December 2008

ASPAN Region Five Director’s Report

At the close of every year, many of us look back thinking and wondering where has the time gone (how many days until Christmas?) and hopefully just as many of us start to think about what to look forward to for next year. This year has been a milestone for Region Five Components – three of whom reached their 25 year milestone. I was pleased and fortunate to have been able to participate in those three components celebrations of this very significant time frame. They are VSPAN (Virginia Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses), TSPAN (Tennessee Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses) and NCAPAN (North Carolina Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses). These milestones, while significant help us to understand the dedication and commitment of our members and our Component Leaders.

How many more of us from the other five components can look back twenty five years to the origins of our own practice and see where we have come (a proud history), where we are now (the present), and then envision where we are going (the future). I can assure you that your ASPAN leaders are taking such stock with the national organization to assure that we meet many more milestones for our practice and for our members.

We look at and review those occasions that were opportunities we might have missed, cherish and revere those that give meaning and substance to the work that we do (I like to think of it as our life’s work) while finding the balance to keep things in perspective and manageable. Just as we receive and give evaluations on an annual basis, so, too does ASPAN review and update strategic goals and planning at the Board meetings that are held mid-year, pre-conference, and post conference.

I am proud to tell you that ASPAN’s Strategic Plan is a living and dynamic document that changes as our clinical practice changes, our members’ needs and interests change and based on feedback from your component leaders and Presidents. Their participation in the Representative Assembly helps to set the ground work for many of our initiatives and efforts.

Some of the highlights:

• In September at the Component Development Institute in Albuquerque, NM, Region Five Leaders met and discussed the possibility of considering a Regional Conference that would be open to all members within the southeast region (ALAPAN, CBSPAN, GAPAN, FLASPAN, NCAPAN, SCAPAN, TSPAN, and VSPAN). Your component leaders were very enthusiastic about the possibility of making this a reality and agreed to consider this for PANAW Week 2011. Possible sites were narrowed down to Atlanta, GA and Orlando, FL.
• We received news that ASPAN had achieved a six year accreditation from the ANCC – this is the hardest one to receive – and it means that ASPAN remains recognized as an approved provider for PeriAnesthesia Nursing education. Special acknowledgement should go to Linda Wilson, PhD, RN, CPAN, CAPA, BC CNE, our Nurse Liaison for Education, Research and Clinical Practice, Linda Ziolkowski, MSN, RN, CPAN, Director of Education, Barbara Hannah, EdD, MS, RN, CPAN, the Education Approver Chair and also the National Office Staff members who worked so diligently to assure that this would happen.
• A preview of the website re-design was shared by Joni Brady, MSN, RN, CAPA, Breathline Editor. The Website Redesign SWT members and Eileen Zeiger from the National Office have been hard at work to assure that the new design will offer a new look and better ease of navigation. Hoping to have this in place soon.
• PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week is just around the corner – February 2-8, 2009. The theme this year is PeriAnesthesia Nurses: Catch the Spirit. Watch the ASPAN Website for notice of free contact hour opportunities as provided in the past by the review of and submission/completion of testing for this past year’s JoPAN articles. This is a wonderful perk for our members every year. Many of the Region Five Components are planning to provide PANAW week Seminars.
• The National Conference Strategic Work Team met in Washington DC at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center under the leadership of Myrna Mamaril, MS, RN, CPAN, CAPA, FAAN to finalize plans for the 2009 National Conference.
• Be sure to save the date for ASPAN’s 28^th National Conference this year in Washington DC – April 19^th – 23rd. By now most of you should be receiving the conference brochure – as you can see there are a variety of topics to choose from – every bit as diverse as our own specialty. Additionally, the SWT has worked hard to assure that there are a variety of opportunities to visit and enjoy our Nation’s capital – so do take advantage of this as well. CBSPAN is proud to be hosting this conference and many members from CBSPAN and VSPAN have already volunteered to be Hosts/Hostesses.
• Please take time to look on the ASPAN Website to view information on the Specialty Practice Groups. The Nurse Educator SPG is now in place with 213 members. Sara Waldron, the Coordinator shares the purpose of the SPG to promote collaboration among perianesthesia nurse educators and share resources related to perianesthesia practice, competencies and continuing education. The target membership are staff RNs, educators and managers who work with nurses new to perianesthesia nursing practice, teach, or assess perianesthesia competencies, or provide ongoing education in the work place. The other SPGS continue to grow and there has been discussion from members about exploring an Informatics SPG as well.

Lois Schick, MN, MBA, RN, CPAN, CAPA, our President and Terry Clifford, MSN, RN, CPAN, our Vice President-President –Elect have been busy with representing ASPAN.

· Sue Fossum, BSN, RN, CPAN and Joni Brady, MSN, RN, CAPA attended international conferences the British Anesthaetic and Recovery Nurses Association (BARNA) 22^nd Annual Conference in London and presented a lecture on advocacy in nursing.

· People to People delegation to China sponsored by Pam Windle, MSN, RN, NE – BC, CPAN, CAPA and Meg Beturne, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA was very successful. The purpose of this delegation was to see and promote perianesthesia practice and nursing good will internationally

· Mid Year Board meeting was held in November and the ASPAN Strategic plan was updated. An important initiative that was continued was ASPAN’s efforts at going green! We successfully had an electronic review of Board Meeting Agenda items and reports – and it was indeed rewarding to know that we were making a difference for our environment.

· Additionally, the Regional Directors all reported on the activities occurring within their regions. I was proud to discuss all of the many activities that the Region Five Components are involved with on behalf of their members!

· For the Clinical Practice Update, Director of Clinical Practice Barbara Godden, MHS, RN, CPAN, CAPA shared that the Clinical Practice Committee fielded a total of 830 questions between May and October. Barbara also shared the Table of Contents of the newly revised Competency Manual for PeriAnesthesia Nursing. The title of this publication is A Competency Based Orientation and Credentialing Program for the Registered Nurse in the Perianesthesia Setting. The publication target for this is sometime in 2009.

· ABPANC President Phoebe Conklin, BS, RN, CPAN shared that we currently have 8460 certified perianesthesia nurses, 5269 are CPANs, 3147 are CAPAs and 300 are dually certified.

· As your Regional Director, I have attended the following Component meetings and/or Board Meetings:

o TSPAN Fall Conference

o VSPAN Fall Conference

o NCAPAN Fall Conference

Sincere thanks to those dedicated perianesthesia nurses from GAPAN, FLASPAN, CBSPAN and SCAPAN who represented ASPAN at their fall component meetings. I only regret that family health issues prevented me from attending all that I had hoped to.

I will be forever grateful for your understanding, prayers and support.

In closing, I want to wish each and every one of you a special and happy holiday season and all the very best for the coming year. As my term continues, I am looking forward to many more opportunities to work with you – and hope sincerely that you will look me up at the National Conference. It remains a privilege to work with and have all of you as a part of my professional and personal life!

Warmly and with very best regards

Chris Price, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA

ASPAN Region Five Director