May 2015 Message from the Past President Jan Lemme The past year has seen many changes to the national healthcare system as we know it. Regionally, the situation between UPMC and Highmark has contributed towards hiring freezes, and layoffs in some cases, as we wait to see just how each system will be affected. Nationally, reimbursement has continued to decline. Healthcare associated events (HAE s), such as decubiti, healthcare acquired pneumonia (HCAP), UTI s associated with foley catheters, and central line associated bacteremia (CLAB s), are no longer reimbursed, and can cost a facility millions of dollars every year. Competition between hospitals is at an all-time high as increasingly savvy consumers utilize HCAHPS to help guide their healthcare and hospital choices. Included in this, we are also seeing a significant decrease in the amount of financial support that our healthcare partners are able to provide, as budgets have decreased and the question of conflict of interest have increased. I bring these changes up as a potential portent of things to come. Historically, when hospital budgets are being pared down, nursing education is often one of the first items cut. That means little to no reimbursement for educational endeavors not directly linked to the hospital, things like national conferences. And limited financial support from our vendor partners means increased costs to the chapter to hold educational programs, costs that then must be passed along to our members. This means that nurses must take more of the responsibility for their continuing educational needs. In the complex, ever changing world of healthcare, no one can debate the importance of continuing education. Now, more than ever, the benefits of belonging to AACN, with their unlimited online CE activities, have never been more appreciable. Being active in your local chapter, with access to no to low cost educational offerings, and our many scholarship opportunities for both continuing education and national conferences, is vital. Despite this, we are seeing a decline in both membership and in membership participation. I m not sure why this is, when the benefits of belonging seem to be clear. As nurses, we have a responsibility to our patients to stay current with changes in best practices. We need to hold nurses to the same standards we expect of our physicians, especially since it is the nurse who spends the most time with the patients and that most often detects those small changes in a patient s condition before they can become life-threatening. I don t believe that any of us would want our loved ones to be cared for by anyone that is not on the top of their game. I know I wouldn t. So here is my challenge to you. Take responsibility for your own professional and educational needs. Form a network of like-minded individuals that can assist you in meeting these needs. Hold yourself and your colleagues accountable to a higher standard of care. Be the nurse you would want to have taking care of your loved ones. Because every patient is somebody s loved one. Thanks for a great year. Have a safe, fun-filled summer, and we hope to see you next year! Jan Lemme 1
Message from the President Elect Wendy Grbach It is with great honor that I accept the position of President for the year 2015-16. My first opportunity at this position was in 2005 also as President. My first NTI attendance was that year, 3 months shy of Katrina s terrible visit to beautiful New Orleans. I am looking forward to hopefully being able to attend NTI this coming year to observe both the present and the past of that fateful date. Over the years we have seen many changes in the Chapter, some great, some not so. We have gained and lost many close friends and excellent nurses along the way. My largest concern going into this new year involves continual dropping in active participation of TRC chapter members. One large goal remains: increasing our membership at large. Not just bodies with pulses or names in the database, but active members! I welcome each of your suggestions and participation in all of the planning for the new year. We know that times are changing and generations are as well, but we as the TRC board are here to engage, enhance and embrace all our critical care nurses within the region. Planning for the next year begins at the chapter transition meeting June 28th. Interested in helping or offering a voice?? GO FOR IT! We need fresh new ideas and are aimed at providing opportunities that meet your needs Please feel free to contact me at any time and join me in welcoming another year of great education, camaraderie, and networking. Have a happy and safe summer! Treasure s Report ~ Wendy Grbach As we close another year in the TRC chapter, we continue to have declines in membership and attendance at meetings. As of this writing, we have 54 active paid memberships. Our database formerly held a census of over 160 members. We look forward to gaining new members and wish to re-invite those friends who we have missed to rejoin us to enhance our solidity of Region 3. The board will be meeting in June to begin strategic planning, and due to continued operating loss we will be closely evaluating our dues, and educational program structures. While increases in either are not welcomed by anyone, we need to align with other program offerings, as resources continue to falter. Additionally we continue to see registrants who fail to pay their dues for programs, which the chapter ultimately has to fund. As previously noted, no one will be considered registered until funds are received, and drop dead dates will be followed more stringently. This requirement is being assured in fairness to all members who follow the rules. Finally, in closure of the financial year, the annual Chapter Financial Audit will be due in August. Any member who would like to volunteer to review the documents to assist us would be most welcomed. We need 3 non-board members who have been active within the chapter over the year. Please contact Wendy by June 30, if interested. Remember this activity also fulfills options for annual Merit point Awards! 2
Chapter Programs ~ Denise Krall & Nicolette Mininni Three Rivers Chapter Spring Conference The Spring Conference held at the Comfort Inn Pittsburgh East was a wonderful success! More than thirty nurses attended including Charlene Trimeloni our AACN Region 3 Chapter Advisor. The Impaired Nurse: Joann Megon, RN Case Manager, PA Nurse Peer Assistance Program Palliative Care for the Critically Ill Patient: Justin Engleka, CRNP Associate Chief of Nursing, VAPHS Hepatic Encephalopathy: Charles Gabbert, MD University of Pittsburgh ECMO for Flu: Jane Guttendorf, CRNP University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing IV Extravasations: Lisa Sheehan, BSN, RN UPMC Shadyside A Special Thank you to the participants that donated to the Raffle. Proceeds went to purchasing a microwave for SOAR, a women s shelter. Annual May Dinner Meeting, Celebration and Awards Ceremony A special thank you to SizeWise for sponsoring our speaker on Wednesday, May 13 th for our annual May Dinner Meeting held at the Doubletree in Cranberry. Karen Egli RN, BA, CWCN presented Managing Stress in the Healthcare Environment. 3
And The Winners Is: Congratulations to Kim Pringle for receiving the Three Rivers Chapter AACN Circle of Excellence Award. Kim was nominated by Past President Jan Lemme. Kim is currently a clinician in the MICU at UPMC Shadyside and in her day to day practice is the role model of an acute care nurse. Kim has served on the Three Rivers Chapter AACN Board. Thank you Kim for all you do. Benefits of being an active member of the Three Rivers Chapter AACN is the merit awards for active participation in the chapter and recognition of individual work as an acute care nurse. Chapter members can receive up to $100.00 as a merit award each year. This year merit awards were given to: Lindsay Blinkey Jennifer Callear Wendy Grbach Janice Lemme Nicolette Mininni To apply for your merit award next year, download the Merit Award Application located on the Three Rivers Chapter website. Keep track of your chapter and professional activities and turn in the completed form and supportive documentation before April 1, 2016. The chapter also awarded scholarships to two members to support their continuing education. Lindsay Blinkey received the $1000.00 scholarship for pursuing a MSN degree from the University of Pittsburgh and Nicolette Mininni received the $750.00 scholarship for pursuing a DNP degree from Waynesburg University. Good luck to our scholars! 4
Certified Nurse Day Celebration A small but dedicated group of members celebrated their certified nurse status at Sing- Sing on Thursday, March 19 th. Plans are underway to make this an annual celebration. So save the date for March 19, 2016. Special recognition will be given to newly certified nurses and those that have been certified the longest Special Recognition NTI Bound Jane Guttendorf UPMC Presbyterian and University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Acute Respiratory Failure in Adults Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) as a Rescue Strategy for Acute Cardiac Failure in Adults Brady J. Bielewicz UPMC Presbyterian Infection Control Liaison: Controlling the Infection While Spreading the Education in the Neuro-Trauma ICU" Darlene Lovasik UPMC Presbyterian Acetaminophen Overdose A very special CONGRATULATIONS to Darlene Lovasik and Margaret Lattanzio. They will be receiving the AACN Circle of Excellence Award at NTI. 5
Community Affairs June Elizabeth Connolly Thanks to everyone that donated to SOAR at the April Conference. The monies raised will be used to purchase a microwave for the women. Thank you to June Elizabeth, Sue Ellen and Jane for helping at Global Links in April Stay Connected ~ Brady Bielewicz Three Rivers Chapter AACN Website: http://www.aacn.org/dm/chapters/websitehome.aspx?chapterid=00312530 Board Meetings Members of the Three Rivers Chapter AACN are invited and encouraged to attend chapter board meetings. This is one great way to learn more about the responsibilities of the board, become more involved and maybe take the next step and become a board member. Chapter Board meetings are held the first Thursday of the month at 5:00 and last approximately 2 hours. Meetings are held at the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing, Motor Square Gardens. Please confirm with a board member when you are planning to attend. Attending a board meeting is one more way to earn merit points. 6
Three Rivers Chapter AACN Board President Wendy Grbach grbachwen@msn.com President Elect Jennifer Callear jenn.callear@gmail.com Past President Jan Lemme murphysfriends@verizon.net Treasurer Jean Ruiz jeanruiz2002@comcast.net Web Master Brady Bielewicz bielewb@gmail.com Secretary Denise Krall denisekrall.dk@gmail.com Merit / Scholarships Membership Jennifer Callear jenn.callear@gmail.com Corresponding Secretary Nicolette Mininni nminin@comcast.net (Newsletter) Program Chairs Community Jan Lemme murphysfriends@verizon.net Ad Hoc Lindsay Blinkey Lindsay.blinky@gmail.com April Spring Conference 7
PLEASE PRINT Three Rivers Chapter of AACN Annual Membership Application July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016 Name: Address: City State Zip Code Phone: Employer: Position: Work Phone: Contact Email: (You must submit an email address. All contact is by email) You must be a National member to be a local chapter member. National AACN Member #: CCRN #: Referred by: ANNUAL DUES: $20.00 Make Check payable to: Three Rivers Chapter AACN Mail Check and this Form to: Jennifer Callear Membership Chair 601 Owens Avenue McKeesport, PA 15133 412-977-9017 8