January, February, March 2015 Vermont Nurse Connection • … · Coordinator • Quality Specialist RN • Breast Care Nurse Navigator • LPN, Physician Practices. January, February,

January, February, March 2015 Vermont Nurse Connection • Page 1

current resident or

Presort StandardUS Postage

PAIDPermit #14

Princeton, MN55371

Expanding Your Nursing Horizons

Page 4

VSNA Convention 2014

Page 9

Inside...

Index

Voices of Vermont order form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Never Ending Journey Into

Self-Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Member Profile: Beth Reilly, RN . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Expanding Your Nursing Horizons . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Personal & Financial Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Student News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Upcoming Educational Opportunities

(Non-VSNA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Speicalty Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

VSNA Convention 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

ANA/VSNA News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11

Vermont Nurse Connection

Quarterly Circulation 18,000 to all Registered Nurses, LPNs, LNAs, and Student Nurses in Vermont

Vermont State Nurses Association Official PublicationVolume 18 • Number 1 January, February, March 2015

President’s Letter

Carol Hodges, MSN, RN-BC

Fall is my favorite season, well at least early fall. It isn’t only about the leaves changing color, or the crisp fall smells; for me it is a time for reflection and preparation.

As I write this message to all of you, I have just put away my bicycle for the season and I am now getting ready for the ski season. I have enough dry firewood stacked to keep me warm through the cold winter months. And, the appointments to have the winter tires put on my vehicles is scheduled for next week. By the time that you receive this newsletter, winter will have arrived and I will be prepared, how about you?

More importantly have you stopped to not only reflect on your personal successes and goals but also on your future as a Registered Nurse. How have you prepared for ways in which Healthcare Reform and Population Health or other Healthcare initiatives will impact your practice and your practice environment? Nurses can no longer sit back and wait to see what happens. We all need to be at the table where brainstorming and decision making occurs.

In the past two years that I have been President, we have taken strides toward making VSNA a stronger voice for all Vermont Nurses. Together, we have downsized the district structure, in hopes of being more active at the

Are Nurses Ready for the Futurestate level. Our membership is growing and we are changing the work of the committees to be purposeful task forces that get the work of the organization done. We have updated our website, for easier access to services. We have continued to provide two live Educational Sessions a year (Lobby Day and Convention), which provide nurses with the tools that they need for today’s work environments. Currently our nomination committee is busy at work for our election of officers that will take place later this fall via electronic voting. While I may be the President, the strength of the organization lies in the hands of its members.

So, I ask all of you to think about your future and the future of Nursing and become actively involved in all aspects of our profession.

The VSNA website has been updated: vsna-inc.orgWe will continue to update and expand the website

so look out for e-mails and keep checking!

Do you want to stay updated on the latest the VSNA has to offer?

Learn of webinars offered by the ANA?How you can earn CEU hours?

‘Like Us’ on Facebook.Follow us on Twitter

@VTnurses

Questions regarding our social media and website?

E-Mail: [email protected]

Page 2 • Vermont Nurse Connection January, February, March 2015

Vermont Nurse ConnectionOfficial publication of the Vermont State Nurses Association,

a constituent member of the American Nurses Association. Published quarterly every January, April, July and October. Library subscription price is $20 per year. ISSN# 1529-4609.

Editorial OfficesVermont State Nurses Association, 100 Dorset Street, #13, South

Burlington, VT 05403, PH: (802) 651-8886, E-mail: [email protected]

Editor: Jean E. Graham

AdvertisingFor advertising rates and information, please contact Arthur L.

Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., 517 Washington Street, PO Box 216, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, (800) 626-4081, [email protected]. VSNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. reserve the right to reject any advertisement. Responsibility for errors in advertising is limited to corrections in the next issue or refund of price of advertisement.

Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or approval by the Vermont State Nurses Association of products advertised, the advertisers, or the claims made. Rejection of an advertisement does not imply a product offered for advertising is without merit, or that the manufacturer lacks integrity, or that this association disapproves of the product or its use. VSNA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences resulting from purchase or use of an advertiser’s product. Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of VSNA or those of the national or local associations.

ContentVermont State Nurses Association welcomes unsolicited

manuscripts and suggestions for articles. Manuscripts can be up to:• 750wordsforapressrelease• 1500wordsforafeaturearticleManuscripts should be typed double-spaced and spell-checked

with only one space after a period and can be submitted:1) As paper hard copy

2) As a Word Perfect or MS Word document file saved to a 3 1/2” disk or to CD-Rom or zip disk

3) Or e-mailed as a Word Perfect or MS Word document file to [email protected].

No faxes will be accepted. Authors’ names should be placed after title with credentials and affiliation. Please send a photograph of yourself if you are submitting a feature article.

All articles submitted to and/or published in Vermont Nurse Connection become the sole property of VSNA and may not be reprinted without permission.

All accepted manuscripts may undergo editorial revision to conform to the standards of the newsletter or to improve clarity.

The Vermont Nurse Connection is not a peer review publication. Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff, board, or membership of VSNA or those of the national or local association.

Copyright Policy Criteria for ArticlesThe policy of the VSNA Editorial Board is to retain copyright

privileges and control of articles published in the Vermont Nurse Connection unless the articles have been previously published or the author retains copyright.

VSNA Officers and Board of DirectorsPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol HodgesVice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Anne DouglasSecretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Caroline TasseyTreasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Liberty Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irene BoninVSN Foundation President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Anne DouglasVSN Foundation Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amy Curley

StaffExecutive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine RyanDirector of Membership & Special Programs . . . . . . Cara ToolinLobbyist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine RyanBookkeeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martha Stewart

Committee ChairpersonsBylaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VacantGovernment Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine RyanMembership & Publicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann LarameeNominations & Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Task Force VolunteersNursing Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VacantEducation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah SanguinettiVermont State Peer ReviewLeader of NEMSD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol HodgesPsychiatric Special Interest Group . . . . . . . . . . Maureen McGuireCongressional Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine RyanSenate Coordinator for Sanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine RyanSenate Coordinator for Leahy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine RyanANA Membership Assembly Representatives . . . . . .Carol Hodges

Caroline TasseyAlternate Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynne Dapice

VNC EditorJean Graham

If you wish to submit a “Letter to the Editor,” please address it to:

Vermont State Nurses AssociationAttn: Vermont Nurse Connection100 Dorset Street, #13South Burlington, VT 05403

Please remember to include contact information, as letter authors may need to be contacted by the editors of the VNC for clarification. NOTE: Letters to the Editor reflect the opinions of the letter authors and should not be assumed to reflect the opinions of the Vermont State Nurses Association.

Jean Graham, Editor

Voices of Vermont Nurses

premiered at VSNA Convention 2000 and is available from the VSNA Office at:Vermont State Nurses Association

100 Dorset Street, #13 South Burlington, Vermont 05403

Price: $20 each book (plus $3.95 for postage and handling)

Make check or money order payable to:VERMONT STATE NURSES FOUNDATION

Name: _________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________

City: ___________________________________________

State: __________________ Zip: ___________________Are you interested in contributing an article to an upcoming issue of the Vermont Nurse Connection? If so, here is a list of submission deadlines for the next 2 issues:

Vol . 18 #2 – January 19, 2015Vol . 18 #3 – April 20, 2015

Articles may be sent to the editors of the Vermont Nurse Connection at:

Vermont State Nurses AssociationAttention: VNC

100 Dorset Street, Suite 13South Burlington, VT 05403-6241

Articles may also be submitted electronically to [email protected].

Deadlines for the Vermont

Nurse Connection

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Priscilla Smith-Trudeau

The Never Ending Journey Into Self-DiscoveryThe most profound relationship we’ll ever have is

the one with ourselves. ~ Shirley MacLaine

Ever meet someone for the first time and they ask you your name followed by, what do you do for work? Immediately you are identified as a nurse for what you do and not for the person you are. The most common ego identifications have to do with possessions, the work you do, social status and recognition¸ knowledge and education, physical appearance, special abilities, relationships, personal and family history, belief systems and often nationalistic, racial, religious and other collective identifications. None of these is you.1 The first time I read Shirley MacLaine’s quote, I was wandering around a second-hand book store, glanced over and my eyes gravitated towards a book entitled, In Praise of Women. I turned the page and my eyes were riveted to the quote: The most profound relationship we’ll ever have is the one with ourselves.2 I sat down and said to myself in quiet self-reflection, isn’t that the truth.

It’s the support and care and love that you give to yourself that gives you the real strength to

care for and love others. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Let’s face it, very few people wake up one day having an epiphany that they have to work on their relationship with themselves knowing that it is indeed the most profound relationship they will ever have. For many people they have no clear idea of who they really are, especially if you ask them why they were born. Perhaps the reason for such lack of self-understanding is due to not having enough time after working long hours, caring for family members, raising children, pursuing continuing education all the while trying to stay healthy. Michelle Bozeman (2013) wrote in her article Healing Environments Start with Nourished Nurses that you may feel drained, a shell of the nurse you wanted to be, just going through the motions and clicking boxes in the EMR. You look up, and you see a vision of yourself filled with joy, vitality and enthusiasm, mirrored in the new nurse with whom you are working. In that moment, you are being given a gift of self-awareness. A gap in your vital energy has been uncovered. You have a glimpse of how this gap has impacted you, your life, and your professional practice. In that moment, you may feel like you want to lash out or perhaps go and hide. Yet, in the quiet place of your heart, you may hear guidance: “Pay attention right now, this is the moment you have been seeking .”3

It takes courage…to endure the sharp pains of self-discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest

of our lives. ~ Marianne Williamson

As the world speeds up, we’re giving away precious time to think and reflect on the things that are important to us. At work, do you have more or less time now to think about what you’re doing? Are you encouraged to spend time thinking with colleagues and co-workers or reflecting on what you’re learning? Unfortunately not reclaiming time to think and not knowing oneself can result in an empty and unhappy existence with emotions and decisions being externally dictated because of no clear idea about inner values, core beliefs and purpose. It is particularly difficult for nurses because we spend so much time in the caregiver role listening to and meeting the needs of our patients and their significant others. Those who view nursing as a sacred calling understand the challenge of disentangling the personal from the professional; who we are in life is who we are at the bedside. By exploring the dynamic, we come to understand that “Ongoing personal-professional development and spiritual growth and personal spiritual practice assist the nurse in entering into this deeper level of professional healing.”4 Where, when and how do nurses learn to ineffably make peace with those feelings of grief, pacify questions of their own mortality and diffuse traumatic memories that keep them up at night? How do they rationalize a persistent preoccupation with the well-being of their patients while in the company of

their loved ones? Most importantly at what point does the interpersonally demanding engagement with the nurse-patient relationship take a tangible toll on the nurse’s health and secondarily diminish job-related performance capacity?5

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you

want. ~ Lao Tzu

We make such messes in this life, both accidently and on purpose. But wiping the surface clean doesn’t really make anything any neater. It just masks what is below. It’s only when you really dig down deep and go underground that you can see who you really are. It is when you lose sight of yourself, that you lose your way. To keep your truth in sight you must keep yourself in sight and the world to you should be a mirror to reflect to you your image; the world should be a mirror that you reflect upon.6 If one wants that profound relationship with oneself it means bravely moving out of the comfort zone taking time to reflect on the life you have right now. The most adventurous journey to embark on is the journey to yourself. The most exciting thing to discover is who you really are. The most treasured pieces that you can find are all the pieces of you. The most special portrait you can recognize is the portrait of your soul.7 To optimize one’s personal development as well as one’s health and well-being, one must be fully aware of his or her self. To be aware is to be watchful, alert, and knowledgeable.8 To be aware of oneself is to know one’s own identity and one’s relationship to others; to be aware of oneself is to know what one can do and where one fits within the social order of the world. The process of healing, which is never fully completed, requires an ongoing awareness of one’s body-mind-spirit.9 Clearly self-discovery is not a one-day or a one-week event, rather it is a process that changes as we progress and evolve through our lives as we gain insights and maturity empowering us to realize our full potential.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. ~ Aristotle

It is natural over the course of a lifetime, to reach a moment when you question everything about your identify and life. A question on its own can sometimes be all that is necessary. Even without an answer the question sometimes says it all. Questions challenge our thinking and cause us to consider the reasoning behind our attitudes and outlook. They are a way to grow and expand our knowledge. They are a positive way to increase and cultivate a deeper understanding of the self-discovery process allowing us to move forward to the next level where we can clarify our core values, find inspiration from things around us, discover our life’s purpose, recognize our strengths, identify what we love and discover what brings us joy. There isn’t any one-size fits all step-by-step guide to self-discovery. Here is an incomplete list of ideas that should help anyone starting the process:

1. Come home to yourself. Spend time alone. It is extremely calming and necessary for finding out what’s important to you.

2. Make a list of the five things you value most in life. Find ways to free up time for those five things by eliminating what you don’t like and cutting back on time wasters.

3. Exercise and eat healthy. You may be shaking your head right now, “no time,” “no money,” “family responsibilities.” Instead of using these excuses, start scheduling around the hurdles to free up the time. Exercise and eating healthy go hand in hand.

4. Become more aware of self-defeating behaviors. Procrastination, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, and comfort eating, may seem helpful in the moment, but ultimately undermine us, especially when we engage in them repeatedly.

5. Time away from electronics. Determine if there is anything in your life that you are trying to avoid by constant use of technological devices. Is it possible that the devices are replacing something else in your life?

Every day we can choose to grow and focus on the practices and attitudes that enable us to cultivate and sustain healthy lives. The path to self-discovery takes time

and perseverance. The journey is filled with highs, lows and some pleasant surprises. Every step you take brings you closer to happiness and peace of mind. Knowing who you are, what resonates with you, what you truly believe in –these things inform every single action you take every day.

To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation. ~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Priscilla Smith-Trudeau, MSM, RN, BSN, CRRN, CCM, HNB-BC, is an author, speaker and healthcare management consultant. She is a Board Certified Rehabilitation Nurse and a Board Certified Holistic Nurse with a focus on integrative health. For more information please visit www.wealthindiversity.com

References1. Tolle, E. (1999). The power of now: A guide to spiritual

enlightenment. Novato, CA: New World Library2. Meader, J. (1997). In praise of women. Berkeley, CA: Celestial

Arts.3. Bozeman, M. (2013) Healing environments start with

nourished nurses, American Holistic Nurses Association, Beginnings, 33, (3), 8

4. Watson, J., & Woodard, T. K. (2010). Jean Watson’s theory of human caring. In M.E. Parker & M.C. Smith (eds.), Nursing theories and nursing practice (3rd ed., p. 357). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.

5. Rosa, W. (2014), Caring science and compassion fatigue: Reflective inventory for the individual processes of self-healing, American Holistic Nurses Association, Beginnings, 34, (4), 18.

6. Dessen, S., & Brennan, N. (2011). What happened to goodbye? New York: Viking.

7. C., C. J. (2010). The sun is snowing: Poetry & prose. Central Milton Keynes: Author House.

8. L. Rew, Awareness in Healing (Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, 1996).

9. Dossey, B. M., & Keegan, L. (2009). Chapter 11, Self-assessments in Holistic nursing: A handbook for practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Ten Self-Discovery Questions1. What am I really passionate about?

2. What is my innermost desire?

3. What would I do if I knew I could not fail?

4. What ideas are persistent in my heart and thoughts?

5. What would bring me the greatest happiness?

6. What do I want to do for humanity?

7. What would I do forgoing payment or reward?8. What is the most important thing I could do with

my life?

9. What do I constantly imagine myself doing?

10. What do I wish I were doing when I am doing other things?

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Member Profile Expanding Your Nursing Horizons

Submitted by Lynne Caulfield, RN

Imagine having to use your high school Spanish that you never thought would be good for anything. Global nursing recently took me to Ecuador to share in a medical/dental caravan to the Quichua and Awa people. Fortunately, we did have translators so I didn’t have to rely on my rusty

Spanish and I don’t speak Quichua or Awa! I was with a church group out of Kentucky and I don’t speak that dialect either! In Otavalo, we were above 9000 ft so even though we were at the Equator, it was very cool. We ran clinics in Punyaro and Qualsaqui the first two days. Many of the Quichua dress in traditional garb and speak Spanish or Quichua. They are the proud descendants of the Incas. Poor people in Ecuador are sad and fearful because they have many superstitious beliefs and practices. Some will go to the local witch doctor and perhaps the health clinic if there is one. One commodity poor people have is land so at least they can grow their own food. We saw people of all ages with many problems that could probably be eradicated with

clean water. We treated everyone for worms. Some women had PID, vaginitis, and/or yeast infections. Some had GI issues from worms, malnutrition, and unclean water. There were lice and scabies that we treated with medicines we brought. We saw musculoskeletal issues from overuse due to wielding machetes all day long in the fields or women sitting at weaving looms. We treated wounds from ill placed machetes. Health teaching is a big need because they know very

little about sanitation, clean water, safe food handling; lots of things we take for granted.

From Otavalo we traveled to the Amazon forest of Rio Verde to run a clinic for the Awa. We experienced the heat and humidity of the jungle. We had to be careful at night to turn our shoes upside down and check them in the morning for scorpions before putting them on. We even had a 5.7 earthquake one night! The Awa wear rubber boots like Wellingtons all day long. Did I mention the boots are wet and muddy inside? I was amazed they still had feet. We often saw families together. One little boy wouldn’t stop crying so we made a makeshift balloon from a rubber glove. He actually played catch with me after some coaxing and he even smiled. After our game, I had to cleanse and dress a deep cut in his foot. Of course, he had to put the damp, dirty boot back on. Oh well!!

Going to other parts of the world is challenging, rewarding, and encouraging. I will never take a clean glass of water for granted again. I realize I have many blessings to count as I reach for a sterile dressing for a wound or have access to antibiotics for a patient’s sickness. So if you feel like your present nursing is becoming mundane, consider seeing the world. Take on the challenge and rewards of a global nursing trip. There’s a whole world waiting.

Beth Reilly, RN3.5 years in nursing

BA in English Literature and Psychology; BSN Community Health Centers of Burlington

What is your background: where did you attend school and what inspired you to enter the nursing profession?

I grew up in a working class family that constantly struggled to make ends meet. At a young age I saw how it important it was to be informed, navigate the system, and be a strong self-advocate. I am the first person in my immediate family to get a four-year degree, and, I am forever grateful to the many individuals along the way that inspired me to think differently, seek knowledge, and never back down. I first graduated with a degree in English Literature and Psychology from St. Michael’s College in 1999 and worked in the social services (health, education, outreach) for about 10 years. I went back to school and obtained my BSN from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2010 after realizing one of the best avenues for helping people to lead healthier lives would be as a nurse. I was inspired to become a nurse by working alongside other nurses as well as being informed about the growing need for change in how our current healthcare system is set up and delivered. I believed then, as I believe now, that nurses have the unique opportunity

to be the liaison between the patient and the policy. We see, firsthand, the real issues our patients are confronted with and we have the responsibility to voice our concerns about them.

Why are you a VSNA and ANA member?I am a VSNA and ANA member because I feel it is

imperative to be active in my profession. Whether in Montpelier or Washington, D.C., both of these groups are active and are an organized body whose voice is both respected and utilized in healthcare policy. Ultimately, being a member allows me to be part of that collective voice as well as continue to learn and develop my own nursing practice.

What are your hopes for the future of Nursing? How do you think the VSNA and ANA can contribute?

My hope for the future of nursing is that nurses become more involved and united as a group. We have a lot of raw data to share, as we are often seen as “on the front lines of health care”. Therefore, the VSNA and ANA becoming more involved, particularly in government affairs, will be imperative as the healthcare system model starts to take a new shape. I think the stronger we stand together as a collective group, the louder we can get, the more effective our input will be heard and brought to the table. What nurses have to contribute is relevant and I believe nursing has an important role to play in helping to develop the future of healthcare in our country.

Is there any advice you have received that has stuck with you in your nursing career?

I had an English professor once who told me to “use my voice”. She was trying to remind me when I wrote or spoke about a subject to trust the instinctive quality in my own voice. For some reason, that simple advice about a paper on Ulyssess by James Joyce has carried me through my life and has never been more pertinent than in my nursing career. In trusting in my own voice, and utilizing it in my profession, I am a better advocate for my patients as well as for the profession of nursing itself.

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Joint Statement from the American Hospital Association,

the American Medical Association and the American

Nurses Association

As our nation’s strategy to address the Ebola virus continues to evolve, hospitals and their partners in nursing and medicine are coming together to emphasize that a solution-oriented, collaborative approach to Ebola preparedness is essential to effectively manage care of Ebola patients in the U.S. Ensuring safe care for patients, healthcare workers, and communities demands the combined efforts of inter-professional, state, and federal organizations. In addition to domestic efforts to prepare for and treat Ebola, an enhanced focus on the part of the United States and the international community to contain the outbreak in West Africa is fundamental to stopping the spread of this virus.

Hospitals, physicians, and nurses have the same goals in addressing any Ebola case: to ensure that all hospital and clinical staff are able to safely provide high-quality, appropriate, patient care. We are committed to ensuring that nurses, physicians and all frontline healthcare providers have the proper training, equipment and protocols to remain safe and provide the highest quality care for the patient. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates the protocols and procedures involved with patient care and personal protective equipment, we will review and share updated guidance with our collective memberships as it becomes available.

Our nation’s hospitals, physician and professional nursing organizations remain in communication with one another and with our nation’s public health institutions at the local, state and national levels. We are committed to maintaining a strong collaborative effort to address this public health threat.

Personal & Financial HealthThe Importance of Self Reliance

Beth Reilly, BSN, RNCommunity Health Centers of Burlington

Registered Nurse

“Maybe stories are just data with a soul”~ Brene Brown

One of the most powerful life lessons I have ever been taught was to be self-reliant. I also was taught that, as with many other things in life, my ability to maintain a self-reliant existence will always need fine tuning, nourishing, and adjusting. The ability to think for oneself, make informed decisions, and to feel empowered are some of the greatest gifts an individual can receive. As a nurse, I find it is part of my responsibility to help my patients find their voice and encourage them to take an active role in their health and wellness. Every patient, every person, has the ability to become self-reliant, if they are willing. Everyone has a story.

This past week I attended the Vermont State Nurses Associations’ (VSNA) annual meeting. The speakers at the event each spoke on very different healthcare issues but there was a common thread that resonated through each talk. Our patients have stories, and, more importantly, we need to listen. As nurses, we are the link between the patient and the policy. For example, the opioid crisis, as discussed by Barbara Cimaglio, Deputy Health Commissioner for Vermont, is an issue upon which nursing input is critical. Nurses, collectively, spend the most time with patients. We have the opportunity to listen to their stories, and the responsibility to listen without judgment. Ms. Cimaglio, as well as many of our other government officials, count on us to contribute, to be the liaison, to color the areas of grey because we, nurses, are the ones at the bedside with our patients, not the policy makers.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where it is often more socially acceptable to maintain the status quo than it

is to think differently and challenge it. However, regardless of where anyone stands on the issue of healthcare reform, change is not only necessary, but in the state of Vermont is imminent. As Robin Lunge, Director of Health Care Reform for Vermont spoke regarding the “triple aim” of health care reform, we need to move away from a revenue driven, fee for service model, and move closer to a health care model that focuses on improving care, improving health and reducing cost. If our patients are going to take an active role in their health then they need access to a health care system that supports health and wellness more heavily than it supports profit margins.

As nurses, we have a responsibility to our profession to stay informed about health policy and the quickly changing landscape of healthcare. Our collective voice must not only be present but also actively participate in policy conversations both in Montpelier and Washington, D.C. Policy makers, government and private healthcare organizations, and hospital administrators need, and want, to hear from nurses. In Vermont we currently have the unique opportunity, due to our small size and budding health care reform, to have nurses’ collective voice make its’ presence known. If we listen closely to what our patients tell us, we might be able to deduce what is blocking them from making an effective recovery, or establishing a healthier lifestyle. We might be able to see the human in them who, perhaps made a mistake, but also has the ability to adapt, to change.

As a nurse, if I can connect the dots of a patient’s story with what has hampered their ability to lead a healthy life, I am that much closer to helping the patient on a path to health and wellness. As nurses, we have the opportunity to start dialogues with our patients about how they can start making the necessary changes to improve their lives; and, as nurses, we have the responsibility to start dialogues with our legislators about how we can best support our patients within the healthcare system so they, our patients, can lead healthier lives.

Do you know a child facing adult-sized challenges?Established in 1894, Kurn Hattin Homes for Children in Westminster, Vermont is a charitable home and school for boys and girls, ages 6-15, who are affected by tragedy, social or economic hardship, or other disruption in family life. To find out how Kurn Hattin Homes for Children can help, visit us online or contact the Admissions Office at 802-721-6932.

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Hope you have a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

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Student News

Applicationfor the 2015

Judy Cohen Scholarship

Vermont State NursesFoundation, Inc.

100 Dorset Street, Suite # 13South Burlington, VT 05403

(802) 651-8886

The Judy Cohen Scholarship is a $2,000 award given to a registered nurse who is in a baccalaureate or higher degree accredited nursing program.

Applications must be submitted by August 1, 2015. You do not have to be a member of VSNA but priority will be given to VSNA members.

To apply for the scholarship, please fill out this form:http://bit.ly/19VtlNK

Marilyn Rinker Leadership Scholarship Application

Application – 2015 deadline: March 25, 2015

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ____________________ Email Address: ______________________

Vt RN Lic # _____________________ VONL member since _________________

School of Nursing: _____________________________________________________

Currently in which year? 1 2 3 4 year of graduation (if applicable) _______________

Graduate school _______________________ 1st yr _________ 2nd year _________

expected date of graduation ______________

If employed in nursing, current employer ___________________________________

Currently receiving Financial Aid, Grants, Scholarships? Yes _______ No _______

If yes please list the sources ______________________________________________

Please attach to this form:1. Résumé2. Most recent transcript of grades demonstrating a cumulative average of 3.0 (B)3. A brief essay (500 words or less) describing nursing leadership experience and

aspirations, community service experience, commitment to serve in Vermont, and financial need

4. At least two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one academic and one work related)

5. Evidence of acceptance in an accredited program leading to an advanced degree in nursing if not yet matriculated.

I understand that if I receive an Advanced Degree Nurse Leaders Scholarship, I commit to practice nursing in Vermont for a minimum period of two years following graduation .

Student signature: ______________________________ Date: _________________

Return application (with attached materials) before March 25, 2015 to:

Martha Buck, VAHHS/VONL148 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

(802)223-3461/ext. 111 [email protected]

Vermont Organization of Nurse LeadersMarilyn Rinker Leadership Scholarship for Nurses in

an Advanced Degree Program Announcement

ObjectiveTo promote graduate level nursing education in Vermont in support of nursing leadership talent to meet the health care needs of our state.

Purpose• To provide scholarship support in the amount of $2500 per year for a qualified

individual to participate in an approved course of study leading to an advanced degree.

Qualifications of applicants• PossessionofVermontRNlicenseingoodstanding• AmemberofVONL• Demonstratedcommitmenttonursingleadership(Vermontpreferred)asevidencedby

participation in professional seminars, organizations, work accomplishments, project, recommendations of peers

• Currentlyenrolledoracceptedinanaccreditedprogramthatwillleadtoanadvanceddegree in nursing

• Willingnesstocommittocompletingtheprogramasindicatedbyrealistictimeframe• IndividualsagreetopracticeinVermontforatleasttwo(2)years• GPAof3orB• Twosupportiveprofessionalrecommendations

Special Considerations• Individualswhohave sought funding throughemploymentorother resources,where

available• Individualswithdemonstratedfinancialneed• Individualscurrentlyworkinginthefieldofnursingeducation

Application Process1. Applicants must first be accepted into an accredited program that will lead to an

advanced degree in nursing2. Eligibility criteria include: proof of academic excellence/promise, pledge to

practice in Vermont following graduation, short essay, two (2) positive professional recommendations

3. Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders will select a candidate based on the following criteria, in order of importance: academic excellence; commitment to Vermont; leadership/community service; financial need

The Award will be announced at the Nursing Summit, Spring 2015. Winner will benotified in advance.

For more information, visit our website: www.vonl.org

The Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc.

2015 ScholarshipVermont State Nurses

Foundation, Inc.


(802) 651-8886

Applications for the $1,000 scholarship are open to Vermont State Nurses Association (VSNA) members who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate nursing program and who are active in a professional nursing organization.

Submit your application by August 1, 2015 by filling out the online form: http://bit.ly/19VtlNK

Application for the 2015

Pat & Frank Allen Scholarship

Vermont State Nurses Foundation, Inc.


(802) 651-8886

The Pat & Frank Allen Scholarship is a $1500.00 award given to a registered nurse who is a matriculated student in an accredited nursing program.

Applications must be submitted by August 1, 2015. You do not have to be a member of VSNA but priority will be given to VSNA members, please go online to fill out the form: http://bit.ly/19VtlNK


Upcoming Educational Opportunities (Non-VSNA)

UVM College of MedicineThe following educational events are sponsored by the University of Vermont.

For more information contact:Continuing Medical Education, 128 Lakeside Avenue, Suite 100, Burlington, VT 05401,

(802)656-2292•http://cme.uvm.edu

Date Conference Location

January 16-19, 2015 26th Annual Eastern Winter Dermatology Conference Topnotch HotelStowe, VT

January 25-28, 2015 Emergency Medicine Update Stowe Mountain LodgeStowe, VT

January 26-28, 2015 24th Annual Current Concepts & Controversies in Surgery Stowe Mountain LodgeStowe, VT

February 5-7, 2015 Hospital Medicine 2015 The Stoweflake Hotel & SpaStowe, VT

March 4-8, 2015 20th Annual Vermont Perspectives in Anesthesia Stowe Mountain LodgeStowe, VT

April 14, 2015 Vermont Geriatrics Conference The EssexEssex, VT

May 1-2, 2015 Northeastern Genitourinary Oncology Symposium Hilton Hotel and Conference CenterBurlington, VT

May 27-31, 2015 Women in Medicine 2015 Abstract Submission The Embassy Suites Downtown Portland, OR

May 27-31, 2015 Women in Medicine 2015 The Embassy Suites Downtown Portland, OR

June 2-5, 2015 Family Medicine Review Course Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center South Burlington, VT

June 18-21, 2015 Vermont Summer Pediatric Seminar Equinox Manchester, VT

July 27-30, 2015 Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Lung Diseases Conference

Davis Center, UVM Campus Burlington, VT

September 9-11, 2015 Women’s Health Conference Doubletree HotelSouth Burlington, VT

September 30 - October 2, 2015

Primary Care Sports Medicine The EssexEssex, VT

October 15-17, 2015 Critical Care Conference The StoweflakeStowe, VT

October 23, 2015 Bridging the Divide: Substance Misuse, Identification, and Intervention in Integrated Primary Care

TBD

November 13, 2015 Bridging the Divide: VT Medical/Dental Integration Conference

The EssexEssex, VT

Here, nurses are leaders, embracing new technologies and solving problems for patients. If you’re ready to lead, join us in a quality environment where patients come first, where you can earn substantial differentials above and beyond base pay, and where small means more opportunity for nurses to excel.

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Specialty Organizations

Vermont Board of Nursing Position on Pronouncement of Death by a Nurse

The Vermont Board of Nursing revised its position statement on pronouncement of death at its October 13, 2014 meeting. The revisions were based on the Practice Committee’s review of current best practices, discussion with the Chief Medical Examiner and State EMS Director, and discussion of RN and LPN scope of practice. The revised statement is available on our website at: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/614793/PS-Role-of-the-Nurse-in-the-Pronouncement-of-Death-2014-1013-Final.pdf

According to the revised statement, both RNs and LPNs may pronounce death, under certain circumstances. An RN or LPN may pronounce death if all of the following are present:

1. The patient’s death is expected2. The patient has a valid Do Not Resuscitate/Clinician Orders for Life Sustaining

Treatment (DNR/COLST) order3. All five signs of death are present4. The pronouncement of death is in accordance with written facility/agency policy

and procedure.

The five signs of death are:1. Unresponsiveness2. Apnea3. Absence of palpable pulses at carotid, radial, and femoral sites4. Unresponsive pupils5. Absence of heart sounds.

These signs of death are listed in the Vermont Statewide Emergency Medical Services Protocols.

RNs and LPNs may not perform certification of death. The death certificate must be completed by a Physician, a Physician Assistant, or an Advance Practice Registered Nurse.

The Board’s position statements reflect the Board’s recommendations for best practice; the statements are not incorporated in statute or rule and do not have the force of law. Questions about this and other position statements are welcome and may be directed to the Board of Nursing office at 802-828-2396.

Vermont Nursing License Renewal Notice

Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licenses expire March 31, 2015. Renewal notices will be e-mailed in mid-February 2015.

Licensed Practical Nurse licenses expire January 31, 2016. Renewal notices will be e-mailed in mid-December 2015.

Licensed Nursing Assistant licenses were due for renewal by November 30, 2014. An LNA license that was not renewed is now inactive.

Reminders:• Update your address, telephone, and e-mail by visiting the Vermont Board of

Nursing website at www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation/professions/nursing.aspx. Licensees without an e-mail address will be notified of renewal periods by mail.

• Papercopiesoflicensesarenolongerissued.Checkthewebsiteformoredetails.

“Caring for Our Nation’s Veterans”

We are currently hiring for various positions:

Employment at the VA Medical Center affords future members very competitive salaries and a comprehensive federal benefits package, with the key benefits of health care and life insurance coverage which continues into one’s retirement.

For more information and how to apply for any of the positions above, please go to www.usajobs.gov.

If you have any questions, please call Human Resources at (802) 295-9363 Ext. 5350.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Jct., VT is an

Equal Opportunity Employer

• RegisteredNurses(Medical/Surgical,ED,ICU–per diem)

• RegisteredNurses(EmergencyDepartment–full-time)

• RegisteredNurses(ICU–full-time)• RegisteredNurses(HomeTelehealth–full-time)• RegisteredNurse(GI)• NursePractitioner(Urology)• CertifiedNursingAssistants(MentalHealthand

Nursing)• RegisteredNurse(OperatingRoom–fulltime)• NursePractitioner(MentalHealth-various

locationswithinVermontandNewHampshire)

• RegisteredNurse(PrimaryCare–CallCenter)• RegisteredNurse(CaregiverSupport)• RegisteredNurse(ClinicalCoordinatorforHome

Based Primary Care)• RegisteredNurse(PACU/SameDay)• RegisteredNurse(PerformanceImprovement

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time)• NursePractitioner(ENT)• RegisteredNurse(UrologyClinicNurse)

Holiday Greetings

from the Board & Staff of the Vermont State Nurses Association


VSNA Convention 2014

Christine Ryan, VSNA Executive Director/Lobbyist

“STRENGTH IN NUMBERS”

The Vermont State Nurses Association Fall 2014 Convention theme, “Strength In Numbers,” reflects the strength of our state nursing population - 18,000 - and our national nursing population - 3.1 million. It also speaks to the strength of our state nursing association, our individual strengths as nurses, and the strength and power of our collective voice.

Convention began with an acknowledgment of the Ebola health crisis occurring worldwide and the important role of the nursing profession. A statement issued by the American Nurses Association was shared with participants.

Katarina Lisaius, a staff member from Senator Bernie Sanders’ office, read a letter addressed to the VSNA. Senator Sanders thanked Vermont nurses for their commitment to improving access to health care for all Vermonters. Senator Sanders addressed the importance of protecting and expanding the nursing workforce and spoke of the legislation he introduced to support our profession and improving access to primary care. He has worked to reauthorize the Nursing Faculty Loan Program and the Nurse Practitioner Residency Training Program through FY 2019. Senator Sanders has made it a priority to address the issue of patient safety and create dialogue with nurses from Vermont and nationwide. Lastly, Senator Sanders urged Vermont nurses to keep him and his staff informed on the issues affecting our profession and to continue to support each other to ensure our voice is heard on a state and national level.

The VSNA designed a program based upon what VSNA members requested. The Essex Resort & Spa

served as the destination for the day and included a chef demonstration. Participants enjoyed opportunities to network, experienced Qi Gong with Carrie Abair and generously donated local products were raffled off throughout the day. This year’s convention attendance represented VSNA members, students, and nurses who have yet to join the association. It was great to see new faces and reconnect with familiar faces. Participants were very engaged with each speaker and much dialogue occurred following each presentation.

Speakers and presentation topics included:“The Opioid Crisis and Vermont’s Response” - Barbara

Cimaglio, Vermont Deputy Commissioner for Alcohol & Drug Abuse Programs

“Military Sexual Trauma: Our Collaborative Response” - Rebecca Robinson, LMHC, MST Coordinator, Veterans Affairs Services

“The Road to Green Mountain Care” - Robin Lunge, Director of Health Care Reform within Governor Shumlin’s Administration

“Recognizing Depression Across The Life Span: Bipolar vs. Unipolar Depression and Barriers to Effective Medication Management” - Caroline Tassey, MSN, ARNP, Child adolescent &Adult Psychiatry, Developmental & Behavioral Mental Health

The Vermont State Nurses Association would like to extend gratitude to all those individuals and organizations who contributed to the success of the 2014 VSNA Fall Convention. The VSNA looks forward to another season of working together and ensuring that the nursing profession remains strong because of our commitment to membership, advocacy, expertise, & leadership.

Vermont State Nurses Association Convention 2014

Thank You to Our Gold Sponsors

Proud Publisher of The Vermont Nurse Connection


ANA/VSNA NewsCommittee on Education

Committee members: Deborah Hayward-Sanguinetti Chair, Carol Hodges

Vermont Peer Review LeaderPeer Reviewers: June Benoit, Andrea Churchill-

Boutwell, Judy Cohen, Jane Kimberley, Ellen Leff, Suzanne Murdock, Janice Oliver, Yvette St. Hilaire, Pamela Smith

The Committee on Education’s main purpose for many years has been as an Accredited Approver Unit through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). On July of this year, the VSNA-COE joined other states (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island) as one Approver Unit. This new approver unit is called the Northeast Multi-State Division’s Education (NEMSD-Education).

Joining a regional Approver Unit will allow all states to have a paid administrative assistant to process the applications. The VSNA-COE’s time spent on this process has been approximately ten (10) hours per week. It also allows a pool of reviewers from each state to peer review both activity and approved provider applications.

In 2013, the VSNA-COE reviewed thirty-eight (38) Activity Applications and 11 Approved Provider Applications. Prior to July the VSNA-COE reviewed

twenty-nine Activity Applications and one (1) Approved Provider Unit Application. Since becoming an active member of the NEMSD-Education there have been twelve (12) Vermont Activity Applications submitted to the NEMSD. Four Peer Reviewers have reviewed a total of 15 applications including both Activity and Provider applications. The VSNA receives monetary funds for the number of Vermont applications submitted as well as for the number of reviews that are done by our committee members.

As we move forward with the launching of our new web site we should see an increase in activity related to the easy access of forms, electronic submission and electronic payment. The COE is also exploring other areas for committee members to mentor nurses in the state about ANCC criteria in providing CNE.

The VSNA-COE bids a fond farewell to members Jane Kimberley and Pamela Smith who plan on retire from the committee this year. Their expertise in educational design, reviewing, and mentoring will certainly be missed.

This committee always welcomes new members, please contact Christine Ryan ([email protected]) or Cara Toolin ([email protected]).

For more information and/or application for contact hours please visit the VSNA website at www.vsna.inc.org.

Government AffairsChristine Ryan, VSNA Executive Director/

Lobbyist

Vermont nurses were present throughout the 2014 legislative session in Montpelier, Vermont.

Key legislation debated during the session included:Substance Abuse Health Care Funding & ReformGMO LabelingToxic Chemical ReformInvoluntary Treatment & MedicationLyme Disease & Other Tick-Bourne IllnessesBan on Smoking in Specific Structures/State Lands

2015 National Nursing Policy & Advocacy Priorities

Safe StaffingCo-signature Requirement for Durable Medical EquipmentRemoving Scope of Practice BarriersProtecting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2014Removing Barriers & Improving Access of Palliative Care into Health Care Delivery SystemsNursing Workforce Development

To ensure that Vermont nurses are represented when healthcare policies are formulated, ALL Vermont nurses need to participate in the legislative dialogue. The VSNA and the Committee of Government Affairs would like to hear from you. If you are interested in joining the CGA, please contact [email protected].

If you would like to share your nursing expertise and serve as a resource for the VSNA to contact, please email; [email protected].

ANA Calls for Stronger Collaboration Between RNs, Employers to Reduce Risks

from Nurse Fatigue

SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) calls for stronger collaboration between registered nurses (RNs) and their employers to reduce the risks of nurse fatigue for patients and nurses associated with shift work and long hours, and emphasizes strengthening a culture of safety in the work environment in a new position statement.

ANA contends that evidence-based strategies must be implemented to proactively address nurse fatigue and sleepiness. Such strategies are needed to promote the health, safety and wellness of RNs and ensure optimal patient outcomes.

“Research shows that prolonged work hours can hinder a nurse’s performance and have negative impacts on patients’ safety and outcomes,” said ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “We’re concerned not only with greater likelihood for errors, diminished problem solving, slower reaction time and other performance deficits related to fatigue, but also with dangers posed to nurses’ own health.”

Research links shift work and long working hours to sleep disturbances, injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal problems, mood disorders, obesity, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and adverse reproductive outcomes.

ANA offers numerous evidence-based recommendations for RNs and employers to enhance performance, safety and patient outcomes, in support of the position. Among them:

• Involvenurses in thedesignofworkschedulesanduse a regular and predictable schedule so nurses can plan for work and personal responsibilities.

• Limit work weeks to 40 hours within seven daysand work shifts to 12 hours.

• Eliminate the use of mandatory overtime as a“staffing solution.”

• Promote frequent, uninterrupted rest breaksduringwork shifts.

• Enact official policy that confers RNs the rightto accept or reject a work assignment based on preventing risks from fatigue. The policy should include conditions that a rejected assignment does not constitute patient abandonment, and that RNs should not suffer adverse consequences in retaliation for such a decision.

• Encourage nurses tomanage their health and rest,including sleeping seven to nine hours per day;

developing effective stress management, nutrition and exercise habits; and using naps in accordance with policy.

The position statement was developed by a Professional Issues Panel, established by the ANA Board of Directors. The panel was comprised of 15 ANA member nurses with expertise on the issue, with additional input from an advisory committee of about 350 members who expressed interest in participating. The statement was distributed broadly for public comment to nursing organizations, federal agencies, employers, individual RNs, safety and risk assessment experts and others, whose suggestions were evaluated by the panel for incorporation in the statement. The new position statement replaces two 2006 position statements – one for employers and one for nurses. The statement clearly articulates that health care employers and nurses are jointly responsible for addressing the risks of nurse fatigue.

ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

Register today to begin your search for the perfect Nursing Job!

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WWW.NURSINGALD.COMPosition Recommends Adoption of Evidence-Based

Strategies to Promote Safety


ANA/VSNA News

Vermont State Nurses’ Foundation — Honor a Nurse

CampaignNursing continues to be the most trusted profession as indicated in annual

surveys. This attests to the collective contributions nurses make as they care for patients, families and communities. Efforts of individual nurses however deserve special recognition by colleagues, employers, patients, families and friends. There are many reasons to Honor a Nurse such as: to thank a mentor, to acknowledge excellent care given by a nurse to patient, to celebrate a milestone such as a birthday or retirement, or to recognize a promotion. Just think for a moment, you will know a nurse to honor. Celebration: The honored nurses and the persons nominating them will be recognized at the Vermont State Nurses’ Association Convention in 2015. The honored nurses each will receive a certificate identifying the person recognizing her/him as well as the reason for the honor. Submit nominations by: September 1, 2015. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. VSNF is a 501(c)3 organization. Nominations this year is online.

Please go here to nominate someone: http://goo.gl/Z0F4f.

Tenzin DolkarRita KinkelaarJennifer LongRaymond GasserElizabeth DanielsKat MeyerKate LepineMargaret Butler

Nicole HarringtonPeg GagneDanielle GoldsteinShellie StevensMary OliphantSharon BissonStephanie MozzerDonna Clark-Kelsey

Catherine SchneiderAngelika StedmanDeborah SnellTodd Perry Sidhar Salla Diane Leach Michelle Mills

IS YOUR NURSING ORGANIZATION PLANNINGAN EDUCATION PROGRAM?

CONSIDER APPLYING FOR CONTACT HOUR APPROVAL

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE VSNA OFFICE @

(802) 651-8886

Vermont State Nurses Association, Inc. is accredited as an approver of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Welcome New VSNA Members!

STAY TUNED… Nurses Day at the State House-2015 Montpelier, VT

Keep checking the VSNA website (http://www.vsna-inc.org ) for event details


802-828-1635

89 Main Street3rd Floor

Montpelier, VT

Would you like to work with a unique new program near two awe-inspiring mountain ranges and a beautiful lake?

The Nursing and Nutrition Department of the State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh invites applications for the positions below. The Nursing Program educates nurses to provide care for multicultural clients in community-based and high-tech acute care settings. The Nursing Program offers both traditional 4-year and Registered Nurse Baccalaureate Programs. These are unique opportunities to join a faculty who encourage educational motivation and support a mission that emphasizes excellence in teaching and scholarship.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner ProgramThese are unique opportunities to contribute to be part of a new program as it enters its initial year. This program joins a pre-licensure BS program and an RN-to-BS program that are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and well established at the College. The Nursing Department currently serves approximately 400 undergraduate students. The successful candidates will be committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. He or she will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sensitivity to diversity and gender issues, as SUNY Plattsburgh is committed to ensuring that its graduates are educated to succeed in a increasingly complex, multicultural, and interdependent world.

Associate Professor & Program Director for the Master’s Degree in NursingThis position will advance the mission of the department by contributing to the development of new and innovative programs in Nursing, as well as perform teaching and administrative duties.

Required Qualifications: A doctoral degree in Nursing or related field with a master’s degree in Nursing in an area focusing on Adult Health is required, along with national certification as an Adult or Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. Qualifications for licensure as a Nurse Practitioner in New York State must be met. The successful candidate will have demonstrated an ability to work effectively and collegially with faculty, staff, and administrators. Preferred Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have significant clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner in an adult primary care setting, demonstrated experience teaching nursing at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and experience with curriculum development and design commensurate with the rank of Associate Professor. Salary: $85,000 minimum, plus excellent benefits.

Assistant Professor of NursingResponsibilities will include teaching in primarily an online environment, ongoing curriculum development, student advisement, participation in on-campus graduate seminars, and clinical management.

Required Qualifications: A Master’s Degree in Nursing with a focus in Adult Health is required, along with national certification as an Adult or Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. Qualifications for licensure as a Nurse Practitioner in New York State must be met. The successful candidate will have demonstrated an ability to work effectively and collegially with faculty, staff, and administrators. Preferred Qualifications: Doctoral level preparation is preferred. The ideal candidate will have significant clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner in a primary care setting, and demonstrated teaching ability in nursing education, commensurate with the rank of Assistant Professor. Salary: $70,000 minimum, plus excellent benefits.

SUNY Plattsburgh is an equal opportunity employer, committed to excellence through diversity. As an equal opportunity employer and a government contractor subject to VEVRAA, SUNY Plattsburgh complies with hiring regulations regarding sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, age and veteran status.

For further position details and to apply, please visit http://jobs.plattsburgh.edu and select “View Current Openings”

Quality Care Close to HomeNorth Country Hospital is a 25 bed critical access private, nonprofit acute care community hospital with physician practices serving twenty communities in a two-county area in the rural Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

We are currently seeking

Registered Nurses

At North Country Hospital quality patient care is our greatest commitment, employees are our greatest asset, excellent patient experience is our greatest accomplishment, and the health of the community is our greatest responsibility.

For additional information contact: Tina Royer, Human Resources(802) 334-3210, ext. 407 • E-Mail: [email protected]

North Country Hospital189 Prouty Drive, Newport, VT 05855

www.northcountryhospital.org

Documents

January, February, March 2015 Vermont Nurse Connection • … · Coordinator • Quality Specialist RN • Breast Care Nurse Navigator • LPN, Physician Practices. January, February,