Volume 25 Number 2 SPOTLIGHTINGNursing Ambulatory Care The MARCH/APRIL 2003 Faces Inside Ambulatory Care of Ambulatory Nursing Defined Care Nursing see page 2 FEATURES Gwendolyn Brown, RN Page 3 Infusion Center At the Helm Atlanta, GA AAACN’s leaders and volunteers are the driving force behind the ❛ In the ambulatory care association’s success. setting, patients can interact with each other and with us. Page 5 We deal with death and dying, A Circle of Nurses but we also see the joy of AAACN joins other nursing remission and getting well.❜ groups for national initiatives. Page 7 Beverly Kruse, RN, CRRN Certification: Reaching for Case Manager, the Brass Ring Chronic Special Needs Program Certified nurses have higher job Denver, CO satisfaction, confidence, earning power, and respect. ❛ I chose the ambulatory care setting because it is where the first Page 14 and ongoing medical Ambulatory Care Nursing interventions take place. Conceptual Framework Cooperative relationships develop Page 15 with patients, which allow me to AAACN’s Management Partner make a difference.❜ Page 16 Choosing Outcome Measures in AAACN: A Collaborative Community Ambulatory Care NEWS Catherine Futch, MN, RN, CNAA, CHE, CHC administrator and all points in between. They provide care to patients and those who love Page 10 The American Academy of Ambulatory them across the life spectrum from pre-birth to Orientation Program Uses Care Nursing (AAACN) is a community of a peaceful death. AAACN Education Tools ambulatory care nurses bound by their interest While all AAACN members may have some Pages 18-19 and commitment to providing care in settings unique reasons for joining the association, other than the traditional inpatient setting. AAACN: We’re Not Modest, there are some expectations that are common We’re the Best. Want to Join? AAACN members come from a wide vari- among most members. They want education ety of arenas (ambulatory surgery centers, to stay in tune with new and emerging trends DEPARTMENTS medical offices, dialysis clinics, infusion cen- in the delivery and management of health ters, call centers, home care, managed care, care. They want to network with their friends From the President. .2 hospice, case management, and more… and colleagues from across the country to 2004 Conference: Phoenix . .17 much more). They come representing a vari- ety of positions from staff nurse to senior continued on page 22 2003 Conference News . .20 Corporate Spotlight . .24 The Official Publication of the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing From the PRESIDENT Dear Colleagues, AAACN Viewpoint The American Academy of Welcome to this special issue of Viewpoint, which could Ambulatory Care Nursing be called “AAACN member, this is your life!” East Holly Avenue Box 56 Pitman, NJ 08071-0056 You may have seen a new series that runs periodically in (856) 256-2350 • (800) AMB-NURS the newsletter, “Nurses Telling Their Stories.” In keeping with Fax (856) 589-7463 this theme, the AAACN Board of Directors felt it was time not E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.aaacn.org only to celebrate who we are, but also help us all to articulate that to our colleagues, our customers, and the public. AAACN Viewpoint is owned and pub- Personally, I frequently find myself in situations in which lished bimonthly by the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing someone asks me what I do and then they either look puz- (AAACN). The newsletter is distributed zled or have the assertiveness to admit they don’t know what to members as a direct benefit of ambulatory care nursing is. No, I don’t work out of an ambu- membership. Postage paid at Candia Baker Laughlin Bellmawr, NJ, and additional mailing lance. Sound familiar? offices. This issue is rich with our story, as a nursing specialty and as a professional organi- zation. On the cover, AAACN President-Elect Catherine Futch presents an informative Advertising Contact Tom Greene, Advertising and inspirational article about our identity, the value of AAACN membership, and what Representative, (856) 256-2367. it means to be a member of the AAACN community. In her article on leadership on page 3, Nancy Kowal underscores the ways we can emerge as leaders in this commu- Back Issues nity. Key articles from past issues of Viewpoint, written for us by other distinguished To order, call (800) AMB-NURS or (856) 256-2350. leaders Cynthia Nowicki, Sheila Haas, and Beth Ann Swan, highlight how we might demonstrate the value of ambulatory care nursing practice (see pages 14 and 16). Editorial Content Other articles describe credentialing through certification, use of AAACN products, To send comments, questions, or article suggestions, or if you would like to upcoming conference learning and networking opportunities, and much more. write for us, contact Editor Rebecca We hope you will enjoy reading these articles, and that the material will be helpful in Linn Pyle at [email protected] polishing your own talking points. Feel free to share the newsletter far and wide, as it AAACN Publications and voices our pride – and yours – in our specialty and our association. Additional copies Products may be obtained by contacting the National Office at 800-AMB-NURS. To order, call (800) AMB-NURS or (856) 256-2350, or visit our Web site: continued on page 6 www.aaacn.org. Reprints For permission to reprint an article, call (800) AMB-NURS or (856) 256- 2350. Ambulatory Care Nursing Defined Subscriptions Ambulatory care nursing is a unique realm 4. Ambulatory care nursing encounters are We offer institutional subscriptions only. The cost per year is $80 U.S., of nursing practice. It is characterized by rapid, episodic and are less than 24 hours in dura- $100 outside U.S. To subscribe, call focused assessments of patients, long-term tion. Encounters may occur singly or in a (800) AMB-NURS or (856) 256-2350. nurse/patient/family relationships, and teaching series lasting days/weeks/months/years. and translating prescriptions for care into doable 5. Ambulatory care nursing sites are communi- Indexing AAACN Viewpoint is indexed in the activities for patients and their caregivers. ty-based in hospitals, schools, workplaces, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Ambulatory care nursing is a specialty practice or homes. Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). area that is characterized by nurses responding 6. Ambulatory care nursing encounters may © Copyright 2003 by AAACN. All rights rapidly to high volumes of patients in a short occur face-to-face or via telephone or other reserved. Reproduction in whole or part, span of time while dealing with issues that are communication device. electronic or mechanical without written not always predictable. 7. Ambulatory care nursing services focus on permission of the publisher is prohibited. cost-effective ways to maximize wellness The opinions expressed in AAACN Definition of Ambulatory Care Viewpoint are those of the contributors, and to prevent illness, disability, and disease. authors and/or advertisers, and do not Nursing (AAACN/ANA, 1997) 8. Ambulatory care nursing services also sup- necessarily reflect the views of AAACN, 1. Ambulatory care nursing includes clinical, man- port patients in management of chronic dis- AAACN Viewpoint, or its editorial staff. agement, educational, and research activities. ease to effect more positive health states Publication Management by 2. Ambulatory care nurses work with patients throughout the lifespan up to and including Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc. who seek care for health promotion, health a peaceful death. maintenance, or health-related problems. Source: Robinson, J. (Ed.). (2001). AAACN Core Curriculum for American Academy of 3. Ambulatory care patients provide their own care Ambulatory Care Nursing, pp. 3, 5. Philadelphia: W.B. Ambulatory Care Nursing or have family or significant others as caregivers. Saunders. Real Nurses. Real Issues. Real Solutions 2 VIEWPOINT • MARCH/APRIL 2003 • Volume 25 Number 2 FEATURE AAACN’s Leaders Steer a Steady Course Elected officers and volunteers keep the association dynamic and progressive. Newcomers are welcome and opportunities abound. Nancy Kowal, MS, RN,C, NP The evolution of leadership within an organization is critical to its survival. To maintain a steady stream of qualified leaders it is essential that the organiza- tion have a process for succession plan- ning and develop new leaders to take the place of those who have completed their leadership terms. TLeadership succession includes assur- ing there are opportunities for interested members to accelerate their involvement within the organization. It also provides AAACN’s Executive Director, Cynthia Nowicki (far left), joins the AAACN Board of Directors. Shown (from for mentoring and ongoing development left) are Kathleen Krone (treasurer), Regina Phillips, E. Mary Johnson (immediate past president), Debbie of new and evolving leaders. Brigadier, Catherine Futch (president-elect), Nancy Kowal, and Candia Baker Laughlin (president). There are many opportunities for (Not pictured: Beth Ann Swan, secretary.) members to develop or refine their leader- ship skills within AAACN. Members can to be elected by their peers as a SIG chair choose to seek elected office. There are participate in a Local Networking Group or co-chair. Serving as chair of a SIG will eight AAACN Board of Director positions (LNG), join a Special Interest Group (SIG), in turn lead to a new opportunity: the (with 3-year rotating terms), a president- serve on a variety of committees (Practice, SIG Oversight Committee. This group elect, president, and past-president (each Evaluation, and Research; Program consists of a chair, co-chair, the chairs of serving a 1-year term). Board members each AAACN SIG, and a board liaison. assume internal leadership roles as treas- Planning; Web Site Advisory; Membership), Members who serve this way can also urer, secretary, and liaison to Viewpoint, write articles for Viewpoint, and/or seek expand their leadership involvement the standing committees, and SIGs.