this Article - Denver`s Nursing Star
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this Article - Denver`s Nursing Star
Recruiter Showcase leadership see our ad in the classifieds teamwork June 27, 2005 Vol. 6 issue 11 Information for the Denver area Nursing & Health Care Professionals www.denvernursingstar.com Published Each Week by Metro Publishing LLC. Takin’ care of business How Do I Love Thee By Elizabeth Bussey Sowdal, RN I Photo bbyy JJason ason PP.. Smith endall, VP of comm unica tions Concier ado’ tne oddd Wheeler heeler,, CEO CEO,, stand outside of communica unications tions,, left, and Tod Conciergge Color Colorado’ ado’ss Cour Courtne tneyy KKendall, wea e’ her Pr esb yterian /St. Luk stufff. heree the theyy help emplo employyees not ssw eatt the small stuf Presb esbyterian Luke’ e’ss Medical Center in Den Denvver wwher by Jason P. Smith Staff Writer So, you have a to do list that has been just growing and growing – you’ve been having nightmares that if you don’t get your car in for an oil change soon the engine will blow up, but you just don’t have the time. Well, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s in Denver has someone for you to call. Giving people what they need to get through the week is something Todd Wheeler, CEO of Concierge Colorado at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center knows a lot about. With his business card stating that CEO stands for “Chief Enthusiasm Officer,” Wheeler is more than excited to help those in the health care industry with everything from buying a stamp to a marriage proposal. “We want to make sure we have an impeccable sense of order in our office because these people live such frenzied and frenetic lives,” Wheeler said of people who work in health care have been feeling extraneous lately and I am not used to that and I do not like it. You know, when my children were little I had a rich fantasy life. I might have looked like I was washing dishes or folding 10,000 tiny little tee-shirts or picking the gum out of the carpet, but in actuality I was someplace far, far away, someplace better. I was in my secret world where everyone in my family took care of their own hygiene, where all the clothes were big enough to make sense when you folded them, or better yet, a world where all the clothes went on hangers. I was in a world where everyone could not only locomote under their own steam at all times, but had long enough legs to keep up with me and could be trusted not to wander off and get lost. I was imagining a happy place where my whole family participated in intellectually stimulating Laughing dinner table conversations, where we shared thoughts with and dreams and never, ever Elizabeth worried about why Bert was so grumpy to Ernie. I imagined a day when I could say, “I am running to the store,” then See Eliza beth , PPaage 3 Elizabeth Inside See Business , PPaage 2 ANA sues EPA in effort to prevent mercury exposure Four leading medical, nursing and public health groups, representing more than 300,000 public health professionals, filed a challenge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) power Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit #16 Longmont, CO 805 plant mercury rule. The plaintiffs include Physicians for Social Responsibility, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Nurses Association and the American Public Health Association. The medical and health groups, represented by John Suttles and Marily Nixon of the Southern Environmental Law Center, are filing a ‘motion for intervention’ into the mercury litigation initiated by environmental organizations and 13 state attorneys general. The groups are filing the new lawsuit in response to the mercury rule’s clear threat to public health. Physicians, nurses, and other public health professionals will ask the federal courts to overturn the weak mercury rule to protect Americans’ health. Many Americans are exposed to unsafe levels of mercury from environmental sources, including power plant emissions, by eating contaminated fish. EPA investigators have estimated that over 600,000 newborns are born each year overexposed to unhealthy mercury levels in utero. According to widely accepted scientific research, mercury is a potent neurotoxicant that can cause developmental and learning disabilities, reduced IQ, and impaired motor skills in children, See La wsuit , PPaage 2 Lawsuit Today’s Nurse: CAREER OPTIONS IN NURSING This Weeks Topic: PEDIATRIC RN, NURSE EDUCATOR: LONGMONT UNITED HOSPITAL Pg .4 Pg.4 Isaak performs impromtu concert at Children’s Hospital Pg Pg.. 6 Poetry comes naturally to nurse practictioner Pg Pg.. 10 Genetics conference offers CE credits to nurses Pg Pg.. 11 High Tech Technology Changes in Life Commentary by Mary Pearson, RNC, M.Ed. Pg Pg.. 15 Page 2 Business Contin ued frfrom om PPaage 1 Continued industry. “I started Concierge Colorado in February 2000, and for the first two years I was focusing on commercial real estate, residential properties and individual services.” Last year, Wheeler’s company was asked to work with PS/L, replacing an existing service. “We’re kind of an information and vendor broker,” Wheeler said of his company. “We work with over 250 meticulously screened and pre-qualified vendors, so if you came to me with something, I’d know who to go to and get it done..” Wheeler said he started the business based on a need for people who could get things done. “It’s a need-driven market,” he said. “We like to take care of staff; we like to take care of nurses. Over 50 percent of the services we provide here at the hospital are done for nurses.” And they do take care of the staff. The top five services people request are shopping, automotive, mailing and shipping, research and pick-up items. “It’s truly an employee benefit,” Wheeler said. “The hospital pays us to be here to manage the program. The only thing the employee pays for is the service. If we go out and get a $29.95 oil change done for you, all you pay is the $29.95. One of our tag lines is ‘we do what you don’t want to do, don’t have time to do or don’t know how to do – we do the don’ts. We turn ‘to dos’ into ‘to dones.’ ” According to Wheeler there is a large population at the hospital who just don’t June 27, 2005 have time to get anything done, and that population could be anyone at the hospital. Wheeler takes care of the big stuff and the small stuff. “We take things back to Target or pick things up at the mall. We do birthday parties for your kids. We take away the stress of both when to do it and how to do it.” Not only picking up and dropping things off, Concierge Colorado also does things like research, such as finding a good bed and breakfast in New England on the weekend of April 7 or where someone can get a mother’s antique wedding dress cleaned. How can they keep it all straight? Well one of the key elements of this organizational behemoth is a Web-based system that allows concierge employees to log on from anywhere to find out what’s going on at what time and who is handling it. “Doing more than 500 requests a month with just two people – we have to be on top of our game,” Wheeler said. “We want to be the number one concierge service in the health care industry and most of the people we deal with are nurses. The whole idea of serving people and taking care of people has been very important to me.” According to Wheeler, the primary challenge in health care is budgeting, but he helps with that as well. The area of money is an area where Wheeler said his company is really helping the hospital. “Based on X amount of requests that would have taken X amount of time, I can show you how that helps. Let’s take 500 requests. If you needed to get something done it would take, on average, about two hours. Five hundred requests times two hours is 1,000 hours per month that we are returning back to the hospital in recovered productivity. Now, let’s just say at a very low level of $25 an hour, that’s $2,500 a month in recovered productivity.” First time you’ve heard of a concierge service at a hospital? You’re probably not alone. In fact, there are only four in the state of Colorado and only a “splattering” of them around the country, according to Wheeler. “They’re not common at all, but they are becoming more and more common,” Wheeler said. “More than 20 percent of our users say that our services have saved them from using paid time off hours to get things done, which is huge for a CFO to look at.” Wheeler also is an advocate of customer feedback, giving everyone a card to fill out every time they use the service. “How can we see how good of a job we’re doing if we don’t ask?” Night shifts? Still works. The service will get a set keys from you a day or so in advance and get your car out of your driveway at your home while you’re sleeping after your shift. They’ll take it to the shop and bring it back before you wake up. The concierge service also can help the hospital’s recruitment and retention rates, according to Wheeler. “The main concerns in health care today are recruitment and retention and we are a key, key component of that – low cost, high return. “People who work in hospitals are the busiest people I have come across – you just can’t get time with them and unhappy nurses do not make happy patients – doesn’t happen.” With everyone wanting to get outside in the summer weather, Wheeler said they have been tuning up a lot of mountain bikes for people while they’re working. “Ski season will be nuts,” he said. reductions for 10 to 15 years longer than the federal Clean Air Act requires. The rule also substitutes an inappropriate “cap-and-trade” scheme for strong technology-based pollution control standards, also required under the Clean Air Act. This proposed trading scheme threatens individual communities with toxic mercury ‘hot spots,’ local areas of higher mercury concentrations that could result in dangerous levels of human exposure. In implementing a seriously flawed mercury rule, the EPA ignored the counsel of its own Children’s Health Public Advisory Committee and ignored nearly 700,000 overwhelmingly negative public comments during the recent public comment period. The EPA also ignored the annual economic costs of methyl mercury toxicity attributable to mercury from American power plants. “Many young children exposed to mercury before birth will suffer subtle but irreversible brain damage. Preventing this tragedy, which affects not only families but entire communities, should be a national priority,” said ANA President Barbara A. Blakeney, MS, RN. The loss of intelligence continues throughout the lifetimes of exposed children. If not addressed, the silent but significant public health threat associated with mercury pollution will diminish the economic competitiveness of the United States’ population. Exposed children will likely need more time and attention from their parents, thus impacting the parents’ economic productivity. Some children will likely require costly special education. “This new EPA rule will result in excess mercury emissions and increased exposure over a longer period. We must take aggressive action to address this serious health threat,” said Georges Benjamin, MD, FACP, executive director of the American Public Health Association. Denver’s Nursing Star Published twice monthly by Metro Publishing, L.L.C. Publisher Steven R. Eldridge [email protected] Managing Editor Crystal White [email protected] News Consultant Dr. Linda Mundorff (Rener) MPH, MSN, ND, RN, NC Writer s James Coburn Carol Cole Elissa Crocker Mena Ganesan Mike Lee Mike Ligouri Marty Mitchell Barbara Scarpella Reed Will Ryan Jason Smith Lea Terry [email protected] Board of Commentary Martha Collar Eileen Doherty Mary Jo Fay, RN, MS Colleen Folsch Virginia Gillispe April Goode Vicki Jenkins Larry Leeds, RN Vicki Mayfield, M.Ed, RN, LMFT Mary Pearson Dr. Trisha Phaklides Dr. Linda Mundorff (Rener)MPH, MSN, ND, RN, NC Carol Shenold, RN, CIC Colleen Folsch Marvel Williamson, Ph.D., RN, CS Classified Ad Advv er tising Annette Deckard Melanie Mitchell Mary Walewski Lyn Wazny R etail Ad Advv er tising Molly Harris Char Posey [email protected] Administrative Assistant Lawsuit Contin ued frfrom om PPaage 1 Continued and altered sensation, impaired hearing and vision, and motor disturbances in adults linked directly to exposure from eating contaminated fish. Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants make up more than 40% of all emissions into the U.S. environment, the largest source of uncontrolled mercury pollution in the U.S. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to make public health its first and only priority, and the law mandates that these plants reduce their mercury pollution by up to 90 percent of current emission levels by 2008. Unfortunately, the U.S. EPA’s final mercury rule delays significant mercury Jennifer Copeland [email protected] Ad Ser vices Mana Managg er John Melton [email protected] Accounts Coordinator Gaye Hannan, LPN [email protected] Direct Mailed and distributed to a readership of more than 56,000 LPNs, RNs, Administrators and Students in the Denver Metro area each week. Add your name to the list for only $27 per year within the Denver Area and $30 for all other areas. Opinions expressed in columns and in letters to the editor are not necessarily the opinions of employees, ownership of this newspaper or the pub lishing compan publishing companyy. ving Memor y of In Lo Loving our brother and friend Randall (Randy) I. Eldridge Phone (720) 283-2209 Fax (720) 283-2198 P.O. Box 2078, Broomfield, CO 80038-2078 www.denvernursingstar.com Denver’s Nursing Star June 27, 2005 Elizabeth Contin ued frfrom om PPaage 1 Continued grab my purse and go without having to find and tie everybody’s shoes, pack emergency clothing and tote a diaper bag that weighed one sixth my body weight. In those days I might have looked like I was helping to color a picture of the princess and the pea but where I would really be, behind my eyes, was in the glimmering future. The future is now, friends. I am here to tell you that it is not everything I thought it would be. Maybe I am ungrateful. Maybe I am one of those people who will never be happy no matter what. I don’t like to think that, but maybe it is true. You see, my family has reached that happy time I spent so many hours dreaming about. They bathe themselves, dress themselves, read to themselves, fix their own lunches. Not only do they walk efficiently, but they also jog for miles on end without getting the least bit winded. Not only do they jog efficiently, but most of them drive. Some of them actually own vehicles. For those who still need me to give them the occasional ride, they want to get where they are going. Period. They do not want to bond. They do not want to share their inner-most feelings. No. They want to jump in the car, take the shortest possible route, and jump out at their destination. It is not an event. It is not an emotional interlude. It is not a celebration of our relationship. It is transportation of the least possible desirable kind. The mom driving kind as opposed to the friend driving kind or the self driving kind. They will chat, in a pleasant way, but I can tell that they are humoring me. They are talking and laughing and telling me funny stories, but their minds are a million miles away and they check the mirror frequently to make sure their noses are still there or to see if they got prettier or uglier in the preceding ten seconds. I know this is the natural course of things. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. It never occurred to me when the kids were little and I was imagining them bigger and less needy, that I would someday become the needy one. That I would try to bribe them to come to the grocery store with me just for the company. That I would wait eagerly for them to get home in the evenings. That I would miss having them need me. I never imagined that I would miss toddler chatter. Save Up to 36% on Your Auto & Home Insurance As a RN myself, I know exactly what it's like to take care of others. Who's taking care of you? Let me make it easy to take care of yourself and your family. It's one less thing you'll have to worry about and who better to do it than someone just like you? After all, you give and give and give. I have a Special Affinity Group Discount for Doctors and RNs. Save up to 36% on Your Auto & Home Insurance Package. [email protected] • fax 303-798-2174 26 W. Dry Creek Circle, Ste 600, Littleton, CO 80120 Loraine De Leon 303-734-0333 Look To Us... F A R M E R S® Denver’s Nursing Star Classifieds when you want someone with the latest emergency training. By advertising in our HELP WANTED section, you’ll find the person with knowledge of the newest emergency equipment... (720) 283-2209 If someone had told me the day would come when I would yearn for the smell of baby shampoo and pureed green beans I would have laughed in that person’s face. Ha! Not me, not ever. Ha, I would have said. When my children were young older people would sometimes tell me, “Enjoy them now, because they will be grown up before you know it!” Oh I certainly hope so, I would think, in my ignorance. I cannot say that I wasn’t warned. Some days it seemed like every middle aged person I ran into had the same pearls of wisdom for me, “enjoy them now.” I was warned well and often, but I didn’t believe it. I did not believe the day would ever come when they would not need me on an hourly basis. I cannot believe that day came so soon. Page 3 Brand New Remodeled Loft Style Condominium. Affordably Priced from $87,900 303-503-4083 • Secured Entry Building • Elevator • Plenty of Off-Street Parking Elizabeth Bussey Sowdal works in a Surgical-Trauma I.C.U. She has also worked in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and in a Med-Surg unit. 1035 Colorado, Denver. CO 80206 (across from University Hospital) Page 4 June 27, 2005 Denver’s Nursing Star Today’s Nurse: CAREER OPTIONS IN NURSING This Week’s Topic: PEDIATRIC RN, NURSE EDUCATOR LONGMONT UNITED HOSPITAL by Barbara Scarpella Reed Staff Writer Jose Sidas, Supervisor of Interpreter and Translation Services at Longmont United Hospital states that an estimated 21 percent of LUH patients are Hispanic/Latino. Sidas feels it is critical that more doctors and nurses develop fluent bilingual skills to work in the health care system where diverse populations exist. Sidas explains, in 1998 LUH developed an interpreter program, designing a test for their bilingual employee’s. It was a collaborative effort on behalf of the hospital and its staff to incorporate a consistent base line for bilingual skills and vocabulary. These staff members are required to complete a language verbal compendency test once a year, as well as successfully complete a bedside interpreter evaluation every six-months. Each department has their own vocabulary criteria based on the need of that specialty. When discussing quality of bilingual skills, Sidas said, “I consider it very necessary for the staff any where in the hospital and at any level.” LUH has on site interpreters for Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Vietnamese and Philipino. 52-year-old Lee K. Symond, RN, has worked at LUH in the 10-bed pediatric unit since March 1998. “In the pediatric unit, we get entire families that speak only Spanish. Having a bilingual RN interpreter is so reassuring to our families, it is amazing,” Symond said. “Their shoulders relax, jaws become less tight, and kids become less clingy.” “We at LUH work with patients that have a wonderful diverse ethic background, South American, Porto Rican, Mexican and Hispanic. We work with many multi-generational Mexican families,” said Symond. “I learned Spanish way back in my youth,” says Symond. “Spanish is one of the tastiest, sweetest languages to speak.” She has a long history of utilizing her bilingual skills with patients, starting with her pediatric career at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Currently, Symond is authorized to speak only conversational Spanish with the patients and cannot transmit official medical information to the doctors or the patients’ families. She laughs as she shares the fact that she has the best accent, just not the medical vocabulary. Her peers are mentoring her regarding her Spanish speaking skills and believe it will be just a matter of time before she is an official interpreter. Carey Hovestol, RN, is one of two official interpreters on the pediatric unit; she is quick to point out that quality of interpretation is vital to the diagnosis when using medical terminology. She also states that quality bilingual skills help with discharge of the patient in teaching compliance regarding medicines and care of the patient. She feels this helps prevent patients from re-entering the system as often, giving them a sense of independence and allowing them to be a part of the decision making. Symond has taken the opportunity to be a mentor to nursing students in various collegiate programs and speaks at career days in high schools. “A voice for nursing,” says Symond. “The nursing care of a patient is as a stream that flows from one nurse to the next-each with the unique opportunity to maximize the St. Anthony’s secures funding for new medical campus St. Anthony Hospitals has announced that the Board of Stewardship Trustees of its sponsor, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), has approved funding for the construction of a new medical campus to replace the existing St. Anthony Central Hospital campus. The CHI Board considered the proposal at its June 15-16, 2005 meeting. In March 2005, Centura Health and St. Anthony Central Hospital announced intentions to pursue replacement and relocation of the 100-year old St. Anthony Central campus, currently located on 16 acres near west Colfax Ave. and Raleigh St. in Denver. “The CHI Board’s endorsement of this project signals an ongoing, substantial commitment to the people of this community,” said Michael Schrader, Administrator of St. Anthony Central Hospital. “In order to most effectively and efficiently provide the latest in medicine, today’s modern medical campuses need much more room than St. Anthony Central has now. Moving to a architectural firm for the replacement more expansive nearby campus will allow hospital, GE Johnson/Kitchell as general us to serve our community well into the contractor and Hammes/Romani as future while bringing expanded medical project management consultant. services to more people.” The decision to relocate came after St. Anthony Central Hospital is an 18-month analysis of St. Anthony considering a 30-acre site at the Federal Central’s anticipated facility and Center near Union campus needs for and 6 th Avenue in the coming decades. Lakewood f o r This project signals an In addition to substantial e x a m i n i n g t h e possible relocation, ongoing, a l o n g w i t h a n commitment to the people option of relocating adjacent 15-acre site within its current that would allow for of this community. service area, the additional growth. hospital studied the The Federal Center site is less than possibility of a major renovation as 6 miles from the hospital’s current well as expansion on the existing site. campus and is the nearest piece of “We are absolutely committed to developable land of suitable size in the making sure that our current campus west metro area. is redeveloped in a way that adds to Plans for the new campus include a the quality of life for our west Colfax 900,000-square foot hospital with more neighborhood,” said George Zara, St. than 330 beds, an annex building and Anthony Hospitals CEO. “Our mission medical office buildings. Construction on calls for nothing short of that.” the estimated $440 million campus could St. Anthony Hospitals officials are commence as early as fall 2006 and be working with Denver Mayor John completed sometime in 2009. Hickenlooper and Denver City St. Anthony Hospitals and Centura Councilman Rick Garcia to establish a Health have engaged ESa as the task force of business people and community members to assess possible redevelopment options for the existing St. Anthony Central campus. As part of this community discussion, St. Anthony will explore retaining some health care programs in the neighborhood. St. Anthony Central Hospital is Colorado’s largest nonprofit Level I trauma center and home of Flight For Life, the nation’s first hospital-based emergency medical helicopter program. Located in Denver, Colo., St. Anthony Central is part of St. Anthony Hospitals, a nationally recognized fullservice health care organization serving Colorado for more than 100 years. In addition to St. Anthony Central Hospital, St. Anthony Hospitals operates hospitals in Westminster and Frisco, and medical clinics in Granby, Winter Park and Copper Mountain. Sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives, St. Anthony Hospitals is part of the Centura Health system. It operates 12 hospitals, eight senior residences, medical clinics and home care and hospice services across Colorado. Denver’s Nursing Star June 27, 2005 outcome of our charge!” “These opportunities are ones of friendship, insight, trust, acknowledgement and acceptance,” said Symond. “I get to hear stories that are inspiring; hold hands that offer as much comfort as they are in need of receiving. I get to share in the joy of recovery and take a little of the burden from the heavy heart and lift some of the loss, if only for a few moments.” Photo bbyy Barbar pella RReed eed Barbaraa Scar Scarpella “I believe these Lee K. Symond, PPedia edia tric RN and Nur se Educa tor or ediatric Nurse Educator tor,, has wwor orkked aatt the 10-bed experiences are unique pedia tric unit in Longmont United Hospital since Mar pediatric Marcch 1998. to the very intimacy of this nursing profession with our career,” said Symond. patients,” said Symond. She encourages exploration into “Nursing offers the opportunity to this career field, particularly for those see the human spirit at its most who have bilingual skills. vulnerable and it is most powerful, it Symond, believes communication offers the opportunity to be helps the patient be inclusive in the involved!” medical assessment and outcome, “I talk to the boys, bring them enhancing the healing. into the conversation, one of the best “We get to bond with patients, things that has happened in nursing family, and are no longer on opposite is men coming into the nursing sides,” said Symond. Page 5 More men in nursing: Is trend enough to solve shortage? According to a Vanderbilt University School of Nursing study, the number of male nurses in the United States has nearly doubled since the 1980s growing from 5 percent to 9 percent of the nation's 1.8 million nurses. Just as the number of men in nursing has steadily climbed, so has the public's perception of the profession. A recent Gallup Poll ranked nursing as the most trusted profession, above teachers, military officers and even doctors. This is promising news for those working to end the nationwide nursing shortage and stave off an impending health-care crisis. According to the Vanderbilt study, the nursing shortage could approach 800,000 positions by 2020. To recruit and retain more nurses, educators must address the shortage of nursing faculty in the nation's colleges and universities. According to an enrollment survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, more than 26,000 qualified applicants were turned away from undergraduate programs last year due in large part to faculty shortages. "Building awareness of the shortage of nurses and nurse faculty, as well as the benefits of a career in nursing, has had a big impact," said Andrea Higham, director of The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future. "But concerted efforts must continue if we're to head off what is predicted to be a huge problem well into the next decade." Higham said men are a key target of the awareness campaign, noting that if the number of men entering nursing each year grew to anywhere near the number of women entering the field, the nursing shortage would cease to exist. Will the growing number of men entering the profession be enough to eliminate the shortage in time to accommodate the surge of baby boomers in need of increased medical care? Only time will tell. NEED A DYNAMIC SPEAKER FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT? One who makes you laugh, cry, and most of all THINK? Mary Jo Fay, RN, MSN ... Denver Nursing Star columnist and award winning author of: Get Out of YYour our Boxx! When YYour our Per fect Par tner Perfect Partner Goes Perfectly Wrong Now taking bookings for the 2005 calendar of events. CALL NOW! Book your event early for best dates available! Contact Mary Jo Fay at 303-841-7691 www.outoftheboxx.com or www.helpfromsurvivors.com Page 6 June 27, 2005 Denver’s Nursing Star Impromptu concert a treat for Children’s Hospital by Jason P. Smith Staff Writer A handful of kids gathered with their parents recently in a playroom in the oncology unit at the Children’s Hospital in Denver, anticipating the opportunity to meet a famous rock star. When that rock star showed up, however, no one expected him to be dressed as he would to perform in front of a sea of people. Walking in wearing his usual elaborate stage attire, the musician also decided to bring along his guitar and his entire band for an intimate concert that attracted attention up and down the hall. This up close and personal private acoustic concert was with Chris Isaak, who recently came to Denver to play at the 2005 Concert for Kids, a benefit concert at the Universal Lending Pavilion. The concert was held to benefit The Children’s Hospital Foundation, MakeA-Wish Foundation and Denver Public Schools Foundation. Sitting in a tiny chair designed for small children, Isaak sang three songs and joked around with the kids and parents. After his first song, Isaak explained ason PP.. Smith Photo bbyy JJason Garrison Hayes, 6, of Denver listens while Chris Isaak and his band perform for a small group of kids in the oncology unit at the Children’s Hospital in Denver. to the kids how bands work. “I’m the chief musician, so I have to wear all these crazy clothes, carry this big guitar around and sing,” he said to the kids. “This guy back here,” Isaak said pointing to a band member keeping rhythm with an egg shaker, “only has to carry that little egg shaker, so if you grow up to be a musician be that guy – it’s a lot easier.” Isaak, who broke through the music scene in the late 1980s, has scored multiple hits on the charts with such songs as “Wicked Game,” “Heart Shaped World” and “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing.” Hospital plans storytelling picnic St. Anthony Health Foundation announces the “Food For Thought Series” which highlights interest and provocative book discussions on a regular basis to benefit the Women & Children’s Fund. This year’s event is a storytelling picnic with author, Renee Fajardo. The event takes place at Bear Creek Lake Park Pelican Point on Saturday, July 30, 2005. Bring your family and make a day of it. Registration begins at 11:30 am and lunch will be served at 12 noon followed by the author’s presentation. The price of the ticket includes park entrance, a catered box lunch and a question and answer session and book signing after the author’s presentation Renee involves the children in the audience in telling Tummy Tales from her third book, Chili Today, Hot Tamale, a collection of richly diverse stories mixed in with some yummy recipes you and your children can try at home. You may register online at www.blacktie-Denver.com or by calling St. Anthony Hospitals HealthAdvisor, 303-777-6877. Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for children 13 and under. Denver’s Nursing Star June 27, 2005 From our Readers Dear Editor, I have been discussing this issue much lately with my colleagues. How can we truly advocate for our patients in every circumstance? There are certain issues and situations that call for advocacy which go unanswered. These are the difficult areas in which it may be hazardous for your future prospects if you were to speak out. Areas so taboo that I am apprehensive about writing of them for fear of reprisal. There are times when as a nurse you can see things that the patients or families do not. It is often due to more advanced knowledge of the entire process that we may have this insight. It may be that having been through this same set of circumstances we are better equipped to make educated predictions about an outcome. Possibly it may even be that the families and loved ones are just too close to see the best course of action. Every patient is different and the out come will always vary. I am not saying things will turn out the same way on every case or surgery treated in the same way by the same physician. I am trying to say that at times we as nurses may see a situation in which we know from our experiences that a patient has very little chance of recovering or at least full recovery. Being a complete and honest advocate in these circumstances is unbearably perplexing even disheartening. How can we as caring, feeling individuals take it upon ourselves to attempt to deliver such disastrous, hideous, heartbreaking information to people that are already in a completely vulnerable state? How can we actually feel we know when a 90-year-old person should not undergo open-heart surgery or when someone who has already suffered a full arrest should be made a DNR? What right do we have to tell loving families that the procedure or the surgery or the continuation of life support will not help their father or sister or closest living relative? There are numerous situations that call for nurses to advocate for all kinds of things. The most difficult by far is advocating for mercy. It seems crucial that mercy be a strong guiding element in any nurse’s repertoire. We must be able to show kindness and support and reverence while being honest and often while relating miserable information that will directly affect them or someone they love. Nurses also have the misfortune of being the frontline for following behind physicians that often don’t make the information they provide completely clear to those they bestow it upon. We must translate what has been reported into a condensed layman’s version often asked afterward what does that really mean? Am I to say with the best effort to be kindly and compassionate that what that really means is that your loved one has very little chance of living. It is at best strenuous at worst impossible to teach someone that is involved in the process of grieving over an already ill loved one that the best course may be to do nothing and let nature take it’s course. Medical advances in the last 50 years have been remarkable. Surgeries and procedures are available now that save million of lives every year. Unfortunately no one has yet stopped the process of dying. Another area that is off limits is information about physicians that may be valuable for patients or families to have. There are some physicians that while they are well meaning, are possibly too optimistic or too confident or just too willing to provide every intervention available even with odds against favorable outcome too high for realistic consideration. It is equally unthinkable for nurses to inform patients and families of a physician that is beyond their years and should not practice or a physician with a poor record for surgery or even an unwelcome bedside manner. We often know many of these details but if we were to openly advocate against certain traits what would our future prospects be? We as nurses would love to be able to do all of the things mentioned. In a perfect world we could tell each patient that they should seek a second opinion or rethink their choices and decisions. We would all be entirely honest in all things and each person we informed of these things would be completely understanding and appreciative. People would receive proper care and no one would ever have an unneeded or unwarranted procedure. In a perfect world I would not be afraid to put my name on a letter such as this. Signed, An Advocate Editor’s Note: Any thoughts and/or responses should be sent to [email protected]. Page 7 ST. ANTHONY SUMMIT MEDICAL CENTER WINS AWARD St. Anthony Summit Medical Center has been recognized with a Commitment to Excellence Award for its commitment to excellence in patient care as well as exceeding industry standards. To qualify for an award, the facility must have been a patient satisfaction-tracking client of The Jackson Organization for all four quarters in 2004. Summit Medical Center was chosen at the top of its class for “Inpatient-Maternity Experience.” The Birthplace at Summit opened in July of 1997 and delivers more than 275 babies annually with two dedicated labor, delivery and postpartum suites. There also is a dedicated operating room for cesarean sections. All nurses are certified in perinatal care. The award will be presented during a formal awards ceremony at The Jackson Organization Annual Conference, October 17-18 at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA. Out of 89 maternity facilities across the nation similar in size, the Birthplace at Summit ranked number one. Offering 24-hour emergency care, maternity and surgery services, St. Anthony Summit Medical Center has cared for the people of Summit County and surrounding areas since 1978. Scheduled to open in December 2005, the new 95,000 square foot, 25-bed St. Anthony Summit Medical Center will offer full-service hospital services to the region. Summit Medical Center is part of St. Anthony Hospitals, a nationally recognized nonprofit health care organization. Sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives, St. Anthony Hospitals is part of Centura Health which operates hospitals in the Denver metro area and medical clinics in Granby, Winter Park and Copper Mountain. For more information contact Jill Boyle, BSN,RN, supervisor of OB and the Nursery at The Birthplace at Summit, 970-668-8200. IN PERSON BRIAN CLARK Silver-Goldsmith Bill & Mary Selfridge Indian & Western Artist FRI., JULY 22, 2005 ...... 2 PM - 10 PM SAT., JULY 23, 2005 ..... 11 AM - 9 PM SUN., JULY 24, 2005 .... 11 AM - 7 PM MON., JULY 25, 2005 ... 11 AM - 7 PM Page 8 June 27, 2005 DENVER’S BEST PLACE TO WORK! The Denver Business Journal calls Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center a “Best Place to work” & we invite YOU to see why it’s true! · Great Downtown Location · Outstanding Benefits · Over 80 Specialties · Concierge Service · Friendly Staff · And so much more! P/SL’s management knows patients can count on exceptional care from team members who know they are valued, respected & rewarded. Find the opportunity that will make your workday great at: pslmc.com 113 CASE MAN AGEMENT MANA RNs & LPNs Case Mgmt/Coordinator Colorado Nurse Health Program is seeking a F/T RN to oversee and coordinate care and services for participants who have addiction and/or mental health problems. Must have experience in mental health and addictions nursing. Send resume to CNHP, 44 Union Blvd. Ste 505, Lakewood, CO 80228 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 303-716-0789 Mariner offers top wages and a full benefits program, including medical, dental, life, 401K, paid vacation, sick time and tuition reimbursement. We pride ourselves on a team oriented environment providing National long-term care. F/T, P/T and Per Diem Floor positions all shifts Nurse Managers, MDS Coordinators, Staff Development Coordinators Opportunities exist for all new nursing graduates. Or, contact Sonja Classen, RN, BSN at 303-839-6927. EOE CASE MANAGER JOB #25-045BCSS Index to Classifieds 1 0 0 Ambulatory 1 0 8 Administrative 1 1 3 Case Management 1 1 5 Chemical Dependency 1 1 8 Clinical Instructors 1 1 9 Collection 1 2 1 Critical Care 1 2 3 Certified Medical Assistant 1 2 4 Certified Nurses Aide 1 2 7 CRNA 1 2 9 Dental 1 3 0 Dialysis 1 3 1 Dietary 1 3 7 Education 1 4 0 General Nursing 1 4 3 Geriatrics and Long Term Care 1 4 6 HMO 1 4 9 Home Health 1 5 2 Hospice 1 5 4 Housekeeping 1 5 5 Infection Control 1 5 8 IV Therapy 1 6 1 Licensed Practical Nurse 1 6 4 Managerial 1 6 5 Massage Therapy 1 6 7 Medical/Surgical 1 7 0 Nurse Practitioner 1 7 3 OB/Gyn 1 7 6 Occupational Health 1 7 9 Office 1 8 2 Oncology 1 8 5 O.R./PACU 1 8 8 Orthopedic 1 9 0 Pediatric 1 9 1 Pharmacist 1 9 2 Physicians Assistant 1 9 7 Public Health 2 0 0 Rehabilitation 2 0 4 Registered Nurse 2 0 7 Research 2 1 0 Sales Representative 2 1 3 Service 2 1 7 School Nurse 2 2 0 Spec Producers 2 2 3 Support Staff 2 2 5 Traveling Nurse 2 2 6 Miscellaneous Denver’s Nursing Star CASE MANGER TO WORK WITH ADULTS WHO HAVE A SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING. REGULAR POSITION WORKING 30-40 HRS/WK + EXCELLENT BENEFITS PKG. PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB-SITE www.mhcbc.org UNDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION, MINIMAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SALARY INFORMATION. MINORITIES ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. MHCBC APPLICATION AND BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED, MUST HAVE SAFE DRIVING RECORD AND CURRENT CO DRIVER’S LICENSE. SEND RESUME/ COVER LETTER SPICIFYING JOB NUMBER & JOB TITLE TO [email protected] OR APPLY AT MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF BOULDER COUNTY, INC., 1333 IRIS AVE., BOULDER, CO 80304. EOE 140 GENERAL NURSING 140 GENERAL NURSING $2,000 Sign-On Bonus RN s & LPN s If you like a challenge & enjoy being involved in creating better programs call 464-7500. We are looking for RN/ LPN to help make long term an exciting experience for our residents. E.O.E. $750 Sign-On Bonus CNA s Do you enjoy making life exciting for the geriatric population, if so call 464-7500 or apply at 151 E 3rd St, Palisade, CO E.O.E. HIGH PAY ••••••••••••••••••• HOSPITAL SHIFTS ••••••••••••••••••• RN / LPN / CNA PT / SLP / RT • Flexible Scheduling • Instant Pay • Paid Orientation • Benefits Veterans Encouraged to Apply! 124 CERTIFIED NURSES AIDE SUNSET MANOR. CNA’s. Work with a diverse population in our Skilled Nursing Facility. Competitive wages and benefits, shift differential for evenings and nights! Inquire within: 2200 Edison St., Brush CO 80723 or Contact Cindy Mattox @ 970-842-2825 EOE. www.marinehealthcare.com. LPN’s/RN’s/CMA’s – Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. is seeking a devoted, hard working and compassionate person to assist in fulfilling our mission through the delivery of nursing services. Primary responsibility of this Full-time 40 hour week position is to provide nursing support for assigned provider in our Durango Primary Care Clinic. Qualified candidates will have previous nursing experience, and current Colorado Licensure as an LPN, RN or CMA. Previous office experience preferred. Please submit applications and copy of nursing license to the Director of Operations at 375 E. Park Avenue, Suite 103, Durango, CO 81301 Certified Nursing Assts. Four Open until filled. EOE. Corners Health Care Center is looking for F/T & P/T CNA’s. Competitive wage scale & benefits available. Please apply in person, 2911 Junction St, Durango, CO 81301. 140 GENERAL NURSING Hospital Stafflink Network Staffing All Areas of Nursing • RN - $32 to $45 per hour • LPN - $23 to $27 per hour (303) 758-9100 303-300-1100 888-303-1616 Car eer Alter na ti Career Alterna nati tivves Camellia HealthCare Center - Aurora Berthoud Living Center - Berthoud Boulder Manor - Boulder Terrace Gardens Health Care - Colorado Springs Cedarwood Health Care Center - Colorado Springs Colonial Columns Nursing Center - Colorado Springs Aspen Living Center - Colorado Springs Red Rocks HealthCare Center- Denver Mariner Health of Denver - Denver Cherry Park Progressive Care Center - Englewood Fort Collins Health Care Center - Fort Collins Spring Creek Health Care Center - Fort Collins Kenton Manor - Greeley Minnequa Medicenter - Pueblo Belmont Lodge Health Care Center - Pueblo Mariner Health of Greenwood Village - Littleton Applewood Living Center - Longmont Sierra Vista HealthCare Center - Loveland Alpine Living Center - Thornton Windsor HealthCare Center - Windsor Clinical RN/ LPN full time. Excellent clinical, organizational and people skills required. Computer literate. Full benefits package. Resumes to: Rickie Redland, Salida Family Medicine, 320 E. 1st St. Salida, CO 81201 SUMMER FLEXIBILITY Work where and when you want. RN ($35-$42/hr) Resp Therapist ($29/hr) OR Tech ($23-$26/hr) Sterile process ($17.50/hr) Radiology ($30-$47/hr) At area hospitals. Impact Medical Staffing. 303-757-7600 FULL-TIME RN OR LPN Family practice in Nederland looking for experienced RN or LPN to perform professional nursing duties, including Labs, EKG’s, ancillary testing & small pharmacy dispensing. Requires 2 yrs. experience family practice or outpatient setting, valid Colorado nursing license. BLS, ACLS, X-ray experience a plus. Great benefits and competitive salar y. Send Robin@ resume to MountainFamily.org or fax to 303258-7302. EOE 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 RN / LPN / MA Office Nurse for pediatric practice, duties: taking patients back, vitals, immunizations, blood draws, pediatric labs, and phone triage. Days Mondays and Tuesdays 8:30am - 6:00pm Some Saturdays 8:30 am-2:00 pm; Located near Park Meadows Mall Yosemite and County Line Rd. Please contact Beth Hogan for an immediate interview email [email protected] Tel: 303-882-6919 - Fax: 720-214-2367 140 GENERAL NURSING Pediatric Office seeking EXPERIENCED MOA or LPN for a full-time position. The right candidate will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and have a flexible schedule. Please send resume specifying the position you are applying for to: P.O. Box 10700, Grand Junction, CO 81502-5517 Attn: Human Resource Manager. 140 GENERAL NURSING 140 GENERAL NURSING RN/LPN’s BOULDER COUNTY JAIL NO INFIRMARY DIFFERENTIALS FOR EVENING, NIGHT AND WEEKEND SHIFTS FULL AND PART TIME SALARIED OR HOURLY ON CALL POSITIONS The Boulder County Jail has immediate openings for currently registered nurses or LPN’s with recent medical/psych experience and good assessment skills. Excellent benefit pkg; or $25 hourly for RN on-call. This is an extremely clean and safe environment. Call 303-441-3638 for more information or visit website: www.boulder sheriff.org Valley View Villa, 815 Fremont Avenue, Fort Morgan, CO 80701 FFAX AX (720)283-2198 (720)283-2198 Or Or Call Call (720) (720) 283-2209 283-2209 riday Monday Deadlines ridayy,, noon Deadlines -- FFrida noon ffor or Monda issue Frida for Mondayy issue FULL TIME NIGHT LPN / RN Do you truly wish to make a difference in someone else’s life? Then come home to Valley View! Some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet live here, and you can work with some of the most qualified and compassionate caregivers around. We offer: * Great Pay and benefits * Flexible Hours * A Team - Oriented Environment - For details call us at: 970-867-8261. Denver’s Nursing Star June 27, 2005 Denver’s Nursing Star leadership MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES: • Associate Clinical Director of Emergency Services • Associate Clinical Director of Perioperative Services • Director of Children Services • NICU Manager NURSING OPPORTUNITIES: • Acute Care - Ortho/Neuro, Med/Surg • Birth Center • Cardiac Step Down - Nights • CCU - Nights • Clinical Research Nurse • Critical Care Educator - RN • Emergency Dept - Evenings/Nights • Monitored Surgical Care Area - requires ACLS • NICU • OB Surgery • PICU • Peds • Radiology • Surgery - Inpatient • Women’s Pavilion L OVE what you do! Join one of the nation's fastest growing home health care providers -- Tender Loving Care. If you're looking to provide the best care and receive it as well, we have much to offer you...flexible schedules, unlimited career support, advancement opportunity and one of the most attractive benefits programs in the industry including 401(k) and tuition reimbursement. We have the following opportunities: • Assistant Director of Clinical Services Lafayette; Must be an RN with home care experience, computer skills and strong knowledge of OASIS, PPS and CO regulations required. • Registered Nurses Denver& Lafayette; FT, Weekend & Per Diem And do what you LOVE! We offer outstanding benefits including health insurance, 401K, tuition reimbursement and more! Bilingual applicants encouraged to apply. 1400 E. Boulder Colo Spgs, CO To view our up-to-the-minute job opportunities, or to apply on line, please visit our website at: www.tlcathome.com or Forward resume to: Esther Hardy, (F) 888-273-8157, (P) 888-312-5651; E-mail: [email protected] EOE 149 HOME HEAL TH HEALTH HIRING! CAREGIVERS! W! NO NOW! Use your life experience! Transportation required. Littleton, Lakewood. Englewood Homewatch 720-344-4700 161 LICENSED PRA CTICAL PRACTICAL NURSE Medical Clinic needs LPN or MA. Must be a highly motivated individual. Computer experience, flexibility and versatility a plus. Send resume to P.O. Box J, Key 2-B, Cortez, Colorado 81321 The Best of Care in the Best of Environments™ 161 LICENSED PRA CTICAL 204 REGISTERED NURSE PRACTICAL NURSE Interium Healthcare Full Time RN S $LARGE $ LPN Immediate opening for busy SIGN-ON BONUS homecare office. Call 970-472 4180 & ADMISSIONS NURSE Homecare Case Management Self-scheduled visits Supportive, team approach to patient care Inpatient (Full Time, Par t Time,PRN) Twelve hour shifts (77:30pm & 7-7:30am)and some flexible shifts Increased nurse to patient ratio for high acuity symptom management Collaborative Working 204 REGISTERED NURSE Environment Organizational decisions driven by nurse process improvement teams Nonprofit Organization Long standing reputation for reaching out to all patients and families Generous Benefit Package Hospice of DIRECTOR OF St.John 1320 Everett Ct.NURSING Lakewood,,CO 80215 Strong leadership team is seeking 303.232.7900 your clinical expertise and long term care experience in a positive and progressive team- oriented facility. This wonderful opportunity requires the strengths of a Registered Nurse with experience as a DON or ADON. A qualified candidate can expect a competitive salary and good benefits. $2000 sign-on bonus. Please send your current vita to: Sharmar Village Care Center 1201 W. Abriendo Pueblo, CO 81004 To Boldly Go... Boulder Manor is looking for RNs for all three shifts. Come join our winning team at the LPN’s NEEDED FT & PT evening, FT Nights, Baylor LTC facility with the Weekend Evening/Nights. The best survey results right applicant is dependable & Director of Nursing knowledgeable, with excellent Small rural nursing home seeks in Boulder county. communication and team work committed, experienced RN for top Call Kristin at skills! Apply in person at Laurel nursing position. Relocation paid. Manor Care Center, 920 S. Chelton Fax resume to Sandy (970) 871(303) 554-4306 Rd 9001. 204 REGISTERED NURSE FT Staff RN Seeking dynamic team player with public speaking skills to work with groups and communities throughout the state. Requirements: Travel, training, detail oriented, computer competency, supervising medical volunteers. Bachelor's degree, 9Health Fair experience and fluent in Spanish preferred. For complete job description & to apply visit our website at 9healthfair.org Registered Nurses Full-time, Part-time and PRN/Pool positions available on both Day & Night Shifts (12 hr shifts); Opportunities for experienced, results & action oriented Acute Care nurses who love challenges and/or may want to expand their knowledge base. Nurses provide for medically complex acute care patients in a small family oriented environment. Staff has the opportunity to get to know their patients and be of part of their progress towards amazing outcomes during the average 25 day length of stay. Diagnoses of patients include multi-system failure, COPD, respiratory failure, immunosuppressed conditions, traumatic brain injury, stage III and IV wounds, acute/cronic renal disease, CVA/stroke and other conditions. We provide invidividualized training and competitive wages in our unique setting. PRN Staff can earn up to $40/hr. Car eer Alter na ti Career Alterna nati tivves RECRUITMENT - RECRUITMENT CLASSIFIED RATES teamwork Apply online at: www.memorialhospital.com Employment: 719-365-2335 Page 9 Effective January 1, 2002 Per Line, Per Insertion Open 4x 12x 26x 48x $7.05 $6.40 $6.20 $5.89 $5.40 Logos For Line Ads (Per Insertion) Open 4x $23 $20 12x $17 26x $15 48x $8 Classified Display: 14 lines to an inch. Color Full Color: Only $275 Spot: $100 for each color (color as available) WORLD-WIDE! YOUR AD ONLINE FOR ONLY .38 EXTRA PER LINE! Quick Fax Form Complete this quick & easy form and submit your ad. Just fill and fax. After a fax has been received, a representative with the DNS will call with ad cost Start Issue Use space below to provide the ad copy for your classified line ad. Ask about our Combination Special! Oklahoma City’s Nursing Times 1/2 Price! Ad Copy Company Billing Address City State Zip Code Telephone # Fax # Contact Name Signature Fax to: (720) 283-2198 Or Call (720) 283-2209 for more information Mail To: Denvers’s Nursing Star P.O. Box 2078 Broomfield, CO 80038-2078 FFAX AX (720)283-2198 (720)283-2198 Or Or Call Call (720) (720) 283-2209 283-2209 Deadlines riday Monday for Mondayy issue Frida ridayy,, noon Deadlines -- FFrida noon ffor or Monda issue Page 10 June 27, 2005 Denver’s Nursing Star Poetry and prose come naturally for nurse practitioner by Mike Liguori Staff Writer Connecticut nurse practitioner and award-winning author Cortney Davis is enjoying the best of both professional worlds, publishing her prose and poetry and traveling the country to encourage nurses to write about their own experiences. “I write from the nurse’s vantage point: we accompany patients as they go from illness to recovery; we walk with patients as they journey through death’s door,” Davis writes on her Web site. “Like other nurses and doctors who write, I feel called upon to translate and pass on in some measure the extraordinary lessons I learn from my patients’ lives. I also realize that when we caregivers tell our patients’ stories, we reveal our own as well.” Davis has a long list of published work. In addition to her own books, her poetry has appeared in literary journals, anthologies, medical humanities texts, and nursing and medical journals. She has read and given poetry workshops throughout the United States, most recently in Washington D.C., Ohio, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Connecticut and Denver. “I was at the University of Colorado School of Nursing for a workshop, reading and talk, and also at the medical school in April, 1999, and, during the same visit, I spoke to an interpersonal ethics class at the university,” she said. “Interestingly enough, the nurses and medical students welcomed me with open arms, but the doctors seemed to have some trepidation – ‘A nurse who writes about medical things?’ I think that now, nurse/ poets are better accepted by physicians,” Davis said. She’s also traveled through the Denver area with her husband Jon, who is a physician and nature photographer. “We’ve poked around the mid- west, the west, and the northwest, me doing poetry readings and Jon snapping photos in the national parks.” Davis said she writes about her nursing work because it offers an outlet for the mysteries of the human body, healing, fears of death and abandonment, and celebration of birth, relationships and creativity. “As caregivers, we see what few others are permitted to see,” Davis said. “This entitlement brings with it a responsibility to tell the emotional truth.” Davis’ own emotional truth began in her infancy. She was born in Maryland and moved at age four to Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh. In her childhood, she also lived in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania and Stamford, Connecticut. Her father was a World War II veteran and New York Herald Tribune reporter who was a speech ghostwriter for Roosevelt. During the war, he wrote and published a military newspaper but faced difficult duty in the field, as well. He was awarded a purple heart and a bronze star for bravery after leading battalions to sweep Italian fields for land mines. Because her father suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and her mother was sick with TB, Davis was sent to live with family friends for six months while she was still an infant. While she remembers the rest of her childhood as magical, loving and difficult, she said she lived with a shifting sense of place and a feeling of longing after that early separation. “Now, when I write about my experiences with patients, I focus on reality, on what is actual and tangible,” Davis wrote. “But always, somewhere in the background, there remains that childhood underbelly of fragility and loss, like the multiple, subtle tones in the scent of perfume. I’m still not quite convinced that those we love and care for won’t simply disappear.” Today, her career as a writer is in full swing. She’s currently Legislation to require Medicaid coverage for APRNs services Patients to have expanded access to quality care The American Nurses Association (ANA) today applauded Congressman John W. Olver (D-MA) who introduced bipartisan legislation that would expand patient access to quality health care by requiring states to offer Medicaid coverage for primary health-care services provided by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act of 2005, H.R. 2716, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 26, would eliminate the option that state Medicaid plans currently have of denying APRNs as primary care case managers. ANA President Barbara Blakeney, MS, RN, hailed Rep. Olver's introduction of the bill. "In terms of quality of care, patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness, APRNs are among the best values in health care," Blakeney said. "APRNs are particularly important in providing primary care services in underserved and rural communities," she added. APRNs are registered nurses who however, often denies Medicaid have attained advanced education and beneficiaries access to these health care expertise and specialize in such medical providers," he added. fields as pediatrics, anesthesiology, "This bill would go a long way gerontology, neonatology and mental toward improving health care in many health. APRNs rural and include nur s e “In areas with a shortage medicallypractitioners, underserved areas c l i n i c a l n u r s e of physicians, nurse of the country, s p e c i a l i s t s , practitioners and physician including the 1st certified nurseCongressional midwives and assistants can be more district of c e r t i f i e d accessible,” Olver said. Massachusetts." registered nurse The Medicaid anesthetists. Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician However, Medicaid plans in many Assistants Access Act of 2005 would states currently recognize only physicians restore a previous federal mandate to and do not cover primary care services cover the primary-care services of nurse provided by APRNS. The proposed practitioners and certified nurse measure would help to control Medicaid midwives. This mandate was eliminated spending by offering Medicaid by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, beneficiaries more and often less- which encouraged states to move expensive primary-care provider options. Medicaid recipients into managed care "In areas with a shortage of but gave states the option to exclude physicians, nurse practitioners and APRNs as participants. physician assistants can be more The bill also proposes to expand accessible," Olver said. "Current law, Medicaid fee-for-service coverage to include direct reimbursement for all nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists (instead of only the family practitioners, pediatric practitioners and midwives who are currently covered). In addition, Medicaid managed-care panels would be required to recognize the services of APRNs - including the pain management services provided by nurse anesthetists and mental health services provided by clinical nurse specialists - thus clarifying the scope of providers required by managed care plans to specifically include APRNs. Blakeney highlighted the fact that the bill would restore Medicaid coverage for the case-management services of nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives. "This is a long-awaited correction that provides both clarity and just reimbursement for advanced practice nurses in these categories," she noted. "The ANA commends Rep. Olver for introducing this much-needed legislation, and we look forward to working with him to ensure its enactment." Denver’s Nursing Star writing poetry, essays, articles, interviews and book reviews, and giving readings and workshops. Two of her essays have recently appeared in the New York Times, she said. She’s exhilarated by the distance her work is traveling. “My non-fiction memoir, ‘I Knew a Woman: the Experience of the Female Body,’ was just published in Chinese,” she said. “I’ve just completed an interview with physician/poet Rafael Campo which will be published soon, and my interview with poet Dick Allen just came out in the spring in Connecticut Review. “My big project is another poetry collection, this time all prose poems. I am in the process of finalizing the manuscript right now. The title is tentatively ‘Lucid Dreaming,’ but I think that might change. This book explores the connection between dream and imagination and reality in poems that look at both my work as a nurse and my life as a wife and mother.” Davis won a Connecticut Commission on the Arts Poetry Grant for 2005, and is now using the funds to write new poems about her work with patients. June 27, 2005 “One of the grant poems, ‘Whatever Is Left,’ and a short story called ‘Breathing’ will be published this fall in the Bellevue Literary Review,” she said. Davis is also an online annotator for New York University’s Literature and Medicine Database, an international resource for literary and art works that can be used in teaching medical and nursing humanities. The database is online at http:// endeavor.med.nyu.edu/litmed/lit-med-db/ topview.html. Davis’ schedule of public appearances continues this summer, with engagements as a seminar leader or featured reader at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival in Farmington, Connecticut. More information and creative writing suggestions for nurses are available on her Web site, http:// www.cortneydavis.com. Connecticut nnur ur se pr actitioner and aaw war d-winning author Cor tne vis encour ur ses to write aabout bout their oown wn eexperiences xperiences urse practitioner ard-winning Cortne tneyy Da Davis encouraages nnur urses xperiences.. Genetics conference offers CE credits to nurses by Mike Liguori Staff Writer Nurses can earn continuing education credits and be briefed on the latest developments in genetics July 1416 at the Mountain States Genetics Network Regional Collaborative Center annual conference in Englewood, Colo. The conference’s education program emphasizes current issues in genetics and patient management, privacy and newborn screening, and a total of 17.1 credits will be offered to participating nurses. The program is accredited by the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing and will be held at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center, 200 Inverness Drive West. “This year’s program has been specifically developed to provide current information and patient insight to nurses regarding timely issues in diagnosis, genetic testing and patient management,” said Marianna Bridge, R.N., the chief nurse planner for continuing education for the Mountain States Genetics Network RCC. Page 11 “Genetics is impacting every facet of health care, especially in the early detection and management of disorders in newborns and special populations. We hope this conference provides an opportunity for nurses and nurse practitioners to expand their knowledge, ask questions and discuss the issues with those experts and consumers who have day-to-day experience with genetics related disorders,” Bridge said. Fees are $25 for consumer/general members, $50 for professional members, $80 for consumer/general non-members, $130 for professional non-members. Membership in the Mountain States Genetics Association is $50 per year and membership fees will be subtracted from the registration fee for those choosing to join at the time of registration. Federal and private funding sources allowed registration fees for CEUs at the three-day conference to be set relatively low in comparison with other conferences, according to genetics conference officials. “Increasingly, nurses and nurse practitioners represent the ‘front line’ of patient contact and case management, where early diagnosis of many disorders is critical to effective intervention. Advances in genetics and its correlation with many diseases has become an important component of effective patient management, and continuing education to stay current in the field is key to professional growth for nurses,” Bridge said. Bridge said the 2005 program was particularly valuable to OB/GYN and pediatric nurses interested in issues in newborn screening, metabolic disorders, and early diagnosis and patient management of infants and children with genetic disorders and developmental challenges, including Down syndrome. A panel discussion on advances and issues in expanded newborn screening, as well as a symposium panel of medical experts, genetics specialists and legal experts discussing population-based genetics issues and the challenges facing medical professionals, patients and their families are among the conference’s keynote sessions. A symposium will be broadcast over the Internet on July 15 from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. MDT. Anyone with Internet access will be able to listen and ask questions by attending the symposium at www.vcall.com through a direct link. Guest lecturers during the threeday program include Jeffrey Bodkin, M.D., professor of pediatrics and medical ethics at the University of Utah; Bradley Therrell, Ph.D., professor and director of the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; and Scott D. Grosse, Ph.D., senior health economist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also speaking are, Vivian Ota Wang, Ph.D., program director, Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Program at the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.; Murray H. Brilliant, Ph.D., the Lindholm Professor of Genetics, Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine; Matthew Taylor, M.D., assistant professor, adult genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado; and Lisa Shaffer, Ph.D., research professor, Washington State University. For more information on the conference, visit http:// www.mostgene.org, or contact Susan Bryan at [email protected] or call (602) 870-4752. Page 12 June 27, 2005 July 07/09/05-07/10/05 & 07/23/ 05-07/24/05 Medical Intuition & Energy NEW! Medicine Level I: This experiential workshop is for those who want to learn how to more easily connect with their intuition, in order to develop and utilize their natural intuitive abilities in the direction of medical intuition and energy medicine. 14 CEU’s available through CCHT. July 9 & 10, 9am-6pm, Hiawatha, Iowa at the PrairieWoods Retreat Center. Coordinator: Mary Ellen Dunford (319) 395-6700. Instructor: Barbara Noonan, RN, BS, BA, CHTP, C.Ht (303) 9891281. July 23-24, 9 am-6pm, Dubois, Wyoming at the Dennison Lodge. Coordinator: Jacqueline Page (307) 455-3512. Instructor: Barbara Noonan (303) 989-1281. Fee $250. 07/11/05 PICC/ML Insertion Course Denver This course will provide all of the didactic and laboratory practicum to qualify an RN to place PICC or ML catheters, based on the guidelines from the INS, AVA and the CDC. Any further practicum required will be per the institutions requirements. Topics included; Legal aspects, indications & contraindications, risks, benefits and alternatives to PICC/ML catheters. It also includes hands on practicum with Modified Seldinger (MST) and Peel Away Sheath insertion techniques. 9:00 - 5:30. $250.00 Location: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Denver South Centennial Airport 7770 S Peoria Street, Englewood. 8 Contact hours. For more information call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at www.cassuttconsulting.com. 07/12/05 PICC/ML Care and Troubleshooting Denver This course is an adjunct to the Insertion course for clinicians involved in the placement and care of PICC/ML catheters. This is also an excellent course for clinicians caring for these lines. After completion, the participants will be knowledgeable in the current guidelines for care, to provide positive outcomes for their patients with these catheters. Content to encompass all aspects of care of PICC/ML catheters including, dressing changes, blood collection, prevention, care and treatment for common complications such as occluded, mal-positioned, and broken catheters, It will also include the techniques of repair and exchange of catheters with hands on practicum. 9:00 - 3:30. $200.00 Location: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Denver South - Centennial Airport 7770 S Peoria Street, Englewood. 6 Contact hours. For more information call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at www.cassuttconsulting.com. 07/22/05 LPN IV Certification: Central Line Course Grand Junction As of October 2003 the practice guidelines have changed for LPNs involved in IV Therapy to include the care and infusion through Central Venous Catheters, as well as additional infusion modalities and medications. All currently IV certified LPNs must attend a 12hour Central Line Class prior to January 2006 in order to maintain their IV Certification. This Colorado Board of Nursing approved course meets all of the requirements for the LPN-IV2 authority. The course includes a self-study module, plus a one-day seminar for lecture/discussion and laboratory practice, 9:00–5:30. care, New antimicrobials, Dressing materials, Anchoring devices, Flushing techniques & devices, Accessing implanted ports, Troubleshooting catheters, Blood collection, Monitoring, and Line Complications with a focus on identification and prevention. 9:00–12:00pm. Location: Doubletree Hotel, 743 Horizon Drive, Grand Junction. $100.00. 3 Contact Hours For more information call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at www.cassuttconsulting.com Denver’s Nursing Star authority. The course includes a self-study module, plus a one-day seminar for lecture/discussion and laboratory practice, 9:00–5:30. Location: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Denver South - Centennial Airport, 7770 S Peoria Street, Englewood. $225.00, Lunch included. 12 Contact Hours. For more information call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at www.cassuttconsulting.com August identification, Current standards of care, New antimicrobials, Dressing materials, Anchoring devices, Flushing techniques & devices, Accessing implanted ports, Troubleshooting catheters, Blood collection, Monitoring, and Line Complications with a focus on identification and prevention. 9:00–12:00pm. Location: Embassy Suites Hotel, 7290 Commerce Center Drive. $100.00. 3 Contact Hours. For more information call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at www.cassuttconsulting.com NEW! 07/25/05 LPN IV Certification: Central Line Course Westminster As of October 2003 the practice guidelines have changed for LPNs involved in IV Therapy to include the care and infusion through Central Venous Catheters, as well as additional infusion modalities and medications. All currently IV certified LPNs must attend a 12hour Central Line Class prior to January 2006 in order to maintain their IV Certification. This Colorado Board of Nursing approved course meets all of the requirements for the LPN-IV2 authority. The course includes a self-study module, plus a one-day seminar for lecture/discussion and laboratory practice, 9:00–5:30. Location: Doubletree Hotel, 8773 Yates Drive, Westminster. $225.00, Lunch included. 12 Contact Hours For additional information, call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at: www.CassuttConsulting.com to register or view a list of current course offerings. 08/19/05 LPN IV Certification: Central Line Course Colorado Springs As of October 2003 the practice guidelines have changed for LPNs involved in IV Therapy to include the care and infusion through Central Venous Catheters, as well as additional infusion modalities and medications. All currently IV certified LPNs must attend a 12hour Central Line Class prior to January 2006 in order to maintain their IV Certification. This Colorado Board of Nursing approved course meets all of the requirements for the LPN-IV2 authority. The course includes a self-study module, plus a one-day seminar for lecture/discussion and laboratory practice, 9:00–5:30. Location: Embassy Suites Hotel, 7290 Commerce Center Drive. $225.00, Lunch included. 12 Contact Hours For additional information, call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at: www.CassuttConsulting.com to register or view a list of current course offerings. NEW! 08/22/05 CVADs (Central Venous Access Devices) New Technology, Concepts and Challenges South Denver This 3-hour seminar is designed to educate the participant in all facets of central lines. This is an excellent course for healthcare professionals to refresh and update their knowledge of Central lines. Content to include: Indications for CVADs, Line identification, Current standards of care, New antimicrobials, Dressing materials, Anchoring devices, Flushing techniques & devices, Accessing implanted ports, Troubleshooting catheters, Blood collection, Monitoring, and Line Complications with a focus on identification and prevention. 9:00–12:00pm. Location: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Denver South Centennial Airport, 7770 S Peoria Street, Englewood. $100.00. 3 Contact Hours. For more information call Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at www.cassuttconsulting.com 07/27/05 LPN IV Certification: Central Line Course South Denver 07/23/05 CVADs (Central Venous Access Devices) New Technology: Concepts and Challenges Grand Junction This 3-hour seminar is designed to educate the participant in all facets of central lines. This is an excellent course for healthcare professionals to refresh and update their knowledge of central lines. Content to include: Indications for CVADs, Line identification, Current standards of As of October 2003 the practice guidelines have changed for LPNs involved in IV Therapy to include the care and infusion through Central Venous Catheters, as well as additional infusion modalities and medications. All currently IV certified LPNs must attend a 12hour Central Line Class prior to January 2006 in order to maintain their IV Certification. This Colorado Board of Nursing approved course meets all of the requirements for the LPN-IV2 08/20/05 CVADsNEW! (Central Venous Access Devices) New Technology, Concepts and Challenges Colorado Springs This 3-hour seminar is designed to educate the participant in all facets of central lines. This is an excellent course for healthcare professionals to refresh and update their knowledge of Central lines. Content to include: Indications for CVADs, Line 08/26/05-08/27/05 When A Child Dies: Building Community Northeastern Junior College, Sterling Colorado. 7.0 CNE hours (approx.) AAFP. This conference will bring together bereaved parents, healthcare providers, faith community leaders, educators and other interested community members. Learn more about theories of grief and how common needs of families helps communities, faith Denver’s Nursing Star June 27, 2005 communities, and schools better formulate an effective response to families living through grief. For additional information or to request a brochure, contact Shaun Ayon at 303-861-6123 or visit us at www.thechildrenshospital.org September NEW! 09/15/05-09/16/05 14th Annual O’Neil Pediatric Clinical Update The Children’s Hospital – Denver. 15.0 CNE hours This conference will focus on the acute management of common pediatric conditions and present current clinical issues with implications for children’s health. Through lectures, case presentations, clinical updates will enhance the knowledge and skills necessary for an integrated approach to care. For additional information or to request a brochure, contact Diane Gonzales at 303-861-6160 or visit us at www.thechildrenshospital.org 09/30/05 28th Annual L. Joseph Butterfield Perinatal Conference Laramie Country Club, Laramie, WY 7.5 CNE This conference provides a forum for perinatal health care professionals that will enhance and broaden knowledge of current and future perinatal practice. Issues to be addressed include aspects related to antenatal, intrpartum, and neonatal care. For additional information or to request a brochure, contact Shaun Ayon at 303-861-6123 or visit us at www.thechildrenshospital.org 60-hour IV Certification for LPNs in an independent study format! This course allows completion of the didactic content at your own pace and on you own time. After completion of the independent study modules and quizzes you will attend a one-day laboratory education and practice seminar. Once these two sections are successfully completed you will validate the clinical skills in your own facility with a qualified RN preceptor. Registration Fees: $495.00 Contact Hours: 60 For additional information contact Carolynn Cassutt Consulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at: www.CassuttConsulting.com. Open NEW! Online Courses LegalNurse Consultant Training Course™ NEW! LPN IV Certification – Full Course We are now offering a Colorado Board of Nursing approved, full The Colorado This exciting program prepares Registered Nurses and Physician’s Assistants for a career in the legal field as legal nurse Supporting Nursing Professionals Throughout Colorado Health Care Directory Associations Home Health 303-757-7483 Education Excellence in Nursing Education consultants. This course provides the RN and PA with fundamental skills necessary to advise law firms, health care providers, insurance companies, and governmental agencies regarding medically related issues and to appear in court as expert witnesses. The course teaches legal concepts related to the health care industry, as well as the role a legal nurse consultant might play in such litigation areas as the following: toxic torts, products liability, emotional distress, wrongful death, mental capacity, criminal law, and different types of medical injuries. LNCC test eligibility requirements are discussed during this course; however, RNs graduating from this course need not take the LNCC in order to practice as legal nurse consultants. This CE activity was approved by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 50.4 Contact Hours (42 hours of instruction) will be awarded on your certificate upon successful completion of this course. Please call The Center for Legal Studies at 1-800-522-7737 or visit www.legalstudies.com for further information. www.denverschoolofnursing.org All Star Health Education CPR, First Aid and CNA classes Call 303/ 929-7980 Fax: 303/ 346-4989 Call for more info: 303-722-0857 Fax: 303-722-2943 Hospice Health Services Please FAX this form to announce your continuing education course to our readers. FAX: 720-283-2198 Phone: 720-283-2209, Or Email: [email protected]. www.denvernursingstar.com with your college degree. Mortgage Lenders Tired of being passed over for Nursing Centers that promotion you deserve? Orthopedic Services Don’t have the degree you Pharmacies need? Or perhaps you’d like to Pharmaceutical Manufac. Tel: 303-882-6919 Fax: 720-214-2367 Then do what successful www.marinerhealthcare.com nursing, a profession we honor Physicians and Surgeons professionals do. Rehabilitation Services Call University of Phoenix. People. Strength. Commitment. Just call 1-800-MY-SUCCESS 719-365-2335 www.memorialhospital.com Hospital Services a bachelor’s or master’s Supervised Living Facil. Real Estate people who help people Long-Term Acute Care Uniforms Skye Brunick • 303-866-7115 Sandra Malafronte • 720-857-6408 Medical Manufacturers Include your Facility, Organization or Service here Only $25 per month CALL 720-283-2209 and find out how you can earn www.hcr-manorcare.com Long-Term Care Ins. Colorado Department of Human Services and Online edition are free. re-career into a new field? Hospital www.memorialhospital.com Health Care Staffing Continued Education Listings in Denver’s Nursing Star print Be what you want to be — Denver School of Nursing (303) 292-0015 FREE Medical Transportation COLORADO NURSES ASSOCIATION 1221 S. Clarkson St. #205, Denver, CO 80210 Page 13 303-590-1666 degree sooner than you could at other universities. Denver Metro: Aurora • Lone Tree • Northglenn • Westminster Colorado Springs: Executive Towers • Tech Center • Ft. Collins 1-800-MY-SUCCESS http://coloradocampus.phoenix.edu ©2001-2005 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved. Classes are starting soon, including our new LPN to BSN program, at our conveniently located campuses. Page 14 June 27, 2005 s r u N What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve seen in Boulder? “On Halloween night last year, we were having dinner at the Rio. I looked outside and saw more than 30 people streaking down the Pearl Street Mall with carved pumpkins on their heads. And it was a very cold night, too.” What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve seen in Boulder? e Each week we visit with health care professionals throughout the Denver area. When I grow up I want to be a nurse. “There’s a guy on the Pearl Street Mall who has a live mouse that sits on top of a live cat, and the cat is sitting on top of a live dog.” Denver’s Nursing Star k l t a What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve seen in Boulder? What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve seen in Boulder? “A patient left the hospital wearing pajamas and pushing her chest tube boxes in a wheelchair. She walked down to Pearl Street and no one there even said a word to her. She strolled down the street.” “One of my co-workers, a male nurse, dressed up as Dolly Parton and won a contest for the best costume in the Thursday night cruisers, a group of bicycle enthusiasts in Boulder. He looked really good dressed as a woman, too.” Julie Rinaldi-Fuller Rinaldi-Fuller,, RN Cancer Car Caree Unit Boulder Community Hospital JoAnne KKeef eef er eefer er,, RN Caree Unit Cancer Car Boulder Community Hospital If you would like us to visit your facility, please email Crystal White at: [email protected] Photos bbyy Mik Mikee Liguori Please let us know... Bec ello ws Beckky FFello ellows ws,, RN Caree Unit Cancer Car Boulder Community Hospital K ami Clar k, RN Clark, Cancer Car Caree Unit Boulder Community Hospital CryptaQuote J NGBXIE ZXNMGMYC OCIGJP JGGMGVUC KMPP LBCJGC OXBC OMBJLPCN GHJI JID KXIUCB UBVE. ZJGBMLMJ ICJP CLUE: Solve Puzzle Here" _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N=S Email your thoughts and comments regarding Nurse Talk to [email protected] or mail to Denver’s Nursing Star, P.O. Box 2078, Broomfield, Colo. 80038-2078 TO SOLVE: Substitute each letter for another, each letter consistently represents another. One clue is given (e.g. F=O), so for every occurence of “F” within the quote and author you would substitute a “O”. Answer in the next issue. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ MGBNUG ZNACM _ _ _ _ Last Issue’s CryptaQuote Answer A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright by Martha Baldwin Beveridge, MSSW, LCSW What are LoveTips? LoveTips are concise, practical tips for finding and keeping a passionate, fulfilling relationship. While many are for couples who want to make the most of their relationship or marriage, other LoveTips address friends, parenting, coworkers, in-laws and more. The power of an open heart. SAMPLE: FQMAM OY, QIRMLMA, E SOBOF EF RQOJQ DIAZMEAEUJM JMEYMY FI ZM E LOAFNM. _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LoveTips The clue was: M = E There is, however, a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. Edmund Burke The power of an open heart is the power to heal yourself and your mate. When your heart is open, understanding is possible. Compassion flows freely. You are receptive and truly available to your partner. Your willingness to be visible, to share, and to be receptive to what he says is a gift to both of you. Taking down your walls tells him how much you trust him. When you let him see into the depths of you, your open heart encourages him to open his too. Your marriage will thrive as you empower each other with generous open-hearted sharing. View Martha’s Web Site at www.lovetips.com Denver’s Nursing Star June 27, 2005 OPINION High Tech-Technology Changes in Life... Commentary by Mary Pearson, RNC, M.Ed. My son Tim came for a visit from Seattle. He is a photojournalist Mar ear son, RNC Maryy PPear earson, RNC,, M.Ed. who works for all the national broadcasting affiliates as an independent freelancer. He has filmed news segments for foreign stations located out of London and is on call for CNN. He also owns his own production company, Sparkle Motion Pictures. Needless to say, he is up on all the latest electronics in the world of news, computers and home entertainment systems. He cannot image life without his laptop, digital camera or photo- phone. He is forever showing me something new just to see the expression on my face. So when I told him that we finally moved up from Windows 95 to Windows XL this year he had a laugh at my expense. After all I was only ten years behind the times. So what is the big deal I ask? My rational was, why advance my knowhow when I had finally just mastered all the ins and outs of one particular system? Part of my putting off learning a new program was because I was comfortable where I was at, simple as that. Most of the time I feel like I am in a continual mode of hurry, hurry some more and run in overdrive or left over adrenaline. I just have not wanted to learn something new. My mind just wants to listen to silence. To have one day that is not bomb-barded with new gadets, noise, phones ringing at home, on the job and even in the grocery store. This is not to mention the every day requirements of life. Which brings me to the deeper thoughts of May’s celebration of Mother’s Day. This is for all of those women whom are mothers. A mother to precious children or a mother to a beloved pet, either way it does not matter and both ways count. For a mother, is a mother. We all know mothers have a built in instinct to push a child’s button. Also, children know just how to push their mother’s buttons. Such is the case of my son, my mother and me. So as the story goes my mother, who is 80, has always been on the forefront of technology. She has taught me everything about writing using a computer program. All of this teaching was over 20 years ago. I am glad to say I have grown in many other technological areas since that time. But as I said she was on the forefront of technology with computers. I mean that literally when I say WAS. She has had the same program, Professional Write ever since its inception somewhere around 1985. Since Mother’s Day was approaching I asked her what she wanted. She promptly replied that a DVD player would be nice. I informed her I did not have one nor would I buy one for myself. Thus, I did not know the first thing Page 15 about them. I did not know which was a good brand or a poor one, how to hook it up, or how to trouble shoot. But Tim did. Since I was unable to talk her out of it, Tim and I purchased one. Taking it over to her house she became apprehensive. After all she has had the same dependable VCR for 10 years. Not wanting to give up her VCR she was in agony over her decision to learn new technology. A solution was discovered; we would just hook both of them up to the television. Once the operational directions had been given repeatedly to my mother and me she slide a disk into the player and turned it on. We all sat, talked, laughed and watched the movie. With the conclusion of the movie, my mother rises to turn off the DVD. I mischievously said with a straight face ‘stop, don’t turn it off yet you forgot to rewind.’ My mother stops and looks at the machine pushing buttons franticly trying to find the rewind button. Tim turns his head in my directions as in disbelief. His mouth drops open to speak. Now it is my turn to laugh at both of them. For I was taught well and have passed to my son the art of pushing buttons too – both literally and figuratively, it seems! Seniors Get Relief To Pay Property Taxes in 2006 Legislative News Commentary by Eileen Doherty, M.S. Seniors age 65 and over who have lived in Eileen Doher ty Doherty ty,, MS Ex ecuti ector of Senior their house as Executi ecutivve Dir Director Ans wer vices and the t h e i r p r i m a r y Answ erss and Ser Services Color ado Ger ontolo gical residence for ten Colorado Gerontolo ontological Society years, can qualify for a fifty percent reduction in their property taxes. The exemption applies to the first $200,000 of assessed value. Due to budget shortfalls, the legislature suspended funding the Senior Property Tax Exemption program in 2003. However, the program will be available in 2006 for taxes that are payable in 2007. To qualify for the 2006 property tax exemption, individuals must file an application by July 15, 2005 with the county assessor’s office in the county in which the individual resides. Individuals who are the owner of record for the past ten years can complete the short form. The long form must be completed if an individual is a surviving spouse and the deceased spouse was at least 65 on January 1 of the year he or she passed away. A surviving spouse who qualified for the exemption when the spouse was alive is also eligible for the exemption. If the individual is living in a health care facility, such as a nursing home, assisted living residence, or hospital; or the property is owned by a trust, corporate partnership or other legal entity, special rules may apply to qualify for the exemption. Ownership and occupancy requirements may also be met if the property was condemned. Individuals who received the property tax exemption in 2003 do not have to re-apply for the program if their status has not changed. If the status has changed, the individual will need to re-apply. The potential savings can be as much as $500 or $600 per year, depending on the value of the property. For information call your county assessor or go online to www.dola.state.co.us/PropertyTax/ Froms/brochure121803final.pdf or you can call 303-333-3482 for assistance or application forms. research, and public policy in gerontology. You may reach her at 303-333-3482 or [email protected]. Eileen Doherty, MS is the Executive Director of Senior Answers and Services and the Colorado Gerontological Society. She has 30 years of experience in education and training, clinical practice, Opinions expressed in columns and letters to the editor are not necessarily the opinions of employees, ownership of this newspaper or the publishing company. Denver’s Nursing Star Board of Commentary Patricia Armenta, RN Martha Collar Eileen Doherty Mary Jo Fay, RN, MS Colleen Folsch Virginia Gillispie, RN, ND April Goode Vickie Jenkins Larry Leeds, RN Vickie Mayfield, M.Ed, RN, LMFT Dr. Trisha Phaklides Dr. Linda Mundorff , MPH, MSN, ND, RN, NC Carol Shenold, RN, CIC Elizabeth Sowdal, RN Marvel Williamson, Ph.D., RN, CS LANCE ARMSTRONG ”being dependable is partofthejob.” SUBARU FORESTER ® The Subaru Forester comes with the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System for amazing traction and control. Which means you can go where you want, when you want. And it comes with the most standard safety features in its class. So it will help get you there safe and sound. It’s a vehicle you can count on as others count on you. The ABC’s of Safety: Air bags. Buckle up. Children in backseat. Professional.subaru.com