required to complete a PhD, it is essential that innovative approaches like the FNS model be integrated into nursing education.”

    Co-authors include Amanda Bastelica, Associate Director, RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars, McKenzie Boschitsch, Program Coordinator, and Julie Fairman, PhD, RN, FAAN, Endowed Chair, Nightingale Professor in Honor of Nursing Veterans and Director of the RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars, all of Penn Nursing; Maryjoan Ladden, Senior Program Officer, 2008-2019, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Nicholas Giordano of Emory University; and Susan Hassmiller, Senior Advisor for Nursing Emeritus, Director Emeritus, RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars.

    The FNS Program Impact

    The FNS program prepared the next generation of nursing leaders, strengthened nursing education, and led transformational change in health care. In the article “The Impact of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars Program on Scholars, Schools and Nursing Science,” (available online), the authors describe the program’s impact on the scholars and schools that participated and the perceived impact on nursing science.

    “The FNS program provided a large-scale demonstration, across academic environments, for the success of implementing three-year PhD programs to prepare the next generation of nurse leaders,” says Fairman. “The program also provided proof-of-concept “on high-quality accelerated PhD education for nursing students well matched with mentors, and elevated the national conversation on PhD education.”

    Other coauthors include Nicholas Giordano of Emory University and Maryjoan Ladden of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

    Faculty Mentoring in the FNS Program

    Faculty mentoring was an important part of the success of the FNS program. In the article “Characteristics of Faculty Mentoring in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars Program,” (available online), authors describe the experience of faculty mentors involved with the program, including support activities for students, time commitment, student productivity in manuscript dissemination, and challenges and opportunities for supporting students.

    “Completing a PhD program in three years requires increased use of faculty resources including intensive faculty mentor time,” says Fairman. “The FNS program demonstrated that committed mentors, shared research interests, structured plans (use of IDPs), and identification and provision of emotional support are imperative to success.”

    Other co-authors include Gordon Lee Gillespie of the University of Cincinnati and April Hazard Vallerand of Wayne State University.

    Adapting Nursing PhD Curricula into a Three-Year Program

    The FNS program supported 45 nursing schools to create or adapt their PhD curricula to facilitate students completing the degree in three years. In the article “Three-Year Nursing PhD Curriculum Content Among Schools Participating in the Future of Nursing Scholars Program,”(available online), the authors identify and analyze common elements of the three-year PhD curricula.

    “Most frequently seen across curricula included content focused on statistics, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, additional research methods, theory, and philosophy courses. These findings can be used to inform the development and educational needs of future nurse scientists,” says Fairman. “Continued and concentrated efforts are needed to elevate trainees’ exposure to emerging priority areas in nursing science, rather than regulating them to electives or cognates while balancing the broad interdisciplinary training needs that are necessary for developing scientific inquiry.”

    Other co-authors include Nicholas Giordano of Emory University and Maryjoan Ladden, Senior Program Officer, 2008-2019, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

    The FNS Program Scholar Experience

    The FNS program used a multi-pronged approach to support nurses completing accelerated PhD programs. In the article “The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars Program: The Scholar Experience,”(available online), the authors describe scholars’ experiences completing PhDs, their dissertation characteristics, program leadership development sessions, and scholar perceptions of program components.

    “Scholars’ experiences with the FNS program were enthusiastically positive, evident by exit survey and interview data. Despite the shortened timeline of their plan of study, scholars completed the FNS and PhD programs feeling prepared to be successful nurse leaders and scientists,” says Kelley. “Five important contributions maximized the success of this program. Those are mentorship, cohort cohesion, opportunity to build leadership skills, funding support, and guidance.”

    Co-authors include Fairman, Amanda Bastelica, MPA, McKenzie Boschitsch, and Maxine Wicks, all of Penn Nursing; Nicholas Giordano of Emory University; Maryjoan Ladden of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and Madison McCarthy of the TriStar Skyline Medical Center.

    FNS Focus Group Results

    In January 2022, the national program office hosted an in-person convening for scholars and mentors from all cohorts as a capstone event at the end of the nine-year FNS program. In the article “RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars Experience and Recommendations: Focus Group Results at Final Convening,” (available online), the authors share focus group insight from that meeting about why the scholars chose to participate in the program, meeting facilitators, and barriers they experienced during the program.

    “We learned that participants valued the mentorship model, networking, connecting with other scholars, regular meetings with FNS scholars and mentors, and other opportunities available to them. They also expressed that financial support was very important,” says Fairman.

    Participants recommended that more information about the PhD and the differentiation between a PhD and DNP needs to be communicated to nurses to help them to better understand the role and benefits of nurse scientists. Participants also noted the name recognition and reputation of RWJF as a factor in their decision to become a RWJF FNS.

    Co-authors include Fairman, Kelley, Kathryn H. Bowles, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, Professor of Nursing and the van Ameringen Chair in Nursing Excellence, all of Penn Nursing; Robin P. Newhouse of Indiana University School of Nursing; Maureen George of Columbia University School of Nursing; and Mayumi A. Willgerodt, University of Washington School of Nursing.

    The End or a New Beginning?

    Following the 2010 National Academy of Medicine report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” the RWJF created the FNS program. At its heart was a goal to equip a cadre of PhD-prepared nurses for long-term careers advancing science and discovery, strengthening nursing education, and leading transformational change in health care.

    The RWJF committed $20 million to the program and developed a philanthropic collaborative to bring an additional $5 million in funding to the program. Through a competitive selection process, Penn Nursing was chosen as the National Program Office. Development of the FNS program emanated from the program office and incorporated three key pillars: science, innovation, and policy. The program provided financial support, mentoring, and leadership development to nurses who committed to earning their PhDs in three years.

    While the FNS program has come to an end, its impact on creating options for how nurse scientists are prepared is sure to be long-lasting. “Perhaps the most important lesson learned from the FNS program is that innovation and experimentation in both the structure and process of doctoral education is not only possible, but essential,” says Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing at Penn Nursing. Her article (available online), “The End? or a New Beginning? Perspectives on Lessons Learned from the Future of Nursing Scholars Program and the Preparation of PhD Nurse Scholars,” which concludes the journal’s special section.

    Villarruel encourages continued financial support of students in nursing PhD programs, and a better understanding of how investment in nursing doctoral education can support the priorities of foundations, health care institutions, and schools. “The creativity and support of the RWJF National program office, program leadership at Penn, and the efforts of so many Schools of Nursing and Foundations at the institutional level in support of the next generation of nurse scientists bodes well for the future and health of those whom we serve,” she adds.

    University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

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  • Kris Rohde Receives AANA’s Daniel D. Vigness Federal Political Director Award

    Kris Rohde Receives AANA’s Daniel D. Vigness Federal Political Director Award

    Newswise — Rosemont, Ill. — The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) will honor Kris Rohde, CRNA, with the 2023 Daniel D. Vigness Federal Political Director Award during the AANA Mid-Year Assembly, held April 29-May 3, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Rohde, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), is a staff CRNA at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. 

    The Federal Political Director of the Year Award, established in 2001, is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the national healthcare agenda of CRNAs by coordinating grassroots CRNA involvement in their state and in the federal political process. 

    Rohde has been an active member of the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NANA) since 2012. While on the board, she has served as a member-at-large, Chair of Public Relations, President-Elect, and President. Since 2020, she has served as Federal Political Director (FPD) for NANA. In addition to her work at the state level, she is also a member of AANA’s Political Action Committee, CRNA-PAC. 

    “Being chosen for the 2023 Daniel D. Vigness Federal Political Director of the Year is such a great honor. I am truly humbled to have been given this award. Since I graduated from Bryan LGH College of Health Sciences in 2010, I have been involved politically for nearly my entire career and have been our FPD for two years. It has been a very rewarding time and I feel as if I have so much more I can accomplish during my tenure as the FPD for the great state of Nebraska,” Rohde said. 

    According to her nomination, Rohde is a grassroots advocate who has played a key role in opposing legislation related to anesthesiology assistants in Nebraska: “Through reaching out to several national contacts, Kris has contributed to establishing a plan for opposition as well as shared access to those individuals who are able to help our cause and protect CRNA practice in this state.” 

    As part of her political outreach, she represents CRNAs at events for the Nebraska legislature and the Nebraska Hospital Association. She also organizes meetings with gubernatorial candidates in Nebraska, and congresspersons and senators on Capitol Hill. 

    “She doesn’t just attend events and sit on the sidelines. She understands our issues. Senators look to her because she befriends them, and they know her as the face and the spirit of nurse anesthesia,” her nomination said. 

    “This profession has an amazing history, and I am so proud to explain to our lawmakers the importance of our profession and the vital role we play in any healthcare setting,” Rohde said. “There is nowhere we won’t go to take excellent care of patients. The policy makers need to know this, and I am always happy to explain this reality to them.” 

    Rohde graduated from BryanLGH College of Health Sciences in Lincoln, Nebraska with a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia, from Creighton University in Omaha with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She has worked as a CRNA at Nebraska Medicine since 2014. At Nebraska Medicine, an academic level 1 trauma center, she is active in mentoring student registered nurse anesthetists in her role as a clinical preceptor. 

    CRNAs administer more than 50 million anesthetics every year in the U.S. with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility. These anesthesia experts practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered, offering obstetrical, surgical, pain management, and trauma stabilization services. They are the primary anesthesia providers in rural and underserved areas, as well as in the United States military. 

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • Decision Guide Clarifies Indicators for Swallowing Consults

    Decision Guide Clarifies Indicators for Swallowing Consults

    Newswise — A multidisciplinary group at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, developed a decision guide to provide healthcare teams with specific guidelines for swallowing care after extubation. The decision guide standardizes the process for clinicians to determine which recently extubated patients required further swallowing assessment by an appropriate professional.

    As the only Level 1 trauma center east of Raleigh, North Carolina, ECU Health Medical Center serves a vast rural region home to more than 1.4 million people and is the largest resource for critically ill patients in eastern North Carolina. Critically ill patients are frequently intubated with an endotracheal tube to maintain an adequate airway for breathing. After the endotracheal tube is removed, patients often experience difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, which is associated with a variety of poor outcomes. 

    “It is important that patients experiencing dysphagia be treated swiftly because dysphagia can cause difficulty eating, drinking or swallowing necessary medications,” said Waverlyn J. Royals, MS, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathology (SLP) clinical specialist and student education coordinator for rehabilitation services at ECU Health Medical Center. “Determining which patients need a swallowing assessment helps care teams intervene early and improve outcomes, as well as more efficiently use resources and reduce costs.” 

    Since ECU Health is an academic health system, its partnership with Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University allows for team members such as Royals to conduct research to continue finding best practices for patients and care teams. The multidisciplinary group conducted a literature review as part of a process improvement project to help clarify decision-making for patients post-extubation. This review identified specific risk factors that healthcare teams should consider regarding dysphagia post-extubation.

    These risk factors became points of decision in the guide. A “yes” answer to any of the decision points resulted in the patient’s continued non-oral status and triggered a consult to SLP professionals. If each question has a “no” response, it eliminates unnecessary requests to assess patients who already tolerate an oral diet. For patients with no positive indicators from the decision guide, including a water swallowing challenge, the nurse consulted with a healthcare provider about starting an oral diet.  

    “In addition to clarifying which patients need further evaluation, the guide provides nurses and providers with clear indicators to answer questions from patients and families about why individuals were deemed unready to safely resume eating and drinking,” Royals said.

    “A Decision Guide for Assessing the Recently Extubated Patient’s Readiness for Safe Oral Intake” details the development of the guide, as well as the risk factors and clinical indicators it covers. The study is published in the February issue of Critical Care Nurse (CCN).

    As the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ bimonthly clinical practice journal for acute and critical care nurses, CCN is a trusted source of information related to the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients. Access the article abstract and full-text PDF by visiting the CCN website at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org.

    About Critical Care Nurse: Critical Care Nurse (CCN), a bimonthly clinical practice journal published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, provides current, relevant and useful information about the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients. The award-winning journal also offers columns on traditional and emerging issues across the spectrum of critical care, keeping critical care nurses informed on topics that affect their practice in acute, progressive and critical care settings. CCN enjoys a circulation of more than 128,000 and can be accessed at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/.

    About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and over 200 chapters in the United States.

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27071 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

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  • Understanding How the Perception of Risks and Benefits Influence Cancer Clinical Trial Withdrawal Outcomes

    Understanding How the Perception of Risks and Benefits Influence Cancer Clinical Trial Withdrawal Outcomes

    Newswise — PHILADELPHIA (December 7, 2022) – While people with cancer have options to participate in cancer clinical trials (CCTs), it can be challenging when they encounter difficulties enrolling and remaining in the trial. Trial withdrawal, although every participant’s right, can thwart study goals and hamper advancing novel treatments.

    Until now, little attention has focused on what influences retention after participants are enrolled in the trial, especially the role of perceived benefits and burdens. A new investigation from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) has examined the association between patients’ perceived benefits and burdens of research participation and CCT retention. It found that patients perceived important benefits from CCT participation, which was associated with trial retention, even among those who also perceived substantial burdens. 

    “The findings of how perceptions of benefits and burdens were associated with CCT withdrawal outcomes provide novel and foundational evidence of the importance of understanding these perceptions for trial retention,” explains Connie M. Ulrich, PhD, RN, FAAN, Lillian S. Brunner Chair in Medical and Surgical Nursing, Professor of Nursing and Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Penn Nursing. Ulrich is the lead investigator of the study.

    The study found that when perceived benefits were equal to or greater than perceived burdens, participants were less likely to withdraw than those who perceived the burdens to be greater than the benefits. How participants think about benefits and burdens in a research trial may differ from how researchers and IRBs discern the trial’s acceptability.

    “Protection of human participants is critical, but more research is needed on how participants perceive benefits, the different types and categories of benefits, and implications of perceived benefits for retention to elucidate the role of benefits compared with the risks and burdens that participants are asked to bear,” says Ulrich.

    The results of the study have been published in the article “Association of Perceived Benefit or Burden of Research Participation With Participants’ Withdrawal From Cancer Clinical Trials,” available online on JAMA Network. Coauthors of the article include: Mary D. Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN, Marian S. Ware Professor in Gerontology Director of the NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, Therese S. Richmond, PhD, RN, FAAN, Andrea B. Laporte Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean for Research & Innovation, and Liming Huang, all of Penn Nursing;  Sarah J. Ratcliffe of the University of Virginia; Qiuping Zhou of the George Washington University; Camille Hochheimer of the Colorado School of Public Health; Thomas Gordon of the University of Massachusetts; Kathleen Knafl of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Marilyn M. Schapira of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Christine Grady of the National Institutes of Health; and Jun J. Mao of Memorial Sloan Kettering.  

    Ulrich was supported in part by grant R01CA196131 from the National Cancer Institute of the NIH (NCI/NIH). Ratcliffe was supported in part by grant R01-NR014865 from the NCI/NIH. Richmond was supported in part by grant R01CA196131 from the NCI/NIH. Mao was supported in part by grants P30CA008748 and R01CA240417 from the NCI/NIH. 

    # # #

    About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

    The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world’s leading schools of nursing. For the seventh year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University. In a first for any undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in the country, our BSN program is ranked # 1 in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. Penn Nursing is also consistently ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools and is ranked as one of the top schools of nursing in funding from the National Institutes of Health. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Instagram.  

    University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

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  • UCHealth Initiative Reduces Off-Label Pulse Oximeter Placement

    UCHealth Initiative Reduces Off-Label Pulse Oximeter Placement

    Newswise — The critical care team at UCHealth in Colorado reduced the off-label placement of pulse oximetry sensors from 15% to less than 1%, according to an article published in the December issue of Critical Care Nurse (CCN).

    “Improving Patient Safety by Increasing Staff Knowledge of Evidence-Based Pulse Oximetry Practices” details how the short-term quality improvement initiative helped change the culture of pulse oximetry use, with long-term solutions, ongoing education and the addition of dedicated ear probes in each critical care patient room.

    Pulse oximetry is a commonly used monitoring technology that provides an indirect and accurate method of measuring a patient’s oxygen saturation, an essential element in critical care units and many inpatient clinical areas. The results help inform decisions regarding oxygen therapy.

    Many common clinical situations can result in using a pulse oximetry sensor in an off-label location, such as placing a finger sensor on an earlobe. With limited literature about the accuracy of such off-label use, it’s considered a best practice to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and use sensors for only those locations for which they are designed. 

    Co-author Maureen Varty, PhD, RN, is a research nurse scientist at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and an assistant professor at University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora. She worked on the initiative with Danielle Hlavin, BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, a charge nurse at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs.

    “When trying to get an oxygen reading, it can be easy to use the same sensor in various points, but pulse oximeters are not interchangeable,” Hlavin said. “By taking the time to understand the barriers to practice, we identified sustainable solutions and reinforced best practices for using the correct type of sensor and preventing pressure injuries that may develop.”

    The initiative was a response to noticing that off-label placement was being used in critical care patient rooms, with inconsistent practices that could affect patient safety.

    Audits were conducted by entering each occupied patient room and noting finger probes being used on off-label sites. In the preintervention audit, with 508 observations during August through October 2020, a finger probe was used off label in 77 patients (15.2%). In the postintervention audit in March and April 2021, with 365 observations, a finger probe was used instead of an ear probe in only three patients (0.8%).

    The team used a simple preintervention survey to assess healthcare staff members’ knowledge of and confidence in pulse oximetry use and appropriate placement. Before the intervention, only 38.9% of bedside staff members said they knew not to use finger sensors on the ear. After the intervention, 85% of respondents knew not to do so.

    They also evaluated the availability of pulse oximetry supplies, types of supplies and any barriers to obtaining this equipment. This assessment revealed anecdotal evidence that staff members had difficulty quickly locating ear probes for their patients, leading them to turn to off-label placement when finger sensors were not able to detect a good signal.

    With the support of hospital management, 90 ear probes were purchased for critical care settings. These were labeled “ICU” and affixed to the pulse oximeter cable in each patient room for easy access.

    A brief, formal educational presentation was first provided to 175 nurses in October 2020 during staff skill laboratories, and then to 37 respiratory therapists and 21 patient care technicians and advanced care providers during their staff meetings from October 2020 through January 2021.

    Further education was provided in real time to mitigate the potential risks of pressure injuries developing from the use of ear probes and ensure that best practices continued to be followed.

    As the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ bimonthly clinical practice journal for acute and critical care nurses, CCN is a trusted source of information related to the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients.

    Access the article abstract and full-text PDF by visiting the CCN website at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org.

     

    About Critical Care Nurse: Critical Care Nurse (CCN), a bimonthly clinical practice journal published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, provides current, relevant and useful information about the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients. The award-winning journal also offers columns on traditional and emerging issues across the spectrum of critical care, keeping critical care nurses informed on topics that affect their practice in acute, progressive and critical care settings. CCN enjoys a circulation of more than 128,000 and can be accessed at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/.

    About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and over 200 chapters in the United States.

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27071 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

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