August,2005

 

 

To all ASPAN Board members, and Committee Chairs

 

Here is an update on the past 4 months of ASPAN activity:

 

MAY

v     Terry Clifford & I were presenters at a conference co-sponsored by Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital in Lebanon, NH and the VT/NH Society of Perianesthesia Nurses.

v     LAPAN President Michelle Stieffel represented ASPAN at NTI

v     JCAHO liaison and Past President Nancy Saufl represented ASPAN at the 7th Annual National Patient Safety Foundation Congress in Orlando

v     Sue Fossum, Regional Director, Region I represented ASPAN at the Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association (FASA) Conference in San Francisco

v     Past President Dolly Ireland and Linda Ziolkowski, both members of the Diversity SWT attended the very first American Arab Nurses Association Conference in Michigan

v     Dina Krenzischek, Denise O’Brien, Dennis Johnson & I met with Chief Nursing Officer for AORN Pauline Robitaille and GE rep Marian  McCall in Chicago to discuss possible collaborations on a PNDS project

v     Regional Directors sent out “welcoming letters” to their Components

 

 

JUNE

v     A search for a new Breathline Editor began as Jackie Ross announced that she is resigning her position in January, but will help the new editor with the March issue. Jackie is now the Chair of the Evidence Based Practice Committee. Congratulations Jackie!

v     Val Hooper contacted potential work team participants  for the ASPAN PONV/PDNV Clinical Guideline development which is now proceeding ahead with process

v     Educator provider Committee sent the 2006 Seminar outline flyer  which announced 8 offerings for spring

v     ASPAN members who belong to ANA received the ‘news release” on several issues that were acted on at the House of Delegates including universal access, RN fatigue, and provision of care by RNs in community based settings

v     Past Presidents received a post-conference email communication to solicit their help with projects and their support for the diversity initiative.

 

 

 

 

JULY

 

v     Request  received for ASPAN member to participate in  the AORN recommended practices peer review process  on the prevention of unplanned perioperative hypothermia, due to our work on the ASPAN Hypothermia Guideline

v     Past President Linda Wilson was hired as Nurse Educator in the National Office one day/week

v      Dennis Johnson & I attended ASPAN Data Elements SWT meeting with members Dina Krenzischek, Karen Cannon, Denise O’Brien, Susan Russell, Terry Clifford, Dolly Ireland, Myrna Mamaril, and Pam Windle

v     I attended an ABPANC orientation in New York City at the PES office which was conducted by BonnieNiebuhr, B.J. Wagner. Karen Niven, Maria Anderson and Phil Godlewski

v     Immediate Past President Dina Krenzischek and I attended the 2005 Executive Symposium followed by the Council on Surgical and Perioperatrive Safety ( CSPS)=”Summit”

v     VP/PE Pam Windle & I attended the National Conference SWT meeting in Orlando to review plans to date. Pam also had a budget hearing and drafted her FY 2006-2007 budget

v     ASPAN sent in notification that we support the Principle Elements of a Healthful Work Environment as endorsed by Alliance member organizations. This will come up for a vote at the mid-year BOD meeting in November.

v     ASPAN members across the country logged on to “listen” to a Newsweek guest chat on “A Full House: The Overextended PACU.”

v     ASPAN BOD has access to new ASPAN email system for improved communication and networking!

v     I sent letters out to the BOD and Component Presidents which described a new program, the “Up & Comers” with the purpose of identifying potential leaders at the component level and then giving them mentoring services provided by the BOD with the outcome of successful succession planning! The first “pilot” group will be guests at a reception at national Conference in Orlando

v     ABPANC offered to facilitate a leader’s book club at the Leadership Development Institute in September and has sent personal invitations to all registrants

 

AUGUST

v     Dennis Johnson, Pam & I attended the AANA Conference in Washington, D.C.  We met with representatives from Baxter and agreed to put together a local advisory board for them, drawing members from the greater New Jersey area. We also met with representatives from J&J and agreed to partner with them on a future project as well.

v     NEVPANA President Sue Cacibauda contacted me to inform me that the Component newsletter “PARsnips” was being “revived.” I wrote an article to be published in the first issue

v     As ASPAN President, I sent our sincere wishes of support to BARNA on the terrorist attacks that occurred in England

v     ASPANF Director Jane Eardhart & I scored the ASPAN Scholarship applications and all applicants qualified. They included 3 for the BSN, 3 for the MSN, 1 for Certification, and 8 for National Conference

v     A decision was made to offer Board members complimentary copies of the APSF newsletter

v     The 2005-2006 Directory arrived with a shiny silver & black cover in honor of our 25th anniversary!

v     Kevin Dill & I will  attend a Leadership Academy sponsored by the Alliance in Kentucky

 

Future Events: for September/October/November

v     The Annual Leadership Development Institute will be held in St Louis  September 9-11 with an emphasis on learning /enhancing knowledge and skills through the expertise of past & present ASPAN leaders and National Office staff

v     Terry Clifford & I will be presenting at the VT/NH conference in celebration of their 20th anniversary; Terry will also be visiting PAPAN and MESPAN

v     Kim Kraft is planning to visit the following Components: ILSPAN, MNDAKSPAN,INSPAN and KSPAN

v     Chris Price will be representing me at GAPAN and FLASPAN

v     Pam Windle will be representing me at LAPAN conference; Pam will also attend ASA,NOA,ABPANC and PGA with me

v     Dina Krenzischek will represent me at NCAPAN  conference

v     Sue Fossum will be attending PANAC conference

v     I will lecture at the following components: ALAPAN, RMPANA, TSPAN, PANAAM,PANAC and MESPAN

v     All members of the BOD will be attending the mid-year meeting in Puerto Rico

v     Dina Krenzischek and Sue Benner (liaison to Partners for Understanding Pain) will be representing ASPAN at a lobbying session in D.C. to address the pain management reimbursement of our diverse populations in the U.S.

v     Linda Wilson will be representing ASPAN at the NSNA meeting In Kentucky

v     The following groups will be holding free-standing meetings: Education Provider, Evidence Based Practice (EBP) SWT, Diversity SWT, and Standards & Guidelines Committee

 

 

In closing, I thank you all for your ongoing commitment to ASPAN’s Mission & vision! Please continue to strategize ways to weave the Diversity theme into all aspects of Component activity. Get creative in celebrating Diversity Awareness season. I would love to hear your stories on how culturally competent care helped you to make a difference in the lives of your patients and families. The Breathline is the perfect vehicle to share your successes with your colleagues and friends so get to your key board and get the word out NOW!  If you need assist with an article feel free to contact me because I am passionate about having Diversity become a reality for ASPAN this year!

 

With warm regards,

Meg Beturne MSN RN CPAN CAPA

ASPAN President 2005-2006