MOUNTAIN TO SOUND CHAPTER NEWSLETTER CHAPTER GROWTH! Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you. ~Walt Whitman THE PASSING OF THE GAVEL MEET KAREN PAULSEN! By Pat Blissitt, MTS-AACN President 2012-2014 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: NEW PRESIDENT 1-2 INTRODUCTION As of July 1, 2014, I became the Immediate Past President of the Mountain to Sound Chapter AACN. The past two years have been a rewarding and enjoyable experience. I have been a chapter president twice before (Greater Memphis and Puget Sound Chapters) but every time the experience is unique, with different people and different goals. The MTS-AACN chapter has many reasons to be proud. In the past two years, our membership has grown to 271. We have continued to provide high quality annual conferences as well as many educational dinners. Many of our members have participated locally and nationally as Board members, and have received certification and excellence awards, NTI and merit scholarships, and Beacon unit designations. They have served as members of the NTI task force, the continuing education panel, and the certification test development committee, and as presenters at local and national AACN educational events. We have also continued to facilitate the area critical care consortium. In addition, our contributions to Northwest Harvest are ongoing. Last but not least, the chapter is financially stable. None of this would have been possible without the members. I thank you for your commitment to AACN and the Mountain to Sound Chapter. A couple of years ago, Judy Borish, the outgoing MTS-AACN President passed a gavel on to me. And now I have had the honor of passing that symbol of trust, granted to the President by its members, to the new MTS-AACN President for 2014-2016, Karen Paulsen RN, MSN, ACNS-BC. For those of you who may not know Karen, let me tell you a little about her. Karen is a Clinical Nurse Specialist with many years of critical care experience as well as expertise in nursing education and simulation. Karen has worked at Northwest Medical Center for over 30 years in a variety of roles. She serves on the regional Emergency Cardiac Care committee on behalf of the American Heart Association and is a BLS instructor, an ACLS Instructor and an experienced ACLS provider instructor. Karen has been actively involved in AACN for the past decade. She has been certified in critical care; has served as faculty in the area critical care consortium, and as the MTS-AACN Scholarship Committee Co-Chair, Education Committee Chair, and President-elect of the chapter. I recently had the opportunity to interview Karen. Here are four of the questions I asked her and her responses. What are your goals as President of MTS-AACN? Karen s reply I would like to see our chapter move forward with more volunteerism in such initiatives as serving meals to the homeless, teaching hands only CPR, working with youth through the school system, (continued on page 2) SYMPOSIUM 2014 2 CPR AWARENESS 3 UPCOMING PCCN/ CCRN REVIEW NTI: 10 BEST THINGS 4, 5 LESSONS FROM NTI 5, 6 BEACON RECOGNI- TION UPCOMING EVENTS CONTACT US/ FAQS 3 6 7 our new page!
PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE: PASSING OF THE GAVEL and continuing our work with Northwest Harvest food bank. I would like to see greater involvement by more members. The MTS-AACN has multiple ways for volunteers to become involved as committee members. MTS members should explore our website for their particular areas of interest. What new ideas would you like to see the chapter develop over the next two years? Karen responded, I am open to suggestion from our members. What do you do for fun? Karen said, In the winter, I enjoy skiing. In the summer, I volunteer a week for Campfire Girls at a day camp. And, I enjoy reading. My husband and I live with a cat and a dog. The dog rules our lives now that our two children are grown. Anything else we would find interesting about you? Karen responded, I enjoy working as part of a team, collaborating to move initiatives and goals forward. During simulation. I have played the role of the patient well. Maybe a little more role playing is in my future. When asked if there is something else she would like to tell the chapter, Karen responded, I really appreciate all the support and mentors that I found within the chapter. Under the leadership of Karen and work of many within the chapter, the MTS-AACN Chapter will continue to flourish. I look forward to continuing my active participation in the chapter as the immediate past-president and beyond. Pat Blissitt Sincerely, Immediate Past President, MTS-AACN The Mountain to Sound Chapter of AACN presents: Currents in Critical Care and Progressive Care Nursing Symposium October 28-29, 2014 Shoreline Conference Center Don t miss these nationally acclaimed speakers including: Teri Kiss (AACN President), Dave Hanson, Leanna Miller, Linda Littlejohns, Kathryn Roberts, Nicole Kupchik, Barbara Bates-Jensen, Chris Schulman and many more excellent speakers!! Register on our website: www.mtsaacn.org or follow this link: https://classic.regonline.com/builder/ site/?eventid=1559333
PAGE 3 BY PAMELA POPPLEWELL, COMMUNITY SERVICE LIAISON CPR AND AED AWARENESS The first week of June 2014 was National CPR and AED Awareness Week. The Mountain To Sound (MTS) Chapter of AACN supported this cause by volunteering at local American Heart Association (AHA) events. This year, AHA organizers chose three Farmers Markets as the venues for community education. Booths were set up in Renton, Queen Anne, and Rainier Valley and staffed with enthusiastic volunteers ready to teach hands-only CPR as well as AED use. As people wandered through the markets buying fresh produce and other specialty items, volunteers demonstrated CPR and engaged passers-by in discussions about steps to take if finding a person down or witnessing a person collapse. Everyone interested and willing was able to practice handsonly CPR and learn about how to properly apply and use an AED. Many people were shy initially and needed coaxing to join in but proudly accepted and wore their I know CPR sticker when they left the booth. It was encouraging to hear many people state they were already trained in CPR, which is part of the reason that King County has such a successful rate of resuscitating people in cardiac arrest and the highest percentage of citizens trained in CPR. In fact, King County has the highest rate of witnessed cardiac arrest survival in the world. Survival rate from witnessed cardiac arrest due to atrial fibrillation in King County is at an alltime high of 57 % (reported by King County Public Health 9/5/13) compared to most other parts of the nation IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO HEAR MANY PEOPLE STATE THEY WERE ALREADY TRAINED IN CPR, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON THAT KING COUNTY HAS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL RATE OF RESUS- CITATING PEOPLE IN CARDI- AC ARREST where survival rates hover around 10% (2-25% reported). This is due to several survival challenges such at public education and willingness to perform CPR, AED availability and the promptness and level of professionalism of care when emergency personnel arrive. In keeping with AACN Chapter goal of serving their communities through service activities the MTS Chapter is proud to promote community educational activities such as this. We support the AHA goals of building healthier lives where we each live and work, in the community, the healthcare systems, and through education and research. Cardiovascular diseases and stroke are the number one and number four causes of death, respectively, in the Puget Sound area. MTS Chapter is proud to support these activities and welcome you to join us in volunteer activities. Please stay tuned and check our website for upcoming volunteer opportunities. It is an honor to be able to serve and improve our community and it is rewarding individual work professionally and personally. Please join us. You may contact our Community Liaison Representative Pamela Popplewell through our website or email Pamela.popplewell@va.gov for additional information. Join Nicole Kupchik for a combined CCRN/PCCN Review Co-sponsored by Mountain to Sound Chapter of AACN and Northwest Washington Evergreen chapter of AACN on September 30th and October 1st, 2014 at Overlake Medical Center More details and sign up at: mtsaacn.org https://www.regonline.com/builder/ site/default.aspx?eventid=1586431
PAGE 4 10 Best Things about NTI By Elizabeth McCoy RN, PCCN, First Place NTI Scholarship Winner 1. Location, Location, Location! Denver was so much fun! This was my first time visiting Denver, it was beautiful and the weather was warm and sunny (most of the week). The convention center was very spacious and beautiful. There was a significant fascination with Lawrence Argent s 40 foot sculpture the big blue bear standing outside peeking into the windows. This larger-than-life sculpture proved to be the #1 photo opportunity for attendees. The convention center is in the heart of downtown Denver where there is endless fun, food, and entertainment. 2. The choices of sessions was endless! Whether you were a new nurse or a seasoned nurse, a nurse in the PACU, a pediatric nurse, a cardiac nurse, a geriatric nurse, critical care nurse, etc there was something for everyone in all aspects of nursing. NTI is an awesome place to listen to someone speak on a topic you never thought would interest you, or a topic that you might be interested in and need to know a little more. This is also a wonderful opportunity to get certified! Right at the convention there are certification reviews and testing. The opportunity for obtaining continuing education is huge. Just by attending NTI I earned over 30 CERP s. Then, with the online study pavilion that was open for another week after the conference, I was able to keep on learning and obtain another 30 hours of CERP s FREE! 3. Keynote speakers were unbelievable! Alex Sheen, the founder of Because I said I would was so inspirational. I was in tears listening to him, and because of his speech I went on to change a few things in my personal life when I returned home. Brene Brown was also an inspiring speaker who touched many people with her speech on vulnerability. Christine Cashen, motivational speaker, was funny and inspiring with her speech on Global Whining. I took home a few lessons from her to share with my peers and my children. The first Keynote session started with The Silhouettes, who took 2 nd place on America s Got Talent. This opening act was emotional and inspiring, and I loved it. What a wonderful way to show appreciation for our profession! 4. Certification Celebration Dinner was awesome! I didn t expect this dinner to touch me the way it has. I was so impressed with all of the different certified nurses and their longevity in keeping their certification. There were nurses in the room who have maintained their certification for as long as 38 years! There were numerous dual-certified nurses, and I was surprised by how many APN certified nurse s there were in the room. I left the dinner more inspired and enthusiastic about my career and the path I chose for my career. I also had a chance to network with other nurses from multiple locations around the country. 5. Exhibits, Exhibits, Exhibits! Need I say more? I have never attended a conference with this many exhibits. This was not just a place to get a suitcase full of awesome free stuff to take back to your peers, but a great part of the convention to learn about new technologies out there. A great place to sit down and get a quick 15-30 minute lecture on new treatments, new research, and new trends across NTI SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS! This year, three scholarship applicants were selected to attend NTI 2014. On the following pages you will hear about the experience from First place winner Elizabeth McCoy, a charge nurse at PCC St Joseph s Hospital Tacoma, and Third place winner Pamela Popplewell, Surgical Director at the VA Seattle and Community Service Liaison for the MTS-AACN Chapter. the country in the hospital setting. I loved it! 6. The 2-day preconference I attended was packed full of information. I was impressed with the speaker and the take home materials from the class. I have to mention the lunch as well. Both days of the class we were served a wonderful fully catered lunch in one of the ball rooms. Delicious food and a nice relaxing time to catch up with friends and network with other nurses. I have already used the skills I learned in this 2-day lesson when I returned to work after NTI. (Continued on page 5) Community Service Update! 510 Pounds of non-perishable food items were collected at Symposium 2013 and donated to Northwest Harvest Food Bank along with a matched $510 donation.
NTI TOP 10! (continued from page 4) 7. Nurse s Night Out was a blast! My co-workers and I hopped on a nice air-conditioned bus to the Denver Zoo and Historical Museum. This trip was planned perfectly as it was definitely time to break away from all the learning. There was a wine and desert bar in the History Museum waiting for us when we arrived that was beautiful. 8. I was inspired to get a second certification, so I did the CMC review and I am excited to take the exam in September! 9. I love the new theme for this year! Focus the Flame presented by our new AACN president Teri Lynn Kiss. Teri gave a very inspirational speech, one that encouraged me to think deeply about my own career path as a nurse and where I should focus my flame in 2014-2015. Four powerful words Fearlessness, Inquiry, Resilience, and Engagement (F.I.R.E.). I will strive to be fearless in my new challenges this year as I see my career changing in a different direction, I will try to stay engaged in my plans for the future, as I realize it is only my fear that is getting in the way of my ultimate goals. 10. It was free! I entered an essay contest for my local AACN chapter, a contest that is offered every year with 3 winners to NTI. I have been inspired by my local chapter to get more involved, and found out there are many wonderful things they have to offer! I will continue to encourage my peers to get involved in their local as well as national professional organizations, as it has proven to be extremely beneficial. I was honored to receive a scholarship from the Mountain To Sound (MTS) AACN Chapter this year which afforded me the opportunity to attend AACN s 2014 National Teaching Institute (NTI) in Denver Colorado May 19-22. Scholarships are available to Chapter members and are an excellent benefit of belonging to this community of exceptional high acuity and critical care nurses. Applications are accepted in December of each year and winners are notified in January. Please see the MTS website for additional details and for application forms. Anyone who has attended NTI in the past knows how uplifting and rejuvenating the experience is and this year was no different. Over 6,000 critical and acute care nurses attended NTI this year and made the experience something special. There was a theme of positivity that threaded through Super Sessions, Concurrent Sessions, and special events. President Vicki Good began the week with an inspiring message about honor, integrity and motivation. She shared the stage that day with Alex Sheen, a young man who started the company Because I said I would and delivered a powerful message about the importance of a promise. His mission was inspired by his father and he aims to better humanity through promoting the keeping of promises. His message is truly moving. For those of you who find this intriguing or want additional information it would be worth your time to listen to his Ted talk at: http://becauseisaidiwould.com/ted/. Speaker Christine Cashen built on that message and invigorated the crowd with her talk about how what you say each day creates your day, and recommends that you begin each day with saying only happy thoughts because what you say becomes what you are. This puts you in control of your day and allows you to be the thermostat and not the thermometer. Her powerful quote is worth printing and incorporating into your PAGE 5 LESSONS FROM NTI 2014 By Pamela Popplewell life, say what you mean, mean what you say, and don t be mean when you say it. She is author of the book The Good Stuff, full of her message on how to bring peace to your life, stop global whining, and be your best person through positive thoughts and actions. Incoming President Teri Kiss introduced her theme, Focus the Flame which requires FIRE: an acronym for Fearlessness, Inquiry, Resilience, and Engagement. She shared the stage that day with speaker Brene Brown, a researcher who has focused her life on the study of shame and vulnerability. Her message framed how nurses stand next to people at their most horrific and wonderful moments of life with courage. Yet, she pointed out how vulnerability can steal the courage to act in your own lives, and it is easy to fear what people will think and to be afraid of criticism and failure. Brene explained that learning to fully embrace joy despite vulnerability takes practice but can begin with something as simple as beginning a daily practice of gratitude; each day sharing what you are grateful for with those people you trust is a simple way to begin a gratitude practice. Brene encouraged me to recognize what you could have done if you had dared to be brave. Despite all of the professional talks mentioned above, perhaps the most powerful message of positivity was presented by two staff nurses (Paige Robert and Kaitlin Strauss) during their concurrent session on their Positivity Campaign in their own unit. These nurses felt compelled to improve their work environment, so they began a simple project at work with a single intervention where they asked each nurse to state three good things that happened to them each day in their role for two straight weeks. The nurses told the oncoming shift their three good things in report at each change of shift. (continued on page 6)
PAGE 6 LESSONS FROM NTI 2014: BY PAMELA POPPLEWELL, 3RD PLACE NTI SCHOLARSHIP WINNER (Continued from page 5) They didn t realize that this one straightforward change would become a cascade of interventions, nor did they realize the impact of their efforts. There was such a positive response from the nursing staff that Paige and Kaitlin decided to try a second easy intervention. They started a social connections intervention that entailed having nurses ask patients to tell something personal about themselves upon admission that the nurse printed on the white board in the patients rooms. This allowed all staff entering the room to relate on a more personal level to the patient. Again, there was overwhelming positive feedback which invigorated them to try yet another down-to-earth intervention. This time, they engaged staff in enjoyable activities with each other outside of work. When this was incorporated into the work culture they began to look for other ways to improve the positivity of their work environment. They started a successful meditation group. They began a campaign of random acts of kindness so simple that leaving 75 cents in a bag taped to the soda machine with a note saying this is a random act of kindness, please accept your refreshment on me for the next lucky person who came to the machine was the type of thing that became the norm in their group. These modest interventions had surprising results. Their Patient Safety Survey data improved markedly, their Press Ganey Scores (patient satisfaction surveys) improved, and their employee opinion surveys skyrocketed. Simple interventions produced dramatic outcomes. NTI is a remarkable experience, but the lessons we take back with us are even more important. What we pay attention to each day is up to us. Our society today is troubled with what is termed inattentional blindness. However, if we choose to do so, our individual acts can change our small piece of the world and perhaps influence a much wider area around us. Have you considered what you can do to make your life and your work more meaningful to you, and better for your co-workers and patients? You have the power to do that with very simple interventions. Think about it. Congratulations to the Harrison Medical Center Intensive Care Unit on your Silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence! The Beacon Award from AACN recognizes excellence in nursing care. Recipients of the award must demonstrate excellence in leadership, staffing, staff engagement, communication, education, evidence based practice and patient outcomes. The Mountain to Sound chapter would like to recognize and congratulate Beacons in our region with a $100 gift card and photo in our Newsletter. If your unit has received a Beacon award this year, please follow this link for instructions: http://www.mtsaacn.org/beacon-award.html
What events are important to you? Please take a few minutes to fill out this quick 10-question survey as our chapter reviews our approach to sponsored and educational events: Or type this into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/ s/8dwzkb7education_programs_2014 The mission of the Mountain to Sound Chapter (MTS) of AACN is to represent, promote, and provide guidance for the practice and growth of critical care nursing. Additionally, the Chapter will strive, through education, to promote the health and well-being of those experiencing critical illness and/or injury across the life span. This mission is not only directed at the Chapter's members, but to all nurses practicing in critical care. The Chapter recognizes the face of critical care nursing is evolving and includes settings such as home care, telemetry units, and other specialty areas. As members of a larger community beyond critical care nursing, the Chapter will also seek to actively participate in community service activities. V ISIT US AT WWW. MTSAACN. ORG A ND LIKE OUR F ACEBOOK PAGE! PAGE 7 MOUNTAIN TO SOUND FAQS Where can I find more information about the Mountain to Sound Chapter of the AACN? We re on the web! The latest educational events and activities are always posted on our website www.mtsaacn.org; or find us on Facebook; or ask your coworkers! For tech savvy RN s, you can always use your smartphone to scan the QR code! We are always looking for new members and volunteers so don t hesitate to email from the contact us link on our homepage. I m interested in participating in MTS...How do I start? We have monthly chapter meetings the first Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30pm which start with a journal club. Meetings are usually at the Seattle VA Medical Center, room 4B- 102; email president@mtsaacn.org to confirm meeting times and locations. The education committee meets the last Tuesday of every month in a relaxed setting at Panera Bread in the Northgate Mall at 5:30pm, planning events including Symposium; new members are welcome! I hear my coworkers talk about these great educational dinners put on by the MTS Chapter...When are these events and how do I attend? From our homepage, just click on Education Events. There, you ll be able to find information on the topic being discussed and how to register. Educational dinners are advertised via email to local chapter members first, so to be the first to know and get your RSVP in early, make sure to join! At only $20/year, the membership is worth much more than a free dinner! This newsletter is compiled and edited by Sarah Brownell with every attempt to provide timely and accurate information to critical care nurses in the Puget Sound area. To make sure you are on our mailing list, contact membership@mtsaacn.org.