provided to Virginia’s Nursing Community by VNA. Are You a Member? The Offi cial Publication of the Virginia Nurses Association Volume 16 • No. 2 Circulation 88,000 Registered Nurses and 2,300 Student Nurses May 2008 The 2008 Virginia General Assembly VNA District 12 Submitted by Kathy Tagnesi, So Just What Happened? President District 12 by Leslie Herdegen Rohr, Government Relations Nursing is licensed as a nurse practitioner. This VNA District 12 community project for a local Representative, Virginia Nurses Association measure passed at the urging of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, the VNA and the Virginia Board of women’s shelter resulted in over 57 “gift bags” of personal items. ◆ The nursing shortage continued to be the major Nursing. message from the Virginia Nurses Association to Del. Phil Hamilton (R-Newport News) introduced state legislators during the 2008 General Assembly. HB-403 and Sen. Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg) At the same time, we held out little hope for success introduced SB-657, both of which passed the House and given the current budget shortfall. We all know the Senate unanimously and were signed into law by the biggest problem causing insufficient nurses is lack Governor. These measures provides that, in the absence of educational capacity, and that nursing schools in of gross negligence or willful misconduct, healthcare Virginia and across the country turn away nearly as providers who respond to a disaster are immune from many qualified applicants as they are able to accept. civil liability for any injury or wrongful death arising During the preceding legislative session, VNA, from the delivery or withholding of healthcare. with help from many other nursing groups, was able HB-584 introduced by Del. Dave Marsden (R-Burke) to obtain more than $1.7 million to increase public made a technical change to ensure that nurses nursing faculty salaries by ten percent. Unfortunately, practicing in Virginia under the multistate license can this action put private schools of nursing that graduate serve as expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases. more than a third of new nursing grads at a competitive This measure passed. disadvantage in faculty recruitment. Therefore, we Del. Rob Bell (R-Albemarle) introduced HB-1003 at began talking with legislators about the need to the request of his nurse constituents. This measure appropriate some funds for private school faculty requires that data related to the Commonwealth’s increases. The budget shortfall meant that the General nursing workforce, which is currently collected by the Assembly was unlikely to fund any programs perceived Board of Nursing, be published, in aggregate form as “new” and that would require continued funding. and in a format that is accessible to the public, on the Personal items were collected from our district Nonetheless, we were able to continue to get our Department of Health Professions website. This bill members as well as Winchester Medical Center message about the nursing shortage, the major passed. RNs who were working on fulfilling their clinical reason for the nursing shortage, and to educate more After nurses and others raised concerns about his ladder community projects. Two new perspective legislators about what this shortage means for quality HB-399, Del. Hamilton asked that it be stricken from members were identified! and safety of care in the future. So, we continue to the docket in the House Committee on Health, Welfare lay good groundwork for when the economic climate and Institutions. This measure would have allowed changes and more funds are available to tackle this dialysis technicians to have administered erythropoeitic problem’s next steps. agents such as Epoetin alfa, Vitamin D, and iron, which in the dialysis setting are administered IV, Nursing Issues and can be extremely dangerous in this form. Del. Janet Howell (D-Reston) introduced SB-63 (continued on page 3) to ensure that at least one member of the Board of President’s Message . 2 Practice Information The Need to Go Green . 11 Executive Director’s Communiqué: Nurse Fatigue . 11 . 4 New Patient Care Innovations in a Holistic Environment: The Planetree Model VCNP featuring an interview with Linda Sharkey, News From VCNP . 6 RN, MSN . 12 The Jury is in and the Verdict is . .13, 14 The youngest and littlest helper was this young The Lead Summit 2008 proudly presents: Legislative-Political Points lady. Perhaps she will be one of our future nurses. Nurse Staffi ng: Public Policy, Private Dr. Audrey Nelson and Cracking the Code of Patient Falls . 16 Lets all wish as we look at this award-winning Persuasion, or Both? . 5 smile. VNA - Working For You Feature Articles Outstanding Member Award . 17 To Blow the Whistle. Or Not . 6 Welcome New Members . 17 When the State Board Calls: Part II Interview with Jay Douglas RN, MSM, CSAC, Executive News At a Glance Centra Health and the Health Care Career Presort Standard Director, VA Board of Nursing . 7 US Postage See Yourself in 4-D: How to Use Appreciative Center . 18 Inquiry to Ignite Positive Change . 8 TNCC Receives Grant from Williamsburg PAID Community Health Foundation to Strengthen Permit #14 Health Care Workforce Initiatives . 18 Princeton, MN Nursing Education 55371 CE Fees . 18 Heritage and Future–Green Healthy Work District 2 News . 18 Environments . 9 2008 Open Offi ces for the Virginia Nurses The Parish Nurse: More Than ‘A Nurse In Association . 19 A Church’ . 10 Biography and Consent to Serve Form for VNA Elected Offi cials . 20 Alternative Approach Membership News A Tale of Two Stones . 10 New & Returning Members . 21 Membership Application . 22 PAGE 2—MAY , JUNE , JULY 2008—VIRGINIA NURSES TODAY www.VirginiaNurses.com President’s Message issue of the VNT for a list of available offices and Acts of Courage duties. Be courageous and consider nominating yourself or a colleague for a Board or District level As I write this column, is the official publication of the Virginia Nurses leadership position. spring is upon us. The buds Association: 7113 Three Chopt Road, Suite 204 In keeping with the quote on courage, this issue of Richmond, Virginia 23226. 1-800-868-6877 and bulbs are blooming the VNT contains pertinent information on the topic www.VirginiaNurses.com, [email protected] and Virginia takes on the of whistleblowing. The Professional Ethical Issues Fax: 804-282-4916 characteristic colors of the section of VNA’s Workplace Advocacy Guide for Bradford Pear, Dogwoods, Red The opinions contained herein are those of the Nurses, also contains additional information specific individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Buds and Azaleas. It is truly for nurses in Virginia. According to the ANA position views of the Association. a magical time of the year as statement, whistleblowing is the public disclosure we emerge from the doldrums Virginia Nurses Today reserves the right to edit all of unlawful or hazardous activities or practices by of winter. Spring is a busy materials to its style and space requirements and to members of one’s own organization. This often occurs clarify presentations. time for the Virginia Nurses after employees have exhausted all other avenues to Association as we prepare for TERESA HALLER correct the problem. In whistle-blowing cases, nurses VNA Mission Statement the Week of the Nurse, and for or other healthcare providers may be terminated for The mission of the VNA is to promote education, hosting a meeting (the second advocacy and mentoring for registered nurses to one of three distinct reasons: 1) for speaking out of what we hope will be an advance professional practice and influence the against unsafe practices 2) for violations of federal annual gathering) of nurse specialty organizations delivery of quality care. laws or 3) for filing lawsuits against their employers. on May 14. And with spring follows the graduations Legal experts say the number of whistleblower of nursing students from programs across the BOARD OF DIRECTORS: cases in the healthcare field has been on the rise Terri Haller, President; Shirley Gibson, President- Commonwealth. since 1999, when the Institute of Medicine reported Elect; Louise Hileman, Vice President; Ronnette This is also the time of year that the VNA that medical errors are the nation’ leading cause Langhorne, Secretary; Elizabeth Wolkenberg, nominating committee begins working to identify of death and injury. Despite the movement toward Treasurer; Carol Cutler, CODP Chairman; Joe Tuell, qualified members to run for VNA office. In CODP Representative to the Board; Esther Condon, “no blame” cultures in the interest of quality thinking about my own tenure on the VNA board, Committee on Ethics & Human Rights; Sandra improvement and error prevention, nurses and and my path to two terms as VNA President, I am Olanitori, Commissioner on Nursing Practice; Sallie other healthcare professionals find themselves in reminded of a favorite quote by Anais Nin: “Life Eissler, Commissioner on Government Relations; a position to blow the whistle on unsafe practices. shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Pam DeGuzman Commissioner on Resources & Whistleblowing by nurses usually results from Policies; Jennifer Matthews, Commissioner on Seeking a leadership position in your professional concern about issues that jeopardize the health or Nursing Education; Terri Gaffney, Commissioner association is, in many ways, an act of courage. safety of patients, or place the employee at risk due on WorkForce Issues; Lindsey Jones Cardwell, Rarely do any of us feel qualified or ready to assume to occupational safety and health violations. Director-at-Large; Janice DuBrueler Smith, VNSA a role with responsibilities and time commitments. Representative; Lorna Facteau, President, Virginia To minimize or eliminate the need for Often, leadership positions require that we stretch Nurses Foundation. whistleblowing, healthcare organizations must ourselves, beyond our comfort zone in order to make establish an effective ethical climate that clearly COUNCIL OF DISTRICT PRESIDENTS: contributions and to make a difference.