Complimentary from NNA Vol. 17 • Number 3 Nevada RNFormation August 2008 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEVADA NURSES ASSOCIATION, the Nevada Constituent of the American Nurses Association Quarterly Circulation 25,000 • Free to All Registered Nurses, LPNs & Nursing Students in Nevada Health Care Congratulation NNA Convention Practice Issues Graduates Sept. 22-23 Page 17 Page 12 Page 1 Nevada Nurses NNA to Study Patient Advocacy Association Annual Experiences of Nevada Nurses Convention Lisa Black, PhD, RN In the wake of the recent Hepatitis C outbreak linked SEPTEMBER 22 & 23, 2008 to unsafe injection practices at one or more outpatient endoscopy centers in Southern Nevada, the Legislative Committee on Health Care requested testimony from the You may register online Nevada Nurses Association (NNA) that addressed the Nurse to Nurse: Communication Diversity role of the Nevada Nurses Association in addressing these tragic events. The Nevada Nurses Association was asked to and respond to two key questions before the health committee: (1) What actions had the NNA taken to address the cases of the Legislative Committee on Health Care. Copies of NNA HCV transmission in Southern Nevada, and (2) What general testimony presented to the legislative committees can be recommendations did the NNA have that might prevent such viewed on the NNA website (www.nvnurses.org). an event from recurring in the future. At the request of Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, Lisa Black, PhD, RN provided testimony to the Chairwoman of the Legislative Committee on Health Care, Legislative Committee on Health Care on behalf of the the Nevada Nurses Association will be conducting a study Nevada Nurses Association on April 21 and May 6, 2008. to collect data to present to the 2009 legislature regarding Dr. Black clarified the role of the NNA, which is to advocate the experience of Nevada nurses who have reported or felt for the profession of nursing. Testimony by Debra Scott, they should have reported unsafe patient care situations. A MS, RN, Executive Director of the Nevada State Board of randomized sampling of Nevada Registered Nurses will be Nursing (NSBN) further clarified that it is the role of the selected to participate in this study. If you receive a survey, Monday, September 22, 2008 NSBN to take action to protect the public. Ms. Scott further PLEASE take the time to respond—it is vital that your discussed actions that have been taken thus far by the NSBN experience be reflected in the data that will generate Tuesday, September 23, 2008 to address this issue as it relates to nurses who were involved the results of this study. These findings will be presented Orleans Hotel, Las Vegas in the care of patients treated at the endoscopy centers in to the legislature in the spring of 2009 to support enhanced question. legislative protections for nurses who advocate for patient The 2008 NNA Convention will be held in During these committee meetings, the Nevada Nurses safety by reporting events that may cause patient harm. conjunction with the UNLV School of Nursing’s Second Association recommended that the Legislative Committee Annual Multi-cultural Conference. As with the Inaugural on Health care revisit existing law that was passed during Multi-cultural conference held in 2007, NNA will co host the 18th special session of the Nevada legislature (2002) this conference with the Hispanic Nurses association, the that provided very limited protections to Nevada nurses who This complimentary Philippine Nurses Association and the Southern Nevada report unsafe healthcare practices. While the 2002 language Black Nurses Association. that was added to NRS 449 was an important first step, This conference will provide a forum for understanding existing Nevada law is lacking in several ways that limit the RNformation issue personal communication styles and how it effects your ability of Nevada nurses to advocate for the safety of patients. cultural and generational interactions. Specifically, the existing statute addresses only reports to the is sent to all Nevada Obtain all the information and you may register online Board of Medical Examiners, reporting of sentinel events, by visiting the conference Web site for additional details: and cooperation with governmental investigations. Many Nurses courtesy of http://nursing.unlv.edu/diversity_2008.html situations exist in which a nurse or health care worker may Vendor and other interested parties can go to the website need to report unsafe practices that are not addressed in the Nevada Nurses and download sponsor forms etc or may contact: Mary existing law. The Nevada Nurses Association recommended Bondmass: [email protected] Tel: 702-895-3418. that existing law be strengthened to address areas that are lacking as outlined in the testimony that was presented to Association. Presort Standard US Postage CODE OF ETHICS FOR NURSES PAID Permit #14 Princeton, MN Educators, nurse managers and any nurses will find ANA’s new guide to the 55371 Code of Ethics for Nurses a powerful tool for teaching students and employee how to apply the values in the Code of Ethics to professional practice. In this complex and changing healthcare environment it is critical that nurses understand the purpose, theory and implications of ethics in their nursing practice. The publication is available on the website: www.nursebooks.org • Page 2 • Nevada RNformation August, September, October 2008 Article Guidelines for the RNFormation NNA Mission Statement Nevada Nurses Association welcomes original articles related to nursing for publication in the RNFormation. Goals & Objectives Format and Submission Articles should be word-processed as Word documents Adopted by the membership of the in 10 or 12-point font, single or double-spaced. There is Nevada State Nurses Association December 2004 currently no limit to the length of the article. Include the title of the article and headings if applicable. Author’s name should be placed after the title with credentials, MISSION organization and/or employer and contact information. The mission of the Nevada Nurses Association is to advocate for the profession of nursing, Authors must identify potential conflicts of interest, representing the collective voices of registered nurses. whether of financial or other nature and identify any commercial affiliation if applicable. GOAL All references should be listed at the end of the article. 1. Promote and uphold excellence and integrity for the profession of nursing. Pictures in black and white or color are encouraged and may be sent as a jpeg. file as an email attachment 2. Educate and advocate for accessible, affordable, quality health care for clients/consumers. or on disc. Be sure to spell check and grammar check your article, any website addresses, references or phone OBJECTIVES numbers. It is recommended you have a colleague review your article before submission. Sustain our leadership role that actively supports individual nurses in their professional practice. a) Educate nurses about professional practice advocacy. Prepare the article as a Word document and attach it to b) Provide a proactive presence in legislative and regulatory activities for health related issues. an email to [email protected]; state on–subject line– c) Participate with consumer and health care groups in establishing health care policy. “article for RNF.” If you do not have Word, try pasting the text of the article directly into the body of the d) Encourage, promote and support political candidates who have demonstrated support of the email. You may also mail the article on disc in a Word mission, goals, and objectives of the Nevada Nurses Association. document to RNFormation, Nevada Nurses Association, e) Be a strong, proactive presence in working with local, state, and national regulatory P.O. Box 34660, Reno, NV 89533. agencies involved in health care. Nevada Nurses Association does not support f) Collaborate with programs of higher education for nurses to enhance the image and strikebreaking nurses and does not accept articles on integrity of the profession. behalf of such. Articles appearing in this publication express the opinion of the staff, board or membership of g) Promote nursing as a career option for men, women, and minorities targeting the NNA. Authors are not required to be members of NNA. elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational settings. If you have any questions call the NNA office at 775 747-2333 or email [email protected]. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pam Johnson [email protected]. .President Tracy L. Singh, RN, JD [email protected]. .President Elect Lorraine Bonaldi-Moore RN, BSN, PHN [email protected]. Secretary Karen Fontaine [email protected]. Treasurer Nancy Menzel, PhD, APRN, BC [email protected] . Director at Large Mary Bondmass [email protected]. Director at Large Janet Bryant [email protected] . Director at Large Beatrice Razor [email protected] . President, District 1 Martha Drohobyczer [email protected]. President, District 3 Susan VanBeuge [email protected]. APN Co-Chair, Southern Nevada David Burgio [email protected]. APN Co-Chair, Northern Nevada Diane Mae Long. Chair, E&GW Committee Vacant. Retired Nurses Committee Chair Kathy Ryan [email protected] . Nomination Chair RNFORMATION is the official publication of the Nevada Nurses Association. Published by the Nevada Nurses Association, PO Box 34660, Reno, NV 89533, (775-747-2333) Email: NNA@NVNurses. org, Web site: www.nvnurses.org. Indexed in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and International Nursing Index and is published quarterly. Editorial Staff Editor: Beatrice Razor RN, BSN, CWOCN [email protected] Cathy Dinauer RN, MSN Eliza J. Fountain RN, BSN Beverly G. Cleff EdD, APN Susan Knisely RN, MBA Lillian Gonzalez BSN, RN Mary Mackenzie Wallace J. Henkelman Denise S. Rowe MSN, RN, MSN, RN FNP-C FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND INFORMATION CONTACT THE ARTHUR L. DAVIS AGENCY, P.O. BOX 216, CEDAR FALLS, IOWA 50613, 319-277-2414. THE NEVADA NURSES ASSOCIATION AND THE ARTHUR L.