Monthy Musings
Posted about 6 years ago by Cindy Pitlock
Monthly musings
I hope this message finds you well and flourishing in your practice serving Nevada’s health care recipients! March will certainly be “coming in like a lion” and has left leadership at NAPNA spinning with excitement and positivity! We have many things to share with you!
Leadership has great plans for the evolution of NAPNA, the website, member education, and our outreach and communication techniques. We have several new programs in development! We will be establishing a Community Partners Circle highlighting organizations that we have entered into formal partnership for the benefit of our patients, colleagues, and communities. Our Community Partners will have passed the litmus test of sharing our vision of increasing quality and access to care, decreasing costs, and providing exceptional education including health advocacy and promotion/prevention. The partner will list a logo, contact information, and a paragraph about their positive vision or services offered.
We will also be starting an on-line quarterly publication providing a platform for dissemination of evidence-based practice articles, information of interest such as studies or research projects, statistical information about health care, and scholarly presentation of issues affecting health care outcomes or the delivery system. The articles/submittals will be reviewed by an editorial board to ensure academic rigor. NAPNA’s members represent many specialties and this will present a publishing opportunity of the highest quality. The coordinator of the program will be sending out a call for submittal soon.
Although the instructions for the required practice portfolio are listed on our site, we are considering adding a repository for members to upload and store the information such as licensure, CEU’s, education, and malpractice insurance. We are still working out the logistics of the idea. The portfolio is required to be kept at the practice location, but this may aid in facilitation of renewal and update. Please let us know if this service is of interest to you.
A survey monkey was sent out inquiring whether the membership desired CEU’s to be accessible on-line for a nominal fee. We asked if members would be interested in developing and maintaining an offering, and if membership was willing to use and support the effort. Only a very few thought the idea was worth developing. At this time, we will table the idea and contemplate its evolution.
Our CEU events on March 3rd in Reno and April 28th in Las Vegas are exceeding our expectations. The outpouring of support and desire for participation have been exceptional. We would love to see you at either event! Our monthly dinners have gained interest and momentum particularly in the Las Vegas area. Look for these to expand in quality and quantity.
Twitter & Facebook – We will be breathing life into these communication opportunities!
Through persistence, hard work and the support of key stakeholders and legislative sponsors, Nevada’s APRN’s are enjoying full practice and global signature authority as detailed In the APRN Consensus Model. Unfortunately, this is not the case nationally. Fourteen states have a very restricted practice and sixteen have a reduced ability to practice. NAPNA is participating at a national level to bring all APRN’s into full practice authority. NAPNA is delighted to welcome the U.S. Territory of Guam into full practice authority with the recent signing of 201-34 into public law 34-78.
Opioid prescribing in Nevada – The new legislation is in full swing! Please visit prescribe365.nv.gov and the Nevada State Board of Nursing for guidelines and exceptional practice information. Remember to act early to fulfill the CEU requirement.
Suicide Prevention CEU requirement – Remember to act early to fulfill this requirement. The Nevada State Board of Nursing has access to free, approved offerings. Please visit the Board of Nursing site.
2018 National Health Observances – March includes National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, National Kidney Month, National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Week, Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and National Poison Prevention Week. APRN’s are often at the front line for screening and education particularly Nevada’s most vulnerable health care recipients. Please consider these observances during your interactions. CDC is a great resource for printed patient information and screening tools/guidelines.
Signing off for now and know that we are infinitely proud of you, the work you do and the impact you make. See you in a month and stay tuned!!
Cindy Pitlock DNP, CNM, APRN
President Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association