April 2011 - College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta

Transcription

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 011
V O L U M E 67 N O 2
Review
of policy
and practice
consultations
PAGE 17
2011 CARNA Awards
Recipients Announced
PAGE 6
InfoLAW Bulletin on SOCIAL MEDIA
PAGE 13
www.nurses.ab.ca
CARNA Provincial Council
PRESIDENT
Joan Petruk, RN, MHS
Camrose
780.909.7058
[email protected]
CENTRAL REGION
Lisa A. Barrett, RN, MN
Ponoka
403.350.8218
[email protected]
Andrea Miller, RN, BN
Camrose
780.781.8472
[email protected]
P R E S I D E N T- E L E C T
Dianne Dyer, RN, BN, MN
Calgary
403.943.3602
[email protected]
NORTHWEST REGION
Jerry Macdonald, RN, BScN
Grande Prairie
780.978.1348
[email protected]
NORTHEAST REGION
Debra Ransom, RN, BN
Lac La Biche
780.623.2473
[email protected]
EDMONTON/WEST REGION
Scott Fielding, RN, BsN, MBA
Edmonton
780.432.8543
[email protected]
Joann Nolte, RN, BScN
Edmonton
780.439.5731
[email protected]
Marg Spilchen, RN
Edmonton
780.633.7591
[email protected]
PUBLIC
R E P R E S E N T AT I V E S
Murray Donaghy
Airdrie
403.912.3242
[email protected]
Margaret Hunziker, BA, MA
Cochrane
403.932.2069
[email protected]
Mark Tims, QC
Westlock
780.349.5366
[email protected]
Rene Weber, DVM
Red Deer
403.346.5956
[email protected]
Mark L. Zivot, DPM, FACFAS,
CALGARY/WEST REGION
Kevin Champagne, RN, BN
Calgary
403.670.9960
[email protected]
Sandra Cook Wright, RN, BN
Calgary
403.256.8044
[email protected]
Kerry Hubbauer, RN, BN
Calgary
1.877.859.5054
[email protected]
FACFAOM
Calgary
403.259.4626
[email protected]
SOUTH REGION
Leslie McCoy, RN, BN, MN
Lethbridge
403.388.6263
[email protected]
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Volunteer Opportunities
2011 CARNA Awards Recipients
Honour a Nurse in a Special Way
Celebrate National Nursing Week
Publications Ordered by Hearing Tribunals
Update on Continuing Competence
Program Revisions
Review of Policy and Practice
Consultations
MyCARNA: Your 24/7 One-stop
Destination for Managing Your Personal
Information and So Much More
Meet your Regional Coordinators
The Official Memory of Registered
Nursing in Alberta
In Memoriam
Notice Board/Reunions
CEO’s Message: Healthy Aging Should
Drive Health-care Reform
Alberta RN is published
six times a year by:
College and Association of
Registered Nurses of Alberta
11620-168 Street
Edmonton, AB T5M 4A6
Phone: 780.451.0043
Toll free in Canada: 1.800.252.9392
Fax: 780.452.3276
www.nurses.ab.ca
ALL STAFF CAN BE REACHED BY CALLING:
780.451.0043 or toll free 1.800.252.9392
Chief Executive Officer: Mary-Anne Robinson
Complaints Director/Director, Conduct: Sue Chandler
Director of Communications and Government Affairs: Margaret Ward-Jack
Managing Editor: Margaret Ward-Jack
Editor: Rachel Champagne
Assistant Editor: Rose Mary Phillip
Designer: Julie Wons
Director of Corporate Services: Jeanette Machtemes
Director of Policy and Practice: Lynn Redfern
Registrar/Director, Registration Services: Cathy Giblin
Deputy Registrars: Jean Farrar, Terry Gushuliak, Rosie Thornton, Barbara Waters
Registration Consultants: Nan Horne, Nancy MacPherson, Loreta Suyat
Conduct Counsel: Gwendolyn Parsons
Conduct Counsel/Senior Investigator: Jane Corns
Please note CARNA does not endorse advertised services,
products or opinions.
Policy and Practice Consultants: Debra Allen, Marie-Andrée Chassé,
Donna Hogg, Debbie Phillipchuk
NEPAB Consultants: Lori Kashuba, Margareth Mauro
Librarian and Archivist: Lorraine Mychajlunow
Alberta Registered Nurses Educational Trust: Margaret Nolan
Northwest:
Karen McKay
Northeast:
Barb Diepold
780.826.5383
Edmonton/West:
Penny Davis
Leeca Sonnema
780.484.7668
780.457.8361
Central:
Heather Wasylenki
403.782.2024
Calgary/West:
Christine Davies
Beverlie Johnson
403.500.9943
403.625.3260
South:
Pat Shackleford
Valerie Mutschler
403.394.0125
403.504.5603
Alberta RN March/April 2011 Volume 67 No 2
Advertising Representative:
Jan Henry, McCrone Publications
Phone: 800.727.0782 Fax: 866.413.9328
[email protected]
Competence Consultants: Michelle Morrison, Barb Perry
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CARNA Staff Directory
Regional Coordinators:
C O N T E N T S
780.830.7850
www.nurses.ab.ca
US Postmaster: Alberta RN (USPS #009-624) is published six times
per year in February, April, May, July, October and December by the
College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. c/o U.S.
Agent: Transborder Mail, 4708 Caldwell Rd E, Edgewood, WA 983729221. Alberta RN is published at a rate of $42 per year. Periodicals
postage paid at Puyallup, WA and at additional mailing offices.
US Postmaster: Send address changes (covers only) to Alberta RN,
c/o Transborder Mail, PO Box 6016, Federal Way, WA 98063-6016.
ISSN 1481-9988
Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40062713
Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:
Circulation Dept., 11620-168 Street, Edmonton, AB T5M 4A6.
[email protected]
PLACE
FSC LOGO
HERE
update
President’s Update
Highlighting the Association Side
This spring, the Canadian Medical
Association (CMA), in partnership
with Maclean’s magazine, is holding
a series of town hall meetings as part
of a campaign called “Healthcare
Transformation in Canada.” The
campaign is intended to foster
dialogue regarding the future of
our health-care system. On March 29,
a town hall was held in Edmonton and a number of registered
nurses attended. Three questions provided the focus for the
meeting: whether the Canada Health Act should be broadened
to include things like national pharmacare and long-term care;
what constitutes receiving good value for money spent in
health care; and what a patient’s responsibilities for their
own health care are and should be in future.
CARNA promoted the meeting in its March electronic
newsletter and posted information which could help members
develop comments for the meeting. I don’t think that there
can be any doubt that The Canada Health Act has served us
well, providing essential health-care services that are part
of a cost-efficient, reasonably equitable, single-payer system.
Yet much has changed since the Canada Health Act was passed
in the 1980s. Today, hospital stays are shorter, new technologies
have changed the way medical conditions are treated and care
is increasingly delivered in the community by interdisciplinary
care teams. At this time, the act addresses the issue of treating
illness but not promoting health. We need a health system
which places equal value on health promotion and treatment
of chronic illness in community and primary care settings.
For that reason, CARNA supports broadening the Canada
Health Act to include services delivered outside of hospitals
by health providers other than doctors. Effective treatment
of chronic disease by interdisciplinary primary care teams
in the community would help people avoid expensive care
in hospitals. Besides, broadening the Canada Health Act is
consistent with Canadian support for the publicly-funded
health system. In poll after poll, Canadians consistently
choose not-for-profit solutions to our health-care system.
It can be challenging to sift out the facts when it comes
to health-care spending though. For instance, research shows
that, over the last 35 years, medicare costs have remained stable
at four to five per cent of Canada’s GDP (gross domestic product).
Many governments, including Alberta’s, have implemented
tax regimes which reduce the amount of revenue available.
At the same time, government expenditure has been decreasing
which makes health-care spending look higher because it has
been cut less than other program areas.
It is also important to remember that 30 per cent of all
Canadian health spending is in the private sector including
prescription drugs and private prescription drug insurance,
dental care and private dental insurance. In fact, the increase
in health-care costs is being driven by the private sector,
particularly prescription drugs. Between 1985 and 2007,
Canadian drug prices rose an average of 9.2%, far faster
than in any other Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) country.
CARNA’s support for
members
with respect to
CARNA supports broadening
the CMA town hall is one
the Canada Health Act to
example of our activity as
include services delivered
an association. Provincial
outside of hospitals by health
council is continuing to
providers other than doctors.
consider new ways to engage
Effective treatment of chronic and involve members in
advocacy for healthy public
disease by interdisciplinary
policy in the best interest
primary care teams in
of Albertans.
the community would help
This issue of Alberta RN
people avoid expensive care in provides an overview of
hospitals. Besides, broadening other areas that support our
the Canada Health Act is
dual mandate. Members can
contact CARNA’s nursing
consistent with Canadian
support for the publicly-funded practice consultants for
confidential individual
health system. In poll after
or group consultations on
poll, Canadians consistently
any professional practice
choose not-for-profit solutions concern. The regional
to our health-care system.
coordinators offer a two-way
information flow, providing
information about CARNA and professional topics as well as
collecting your feedback. The CARNA library has a wide range
of resources that CARNA members can access. We also maintain
an archives to preserve the history of nursing in Alberta. Your
membership in CARNA also provides you with liability coverage
through the Canadian Nursing Protective Society, and the work
of the Canadian Nurses Association is supported, in part,
by your CARNA registration renewal fee. I hope you will take
a moment to learn more about these services and more. RN
J o a n P e t r u k , RN, MHS
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 780.909.7058
www.nurses.ab.ca
March/April 2011 Volume 67 No 2 Alberta RN
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Toward a national report card for nursing
February, over 50 nurse leaders
from across Canada participated in
a
collaborative forum hosted by the
Canadian Nurses Association, the Academy
of Canadian Executive Nurses (ACEN), and
supported by Health Canada’s Office of
Nursing Policy and Canada Health Infoway.
The purpose of the forum was to create a
shared vision for a national report card on
nursing. The report card is intended to more
clearly document the link between nursing
and patient outcomes.
Consumers, employers and legislators are
increasingly demanding objective measures
of health-care quality which has led to the
development of report cards. The nursing
report card is envisioned as a selected
minimum set of data on input, process
and output indicators that can be collected
nationally (initially using pilot sites) and
benchmarked. Classification systems, such
as the Nursing Interventions Classification
(NIC) system, will inform the development
of nursing minimum data sets by providing
IN
language for classifying the concepts/
phenomena of interest. Reliable and valid
nursing sensitive indicators and outcomes
have been identified for both safety and
quality outcomes for patients.
In preparation of the forum, a knowledge
synthesis paper titled Toward a National
Report Card for Nursing was commissioned.
The paper summarizes what is known about
outcomes/performance monitoring initiatives
in nursing, including specific indicators and
reporting systems, and what is known about
the development, implementation and use
of nursing report cards.
Alberta RN Dr. Kathryn Hannah was a
member of the forum planning committee.
She reviewed and provided feedback on
the paper that was used to enable and
advance dialogue and decision-making.
To read the Toward a National Report
Card knowledge synthesis, go to
www.nurses.ab.ca and click on Health
Policy Issues under the News tab.
CARNA no longer
accepting personal
cheques
As of June 1, 2011, CARNA will no
longer accept personal cheques for
payment of registration fees or other
services. The number of members
who pay by cheque has steadily
declined since the introduction
of online renewal 10 years ago.
Last year, less than six per cent
of fees were submitted by cheque.
We will continue to accept payment:
through your bank’s telephone
or online banking service
Interac online money transfer
Visa, MasterCard or American
Express
money order
cash (in person at the CARNA office)
If you have any questions,
please contact CARNA at
780.451.0043/1.800.252.9392
or via email at [email protected].
Timely data, quality care… Verify the information in your member profile
Data is an asset for any organization and for any profession. At CARNA, the information on our database affects decisions
about the health-care system and that’s a responsibility we take to heart. We hope you will too. Some member records are
incomplete or inaccurate and we encourage you to take the time to check yours.
CHECK THE FOLLOWING:
Is your mailing address correct? The mailing address
listed in your MyCARNA profile is used to mail Alberta RN,
the Canadian Nurses Association magazine Canadian
Nurse and to mail other documents not suited to online
communication. If you move or make a change, you only
need to submit your changes in one place: updating your
address on MyCARNA will update your record for all
CARNA and CNA related communication.
Is your employer information accurate and complete?
Check the information listed for the following:
• name of employer
• work setting
• area of responsibility
• position title
• average working hours
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www.nurses.ab.ca
Regulated practicing members are required under section 33
of the Registered Nurses Profession Regulation to provide
the names and addresses of all employers or agencies where
the member provides professional nursing services.
While CARNA is committed to protecting the privacy of
your information, this information in aggregate is critical to
help provide timely, accurate and comparable information to
inform health policies, support the delivery of health services
and raise awareness among Albertans and Canadians about
the factors that contribute to a healthy nursing workforce.
We also support those who use data for health and healthservices research, health professionals and health-records staff
who are involved in the collection of data, and academics
who help educate our future registered nurses.
Login to www.nurses.ab.ca/MyCARNA to verify that
your information is included and up-to-date.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Nursing Education Program
Approval Board
One member needed to complete a current term
of office that expires July 31, 2012
Members of the Nursing Education Program Approval Board (NEPAB)
are appointed by CARNA Provincial Council. The board is comprised of
registered nurses, nursing educators, employers and members of the
general public. NEPAB reviews and approves nursing education programs
in Alberta leading to initial entry-to-practice as a registered nurse.
The authority to approve education programs leading to initial
entry-to-practice as a nurse practitioner was also recently delegated
to NEPAB. Work to develop the requirements and processes for nurse
practitioner education program approval is underway.
Qualifications
• experienced nurses involved in direct nursing practice as
a front-line nurse manager, clinical specialist, advanced
practice or preceptor for nursing students
• not currently serving as a member of another CARNA
regulatory committee
Expectations
• complete the remaining term of office that expires July 31, 2012
• attend quarterly meetings held for two-to-three days
• commit to preparatory time for meetings
• adhere to the code of ethical conduct and maintain confidentiality
• participate in the reviews of and render decisions about nursing
education programs
• make decisions in the best interest of the public, nursing
education and the registered nursing profession
Questions
If you have questions about the work of the board or the expectations
of members, please contact:
Lori Kashuba, NEPAB Consultant
780.451.0043/1.800.252.9392, ext. 425
[email protected]
Margareth Mauro, NEPAB Consultant
780.451.0043/1.800.252.9392, ext. 359
[email protected]
Election Tellers
Election
Two members needed
CARNA is seeking an election teller
and an alternate teller for the
2011 Provincial Council election.
The teller:
• is required to be present during the ballot count at the CARNA
office in Edmonton on July 11, 2011 for approximately two hours
• will determine the admissibility of all questionable ballots in
accordance with election rules
• will prepare teller reports for the CARNA president and chair
of the Elections and Resolutions Committee
The alternate teller will serve as teller if the teller is unable to
fulfill their duties.
CARNA reimburses travel expenses and offers a salary replacement/
per diem to compensate for time away from work for the teller.
2011
Qualifications
• RN or NP member of CARNA
• not a candidate seeking election to Provincial Council
Questions?
If you have questions about the role of the teller, please contact:
Sandra Cook Wright
Chair, Elections and Resolutions Committee
403.256.8044
[email protected].
How to apply:
Download an application at www.nurses.ab.ca (click on
Volunteer Opportunities under the Member Info tab) or contact:
Diane Wozniak
780.453.0525/1.800.252.9392, ext. 525
[email protected].
How to apply
Download an application at www.nurses.ab.ca (click on Volunteer
Opportunities under the Member Info tab) or contact:
Ruby Sutton
780.451.0043/1.800.252.9392, ext. 522
[email protected]
APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 18, 2011
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 13, 2011
www.nurses.ab.ca
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Excellence deserves recognition
12TH ANNUAL
CARNA
AWARDS
of NURSING
EXCELLENCE
Congratulations to the recipients of the
2011 CARNA Awards of Nursing Excellence
NURSING EXCELLENCE
IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
NURSING EXCELLENCE
IN RESEARCH
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
COMMITTEE’S CHOICE
Donna Stelmachovich
Ruth Aronetz Cossever
Susan Horsman
Dr. Nancy Jean Moules
Cross Cancer Institute
University of Calgary
Alberta Health Services –
Seniors Health
Boyle McCauley Health
Centre
NURSING EXCELLENCE
IN EDUCATION
NURSING EXCELLENCE
IN ADMINISTRATION
RISING STAR
PARTNER IN HEALTH
Lisa Chau
Dr. Barrie Strafford
Jacalynne Glover
Sherry LaRose
Lethbridge College
NOVA Chemicals
Alberta Health Services –
Public Health
The Brenda Strafford
Foundation
Recipients were selected from almost 50 nominations submitted by their RN colleagues.
All nominees will be acknowledged by name at the CARNA Awards Gala and listed in the gala program.
Celebrate nursing excellence
at the CARNA Awards Gala Dinner
12 th
Join us as we honour recipients and nominees of the
Annual CARNA Awards and celebrate the profession at this gala event.
June 9, 2011 Hyatt Regency Hotel Calgary
Champagne reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7p.m.
This premiere gala event for registered nursing will also recognize several RNs
for their educational achievements with ARNET’s most prestigious scholarships,
including the TD Meloche Monnex scholarship.
One ticket to the gala is included with
registration to the Annual CARNA Conference.
Visit www.carnaconference.ca for more details.
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www.nurses.ab.ca
SUPPORTED BY
HARNESSING THE
POWER, PASSION and PRIDE
OF NURSING
2011 C ARNA
CONFERENCE
A N D AG M
Join your nursing colleagues from across Alberta for the one and only
provincial conference for RNs and NPs in all roles and at all levels
of experience. This uplifting program will give you a fresh perspective
on your future and the future of the profession.
June 9 –10, 2011
Annual General Meeting
Hyatt Regency Hotel
All CARNA members are encouraged to attend the annual general meeting
Calgary on June 9, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Calgary. Pre-registration
is required if you are not registered for the CARNA conference.
There is no fee to attend. Members who are not registered for the conference
are welcome to join us for lunch with guest speaker Dr. Ann Tourangeau
from 11:30 AM –1:15 PM.
The formal proceedings of the annual general meeting will begin immediately
following Dr. Tourangeau's presentation, “Choices and Tradeoffs: Nurse Staffing
and Hospital Mortality Rates.” Pre-register online at www.carnaconference.ca.
Need accommodation?
A special room rate of $259 per night is available for conference
delegates at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Calgary. To guarantee this rate,
book before May 9, 2011.
To book, go to www.carnaconference.ca and click on the Location tab
or call the hotel direct at 1.800.633.7313. Quote conference code
“Registered Nurses of Alberta.”
Register at www.carna conference.ca / 780.419.6070
www.nurses.ab.ca
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Follow us on Facebook!
Honour a nurse in a special way
For over 25 years, the Alberta Registered Nurses Educational
Trust (ARNET) has provided the opportunity for nurses and the
community to recognize and thank RNs and NPs who mentor,
inspire and play a valuable role in the lives of colleagues and
the public. Whether it is during Nursing Week, the holidays,
at a retirement tribute or anytime you want to say thank you,
ARNET’s Notes for Nursing donation program lets you honour
a nurse in a very special way.
For a minimum donation of just $20, ARNET will send a
card to your chosen nurse advising them of your appreciation
for the priceless role that they have played in your life and
career. You’ll receive a charitable tax receipt and each of you
will share in the knowledge that you are supporting continuing
nursing education in Alberta and creating healthier families
and communities.
Barbara’s true story about the impact of Notes for Nursing
Barbara, an RN and mother, was in the hospital with her
daughter as her first grandchild was being born. She noticed
how the RNs went above and beyond the call of duty to care
and advocate for her daughter and tiny granddaughter. After
such an incredible experience, Barbara sought a meaningful
way to show her appreciation and thanks. Here’s what Barbara
had to say about the card ARNET sent on her behalf:
“The cards that were sent to the registered nurses at
the hospital brought me to tears. The words captured
the support and care my daughter received and
expressed so eloquently how much I appreciated
them and all that they did. It was wrapped up like
a present and that made it feel really special.”
To order a Notes for Nursing card, go to www.nurses.ab.ca/ARNET and click on Honour a Nurse.
ARNET in action
2010 was an incredibly active year for our charity. With your
support and investment in nursing education, ARNET was
able to distribute over $750,000 to Alberta RNs and NPs
in the past year alone!
Your contributions have supported:
Over 1,000 RNs and NPs with their educational pursuits:
From High Level to High River… from Lake Louise to
Lloydminster… and everywhere in between.
164 RNs with their specialty nursing certification studies:
Specialty nursing certification ensures that Alberta’s RNs
and NPs continue to have a contemporary compliment
of skills to support their nursing practice.
Distribution of over $135,000 in event registration fees:
Nursing conferences and educational workshops
provide the opportunity for nurses to keep current on
new technologies, drugs, techniques, procedures and
equipment.
Degree level studies for over 250 RNs and NPs:
ARNET is committed to growing Alberta’s nursing future
by supporting degree level funding for studies at the
post-RN, master’s and doctoral levels of study.
On behalf of Alberta RNs and NPs, thank you for your support.
For more information about ARNET, please visit us on Facebook or at www.nurses.ab.ca/ARNET
or contact us at 1.800.252.9392, ext. 523.
Alberta RNs and NPs are now eligible for enhanced educational support through ARNET’s professional development funding.
This time-limited funding is the result of recent negotiations with Alberta Health and Wellness and supplements the current
educational support our charity provides.
Go to www.nurses.ab.ca/ARNET to download an application form for more information.
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www.nurses.ab.ca
Expert caring makes a difference.
Celebrate National Nursing Week
May 9–15, 2011
Show us your RN pride
Between now and May 1, 2011, go to
www.nurses.ab.ca and upload a short
video of yourself telling us why you’re
proud to be an RN. To see sample videos,
go to www.nurses.ab.ca and click on
the Show us Your RN Pride link.
Start your video with “I’m [say your first name ] and I’m a registered
nurse in Alberta” and then finish by answering one or all of the following
statements:
• “I became an RN because… ”
• “The best/most rewarding part of/My favourite thing about
being a nurse is… ”
• “I feel best when… ”
End your video with “I’m [say your first name ] and I’m proud to be
a registered nurse.”
Web cam and cellphone video are welcome. Videos will be posted on
www.expertcaring.ca during Nursing Week and will serve as a testament
to the RN profession and the caring individuals within it.
Nurses impact the health and life of communities
in every imaginable situation, providing solutions and touching the
human heart. National Nursing Week provides an opportunity to
celebrate the nursing profession. It also gives the public an opportunity
to understand and appreciate the contributions nurses make to people’s
health and well-being.
This Nursing Week, CARNA will continue to reach out to government,
media and the public to increase understanding of the diversity of RN/NP
roles in the health system and provide information about the importance
of RNs/NPs in the delivery of safe, quality care.
CARNA encourages members to continue the tradition of celebrating
each other’s accomplishments during Nursing Week. Celebrate Nursing
Week in your Facebook status, tweet about it and include it in your
blog posts. More celebration ideas and materials are available on
the Canadian Nurses Association website at www.cna-aiic.ca.
www.nurses.ab.ca
Nursing Week Events
Go to the Events section of
www.nurses.ab.ca for an up-to-date
list of Nursing Week events in
your area.
CALGARY
Calgary/West Nurses’ Dinner
May 9, 2011
CONTACT: Chris Davies,
403.500.9943,
[email protected],
Sarah Kopjar, 403.282.4095.
RED DEER
Celebrate Registered Nurses:
Past, Present and Future
May 10, 2011
CONTACT: Heather Wasylenki,
403.782.2024 or
[email protected].
GRANDE PRAIRIE
Nurses Week Dinner and
Comedy Show
May 13, 2011
CONTACT: Karen McKay,
[email protected], Casandra
Jordan, [email protected],
Bonnie Kennedy,
bonnie.kennedy2@
albertahealthservices.ca.
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P ublications ordered by Hearing Tribunals
Publications are submitted to Alberta RN by the Hearing Tribunal as a brief description to members and the public of members’
unprofessional behaviour and the sanctions ordered by the Hearing Tribunal. Publication is not intended to provide comprehensive
information of the complaint, findings of an investigation or information presented at the hearing.
CARNA Member
A Hearing Tribunal made a finding of unprofessional conduct against
a member who failed to ensure her practice permit was renewed with the
result that she practised in the position of an RN for five and a half months
without a practice permit. The Tribunal issued a reprimand and ordered
the member to write a paper on accountability and RN licensure; pass
the course in responsible nursing and pay a fine of $1,000 by a deadline.
Conditions shall appear on the member’s practice permit. Failure to comply
with the order may result in suspension of CARNA practice permit.
CARNA Member
a member who, despite advice from RN co-workers to not do so, proceeded
to start an IV and administer a bolus of saline to his bed manager at
her request, without a physician’s order. The member received a caution.
CARNA Member
Registration number:
28,004
member #28,004 who failed to respond appropriately when told by
an LPN that a patient was in pain and required more pain medication
when she indicated to the LPN that the patient had to wait; failed to
come and assess the patient at that time; failed to phone the physician
for further analgesic orders until directed to do so by another RN; and
left for a meeting instead of attending to the patient; and who made
chart entries without indicating they were late entries and then incorrectly
deleted some by obliterating the writing so that it was unreadable.
The Tribunal issued a reprimand, ordered courses in responsible nursing
and charting and ordered the member to write a paper titled “Ensuring
Ethical Standards in my Registered Nursing Practice” by a deadline.
Conditions shall appear on the member’s practice permit. Failure to
comply with the order may result in suspension of CARNA practice permit.
CARNA Member
47,635
member #47,635 who administered insulin to a patient in error; did not
report the insulin error to the physician or co-workers; and did not report
the insulin error until the next day; and when a co-worker checked a
heparin dose drawn up by this member for administration to a patient,
it was discovered that there was only air in the syringe. The Tribunal issued
a reprimand, directed the member to take a course/courses in Responsible
Nursing from MacEwan University and the Teleconference for Gerontology
offered by her employer by a deadline and ordered the member to provide
a performance evaluation from her current employer by a deadline.
10
www.nurses.ab.ca
Conditions shall appear on the member’s practice permit. Failure to comply
with the order may result in suspension of CARNA practice permit.
CARNA Member
55,001
member #55,001 who on one shift made several inappropriate sexual
comments to a female colleague. The Tribunal took into account discipline
already imposed by the employer of a one-month unpaid suspension
and ordered a reprimand; and ordered the member to write a paper by a
deadline titled “Reflections on How to Interact in a Respectful Professional
Manner with Female Colleagues.” A condition shall appear on the member’s
practice permit. Failure to comply with the order may result in suspension
of CARNA practice permit.
CARNA Member
55,222
member #55,222 who removed a foreign body from the foot of a patient
with diabetes mellitus; documented inaccurately; and provided syringes,
pre-filled with saline to a patient without teaching or determining the
reason for the patient’s request for the syringes. The member has since
retired from nursing. The member gave a promise not to apply for a
practice permit until she provides proof that she has passed courses
in charting and clinical nursing skills. A condition shall appear on
the member’s practice permit.
CARNA Member
57,331
member #57,331 who despite being previously warned by her employer
about inappropriate behaviour, handled a crying 16-month-old baby
inappropriately when she changed her diaper in a very rough manner
and yelled at her. The Tribunal issued a reprimand and suspended the
member for 10 days. The member was ordered to undergo counselling;
write a communication improvement plan and a frustration/anger
management plan; provide a performance evaluation from her employer;
is restricted to working at her current employment setting; and was
assessed costs for three days of hearing in the amount of $19,102.
Conditions shall appear on the member’s practice permit.
CARNA Member
71,248
member #71,248, who on one night shift had to be sent home due to
inappropriate behaviours, failed to follow the employer’s policy on narcotic
wastage, and made a narcotic medication error. The Tribunal made
a second finding of unprofessional conduct as a result of a section 70
admission from the member who admitted that for several years she
had been pilfering medications including injectable morphine, dilaudid,
oxycodone and midazolam from employers; and who on numerous occasions
attended at work when her ability to practice as an RN was impaired
by drugs. The Tribunal gave the member a reprimand and accepted an
undertaking to not practise as a registered nurse pending proof from a
physician and counsellor that she is safe to return to practise at which
time, the member has a choice to return to either a practice setting
where there is no access to narcotics or controlled substances, or do
a supervised practice in a setting where the member is expected to
administer medications, including narcotics and controlled substances.
In either setting, the member’s employer will report back to a Hearing
Tribunal. The member is required to continue drug screening and provide
further medical reports to a Hearing Tribunal. Conditions shall appear on
the member’s practice permit. Failure to comply with the order may result
in suspension of CARNA practice permit.
a letter from her RN supervisor. This was the second hearing for this
member involving unethical, dishonest behaviour. The Tribunal issued
a reprimand and suspended the member for a minimum of two years.
Prior to returning to nursing to apply for supervised practice, she must pay
the fine due under the previous order; pay an additional $3,000 fine; prove
that she has passed a course in ethics and provide comprehensive medical
letters from her physician and a forensic psychologist confirming her fitness
to practise. Thereafter, the member may apply to do 960 hours of supervised
practice. For a period of five years following supervised practice she must
advise CARNA of all employment sites and provide an annual performance
evaluation which comments specifically on her honesty and ethics.
In addition, she must provide further reports from her physician and treating
psychologist. The member was ordered to pay 50 per cent of the actual
costs of the hearing prior to commencing supervised practice. Conditions
shall appear on the member’s practice permit. Failure to comply with the
order may result in further suspension of the CARNA practice permit.
CARNA Member
member #86,087, who over approximately a two-month period stole
over 50,000 micrograms of Fentanyl; created over 50 false entries on
the narcotic administration record using fictitious patient names to cover
up the theft; and fraudulently used physicians’ names on the narcotic
administration record. The Tribunal suspended the member until she
provided proof from a physician and counsellor that she is safe to return
to practise, at which time the member has a choice to return to either
a practice setting where there is no access to narcotics or controlled
substances, or, do a supervised practice in a setting where the member
is expected to administer medications, including narcotics and controlled
substances. In either setting, the member’s employer will report back to
a Hearing Tribunal. The member is required to continue drug screening
and provide further medical reports to a Hearing Tribunal. In the event
the member runs out of practice hours prior to applying for supervised
practice, she will be permitted to do the nursing refresher, on notice to
the program and with ongoing drug screening and medical reports and
thereafter do supervised practice. Conditions shall appear on the member’s
practice permit. The Tribunal assessed a contribution of $1,000 against
the member towards the costs of the hearing.
71,609
member #71,609 who posted on Facebook information about a critical incident at her place of work in sufficient detail that those involved
in the incident or with the patient may be able to identify the patient.
The member received a reprimand.
CARNA Member
74,402
member #74,402 who did not do a thorough assessment of the patient
whose daughter had mentioned her mother had slurred speech and
wondered about the possibility of a stroke. The Tribunal ordered a reprimand
and required the member to take a course in physical assessment by a
deadline. A condition shall appear on the member’s practice permit. Failure
to comply with the order may result in suspension of CARNA practice permit.
CARNA Member:
Shannon Finnigan
83,560
Shannon Finnigan #83,560 who violated an order of a Hearing Tribunal
when she worked as an RN in a setting not approved by the Tribunal; lied
at her interview for the position at the setting not approved by the Tribunal
when she told the interviewer she was not under investigation by CARNA;
she misrepresented the conditions on her practice permit when she failed
to inform her supervisor that she was not allowed to work at that site,
and continued to work in violation of the order of the Hearing Tribunal;
she created a fraudulent letter addressed to the CARNA Hearing Tribunal
and forged her RN supervisor’s signature on that letter; and submitted that
fraudulent letter to a CARNA Hearing Tribunal to deceive the Tribunal into
believing that she had complied with the part of the order that required
CARNA Member
CARNA Member
86,087
88,349
member #88,349, who administered an I.M. injection of Toradol to a patient
in ER and failed to notify the physician, obtain a physician’s order for the
Toradol or document the administration of the medication in the patient’s
chart. The member had made an admission of the behaviour under section
70 of the Health Professions Act. The Tribunal issued a reprimand and
ordered the member to take a course in basic medication administration.
A condition shall appear on the member’s practice permit. Failure to comply
with the order may result in suspension of CARNA practice permit. RN
www.nurses.ab.ca
11
We’ve got
you covered!
CARNA registrants
automatically entitled
to professional liability
protection for nursing
practice
The Canadian Nurses
Protective Society
(CNPS) is a not-for-profit organization
that offers legal advice, risk management
services and professional liability protection
related to nursing practice. All inquiries are
directed to nurse legal advisors, who are
lawyers with extensive nursing experience.
They provide prompt, practical, confidential
advice on a broad range of issues arising
from your practice. They understand your
work environment and the challenges of the
profession. CNPS also offers presentations on
request and delivers a wealth of educational
materials online.
As a CARNA registrant, you are
eligible for CNPS services. Call CNPS
at 1.800.267.3390 or visit the website
at www.cnps.ca for more information.
CNPS offers:
• support and advice about professional
liability issues
• defence of claims and civil litigation
• assistance with criminal investigations
and prosecutions
• defence of statutory offences
• support for witness appearances
• risk management and education
12
FREE learning resources
Independent practice?
CNPS publishes infoLAW bulletins to
help RNs and NPs manage legal risks in
their practice. Topics include consent for
treatment, inquests and fatality inquiries
and legal risks in nursing.
Download these and other infoLAWs
from the CNPS website at www.cnps.ca.
CNPS offers optional extended coverage
for NPs and RNs working in independent
practice. Visit www.cnps.ca for more
information on the CNPS Plus program. RN
New topics added regularly
to respond to emerging issues.
Recently, CNPS released infoLAWs on
emergency room nursing, long-term care
and social media. All three include examples
from Alberta, including a situation where
a Calgary man left two ERs because of long
wait times and died in the third hospital
from asthma complications after an
appendectomy. See pages 13–14 for a
reprint of the social media infoLAW that
includes professional risks associated with
social media and how they can be managed.
Other risk management and
educational resources
• online publications on a wide range
of subjects to help nurses understand
their legal obligations, manage their
legal risks and reduce the risk of harm
to their patients
• information specific to nurse practitioner
practice
• interactive presentations on legal issues
available in person, via video-conference,
or online
• upcoming events: Find out where CNPS
nurse legal advisors will be speaking
and learn how to book a presentation
for your organization
• case study quizzes: Find out what
you know and what you don’t know
about why nurses can be sued
• e-learning educational modules –
coming soon to the new CNPS website
• and more
www.nurses.ab.ca
When you need to call CNPS
Call CNPS if any of the following occurs:
• any unusual occurrence or incident
• a patient or family member complains
about care
• you receive court documents or
a notice that you are being sued
• you receive a warning or threat
advising of intent to begin legal
action or to sue
• you become aware of a request
for information concerning
a patient’s record or care
• you have knowledge of acts or
omissions that, if disclosed, could
result in legal proceedings
• you receive a subpoena or court
order to appear as a witness
• the police wish to speak with you
regarding an alleged criminal
activity related to nursing practice
• if you feel uncertain about the
appropriate course of action in
your nursing practice
When you telephone CNPS, you will be
able to speak to a nurse legal advisor
who will confidentially discuss the
matter with you.
Some online materials are password
protected. As a CARNA member,
you have access to this information.
To access the password-protected
section on www.cnps.ca, use:
USERNAME: CARNA
PASSWORD: assist
Committed to Competence:
UPDATE on revisions to the
Continuing Competence Program
Last spring, over 5,000 members responded to a member survey about the CARNA Continuing Competence
Program that was introduced five years ago. These responses, combined with a review of current literature,
an environmental scan of the practices of other regulatory colleges and feedback from other stakeholders,
helped inform the recommendations of the Competence Committee to strengthen the program. Provincial Council
approved the committee’s recommendations in September 2010.
Survey respondents identified the following program strengths:
• The Continuing Competence Program provides motivation
to learn and encourages improvement.
• The process is flexible, simple, well-structured and easy
to complete.
• The program helps determine learning needs or gaps.
• The program promotes professionalism, awareness of
professional standards and increases accountability.
Members also indicated that:
• they were dissatisfied with their understanding of documentation
requirements
• it is easy to forget to document learning
• it is difficult to organize and keep continuing competence
records for multiple years and to retrieve the records if required
Suggestions for improvement included making documentation
more user-friendly. In response, council approved a recommendation
to develop an online documentation tool that would be used by
all members and make it easier to track continuing competence
activities as well as to store and retrieve the information.
CARNA is exploring a number of applications to simplify the
recording and reporting processes and will update members
as this initiative progresses.
Audit questionnaire eliminated
Council also approved the recommendation to eliminate the audit
questionnaire, also known as the “basic audit.” The Competence
Committee determined that this form of reporting continuing
competence activities was inefficient and did not always result
in clear and sufficient information. The “advanced audit,” whereby
members forward copies of their actual documents for review,
is a much more informative and effective tool and will continue
to be administered annually as part of practice permit renewal.
Members randomly selected for audit will again be notified
by email during renewal and will be reminded of their selection
on the renewal welcome screen when they login to renew their
practice permit. Audit selection will also show under the continuing
competence section of the MyCARNA profile of those who have been
selected. If you are selected for audit, you must submit all requested
materials, your renewal application and full renewal fee to CARNA
no later than Sept. 1, 2011.
New Nurse Practitioner Competencies
In February, CARNA notified NPs that at renewal they will select
their continuing competence indicators using the new 2011 CARNA
Nurse Practitioner Competencies.
For the purposes of CARNA Continuing Competence Program
requirements, NPs will continue to use the 2005 CARNA Nurse
Practitioner Competencies for the remainder of the current practice
year. Please note, however, that for the purposes of practice, NPs are
accountable for the 2011 CARNA Nurse Practitioner Competencies.
Notable changes to the previous document dated 2005 include:
• the addition of assumptions used in the development of
the core competencies
• the addition of professional requirements for practising in
Alberta as an NP
• a revised glossary of terms
• revised competencies
• updated references
The 2011 NP competencies are available on the CARNA website
at www.nurses.ab.ca. RN
www.nurses.ab.ca
15
RN Expertise for RNs
Whether you want advice on issues related to legal or ethical dilemmas, scope of practice,
networking, interdisciplinary teams or any other aspect of nursing practice, CARNA’s
policy and practice consultants are here to help.
CARNA’s team of policy and practice consultants possess
advanced nursing knowledge, leadership and expertise on
a variety of issues. They provide confidential consultations
to RNs, NPs and others seeking help with issues that directly
or indirectly affect the delivery of care. Research shows that
clarifying and interpreting the practice of RNs and NPs provides
an opportunity to support and enable safe, competent, ethical
nursing care.
care networks and address barriers that hamper the delivery
of primary care. The position statement on seniors health
provides guidance and support to RNs and NPs for evidencebased decision-making, policy development and planning.
For a full list of documents, go to www.nurses.ab.ca.
Click on CARNA Documents under the Resources tab.
Help for nursing groups
In addition to individual consultations, the consultants
often work with groups of nurses to help them understand
and address issues related to staffing mix or strategize about
effective approaches for changes to service delivery models that
affect not only the health-care facility but also the community
it serves. Last year, policy and practice consultants facilitated
38 group consultations with 984 participants across Alberta.
RN Expertise for RNs
PHONE: 78 0.451.00
43
Resource development to support practice
Each year, the consultants publish a review of consultations
in aggregate to identify emerging trends and issues. To ensure
confidentiality, no identifying information is reported.
When a gap is identified, they follow-up by analyzing literature,
researching the issue and finding an appropriate resource to
address the concern. For example, to help members articulate
the visible and invisible aspects of care, the online version
of Nursing Inventions Classification (NIC) was made available
to members on the CARNA website.
EMAIL:
FAX:
How policy and practice consultants
can help you
> assist you in understanding how legislation, regulations,
Documents to support practice
Documents are developed to address gaps and support
practice and decision-making for CARNA members, staff,
employers and policy makers. Documents include position
statements, standards, guidelines and interpretive documents.
CARNA periodically reviews its policy statements to address
changing societal needs, values and conditions that challenge
nurses in their practice. When members are asked to provide
feedback, CARNA strongly encourages participation. Most
recently, members were asked via the February AB RN Online
electronic newsletter to provide feedback on the draft Standards
for Limited Registered Nurse Prescribing document.
All documents are reviewed and approved by CARNA
Provincial Council. At its January 2011 meeting, council approved
position statements on primary care and seniors’ health.
The primary care document advocates for a deliberate strategy
to attract RNs to primary care roles, integrate NPs in primary
16
www.nurses.ab.ca
1.8 00.252.9392
[email protected]
78 0.452.3276
>
>
>
>
>
>
standards, guidelines and position statements apply
to your practice
act as an informed sounding board to help identify
problems or questions related to nursing practice
propose a range of viable options that foster valid
decision-making related to your nursing practice,
policy or education
guide you to develop problem-solving/conflict resolution
strategies that you can use in your practice setting
provide constructive and supportive feedback focused
on improvements related to patient safety, work
environments, etc.
collaborate with stakeholders to support a professional
practice environment that fosters the delivery of quality
patient care
suggesting other relevant practice resources that may
help (e.g., CNPS, ISMP, best practice guidelines)
Review of CARNA Practice Consultations
Sept. 30, 2009 –Oct. 1, 2010
BY: DEBBIE PHILLIPCHUK, RN, MN
SUMMARY OF CONSULTATIONS
POLICY AND PRACTICE CONSULTANT
DEBRA ALLEN, RN, MN
DONNA HOGG, RN, MS, CAE
MARIE-ANDRÉE CHASSÉ, RN, MN
FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR,
legal/ethical concerns, nursing practice
standards and scope of practice topped
the list of practice consultation categories
and comprised more than 65 per cent
of total consultations. Most consultations
address a number of practice issues but
consultants assign each consultation to
a category based on the major concern
discussed. The annual review of consultations helps CARNA identify issues and
gaps for RN and NP practice which drive
policy development to guide practice or
advocacy for change.
This year, policy and practice
consultants added two new categories
to the annual review of consultations:
pandemic and graduate nurse. The
pandemic category was added in the
fall of 2009 in anticipation of a need by
members for practice consultations related
to the then-looming H1N1 pandemic.
The graduate nurse category was added
in response to the number of calls
received last year about the scope of
practice of graduate nurses. Graduate
nurses are either new graduates or
internationally-educated nurses who
are on the temporary register until they
complete their registration requirements,
including writing the Canadian Registered
Nurse Exam. Last year, CARNA published
the interpretive document The Graduate
Nurse: Scope of Practice to provide
guidance in practice settings where
graduate nurses are employed.
Consultation Issue Category
2008
2009
2010
Legal/Ethical
175 (18%)
191 (21%)
238 (24%)
Nursing Practice Standards
313 (32%)
241 (27%)
218 (22%)
Scope of Practice
169 (17%)
175 (20%)
201 (20%)
Safety
102 (10%)
88
(10%)
111 (11%)
Information Networking
98 (10%)
101
(11%)
96 (10%)
Health-Care Reform
40
36
(4%)
Pandemic
(4%)
–
Relationships
26
Internationally-Educated Nurses
Transitions/Independent Practice
(3%)
(1%)
18
(2%)
7 (0.7%)
10
(1%)
17
(2%)
22
(3%)
13
(1%)
13
(1%)
1
(1%)
27
TOTAL
30
12
(2%)
–
Education
(4%)
(3%)
21
Graduate Nurse
–
43
978
–
(3%)
15
(2%)
981
1,010 *
* 1,221 requests for consultations were followed-up on by consultants, but 221 individuals
did not return calls.
Legal/Ethical Concerns:
24% of consultations
Documentation
Questions related to documentation were
the most frequent legal issue identified.
Some of the concerns identified were
lack of time to document care; challenges
with transition from paper to electronic
records and related inconsistencies
in process; charting for someone else;
and appropriate documentation in
a critical incident.
CARNA RESPONSE
These concerns were addressed by
providing guidance for members and
the practice setting with reference to
the CARNA document Documentation
Guidelines for Registered Nurses.
www.nurses.ab.ca
Volunteering
Another frequent legal and ethical issue
related to volunteering. Most commonly,
the issue or question asked of RNs was to
provide injections for a friend or family
member. This issue was discussed in the
2008/2009 review of consultations that
was published in the May/June 2010
issue of Alberta RN.
CARNA RESPONSE
Consultants guided members in
exploring the context of care and other
considerations. In these situations, RNs
must decide whether the relationship is
a therapeutic one or if the relationship
is a social connection and therefore not
appropriate for the provision of nursing
care. The CARNA document Professional
Boundaries for Registered Nurses: Guidelines
for the Nurse-Client Relationship provides
guidance relevant to this issue.
17
Nursing Practice
Standards:
Scope of Practice:
Competency Profile
Members still have difficulty in applying
the nursing practice standards indicators
to their specific practice. Issues identified
included the need for policy development
to address specific issues such as best
practices for medication administration,
the use of over the counter medications,
working extra hours and the roles and
responsibilities of graduate nurses and
health-care aides.
The discussion of scope of practice was
heightened as practice settings grappled
with shortages of staff during the time
when Alberta Health Services accepted
only internal applications for job openings.
RNs have become increasingly concerned
about describing their scope of practice
and competency profile to support
evidence-based staffing. This trend was
reflected in a number of calls within
different categories of consultations
where RNs wanted to discuss their scope
of practice to be in a better position to
influence decision-making. Much of
the discussion focused on identifying
the differences between the RN scope
of practice and that of other health
professionals and the research that
supports RN practice in order to facilitate
the development of appropriate roles
and responsibilities for all members
of the team.
CARNA RESPONSE
Policy and practice consultants provided
guidance and direction to members
to address these issues by applying
the principles and standards outlined in
CARNA documents. The nursing practice
standards are a foundation for supporting
nurses in their practice, giving them a
framework to ask questions in a proactive
way and identify concerns, issues
and solutions in their practice setting.
Documents were used to assist in
problem-solving and the development
of practical approaches to address issues,
including the following:
• Working Extra Hours: Guidelines for
Registered Nurses on Fitness to Practise
and the Provision of Safe, Competent,
Ethical Nursing Care
• Medication Administration Guidelines
for Registered Nurses
• Decision-Making Standards for Nurses
in the Supervision of Health-Care Aides
CARNA also developed Stand Up for
Standards, a companion resource booklet
that assists in applying the standards
to everyday daily practice. Stand Up for
Standards includes reflection/discussion
questions for each indicator to help nurses
relate the indicator to their individual
practice and provides resources for further
learning.
18
CARNA RESPONSE
RNs needed easy access to a resource
to help understand and articulate their
competency profile and how it differs from
that of other members of the health-care
team. In response, the online version of
Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC),
a key component of the RN competency
profile, was made available at no cost
to members via the CARNA website to
help them to better understand their
competency profile and articulate
the visible and invisible aspects of their
expert care. Also, a series of articles and
instructions on how to access NIC was
published in Alberta RN and regional
coordinators were made available to
discuss further.
NIC identifies a very comprehensive list
of RN competencies at the level of specific
nursing interventions. It categorizes the
interventions into types of practice, such
as medical-surgical nursing, emergency
nursing and occupational health nursing,
just to name a few. Because nursing interventions encompass a broad range of
nursing practice, no RN could be expected
www.nurses.ab.ca
to competently perform all interventions
within the full scope of practice for the
profession. Full scope of practice is that
which the profession is educated to perform.
Scope of practice for a particular RN is
in reference to that which an individual
practitioner is authorized, educated and
competent to perform.
As RNs used NIC to examine interventions specific to their practice, they
found they were better able to articulate
their role as RNs, the interventions
specific to their practice and understand
the differences between their role and
responsibilities and that of other members
of the nursing team.
Primary Care Networks
The growth of primary care networks
in Alberta generated discussion related
to RNs/NPs in this setting. Members
contacted CARNA to discuss program
development within the primary care
network, chronic disease management,
scope of practice and the development
of infrastructure supports.
CARNA recognized that written
information on the roles and responsibilities of RNs and NPs working in primary
care would be useful in providing information on RN and NP contributions
to the interdisciplinary team.
CARNA RESPONSE
In response, CARNA hosted forums
and tele-conferences with RNs and
NPs employed in primary care settings.
The main barriers identified by members
were: lack of funding mechanisms
that facilitate inter-professional care
or support team development, a lack
of understanding of RN and NP scopes
of practice within primary care and a lack
of dedicated infrastructure to support
their role. The feedback was included in
the new CARNA document Primary Care:
Vision, Roles and Opportunities that was
approved by CARNA Provincial Council at
its January 2011 meeting. The document
articulates CARNA’s vision of primary care,
describes the roles and responsibilities
of RNs and NPs as members of the
interdisciplinary team and identifies
the issues that must be addressed to
continue primary care reform.
Access NIC online at www.nurses.ab.ca
GROUP CONSULTATIONS
1. On the top right corner of the homepage, click “Login”
and enter your user ID (your registration number) and
password.
In addition to individual practice consultations, CARNA
policy and practice consultants conducted numerous
group consultations and facilitated discussions in response
to complex issues that arose in practice settings. From
Aug. 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010, the consultants facilitated
38 group consultations involving 994 participants across
Alberta. The main topics of discussions were nursing
practice standards, the RN scope of practice and
competency profile, assignment of care, teamwork,
medication best practices and professional responsibility
and accountability.
2. Click on the Nursing Interventions Classification icon.
3. Click on the Contents tab.
4. In the Contents section, click on Part Three:
Classification to view nursing interventions listed
in alphabetical order.
5. Click on an intervention for a definition and associated
activities.
Safety Concerns:
Pandemic Concerns:
3% of consultations
Safety continues to be a major issue.
Concerns identified included lack of
sufficient orientation, over capacity,
shortages of staff and changing processes
for staff mix, roles and responsibilities
that relate to scope of practice concerns.
It’s not surprising that between Oct. 1,
2009 and Dec. 31, 2009 a major issue
of concern was H1N1. As the prevalence
of influenza-like illness increased and
a vaccine became available, there were
a number of questions related to policy
development, such as:
• What type of orientation/education
is appropriate for those unfamiliar
with providing immunization to
adults and children?
• What are the recommended processes
for safe administration of the vaccine
where there were high volumes of
clients?
After Alberta Health Services opened
influenza assessment clinics to relieve
pressure on emergency departments,
they identified gaps in access to timely
care that might be addressed if RNs
working in these clinics were authorized
to prescribe anti-viral medication.
CARNA RESPONSE
To increase public understanding and
support for the breadth and depth of the
RN role, CARNA launched the “Expert
Caring Makes a Difference” advocacy
campaign in January 2010. As part of
the campaign, members, government,
the public and other stakeholders were
directed to www.expertcaring.ca, a website that provides evidence to support
informed practice and facts on the benefit
of RN care. The website points to research
that shows expert care delivered by RNs
and NPs:
• delivers benefits to long-term care
residents
• shortens hospital stays
• prevents hospital deaths
• reduces hospital infections
• cuts wait times
• controls health-care costs
CARNA RESPONSE
As a result, Alberta Health Services
requested the assistance of CARNA and
Alberta Health and Wellness to develop
a process to authorize RNs working in
influenza assessment clinics to prescribe
anti-virals without patients having to
see a physician or nurse practitioner.
A comprehensive orientation
procedure to support decision-making
was defined by a team of nursing and
medical practitioners and reviewed
by Alberta Health Services, Alberta
Health and Wellness and CARNA.
CARNA worked with Alberta Health
and Wellness to provide eligibility criteria
for authorization to prescribe anti-virals
and to provide advice on the terms
and conditions for performance of this
restricted activity. It was agreed that RNs
must have at least two years of nursing
experience specifically in assessment of
patients with influenza-like illness or
respiratory illness as a minimum
requirement to prescribe antiviral drugs.
The temporary authorization, which
lasted from Oct. 29, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2010,
helped Albertans access appropriate
treatment more quickly and demonstrated
the capacity of RNs to take on additional
restricted activities.
This is an example where limited
RN prescribing was appropriate. This
experience illustrated the benefits of
limited RN prescribing and supports
CARNA’s proposed revisions to the
Registered Nurses Professions Regulation
to authorize RN prescribing under
specific conditions. RN
All documents referenced in this article re available on the CARNA website at www.nurses.ab.ca. Click on the CARNA
Publications link under the Resources tab.
www.nurses.ab.ca
19
MyCARNA
Your 24/7 one-stop destination for managing
your personal information and so much more.
You don’t have to wait for practice permit renewal to update your contact and other
information. In fact, you shouldn’t. We know you’re busy contributing to the health
and well-being of Albertans, so we’ve made it simple – just log in with your user ID
(registration number) and password. With the click of a mouse, you can:
>> Manage
your
personal information
Changed email addresses? Recently
moved? Transferred positions?
Update your personal information
anytime, anywhere.
>> Manage
your continuing
competence information
Now that we are over half way
through the practice year, you may
have decided to change the focus
of your professional development
indicators. You don’t have to wait
for renewal to report the change.
Go to MyCARNA to update the indicators
selected for your learning plan.
>> Access
tools and resources
MyCARNA gives you access to
member-only tools and resources,
including a comprehensive database
for nursing literature. The Nursing
Interventions Classification (NIC),
a key element of the RN competency
profile, is also available on MyCARNA.
20
www.nurses.ab.ca
+
http://www.nurses.ab.ca
Chances are good that you are
one of the 95 per cent of members
who visited the CARNA website last
year to renew your practice permit.
Did you know that you can also
use the website to find information
on trends and issues affecting
the profession, a listing of nursingrelated events, resources to inform
your practice and so much more?
From the homepage, you can see
upcoming events, what’s new at a glance
and quick links. With just one click
you can:
> read the latest edition of AB RN
Online, CARNA’s electronic newsletter
> go to the ARN Careers job board
(see page 31 for more information
on ARN Careers)
> browse the CARNA Online Bookstore
> access NurseOne
> go to the CARNA conference and
AGM website
> and much more
Click on the
About Us
tab for:
> CARNA’s mandate, mission and values
> information on Provincial Council and
CARNA committees
> financial information and annual reports
> archives, artifacts and photos from the
CARNA Museum and Archives (see page 26
for information)
Click on the
Registration
tab for:
> registration information for Alberta graduates,
Canadian applicants, internationally-educated
nurses, nurse practitioners, former members,
courtesy permit holders, self-employed nurses
and nurses in non-traditional practice
Click on the
Member Info
tab for:
> information on registration renewal, eligibility
requirements and the online renewal guide
> continuing competence resources, including
helpful worksheets and frequently asked
questions
> requirements and information on reporting of
blood-borne virus infection
> professional conduct information, including
how to file a complaint, the complaint process
and frequently asked questions
> practice support, including details on how you
can access individual and group consultations
> regional coordinator contact information and
the CARNA region map
> a list of specialty practice groups and links
to their websites and contact infromation
> information on educational funding, including
scholarship applications and a list of ARNET
events in support of continued RN/NP
education
Click on the
Events
tab for:
> a list of conferences, education sessions,
reunions and general events
Do you have a nursing event coming up?
Recommend an event using the online
submission form. All approved events will
be listed in the events section of the website
and are automatically submitted for inclusion
in the Alberta RN Notice Board (see page 32 ).
PLEASE NOTE: Publication of events in
Alberta RN is subject to available space.
Click on the
Resources
tab for:
> access to resources from CARNA Library,
including the online library catalogue,
the CINAHL database (see page 28 for
more information)
> a complete list of CARNA documents,
including standards, position statements,
guidelines and more
> current and back issues of CARNA
publications, including Alberta RN, the
AB RN Online electronic newsletter, CARNA
Council Highlights and the NP Update
> infection prevention and control resources
> information on the competency profile for
registered nurses
> exclusive offers for TD Meloche Monnex home
and auto insurance
> descriptions for the education sessions
offered by the regional coordinators
> volunteer opportunities
> downloads and links to legislation and
regulation affecting RN and NP practice
Click on the
News
tab for:
> media releases issued by CARNA
> information and resources on health
policy issues
> information on current and past CARNA
public awareness campaigns
> and much more
Click on the
Contact Us
tab for:
> an online contact form
> the CARNA staff directory
> media contact information
> information on how to request a speaker
from CARNA for your upcoming nursing even
> applications, information and donation
opportunities from the Alberta Registered
Nurses Educational Trust (ARNET)
Not sure where to find what you are
Search
looking for? Click the
button
in the top right corner to search the CARNA
web pages and documents. You can search
with a general term or by exact phrase.
> nomination criteria and information about
the CARNA Awards of Nursing Excellence
> employment opportunities at CARNA
www.nurses.ab.ca
21
Meet your regional coordinators
The CARNA regional coordinators are
registered nurses employed by CARNA to
provide RNs and NPs with a resource and
communication link to their regulatory
college and professional association.
Rainbow Lake
High Level
Fort Vermilion
Fort
Chipewyan
La Crete
Northwest
They have a broad range of nursing experience across numerous
practice settings and enjoy thought-provoking exchanges
with members. They are committed to representing member
concerns to CARNA and to ensuring that RNs and NPs in
their regions are aware of the resources and support available
to them from CARNA.
Regional Coordinators facilitate two-way communication
with CARNA members where they live and work by:
> listening to concerns and issues at nursing meetings
> directing concerns and issues to appropriate persons/
committees at CARNA
> providing educational presentations for RNs and NPs
on topics such as nursing practice standards and
continuing competence
> providing information about the nursing profession
and the role of CARNA
> organizing and supporting CARNA regional volunteer
activities and special events such as Nursing Week
Northeast
Manning
Fort
McMurray
Peace River
Fairview
Wabasca
Spirit River
McLennan
Beaverlodge
Grande Prairie
Slave
High Prairie Lake
Lac La Biche
Valleyview
Cold Lake
Athabasca
Swan Hills
Bonnyville
Smoky Lake
Fox Creek
St. Paul
Westlock
Whitecourt
Elk
Fort
Point
Edson
Hinton
Saskatchewan
Vegreville
Edmonton
Lloydminster
Drayton
Jasper
Wetaskiwin
Valley
Camrose
Grande
Cache
Edmonton/West
Wainwright
Ponoka
Rocky
Mountain
House
Red Deer
Stettler
Central
Olds
Provost
Coronation
Hanna
Banff
Calgary
Drumheller
Strathmore
Calgary/West
They are energetic and enthusiastic members of the CARNA
team and travel widely throughout the CARNA regions.
Each of our nine RCs is based in a home-office in one of
CARNA’s six regions: Northwest, Northeast, Edmonton/West,
Central, Calgary/West and South.
Oyen
Empress
High
River
Vulcan
Brooks
Medicine Hat
Claresholm
Taber
Blairmore
Lethbridge Bow Island
Pincher Creek
South
Cardston
Learning Opportunities
CARNA Regional Coordinators are available to provide education sessions on the topics listed below. Open (public) sessions
are advertised on the CARNA website in the Events section. If you would like more information on a session or wish to
request a session in your region or at your facility, please contact your regional coordinator.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
22
Best Practices Resources for RNs
Documenting Your Continuing Competence Activities
Establishing a Nursing Practice Group
Ethical Practice
Health Professions Act
Nursing: A Regulated Profession
Nursing Leadership
Nursing Leadership: Leadership Practices and
Core Competencies
www.nurses.ab.ca
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nursing Practice Standards
Paperwork or Patient Care: What Matters?
Preparing for the Canadian Registered Nurses Exam
Professional Boundaries for Registered Nurses
Registered Nurse Competency Profile in Practice
Understanding Your Regulatory College and Professional
Association
• A Career as a Registered Nurse
Northwest
Northeast
Edmonton/West
Karen McKay
Barbara Diepold
Penny Davis
Leeca J. Sonnema
RN, BN
RN
RN, BScN
RN, BScN
PO Box 22037
Grande Prairie, AB
T8V 6X1
c/o Bonnyville Health
c/o
c/o
PHONE:
FAX:
780.830.7850
780.830.7859
[email protected]
Centre
PO Bag 1008
Bonnyville, AB
T9N 2J7
PHONE:
FAX:
780.826.5383
780.826.5383
[email protected]
CARNA
11620-168 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5M 4A6
PHONE:
FAX:
CARNA
11620-168 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5M 4A6
780.484.7668
780.484.7682
PHONE:
FAX:
[email protected]
780.457.8361
780.457.8361
[email protected]
Central
Calgary/West
Heather Wasylenki
Christine Davies
Beverlie Johnson
Valerie Mutschler
Pat Shackleford
RN, BScN, OHNC
RN, BN
RN
RN, BN
RN, BN
Box 5846
Lacombe, AB
T4L 1X4
PO Box 698
Cochrane, AB
T4C 1A8
PO Box 1119
Claresholm, AB
T0L 0T0
Box 20135, Kensington PO 880 Heritage Blvd West,
Suite #431
Medicine Hat, AB
Lethbridge, AB
T1A 8M4
T1K 7V5
PHONE: 403.504.5603
PHONE:
FAX:
403.782.2024
403.782.2052
[email protected]
PHONE:
FAX:
403.932.7243
403.851.1313
[email protected]
South
PHONE:
FAX:
403.625.3260
403.625.5417
FAX:
[email protected]
403.504.5605
[email protected]
www.nurses.ab.ca
PHONE:
FAX:
403.394.0125
403.380.6283
[email protected]
23
ISMP MEDICATION SAFETY ALERT! NURSE ADVISE-ERR
Preventing catheter/tubing misconnections: Much needed help is on the way!
Catheter/tubing misconnections remain a serious problem in health care. Last year, we learned of another
fatal event. A 19-month-old child who was receiving treatment for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder died at
a paediatric care centre. A suspension of QUESTRAN (cholestyramine) was accidentally given via a central line
intravenous catheter instead of through an enteral feeding tube.
In May 2010, another report was published about an incident where barium sulfate was administered to
a 17-month-old child via the superior vena cava during an upper gastrointestinal study (Soghoian S, Hoffman RS,
Nelson L. Unintentional IV injection of barium sulfate in a child. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2010;67: 734-36). The patient
had a central venous catheter (CVC) in place for antibiotic therapy. As the procedure began, approximately
3 mL of barium sulfate was injected into the CVC, which was mistaken as the child’s gastrostomy tube.
Fortunately, no respiratory distress or other major problems developed and the child was discharged
four days later.
Luer connector systems, common to many health-care catheters, tubes, administration sets, extension sets
and syringes, have been at the heart of many catheter/tubing misconnections. One of the most commonly
reported problems is that some manufactured enteral catheters still have ports that only accept parenteral
administration sets and syringes. So, even if a liquid medication is prepared in an oral syringe, the medication
must be transferred to a parenteral syringe for administration, risking the accidental administration of
the drug via a parenteral line.
Below are examples of the type of
events associated with catheter/tubing
misconnections reported to the ISMP
Medication Errors Reporting Program:
peripheral IV infusions connected to
epidural lines and epidural solutions
connected to peripheral IV lines
vinca alkaloids (e.g., vinCRIStine)
in a syringe given via an intrathecal
catheter
IV tubing connected to the inflation
balloon port of an endotracheal tube
or tracheostomy tube
sequential compression device tubing
or pneumatic blood pressure cuff
tubing attached to the port of an
IV administration set
oxygen tubing connected to port
of an IV administration set
breast milk accidentally administered intravenously into neonates
bladder irrigation solutions given
IV or TPN solutions administered
via a foley catheter port
24
an enteral nutrition container
spiked with an IV administration
set resulting in administering
the enteral solution intravenously
topical solutions intended to be
used with the V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted
Closure) Instill System (used for
wound healing) prepared in “IV” bags
that accommodate IV tubing which
could be inadvertently connected
or attached to an IV catheter or line
Albuterol meant for continuous
inhalation set-up using an IV bag
and tubing that is accidentally
administered intravenously
The International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) has been working
on a standard (ISO/IEC/FDIS 80369-1,
“Small-bore connectors for liquids and
gases in health-care applications”) that
will make various health-care catheter
connections and associated tubing
sets or syringes incompatible with
one another. The standard will include
connectors for the flow of gases, enteral
feedings, liquid medications via an
www.nurses.ab.ca
intravenous route, gastric tube, limb cuffs
(e.g., sequential compression devices,
pneumatic tubes to blood pressure cuffs),
urological access (e.g., bladder irrigation)
and neuraxial access (e.g., epidural,
intrathecal, intracranial). In addition,
the current Luer connector standard
(ISO 594) will be updated.
Designs for the connectors for
enteral tubes and catheters, as well
as containers, administration sets and
syringes, are expected to be finalized soon,
with clinical testing by manufacturers
accomplished during the standards
development process. As part of the
new enteral standard, a female Luer
connector will not be present on feeding
tubes, except for the inflation balloon
that anchors some long-term use feeding
devices. A final version of the standard
should be completed by 2013. Although
compliance with the standard will be
voluntary, product vendors should have
revised devices available soon after that.
On July 9, 2010, the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) sent a letter
to product manufacturers, health-care
practitioners and hospital purchasing
departments, which offered advice
regarding the prevention of catheter/
tubing misconnections, which are similar
to recommendations you will find in
the check it out! column. The FDA also
mentioned that the agency is considering
recognizing the ISO/IEC/FDIS 80369-1
standard when it is published, due to
the significant impact it will likely
have on the safety of these devices.
If this happens, the FDA will provide
guidance to manufacturers regarding
issues such as whether there will be a
set period of time for currently marketed
devices to come into compliance and the
effect of the standard on new devices.
The standard will be a much-welcomed
addition toward improved patient safety.
Coupled with additional safety measures
found in the check it out! column, we
are optimistic that patient harm from
tubing misconnections will be greatly
reduced. RN
Reprinted with permission from ISMP
Medication Sa fety Alert! Nurse Advise-ERR
(ISSN 1550-6304) December 2010 Volume 8
Issue 12 ©2010 Institute for Safe Medication
Practices (ISMP). Visit ismp-canada.org or
ismp.org.
As part of CARNA’s commitment to
patient safety, an ISMP Medication
Safety Alert! Nurse Advise-ERR is
reprinted in every issue of Alberta RN.
This column focuses on best practices
for nurses who transcribe medication
orders, administer medication and
monitor the effects of medication
on patients.
ISMP Canada regularly offers
webinars as a convenient way for
health-care professionals to stay ahead
of new trends in medication safety.
Go to www.ISMP-canada.org to see
what’s coming up.
check it out!
Follow these recommendations to prevent catheter/tubing misconnections.
Perform a Failure Mode Effects Analysis
(FMEA) to identify the various types of
catheters and connectors used in your
organization. Identify the possibility for
misconnections, assess the potential
frequency and severity of misconnections
and address process changes that need
to be made. Be sure to include front-line
staff who use the equipment.
Never attempt to force or use a makeshift
connection that does not fit easily and
securely into an access port.
Provide education to staff before using
new tubes, catheters or connectors.
Include discussion about possible
sources of errors uncovered during the
risk assessment and steps to avoid these
errors. Also, use tubing misconnections
in simulation training during orientation
and annual safety competencies.
Avoid using a dual channel pump
for infusions via different routes
of administration. For example, use
pumps for epidural infusions that look
different than pumps for IV infusions,
if available. Label the epidural pump
as “EPIDURAL ONLY.”
Limit the staff who are allowed to connect
or disconnect tubing from medication
devices to licensed health-care professionals who have been educated and
are knowledgeable about the serious
risks associated with misconnections.
During orientation, include prohibitions
to connecting/disconnecting tubing so
all hospital staff are aware of who may
perform this task.
Always trace from the source to the
connection port to verify attachments
before connecting or reconnecting
tubing, and/or administering drugs
or solutions. This action is particularly
important, as awareness of each tube’s
location and insertion site is easily
lost if tubing is obscured by protective
coverings, bedclothes and sheets. Adjust
lights or use flashlights if necessary.
Recheck connections and trace all tubes
and catheters to sources upon patient
transfer and hand offs.
www.nurses.ab.ca
Affix labels on lines near insertion
sites if the patient has more than
one connection to a port of entry into
the body (e.g., IV, arterial, umbilical,
enteral, epidural, bladder balloon port,
tracheostomy balloon port).
Place pumps on opposite sides of the
bed when administering infusions via
different routes of administration; when
possible, do not keep them next to each
other or place them on the same pole.
Use equipment the way it is intended
to be used. For example, only use
yellow-lined tubing without injection
ports for epidural infusions and only
use oral syringes for oral medications.
Always hang infusion bags with labels
facing out so they can be read. Make
sure labels are on the same side of
the infusion that includes any other
important preprinted information.
Do not use parenteral syringe pumps
to administer breast milk enterally;
nasogastric tubes should only connect to
oral syringes via syringe extension sets
(e.g., CORFLO by Corpak Medsystems).
Limit the frequency of disconnecting and
reconnecting tubing (particularly IV tubing)
to reduce the risk of misconnections
and infections.
25
The official memory of
registered nursing in Alberta
The CARNA Museum and Archives collects, preserves, documents and interprets
the history of registered nursing in Alberta. Located in the CARNA Provincial Office
in Edmonton, all are welcome to explore, learn and share in the rich history of
the RN profession, whether for research purposes or purely for enjoyment.
The collection includes artifacts and archival material of the
profession and of associated organizations such as schools of
nursing, alumni chapters, specialty practice group records and
the records of those closely connected to the work of CARNA.
Permanent and temporary exhibits include displays of major
themes in nursing, including education, pioneer nursing and
Canadian nurses in WWII. Among the treasures is a lamp similar
to the one Florence Nightingale used during the Crimean War.
The collection was started in 1978
by a group of volunteer retired nurses.
With 10 schools of nursing closing in
the 1970s, they became concerned that
the records would disappear. Their
efforts resulted in a relatively complete
collection of caps, pins, yearbooks,
diplomas, photos of hospitals and other
memorabilia. In 1981, the collection
was presented to CARNA (then known
spital in 18 89
as AARN). For over a decade, the items
t General Ho
Medicine Ha
were displayed in cabinets at the CARNA
Provincial Office. In 1991, for the 75 th anniversary of AARN,
the collecting mandate was broadened. With the help of grant
funding, the program was expanded to provide research space
and environmentally-controlled storage.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony in 1993, then-AARN
President Mary Pat Skene said “We are often characterized
as a throwaway society. By establishing the Museum
and Archives, nursing has an excellent opportunity
to preserve its past and thereby secure its future.”
Visit the CARNA
Museum and Archives
History and technology collide
Monday to Friday
Archives available online
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or
Access archives, artifacts and photos in CARNA’s
go to www.nurses.ab.ca
any time.
collection online. Click on the “Museum and
Archives” link under the About Us tab.
Ask the archivist
CARNA Archivist Lorraine Mychajlunow is available to answer
any questions you may have regarding personal or family nursing
memorabilia and to answer questions about the Museum and
Archives. To contact her, email [email protected].
26
www.nurses.ab.ca
“ We are often characterized
as a throwaway society.
By establishing the Museum
and Archives, nursing has
an excellent opportunity
to preserve its past and
thereby secure its future.”
MARY PAT SKENE
AARN PRESIDENT IN 1993
The 1916 graduating class of the Royal
Alexandra Hospital school of nursin
g
IN MEMORIAM
Our deepest sympathy is extended to
the family and friends of:
Armstrong, Catherine (née Norman),
a 1948 graduate of Royal Columbian
Hospital school of nursing in
New Westminter who passed away
on Jan. 25, 2011.
Dallison, Lou Anne, a 1960 graduate
of the University of Alberta Hospital
school of nursing who passed away
on Nov. 12, 2010.
Dolinsky, Anne (née Grykuliak), a 1952
graduate of the Misericordia Hospital
school of nursing who passed away on
Nov. 26, 2010.
Elson, Claire Marie, a 1960 graduate
of the Edmonton General Hospital
school of nursing who passed away
on Dec. 24, 2010.
Fong, Anna Yuen-Ying (née Lok),
a 1978 graduate of the Vancouver
Community College who passed away
on Dec. 17, 2010.
Harms, Marion “Adelle” (née Hodgson),
a 1950 graduate of the Calgary General
Hospital school of nursing who passed
away on Feb. 19, 2011 in Calgary.
Martin, Mercedes, a 1976 graduate
of the Holy Cross school of nursing
who passed away on Oct. 18, 2010
in Edmonton.
McRae, Ellen (née Rowden),
a 1956 graduate of the University of
Saskatchewan Hospital school of nursing
who passed away on Jan. 22, 2011.
Moore, Judith, a 1970 graduate of the
Grey Nuns Hospital school of nursing
who passed away on Jan. 23, 2011.
Roberts, Dorothy (née Kiniski), a 1938
graduate of the Edmonton General
Hospital school of nursing who passed
away on Oct. 21, 2010 in Westlock.
Semenya, Mary (née Burke), a 1976
graduate of the Misericordia Hospital
school of nursing who passed away on
Oct. 26, 2010.
Mae Anna Geneva Purcell 1910 – 2011
CARNA PRESIDENT 1969 –1971
CARNA past president Geneva Purcell passed away on Feb. 10, 2011 at age 100.
In 1993, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the archives, Purcell represented
the founding group of nurses who, with great vision, began the collection
in 1978.
A passionate supporter of nurses and nursing education, Purcell also
served on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Registered Nurses Educational
Trust from 1985–1988. In 2000, at the age of 89, Purcell served as the charity’s
honorary chair for the successful Million for the Millennium campaign.
Purcell graduated from the Royal Victoria Hospital school of nursing
in Montreal, Québec in 1935 and went on to receive her bachelor of nursing
at McGill University and her master’s degree in maternal health from
Boston University.
During her career, Purcell developed post-graduate programs to
prepare nurses to care for premature babies and piloted a program at the
Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal in 1957 that allowed babies to stay
in the same room as their mother while in hospital, rather than move
immediately to the hospital nursery.
During her time as the director of nursing for the University of Alberta
Hospital (1962–1975), Purcell was a progressive champion of the profession.
In 1963, she conducted a survey that found “nurses were doing a lot of nonnursing functions… a lot of the nursing budget was paying for housekeeping
services.” In 1972, in a University of Alberta Hospital report, she reported
staff shortages so drastic that nurses were being recruited overseas.
“[The] nursing class [of] Sept. ’64 at the University of Alberta Hospital remember
Miss Purcell with fondness and much respect. She was a warm, unassuming woman
who always had a kind word and ready smile for all she encountered. Dedicated to
nursing and to her staff, she was a gift to the nursing profession. Nursing has lost
a true professional. Our condolences to her family and loved ones.”
Loretta Shobe
“I entered the nursing profession as a frightened young teenager from small town
Alberta in 1962. I was new to the city and to all of my surroundings. As if it were
yesterday, I can still see Geneva Purcell. She held the prestigious position of director
of nursing. Instead of being aloof and superior, she was so kind and loving. [She]
always [had] a smile [and] a kind word. I don’t think she ever raised her voice.
Although it’s been many years since I’ve seen her, she will always remain in my heart
as a role model. [She was] professional [and] intelligent with a heart of GOLD!”
Judy Salamandick (née Flewelling)
Charitable donations in Mae Anna Geneva Purcell’s memory
may be made to the Alberta Registered Nurses Educational Trust.
www.nurses.ab.ca
27
Knowledge, research and insight:
Welcome to the CARNA Library
The CARNA Library is open to members, students and the public and consists of an
extensive reference and general collection of books, videos, journals, government documents,
newsletters and bulletins from associations, other health professions and health-related
organizations available for borrowing. A complete list of journals is available from
the library and is updated annually.
The articles of the Healthy Workplaces,
Healthy Nurses bibliography are
also available. The articles cover
11 distinct topics, including:
• change
• communication
• job satisfaction
• leadership
• nurse abuse/workplace violence
• nurse-physician relationships
• nursing shortage
Card free and online borrowing
No need to remember your library card. Just walk
in to the CARNA Library or browse the online catalogue to
borrow up to five books and/or videos at a time from the
general collection.
Live outside the Edmonton area? No problem. Search for
and request your materials online using the library catalogue.
The library will mail books and hard copies of articles to you
for just $2.50 per package (an additional charge of $0.10/page
may apply to photocopying). We’ll even enclose a postage-paid
mailing label for you to return the materials you borrow.
Reference materials, including journals, newsletters, bulletins
and government documents cannot be borrowed, but are
available for use by those visiting the library in person.
Looking for resources to inform
your front-line practice?
The CARNA Library gives you unlimited
access to the CINAHL database
The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature
(CINAHL) is available at no cost to members on the CARNA
website. The database includes:
• books
• book chapters
• audio/visual material
• software
• dissertations
• conference proceedings
• foreign language journals
• systematic reviews
• clinical trials
• more than 1,200 nursing and allied health journals and
publications from 1982 to present
• Selected material is available in full text.
To access CINAHL, click on the CINAHL link in the library
section of the CARNA website or contact the library for
the user ID and password.
Visit the
CARNA Library
Monday to Friday
Ask a librarian
9:0
0 a.m. to 4:0 0 p.m. or
The CARNA library staff are here to
go
to www.nurses.ab.ca
help you with reference services and
any time.
literature searches for professional needs.
If you’re looking for information, materials
or need help accessing library resources,
contact the library at 780.453.0533/
1.800.252.9392, ext. 533 or via email
at [email protected].
28
www.nurses.ab.ca
New materials acquired regularly
Listed below are some of the latest materials acquired by
the CARNA Library. A complete library catalogue is available
at www.nurses.ab.ca/library.
Boswell, C. & Cannon, S. (2011). Introduction to nursing research:
Incorporating evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones
and Bartlett. [WY 20.5 B7475 2011]
Burke, K. M., Mohn-Brown, E. L., & Eby, L. (2011).
Medical-surgical nursing care (3 rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
[WY 150 B9585 2011]
Chikwe, J., Walther, A., & Jones, P. (2009). Perioperative medicine:
Managing surgical patients with medical problems. Oxford: Oxford
University Press. [WY 162 C53253 2009]
De Brún, C. & Pearce-Smith, N. (Eds.). (2009). Searching skills
toolkit: Finding the evidence. Chichester, England: Wiley-Blackwell.
[WY 16 S439 2009]
Dolan, S. & Vizzard, A. (2009). The end of life advisor: Personal,
legal, and medical considerations for a peaceful, dignified death.
New York: Kaplan Publishing. [WY 152 D6565 2009]
Dreeben, O. (2010). Patient education in rehabilitation. Sudbury,
MA: Jones and Bartlett. [WY 150.5 D765 2010]
Falvo, D. R. (2011). Effective patient education: A guide to
increased adherence (4 th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
[WY 87 F197 2011]
Guido, G. W. (Ed.). (2010). Legal and ethical issues in nursing
(5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. [WY 33 L4945 2010]
Huston, C. J. (2010). Professional issues in nursing: Challenges &
opportunities (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins. [WY 16 H972 2010]
Lachman, V. D. (2009). Ethical challenges in health care: Developing
your moral compass. New York: Springer. [W 50 L138 2009]
Mateo, M. A. & Kirchhoff, K. T. (2009). Research for advanced
practice nurses: From evidence to practice. New York: Springer.
[WY 128 R4281 2009]
Paola, F. A., Walker, R., & Nixon, L. L. (Eds.). (2010). Medical
ethics and humanities. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
[W 50 M4855 2010]
Schaffer, M. & Norlander, L. (2009). Being present: A nurse’s
resource for end-of-life communication. Indianapolis. IN:
Sigma Theta Tau International. [WY 152 S295 2009]
Smeltzer, S. C. (Ed.). (2010). Brunner & Suddarth’s textbook of
medical-surgical nursing (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins. [WY 150 B898 2010]
Spath, P. T. (Ed.). (2008). Engaging patients as safety partners:
A guide for reducing errors and improving satisfaction. Chicago, IL:
Health Forum. [WA 250 E557 2008]
FEATURED BOOK
Being Present
A nurse’s resource for
end-of-life communication
Being Present offers strategies to
help nurses talk with patients and
families about their needs, hopes
and wishes as they face their
own death or that of a loved one.
Each chapter presents a real-life account of nurses
dealing with near-death patients and their families and
includes communication techniques. Chapters also
include topics for discussion and further reflection
that are useful in group learning.
In Being Present, you will learn how to:
•
•
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cope with conflict
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incorporate cultural needs in end-of-life care
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Rather buy than borrow?
CARNA has partnered with Login Canada to provide you
with access to the largest health sciences and scientific/
technical book wholesaler in the country. The CARNA Online
Bookstore puts over 600,000 active titles at your finger tips.
And unlike buying books at other retailers, a portion of your
sale is reinvested into CARNA and your profession.
• same day shipping on all in-stock items ordered before
1:30 p.m. (EST)
• reliable and trustworthy site
• a wide range of titles on nursing, consumer health,
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www.nurses.ab.ca
29
Your National Voice
CNA provides national leadership and advocacy to bring
key nursing issues to the forefront
As a CARNA member, you automatically receive membership to the Canadian Nurses Association
(CNA), a federation of 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and colleges representing
more than 143,000 registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
CARNA encourages members to take advantage of the many CNA resources that are
supported in part by CARNA membership fees. In fact, 11 per cent of registered nurse fees
($54.95 per member) is paid to CNA by CARNA. This amounts to 73 per cent of CARNA’s
governance budget and 12 per cent of the total budget.
Advocacy
Regulatory Support
CNA provides RNs and NPs with a strong
national association through which they
can support each other and speak with
a powerful, unified voice. CNA also works
to advance the practice and profession of
nursing to improve health outcomes and
strengthen Canada’s publically-funded,
not-for-profit health system.
CNA provides strong professional nursing
leadership in the interest of the public by
coordinating the development and review
of the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam,
Canadian Nurse Practitioner Exam and
administration of the nursing certification
exams. As well, CNA’s Code of Ethics for
Registered Nurses is widely used by all CNA
jurisdictions.
CNA has developed an e-learning tool
called CNA’s Learning Modules: Bringing
the Code of Ethics to Life. All eight of the
e-learning modules are now available on
nurseone.ca. This new tool has been well
received with almost 2,000 users to date.
It contains interesting discussions, case
scenarios, a self-test and a certificate for
users to print once they’ve completed
a module.
Public Policy
Take advantage of the many CNA resources
which are supported in part by your
registration fees. Services include:
a 20 per cent discount on more than
100 CNA nursing publications
a subscription to Canadian Nurse
a national certification program
for nurses working in designated
specialty areas
financial planning and investment
services
membership in the International
Council of Nurses
Check out www.cna-aiic.ca for:
CNA’s Primary Care Tool Kit
information on CNA’s international
programs
position statements
fact sheets
National Nursing Week resources
research on the financial value of
RN expert care
30
As part of CARNAs ongoing commitment
to advancing the RN/NP profession,
CARNA staff serve on a number of
national CNA committees and initiatives,
including:
CRNE and CNPE Exam Councils
National Project on Nursing Practice
Standards
Multi-Jurisdictional Staff Mix Working
Group
Strengthening Nursing Networks
and Associations Program (i.e.,
the technical mission to Ethiopia)
Infoway Nursing Informatics
Reference Group
And many, many more
CNA now
Stay up-to-date with CNA activities by
signing up for the CNA Now electronic
newsletter. Go to www.cna-aiic.ca to
subscribe.
www.nurses.ab.ca
On Parliament Hill, CNA is an energetic
national voice, lobbying to influence and
change health policy. CNA has made sure that
politicians know one in 70 voters is a nurse.
CNA continues its efforts to ensure that
the voice of nursing is present in the issues
and debates around health system renewal.
Of particular interest is the area of health
human resources and addressing the nursing
shortage and retention of nurses.
International Policy and
Development
CNA membership includes membership in
the International Council of Nurses (ICN).
With more than 112 member countries,
ICN is a powerful voice for nursing and
health internationally.
CNA also continues to build partnerships
around the world in an effort to improve global
health and social justice. Over the past
two years, CNA continued to play a leadership
role in fostering national and international
networks for Canadian nurses and international
health interest groups. RN
ARN Careers connects Alberta RNs and NPs
with Alberta employers
Looking for a job is as easy
as checking your inbox
Whether you are actively looking for a job, casually searching or would just want a place
to store your resumé, the ARN Careers job board is the right place for you. It’s quick,
easy-to-use and using your preset criteria, you can receive job opportunities in your inbox
as soon as they are posted.
ARN Careers is a partnership between CARNA and Workopolis,
Canada’s number one job site. As with all Workopolis career
sites, ARN Careers is free to job seekers. Employers pay a
small fee to post jobs. In return, they are linked with qualified,
professional candidates to fill open positions – an extremely
cost-effective recruitment strategy. Because CARNA is
committed to retaining our nursing talent, this site is
available only to Canadian employers hiring for vacancies
in Alberta. Revenues from the job board are invested
back into CARNA and the RN/NP profession.
Find what you’re really looking for
Set up to five personalized job searches and 10 different
search criteria. You can filter your results by location, job
stream, job type, company salary/hourly rate and more.
See only the job opportunities that match your career
aspirations.
Control the confidentiality
of your information
ur
Search for yo
today at
perfect job
s
.ab.ca/career
www.nurses
ARN Careers takes your privacy seriously. Be assured that
you have complete control over the accessibility of your resumé
and profile at all times. There are several levels of privacy to
choose from:
• display details of full resumé and contact information to
all registered employers
• display only resume without contact information to
registered employers
• do not include resumé in searchable database for registered
employers
www.nurses.ab.ca
31
calendar
NOTICEBoard
N O R T H W E S T
NURSES WEEK DINNER
AND COMEDY SHOW
May 13, 2011. Grande Prairie.
CONTACT: Karen McKay,
[email protected], Casandra Jordan,
[email protected], Bonnie Kennedy,
[email protected]
E D M O N T O N / W E S T
I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E S
IN COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
RESEARCH BIENNIAL SYMPOSIUM
Embracing Equity and Diversity in
Community Health Nursing Research
May 4–6, 2011. Edmonton.
CONTACT: www.nurs.ualberta.ca/icchnr
C E N T R A L
C E L E B R AT E R E G I S T E R E D N U R S E S :
P A S T, P R E S E N T A N D F U T U R E
May 10, 2011. Red Deer.
CONTACT: Heather Wasylenki,
403.782.2024 or [email protected].
N U R S E P R A C T I T I O N E R A S S O C I AT I O N
OF ALBERTA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
AND AGM
May 27–28, 2011. Red Deer.
CONTACT: www.albertanps.com
C A L G A R Y / W E S T
CALGARY/WEST NURSES’ DINNER
May 9, 2011. Calgary.
CONTACT: Chris Davies, 403.500.9943,
[email protected], Sarah Kopjar,
403.282.4095.
2011 AOHNA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Refresh... Mind Body Spirit
May 25–27, 2011. Banff
CONTACT: www.aohna.ab.ca
CARNA CONFERENCE,
A G M A N D AWA R D S G A L A
Harnessing the Power, Passion and
Pride of Nursing
June 9–10, 2011. Calgary.
CONTACT: www.carnaconference.ca
N A T I O N A L
CANADIAN ORTHOPAEDIC NURSES
A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L C O N F E R E N C E
“An Ortho Mosaic” – A “BONE” Afide
Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing
Nurses Alumni Annual Reunion and
General Meeting
April 16, 2011. Edmonton.
CONTACT: Cheryl Mittelstadt, 780.438.1967,
[email protected]
June 5–8, 2011. Winnipeg.
CONTACT: www.cona-nurse.org
Royal Alexandra Hospital School of Nursing
Class of 1976 • 35-Year Reunion
April 29–May 1, 2011. Edmonton
CONTACT: Ruth Hammer,
[email protected]
D I V E R S I T Y I N A D VA N C E D N U R S I N G
PRACTICE: BOUNDLESS HORIZONS
Sept. 28–30, 2011. Saskatoon.
CONTACT: www.caapn.com
April 29–May 1, 2011. Edmonton
CONTACT: [email protected]
C A N A D I A N A S S O C I AT I O N F O R
S U I C I D E P R E V E N T I O N N AT I O N A L
CONFERENCE
Oct. 3–5, 2011. Vancouver.
CONTACT: www.casp2011.ca
Annual Reunion Weekend
April 29–30, 2011. Edmonton
CONTACT: Myrene Couves, 780.967.2748
Prairie Experience
N E T W O R K I N G
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
C A L L I N G A L L H E A R T FA I L U R E C A R E
RNS AND NPS
A CARNA speciality practice group for
nurses who care for those with heart
failure is in the beginning stages of
formation. This group will bring together
a diverse group of nurses from across
the province to provide opportunities
for networking, education and information sharing. To learn how you can
get involved, contact Terry Kawahara
at 403.406.5505 or via email at
[email protected].
C A R N A S P E C I A LT Y P R A C T I C E G R O U P S
Contact your CARNA regional
coordinator or go to www.nurses.ab.ca
and click on “Member Info.”
Submission deadline for events listed in Alberta RN July/August 2011 is May 31.
Go to www.nurses.ab.ca for an up-to-date listing of events or to submit an event for
publication in Alberta RN.
32
Reunions
www.nurses.ab.ca
Calgary General Hospital School of Nursing
May 13–14, 2011. Calgary
CONTACT: Carolyn Robertson,
403.686.6536, [email protected]
Medicine Hat College School of Nursing
June 3–6, 2011. Medicine Hat.
CONTACT: Denise Hellman, 403.504.2246,
[email protected].
University of Alberta School of Nursing
Sept. 9–11, 2011. Pigeon Lake.
CONTACT: Connie Lee, 780.462.7596,
[email protected].
University of Alberta School of Nursing
June 3–5, 2011. Nordegg
Submission deadline for reunions listed
in Alberta RN July/August 2011 is May 31.
Go to www.nurses.ab.ca for an up-to-date
listing of reunions or to submit an event
for publication in Alberta RN.
Closing Perspectives
Healthy aging should drive health care reform
Our aging population is often linked with
the inevitability of soaring health-care
costs despite a growing body of evidence
to the contrary. This perception is fuelled
by reports of aging patients lying in
hospital corridors and filling up hospital
beds. The fact that acute-care beds continue
to be occupied by patients who could
safely receive an alternative level of care
in rehabilitation care, long-term care,
nursing home or even a home setting, if
the right supports could be put in place.
In January, CIHI released Seniors and
the Health Care System: What Is the Impact
of Multiple Chronic Conditions? The report
indicated that multiple chronic conditions,
not age, were the main driver of health
system use by seniors and had a much
higher impact on health-care resources
than age alone. The study found that older
seniors (85 and older) with no chronic
conditions made less than half the
number of health-care visits as younger
seniors (65 to 74) with three or more
chronic conditions, such as diabetes,
hypertension and heart disease.
Although Canada and Alberta have
made great strides in health promotion
and prevention initiatives, our healthcare system continues to primarily focus
on curing and treating symptoms rather
than preventing diseases or injuries.
Investment in primary prevention strategies
to prevent, or at least postpone, the onset
of the first chronic disease with healthier
lifestyles is a sensible approach to tackling
health system pressures. An increased
emphasis on secondary prevention
strategies to diagnose and treat disease
in its early stages would also go a long
way in supporting healthy aging and
reducing demand on acute-care services
by reducing disease-related complications.
At its January meeting, CARNA
Provincial Council approved Seniors
and Healthy Aging, a position statement
developed through a process of consul46
tation with members including the
Alberta Gerontological Nurses Association
(AGNA), a CARNA specialty practice
group. The position statement outlines
nine beliefs which form the foundation
for evidence-based decision-making,
policy development and care planning.
One of those beliefs is that investment
in community supports is required to
help seniors and other at-risk populations
live disease- and illness-free for as long as
possible. CARNA recommends that all
business plans submitted by health system
providers include measurable strategies
to promote healthy aging through good
nutrition, active living, immunization,
smoking cessation, the prevention of
falls, supportive living arrangements
and flexible home-care services.
While research has shown that it
is cheaper to care for someone at home
than in long-term care facilities, recent
evidence also demonstrates that an
increasing emphasis on communitybased care increases the care-giving
burden for other family members (CIHI,
2010). In turn, caregiver distress may
increase older adults’ vulnerability to
abuse. Millions of caregivers are currently
paying a heavy price financially and
personally, while at the same time
contributing an estimated $25 billion
in unpaid care to our health-care system.
If a sustainable health-care system
must rely on the informal support
network to help keep seniors at home
and avoid institutionalization for as
long as possible, supporting caregivers’
contribution to healthy aging is a social
responsibility. National groups like VON,
CARP, the Canadian Caregiver Coalition,
the Canadian Cancer Society and the
Canadian Nurses Association are pressing
government for a National Caregiving
Strategy to ensure that family caregivers
can continue their vital social role by
providing them with financial support,
www.nurses.ab.ca
workplace protection and integration of
the formal health care and social services
system and the informal caregiving sector.
Along the same line, CARNA believes
the Canada Health Act should be expanded
to include services delivered outside of
hospitals by health providers other than
doctors. CIHI’s report showed that while
the majority of seniors reported having
a family physician, only two out of five
(42%) reported that at least some time in
the past year they had talked with a health
professional about what they could do to
improve their health or prevent illness
(including quitting smoking, increasing
exercise or limiting alcohol consumption).
The results were similar for tomorrow’s
seniors, as only 45% of adults between the
age of 45 and 64 spoke with their health
care provider about things they could do
to improve their health. This evidence
supports CARNA’s advocacy for a deliberate
strategy to attract RNs to roles within
primary care, integrate NPs in primary care
networks (PCNs) and address barriers which
hamper the delivery of primary care.
While acknowledging that the risk of
developing chronic conditions increases
with age, Jeremy Veillard, Vice President
of Research and Analysis at CIHI made
an excellent point by saying that “good
primary care plays a strong role in
managing them and even possibly
delaying or preventing their onset.”
I’d like to echo that statement by saying
that good primary care delivered by RNs
and NPs plays a strong role in managing
chronic conditions and even possibly
delaying or preventing their onset. RN
M a ry- A n n e R o b i n s o n , RN, BN, MSA
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 780.453.0509 or
1.800.252.9392, ext. 509
E-mail: [email protected]
HARNESSING THE
POWER, PASSION and PRIDE
OF NURSING
2011 C ARNA
CONFERENCE
A N D AG M
June 9 –10, 2011
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Calgary
Join RNs and NPs from across Alberta
for the one and only provincial conference
designed for nurses in all roles and levels
of experience – all 33,000 of you!
We’ve put together a program unlike
any other previous conferences.
This uplifting program is designed to
provide you with a fresh perspective
on your future and on the future of
the profession.
Come prepared to be inspired.
www.carna conference.ca / 780.419.6070
PM40062713

April 2011 - College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta

Transcription

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