Publication of ANA Massachusetts PO Box 285, Milton, MA 02186 617-990-2856 [email protected]
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Massachusetts Report on Nursing The Official Publication of ANA Massachusetts PO Box 285, Milton, MA 02186 617-990-2856 [email protected] Quarterly Circulation 130,000 Do you know this nurse? See page 5 Vol. 12 No. 2 March 2018 Receiving this newsletter does not mean that you are an ANA Massachusetts member. Please join ANA Massachusetts today and help to promote the Nursing Profession. Go to: www.ANAMass.org Join ANA Massachusetts today! 2018: Year of Advocacy Join Us at Lobby/Advocacy Day Christina Saraf and Myra Cacace know our personal Co-Chairs of ANA MA Health Policy Committee representatives and senators, and The American Nurses Association has offering to be a resource to them Clio’s Corner: designated 2018 as the Year of Advocacy. In gives us a greater voice in policy formation. 75th Anniversary Memorial of concert with this initiative, ANA Massachusetts Hillary Clinton stated “If you believe you invites you to participate in our own Lobby Day, can make a difference, not just in politics, in the Cocoanut Grove Fire also known as Advocacy Day, on Tuesday, March public service, in advocacy around all these 20th. Massachusetts nurses from all disciplines important issues, then you have to be prepared Pages 4-5 will meet at the Massachusetts State House, in to accept that you are not going to get 100 percent the Great Hall of Flags, to learn about important approval.” These words teach us that we must issues for nurses and the patients and families be nurse advocates in order to gain support for we serve. our ideas. The lengthy deliberate process allows Lobby/Advocacy Day will give nurses the many opposing voices to be heard. We strive with opportunity to meet their own state lawmakers to purposeful efforts in hopes of successful passing garner support for important healthcare legislation of legislation. such as a nurse seat on the Massachusetts Health Since ANA announced 2018 as The Year of Policy Commission, safe patient handling and Advocacy, this day has even greater meaning. As scope of practice issues. Lawmakers (most of whom the largest healthcare profession, our strength are not nurses) want to hear from us. By telling our comes in our unity. Coming to Lobby/Advocacy Nurses and the Centennial of stories, we give lawmakers the opportunity to better Day will give nurses the chance to SHOW that the Halifax Explosion understand important issues affecting nursing unity, as we come together to advocate on behalf practice and healthcare because WE are the experts! of our patients and our colleagues for excellent Page 10 Legislators look to us for insight and understanding healthcare in the Commonwealth. Register today of these and other healthcare issues. Getting to at www.anamass.org! to the Delirium in the ICU – 2018 LIVING LEGENDS A Patient’s Perspective Congratulations Page 12 Jeanette Ives Erickson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Marilyn Lewis Lanza, DNS, RN, FAAN Presort Standard US Postage PAID Permit #14 Princeton, MN 55371 current resident or SAVE THE DATES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - See page 3 for information on upcoming events! Page 2 • Massachusetts Report on Nursing March 2018 Diane Hanley, MS, RN-BC, EJD room wait times and delays in other After lengthy discussions and deliberations lifesaving care services. ~ Board of Directors ~ over the last several months, the American Even worse, it would President Nurses Association (ANA) Massachusetts has force our hospitals to Diane Hanley, MS, RN-BC, EJD decided to join the Coalition to Protect Patient send patients to other Safety in opposition to the Massachusetts Nurses hospitals or prevent us President-Elect Association’s (MNA) proposed staffing ballot from admitting patients Donna Glynn, PhD, RN, ANP-BC question. in crucial times of Past-President: Our commitment to safe staffing principles need. The crippling cost of implementation will Cathleen Colleran, DNP, RN and solutions is central to ANA Massachusetts’ divert precious resources away from important mission. However, the strict staffing ratios, as healthcare priorities like providing opioid Secretary: Jim Kernan, RN, MPIA, CARN dictated by MNA’s proposed ballot question, will treatment and mental health services. not improve safety, but will instead remove nurse The ballot initiative as presented will Treasurer: autonomy and put our patients, and our health negatively impact the professional role of the Mark Worster, RN care system at risk. nurse. We are a central part of the healthcare As you know, nurse staffing is more than team. But this mandate would undermine the ~ Directors ~ numbers. Our membership needs a care vital role we play, replacing our professional Merida Brimhall, RN, BSN environment that provides enough flexibility to judgement as qualified health care professionals Julie Cronin, DNP, RN, OCN allow nurses at the bedside to decide how they with government regulations. Further, nurses Kate Duckworth, BSN, RN provide care after thoughtful consideration of the will not have the ability to participate in Alycia Dymond, BS, RN acuity of the patient, the experience level of the shared governance, professional committees, Jennifer Gil, RN, BSN nurse, and the resources available on the unit. residency programs, or professional development Mary Grant, MS, RN In stark contrast, MNA’s petition works against opportunities due to the burdens caused by this Lynne Hancock, MSN, RN, NE-BC these objectives. It requires that hospitals across rigid and costly initiative. Janet E. Ross, MS, RN, PMHCNS the state, no matter their size or specific patient Lastly, there are no scientific studies or needs, adhere to rigid nurse staffing ratios reports that demonstrate the effectiveness of ~ Committee Chairs ~ within all patient care areas. The petition would this government forced, one-size-fits-all policy. Awards and Living Legends Committee create an unfunded mandate that requires our California is the only state that has imposed such Maura Fitzgerald, RNC, MS state’s acute care hospitals to meet these ratios a mandate and there has been no evidence that it “without diminishing the staffing levels of [their] has improved quality of care. Bylaws Committee healthcare workforce.” With these considerations weighed, we have Mary McKenzie, EdM, MS, RN The measure will cost more than $800 million joined the Coalition to Protect Patient Safety, Career Connections each year to implement, costs that will be felt which includes the Organization of Nurse James Kernan, RN, MPIA, CARN across our healthcare system. This financial Leaders, the Massachusetts Health & Hospital burden will severely limit hospitals’ ability Association, the Massachusetts Council of Conference Planning Committee to support the required additional nursing Community Hospitals, and the Conference Cynthia LaSala, MS, RN workforce, and endanger the viability of smaller of Boston Teaching Hospitals, among other community hospitals, likely forcing financially healthcare leaders. ANA Massachusetts Approver Unit Sandra M. Reissour, MSN, RN vulnerable hospitals to completely close. I look forward to your partnership and Jeanne Q. Gibbs, MSN, RN Our patients will also suffer. The additional collaboration as we move forward together. costs will be passed on to them through higher Please do not hesitate to contact me with any Health Policy Committee premiums, deductibles and taxes. Care will be questions or concerns that you may have Myra Cacace, MS, GNP/ADM-BC hindered by dramatically increased emergency regarding this initiative. Christina Saraf, MSN, RN Membership Committee Janet Ross, MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC Newsletter Committee Susan LaRocco, PhD, MBA, RN Nominating Committee Cathleen Colleran, DNP, RN Technology Committee Tiffany Kelley, PhD, MBA, RN ~ ANA Massachusetts Staff ~ Executive Director Diane Rollins O’Toole, MPA Office Administrator Lisa Presutti Nurse Peer Review Leader Judy L. Sheehan, MSN, RN For 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]. ANA Massachusetts 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 ANA Massachusetts 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. ANA Massachusetts 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 ANA Massachusetts or those of the national or local associations. Masschusetts Report on Nursing is published quarterly every March, June, September and December for ANA Massachusetts, P.O. Box 285, Milton, MA 02186, a constituent member of the American Nurses Association. March 2018 Massachusetts Report on Nursing • Page 3 SAVE THE DATES EDITORIAL To register for events go to www.anamass.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tuesday, March 20, 2018 ANA Massachusetts Lobby